Externship Program

Cornell University Hospital for Animals welcomes matriculating veterinary students from other colleges who wish to participate in clinical rotations with our third- and fourth-year veterinary students. Visits are limited to six weeks (with no more than four weeks on one service). Demonstrated competence and proficiency in both spoken and written English language skills are required to facilitate the educational process and client communications.

Services that may be visited

Schedule for Clinical Rotations 2009

Clinical rotations are scheduled on a space-available basis, with the approval of the service chief, in approximate two-week blocks of time.

Date Dec 15 - Jan 4, 2009 (3 weeks) Jan 5 - Jan 18 Jan 19 - Feb 1 Feb 2 - Feb 15 Feb 16 - Mar 1 Mar 2 - Mar 22 (3 weeks) Mar 23 - Apr 5 Apr 6 - Apr 19 Apr 20 - May 3 May 4 - May 17 May 19 - May 31 Jun 1 - Jun 14 Jun 15 - Jun 28

Block C3 C4 C5 C6 D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 A1 A2 A3

Date Jun 29 - Jul 12 Jul 13 - Jul 26 Jul 27 - Aug 09 Aug 10 - Aug 23 Aug 24 - Sep 6 Sep 7 - Sep 20 Sep 21 - Oct 4 Oct 5 - Oct 18 Oct 19 - Nov 1 Nov 2 - Nov 15 Nov 16 - Dec 6 Dec 7 - Dec 20 Dec 21 - Jan 10, 2010 (3 weeks)

Block A4 A5 A6 A7 B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 C1 C2 C3

Application Procedure & Requirements

Applications are reviewed and approved by the section chiefs of the services in the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. To apply:

 Submit a request to visit, including a curriculum vitae or resume, the proposed dates of the visit (based on the clinical rotation schedule above) and the service(s) you wish to attend.

 Because we are located in a rabies-endemic area, proof of a rabies vaccination is required. Proof of recent, negative tuberculin test required for our Wildlife Service rotation.

 Infection Control Guidelines - These procedures are to be performed prior to entering the Cornell University Hospital for Animals.

1. Clothing MUST BE thoroughly laundered before being worn. Bring more than one pair of coveralls or lab coats.
2. Footwear must be carefully and thoroughly scrubbed clean and disinfected using the following procedure:
      - For rubber over boots, scrub well with a detergent. (Detergent with bleach, mixed at 2 ounce per gallon of water works well for this.)
      - After scrubbing, mix a fresh solution of detergent in hot water and fully immerse the boots for at least 15 minutes. (IF available, a disinfectant can be used in place of detergent.)
      - Rinse boots with water, allow to dry completely.
      - For other footwear, clean and scrub as described above. Use a toothbrush to get into any grooves in the soles. After cleaning, if boots cannot be immersed, allow the soles of the shoes to stand in a shallow container in a solution of 1:32 bleach solution (4 oz. per gallon) for a minimum of 5 minutes. Allow boots to dry completely.
3. DO NOT bring equipment (pocket organizers, thermometers, hoof picks, lead ropes, fanny packs) to our facilities unless they are new.
4. Stethoscopes are the exception. Your stethoscope must be thoroughly cleaned. To clean, first remove any organic matter with a wet sponge. Using a 4x4, wipe with Nolvasan solution, covering all surface areas, allow to dry. Wipe off with water and soft cloth, spray or wipe stethoscope with alcohol and allow to dry. Use Q-tips to clean the small parts and remove the cover on the head of the stethoscope and clean separately following the above procedure.

Cost
Student visitors are responsible for all personal arrangements and expenses associated with their visits. A lab fee is charged in most situations, and a fee of $7.50 per week will be charged to register as a non-credit extramural university student during the visitation period. Fees may vary. To obtain specific fee and additional information, see contact information below.

Contact Information

Address:
Clinical Programs & Professional Services
attn: Ramona Andersen
College of Veterinary Medicine
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-6401

Phone: 607-253-3157
Fax: 607-253-3056
Email: rja12@cornell.edu