New England Equine Medical & Surgical Center is a private referral hospital located near the seacoast in Dover, New Hampshire. Our hospital provides 24 hour emergency and referral services exclusively for equine patients, clients, and referring veterinarians throughout New England. Mentorship is provided by specialists in  internal medicine, surgery and ophthalmology as well as seasoned ambulatory practitioners. This internship is an opportunity for an intense year of clinical experience in both a hospital and ambulatory setting.

NEEMSC is housed in a 34,000 square-foot facility that includes several barns (including a separate isolation facility), two full surgical suites, a medical exam room (ophthalmology, cardiology, ultrasonography, and endoscopy), a neonatal intensive care unit, digital radiography suite, imaging center, full service laboratory, and a large general exam and treatment room. The imaging center houses nuclear scintigraphy, CT, and MRI for cases requiring advanced imaging techniques for comprehensive lameness and neurologic evaluations. NEEMSC is equipped with a jog strip for lameness evaluations as well as a covered round pen for evaluations on soft footing. We offer the services of an acupuncturist, several farriers, clinical pathologists, a cardiologist, and radiologists on a consultant basis. Our field services division provides comprehensive ambulatory services to farms in the region on a routine and emergent basis. We currently have two fully equipped trucks with portable digital radiography, ultrasound, a Terafloat (powerfloat), shockwave and video endoscopy/gastroscopy.

The internship program provides comprehensive training in equine medicine, surgery, emergency/critical care, ophthalmology, advanced imaging, and sports medicine. Individuals receive mentorship from experienced clinicians, each with expertise in different areas of equine medicine, surgery, lameness, and ophthalmology. Due to our teamwork approach, interns also interact extensively with our experienced and dedicated staff of technicians, assistants, barn attendants, and consultants. The internship is an intensive “hands-on” oriented program with primary clinicians providing support and guidance as needed to allow the development and sharpening of clinical knowledge, skills, and client communication. As knowledge and experience increases so does independence, and we expect our interns to rapidly transition to working independently under the guidance of senior clinicians.

NEEMSC has 3 intern positions available yearly. This is a rotating internship, and interns are expected to assist with outpatient appointments, emergencies, elective surgeries, and care and treatment of hospitalized patients. Interns are also on a rotating schedule for on-call emergency responsibilities (both field and hospital) with a clinician and surgeon as backup. Time-off is divided amongst interns. A typical day at NEEMSC may include several lameness appointments, medical evaluations, and elective and/or emergency surgeries as well as CT or MRI evaluations under general anesthesia. Dr. Alison Clode, a board-certified ophthalmologist, sees cases and performs various surgical procedures (elective and emergent) 2-3 days per week. Our horse population is diverse and includes sport horses, race horses (primarily Standardbred), and backyard pasture pets.

The internship program runs from the end of June to the end of the following July, and interns are provided with a comprehensive compensation package which includes a $30,000 salary, health insurance availability, continuing education allowance, one week paid vacation, paid exam and licensure fees, association membership (including AAEP), and additional stipends for emergency and after-hours admissions and discharges paid on a quarterly basis (averages $500-1000 per quarter). To ensure excellence and continuity of care, interns are required to live in the apartment above the hospital during nights on call and are strongly encouraged to live there full time. The apartment has a large fully-equipped kitchen, furnished living room and dining area, a washer and dryer, cable TV, 2 bathrooms, and 4 bedrooms. Rent is deducted monthly and includes all utilities, TV, and internet access. The apartment is "shared" with visiting student externs throughout the year, though externs have a separate restroom, kitchen, and dining areas.

By the end of the internship, interns should expect to have gained proficiency in the diagnostic, technical, and surgical skills required to be a well-rounded equine practitioner. This internship experience will prepare interns for private practice positions or for further residency training. Past interns have successfully completed residencies and become highly respected specialists in their fields.

New England Equine is surrounded by quaint New England towns and is located only minutes from the seacoast, an hour from Boston, and centrally located to the mountains and lakes regions of New Hampshire and Maine.

Most successful intern candidates have spent at 1-2 weeks as a visiting extern, but due to COVID restrictions, completion of an externship is NOT a prerequisite for application. We will consider applicants who have completed an externship OR a remote interview. If you would like to set up a remote interview, please e-mail Dr. Katy Raynor at kraynor@newenglandequine.com

If you would like to schedule an externship, please contact Aurora Sochan, our extern coordinator, at extern@newenglandequine.com

Applications are currently being accepted, and should be submitted via e-mail to the internship coordinator, Dr. Katy Raynor at kraynor@newenglandequine.com. All applicants must be senior veterinary students in good academic standing at an accredited college of veterinary medicine OR a graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Future interns are expected to graduate on time and obtain their DVM/VMD degree by the start of the internship. All candidates must be eligible for licensure.

About New England Equine Medical and Surgical Center

1 year equine only internship at New England’s Finest equine referral center.

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