Veterinary Preceptorship Program
The Oregon Zoo's Veterinary Preceptorship is a six to eight-week opportunity for last year veterinary students, currently enrolled in a veterinary program and with a strong interest in zoological medicine. Students will participate in all facets of the zoo's medicine program, including attending rounds and assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of species in a zoological setting.
The Oregon Zoo is home to more than a thousand animals representing more than 175 different species. Our mission is to connect our community to the wonder of wildlife to create a better future for all, with a focus on saving species locally in the Pacific Northwest. The zoo is widely recognized for its commitment to animal well-being, wildlife recovery and conservation science.
The Oregon Zoo’s state-of-the-art Veterinary Medical Center opened in 2012. This 15,000-square-foot LEED-certified building includes an exam room, surgical suite, radiology room and in-house laboratory. It has all necessary equipment for anesthetic monitoring and diagnostic techniques, including rigid and flexible endoscopy, digital radiography and ultrasound. The Oregon Zoo is one of only a handful of zoos in the country with an on-site CT scan machine.
In addition, the zoo’s on-site endocrinology lab offers experience with animal welfare science and welfare-based care.
Essential Job Duties
Goals for the preceptorship:
- Opportunity to observe and actively participate in all aspects of zoological medicine, including: chemical and physical immobilization, clinical and anatomical pathology (post- mortem examinations), surgery, diagnosis and treatment of ongoing clinical cases, overview of the components of a zoo-based preventative medicine program, including quarantine and pre-shipment examinations.
- A chance to collaborate/network with professionals currently working in the field.
Additional experience, knowledge and skills that would make you successful in this internship:
- Communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, including clinical notes and post-mortem reports.
- Ability to prioritize and multi-task; must be organized and flexible to change course of work/projects as circumstances dictate.
Minimum Requirements
- Preferred: completion of anesthesia, internal medicine and radiology rotations prior to the zoo preceptorship.
- Rabies vaccination
This is an unpaid opportunity. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email the following information/documents to [email protected]:
- One-page cover letter explaining your career goals and interest in zoological medicine
- Include three possible time slots for duration of preceptorship in order of preference in the cover letter
- Curriculum vitae or résumé
- Two letters of reference
- Veterinary college academic transcript and/or GPA and enrollment status
Questions about application?
Questions about the program?
Carlos R. Sanchez, DVM, MSc (WAH)
Director of Animal Health
Oregon Zoo
[email protected]