Cornell University Hospital for Animals
Robert Kirk DVM '46 Practitioner-in-Residence
I am someone who still enjoys practice, but was looking for new ways to use my knowledge and experience. The students are great. Their enthusiasm for learning is infectious. I was made to feel welcome by everyone I came in contact with — clinicians, faculty, administration, staff and students — and this is what I value the most from my experience. My motivation was to bring a bit of the real world into the academic setting and I believe I achieved it.
Dr. Thomas Munschauer, Cornell ’79
Middlebury Animal Hospital
See what other practitioners had to say about the program.
With an endowment created in 2007 by a gift from Ernest Smith DVM '66 and his wife, Abby, of Tequesta, Florida, the Robert W. Kirk DVM '46 Practitioner-in-Residence Endowment was established to encourage private-practice veterinarians who wish to visit Cornell University Hospital for Animals for 3 to 5 days per week, for a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
The purposes of the Practitioner-in-Residence program are to do the following:
• Enhance student and faculty understanding of the world of private practice
• Enable the practitioner to learn the latest medical techniques, technologies, and information from the faculty
The program is open to small-animal veterinarians, who will spend at least 50 percent of their time with students in the primary care Community Practice Service, under the direction of the CPS section chief, Dr. Bill Hornbuckle. The practitioner-in-residence will function as a consultant to the students and will participate in CPS rounds and programs. The practitioner may also rotate through other outpatient specialties as an observer for the remaining 50 percent of the program, as approved by the hosting service(s).
Participating practitioners will be invited to practice at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, attend service rounds with students and house officers, and attend the weekly Senior Seminar.
Housing and parking for the Robert W. Kirk DVM '46 Practitioner-in-Residence will be paid for by 
the endowment. A list of housing options will be provided to the visiting practitioner and arrangements
will need to be handled by the individual. The practitioner will receive a small stipend to help defray living
expenses while in Ithaca. Participating veterinarians must have a current license (any state) and must
provide proof of active rabies vaccination.
Dr. and Mrs. Smith named the fund in honor of Robert L. Kirk DVM '46, professor emeritus of veterinary clinical science at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine and one of Dr. Smith's teachers. Dr. Kirk was internationally recognized and perhaps best known for his text, Current Veterinary Therapy, currently in its 13th edition. A renowned teacher, he was on faculty at the College of Veterinary Medicine from 1952 to 1985 and served as director of Cornell University Hospital for Animals in the late 1970s and 1980s. Dr. Smith was a highly regarded veterinarian who retired from practice in the Palm Beach area of Florida. He was especially well regarded for his expertise in practice management and dermatology and allergy medicine.
To apply
To be considered for the program, veterinarians may send a letter of application to the address below. The letter should describe what you hope to gain from the program, the length of time and dates you wish to be in residence, and the service(s) you wish to rotate through. You are welcome to describe other educational experiences you may wish to provide for students. Send the application electronically to William H. Miller, VMD, program coordinator, to vet-hosp@cornell.edu or by mail to:
Robert W. Kirk Practitioner-in-Residence Application Committee
c/o William H. Miller VMD, Program Coordinator
Cornell University Hospital for Animals
CVM Box 20
Ithaca NY 14853-6401
