Externship

Contact Oakencroft

Externships provide students working through their doctoral program in veterinary medicine a chance to experience the equine medicine specialization in action. It is our goal to help visiting veterinary students - in our own small way - with their choice of career path by facilitating interaction with multiple doctors, clients, and patients.

Why choose Oakencroft for your Externship?

  • Each doctor at Oakencroft has been in your shoes as you chose the trajectory of your career path and we enjoy mentoring future equine doctors. You’ll be able and encouraged to discuss the rewards and pitfalls of veterinary medicine in general and equine ambulatory practice in particular.

  • Oakencroft only hosts up to two externs at a time so all externs have ample opportunity to come into hands-on contact with real life situations that they may face once they graduate.

  • Oakencroft is eager to learn from our externs as well! We value the new ideas coming out of universities and colleges around the world.

  • Successful applicants for our internship usually come from those who have spent time with us as externs.

Extern Housing and Community

We have dedicated extern housing on-site with utilities, laundry, high-speed internet service, and lawn/driveway care included. Well-behaved pets are also welcome!

You’ll use practice vehicles during business hours but we recommend bring your own vehicle for personal trips. The city of Albany is a short drive from the clinic and our region of upstate New York is filled with excellent hiking, dining, art, and events.

To get the latest photos of our extern accommodations please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re constantly updating and improving our facilities and we’re proud to show them off.

Application

A complete application is required to be considered for an externship. A complete application includes:

  • The completed application form which will ask for:

    • A current photograph of the applicant (a head shot is ok)

    • CV/Resume

    • Proof of liability insurance; available as a veterinary student through AVMA-PLIT. See www.avmaplit.com/products/student-liability for more information.

Preference is given to veterinary students in their third and fourth years but if space allows we will gladly host first and second year veterinary students.

Winter months are typically slower for us and if possible we suggest you schedule your externship during the warmer months. Contact us any time with questions.

Externship Application

More Information

Since 2016 Oakencroft has partnered with Millbrook Equine and Rhinebeck Equine to host an annual weekend event for veterinary students. You can learn more about this year’s event on our learning platform Cavalcade Education.

You can also learn more about Oakencroft by speaking to your student AAEP chapter about us. There’s a good chance some past or current members have visited us for an internship or externship.

Externship Program Reviews

Here’s what some of our past externs have to say about their stay with Oakencroft:

“I absolutely loved my time at Oakencroft! I would definitely recommend this opportunity to other students interested in equine veterinary medicine. If you are looking for a practice that provides more than adequate time on the road as well as an environment that is dedicated to teaching, then this externship is for you. I thought that I got to see plenty of things during my time including scheduled routine appointments, urgent appointments, and emergency calls. As the extern, I also worked with the inpatients out of hours including feeding am and pm as well as a night check which was made easy by living on the premises.  

 Every single veterinarian here wants you to learn as much as you can in your time with them. They will allow you to do many of the hands-on portions of visits especially if you show interest in learning those particular skills. The vets treat you as a colleague and include you in all aspects of clinic dynamics, including their weekly meetings. They all love answering questions about the cases, the practice logistics, the profession, and really whatever you want to know. I really enjoyed the environment of the practice and there are several things I hope to find in other practices during my externship exploration. I came into this externship questioning what kind of large animal practitioner I want to be and I am leaving this externship highly interested in pursuing equine only practice. 

In terms of the logistical aspect of the externship. The housing is great, towels and bedding were available, and there is a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. The communication and expectations were clear and well laid out. Although I did not feel like it was necessary, I felt like at any point I could have asked for a break on an evening/weekend and I was free to run errands if I needed it. Out of hours things were relatively flexible and I worked closely with the intern to figure out the logistics of the time in the clinic. Again, I highly recommend this internship as it is very organized and incredibly educational in all aspects.” - Extern, 2023

“Oakencroft equine was one of my favorite externships for numerous reasons. All the veterinarians and technicians were friendly and happy to accomodate me as an extern. I was included in many activitites including day-to-day appointments, after-hours emergencies, treatment of patients in the clinic, and weekly doctor meetings - it felt great to be involved and helpful! The intern is very involved with the extern, which give me as an extern, a good idea of what the internship program is like. I also had alot of freedom to decide which doctor I wanted to shadow for the day based on their schedules and types of appointments. I was able to tailor my experience to my interests in those ways! Oakencroft has a great variety in caseload, including preventative medicine, lameness, emergency, repro, chiropractic, basic surgery, and more. The doctors are all very down-to-earth and willing to answer any questions. I was able to get hands-on experience with the patients in-clinic, and out in the field when appropriate. The appointments are primarily ambulatory with a small portion of in-clinic work. 

Work-life balance is also valued at Oakencroft. I learned how the practice holds events for veterinary students interested in equine medicine to help recruit more students to pursuing equine work. The doctors are supportive of eachother and I could tell they valued the current interns well being. 

The extern housing at Oakencroft is also the nicest extern housing I had! Lots of space and on-site right next to the new clinic. If you are interested in working with horses in a primarily ambulatory setting, Oakencroft is a worthwhile externship to pursue!” - Extern, 2022