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Internship: Ruminant Health Management

The Ruminant Health and Reproductive Management Internship provides training with beef and dairy cattle as well as small ruminants and camelids. The Internship is offered by the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology (PHP), which serves the diverse populations of ruminant species in North Carolina. PHP, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and North Carolina State University have a strong commitment to animal agriculture.

This one-year program will provide training in ruminant health and reproductive management with dairy and beef cattle, small ruminants and camelids. The internship will include broad experience in ruminant health management (e.g., dairy and beef production medicine, reproductive technologies, small ruminant health programs, calf management, mastitis and milk quality, etc.). Individuals who have successfully completed the ruminant internship are currently in positions in specialty practice, academia and government.

The emphasis will be on in-the-clinic and on-the-farm approaches to health and reproductive management of individual ruminants as well as herds and/or flocks. There may be limited options for the intern to focus on ruminant medicine, production medicine or theriogenology of ruminants. Interested individuals may work with their advisory committee to receive additional training in food safety, epidemiology, government practice or with the swine and poultry industries.

Faculty in support of the program include individuals board-certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (dairy and beef cattle), the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Additional members of the Department have expertise in residue pharmacology, food safety, epidemiology and government practice, as well as with the swine and poultry industries.

In addition to supervised clinical experiences, the intern will be expected to participate in clinical teaching of senior veterinary students and in laboratory teaching programs given to students in the first three years of the veterinary curriculum. Additionally, the intern will be involved in providing after-hours and weekend/holiday emergency care for ruminants in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Field Services. Participation in a research project and/or publication of case reports or other manuscripts is encouraged.

An internship advisor and advisory committee are responsible for the intern’s program and progress. The intern is entitled to two weeks vacation each year to be taken by arrangement through the advisory committee.

A North Carolina veterinary license is required. This can be obtained after arrival through the institutional employment licensing agreement. Professional liability insurance and personal health insurance are provided.

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This internships participates in the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians’ (AAVC) Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) when a position is available.

Information for International Applicants

Preference is given to applicants who have graduated from a college that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. If you wish to apply for an internship or residency program things to keep in mind:

  1. Have your degree translated and evaluated by a reputable company. Options include: Josef Silny & AssociatesTrustforte Corporation, and World Education Services
  2. Some programs require the TOFEL exam to qualify for a internship or residency position.
  3. Most foreign interns and residents are appointed to H-1B visas.
  4. To ensure that a foreign national candidate has the H-1B visa at the start of their program the candidate will be asked to pay for the premium processing filing fee of $1,225 USD, if necessary.
  5. Getting a visa takes between 4 and 6 months if the visa is expedited it takes approximately 15 business days.
  6. Take the initial steps and apply for The Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certification program is accepted by all state veterinary regulatory boards and the federal government as meeting, either in part or full, the educational prerequisite for licensure or certain types of employment, respectively.