Internships
The Oakencroft team provides interns with the support and space they need to gain practical knowledge and confidence in the field. This experience is crucial to practicing high-quality equine ambulatory medicine and we’re proud to be a part of raising the next generation of equine veterinarians.
Why choose Oakencroft for your internship?
The number of vets on our team gives our interns the opportunity to strengthen their interpersonal skills and work through a variety of different approaches that end in a single outcome.
Clients play a large role in Oakencroft’s internship program. With their cooperation we are able to provide our interns with the opportunity to work on many practical procedures such as dentistry, joint injections, rectal examinations, ultrasounds and simple surgeries.
To develop client education skills our interns help with client education programs through Cavalcade Education.
Oakencroft is primarily focused on equine ambulatory care but also operates a small haul-in hospital facility so our interns experience both visiting client facilities as well as working on in-house patients.
Our interns are entrusted with emergency on-call care with a seasoned staff member available as backup. These sometimes stressful situations are often recounted by past interns as some of the most rewarding experiences of their internships.
The entire Oakencroft team takes pride in our interns and we maintain close relationships with all interns long after they leave us.
Housing and Community
Onsite housing for interns is included in the internship compensation to remove the stress of finding nearby accommodation. Utilities, laundry, high-speed internet service, and lawn/driveway care are included. Well-behaved pets and spouses are also welcome!
A practice vehicle is provided for use during business hours and when on call, 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 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
Only complete applications will be considered for our internship positions. All applications and required items must be received by September 1st for a June 1st start date the following year.
Send any letters of recommendation to tteal@oakencroftequine.com.
All internships begin June 1st and are twelve-month positions, unless adjusted by management. This will be discussed with the incoming interns after selection. Past externs will have an advantage in the hiring process.
Use the button below to apply:
Find our internship listing at https://equinevetted.com/viewpractice?practiceId=12 or visit equinevetted.com and search for Oakencroft Equine.
A review from a past intern at Oakencroft Equine:
“This was the best place I could've started my career in equine medicine.
Coming out of vet school, I was scared. I had a DVM, but how do I start my career in an ocean of possibilities. I knew I wanted to focus on equine medicine, but like a lot of vet students, I just didn't have the hands on in school that I wanted. I castrated a horse once, a passed an NG tube a few times, I think I did three nerve blocks. I wanted to know more, and I wanted mentorship.
ECO was where I wanted to be. I knew being confined in a hospital wasn't for me; I wanted to be ambulatory. And I loved that there was 8 veterinarians on the team, so I could learn from each of them. But better yet, I wanted hands on. A lot of friends when to big, large practices, and saw a lot of very cool procedures, but didn't do more than restrain the horse or maybe give an intravenous injection. At ECO, I did it all. Whenever I was with my senior clinician, I did the practical aspect. I passed tubes, I rectaled countless horses, I even became proficient at joint injections. I saw exciting "sexy" things like lameness workups and keratoma surgery, but I also became good at the day-to-day of equine practice: dentistry, colics, vaccination schedules. After a year in this clinic, I was an incredibly competent and well-rounded veterinarian.
I remember after I left my internship and started an associates' position, I remember talking to people who had also done any equine internship elsewhere. They weren't comfortable with emergency calls, sports medicine, or even dental floats. And while I was still learning every day, I felt prepared for the struggles and reality of equine medicine because of my team of mentors at the ECO.
I've practiced at several practices, in both the US and Canada, and I still can lean on Drs. Jaynes, Penno, and Safford if I need to bounce a case off of them. They are lifelong mentors and friends. I currently have a referral sports medicine practice, and am grateful every time I work on a horse for what my internship taught me.” - Intern, 2018