alt='Caring for Minnesota's wildlife' />
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota provides
Veterinary Student and DVM Opportunities
WRC prides itself in offering hands-on opportunities for veterinary students and veterinarians from around the world who are interested in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation.
With a year-round staff of 10, which includes 2 veterinarians and 3 veterinary technicians, WRC is one of the busiest and largest wild animal hospitasl in the nation. WRC is equipped with a surgery suite (which includes monitoring devices and an electrosurgical unit), ultrasound, endoscopy, radiology and the ability to perform most laboratory work in-house.
We have two different opportunities for students enrolled in veterinary colleges and one opportunity for licensed vets. For all opportunities the following applies:
1) Housing is not provided, but information regarding nearby extended-stay hotels, short-term apartments and university housing is available.
2) Applicants must be vaccinated for rabies and have a current titer (within the last 2 years).
3) Summer positions fill up quickly, so apply early! Interested applicants should send a copy of their current CV/resume and requested dates to Leslie Reed, DVM at leslie@wrcmn.org.
4) The average case load in May-September is 50-100 new cases/day, October-April is 5-50 new cases/day.
4th-Year Veterinary Student Externships (full until Nov. 2013)
The 4th year veterinary student externship is reserved for veterinary students in their final year of veterinary school, and is typically completed for school credit.
The student should expect to spend 40-45 hours/week (which includes evening and weekend shifts) in the treatment room working alongside the veterinarians and technicians assisting with and performing:
- Admission and physical examination of new patients, including diagnosis and starting appropriate treatment
- Recheck exams of current patients, including modifying treatment plan as necessary and performing pre-release evaluations
- Fracture diagnosis and immobilization
- Wound management
- Drug and fluid administration, including calculating dose, route and frequency
- Radiographic interpretation
- Anesthesia induction and monitoring
- Orthopedic and soft tissue surgery
- Hematology analysis
- Parasite identification
- Physical therapy
- Necropsy
The externship length minimum is 2 weeks; there is no maximum length of stay. We are full until Nov. 2013. If you know your schedule for winter of 2013 and 2014, and would like to apply, please contact WRC Vet Leslie Reed.
WRC welcomes veterinarians from all areas of interest and skill level who seek additional knowledge and hands-on experience in the field of wildlife medicine.
Veterinarians are welcome at any time of the year, and may stay as long as desired. Experience to be gained includes:
- Handling and restraint of various types of wild animals
- Admission and physical examination of new patients, including diagnosis and starting appropriate treatment
- Recheck exams of current “in-house” patients, including modifying treatment plan as necessary, and performing “pre-release” evaluations
- Diagnosis and treatment of common infectious diseases of wildlife
- Fracture diagnosis and immobilization
- Wound management
- Drug and fluid administration
- Radiographic interpretation
- Anesthesia techniques
- Orthopedic and soft tissue surgery
- Hematology analysis
- Physical therapy techniques
- Necropsy and post-mortem diagnosis techniques
