UC Davis to revive small animal rotating internship after more than 45 years

The University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) will host a 1-year small animal rotating internship in the 2027-2028 academic year, reviving a program the hospital has not offered in more than 4 decades. The hospital plans to fill 5 positions for veterinarians seeking broader clinical training across small animal specialties.

UC Davis last offered the internship during the 1980-1981 academic year. Applications for the revived program will be accepted from November 1, 2026, through January 4, 2027, via the Veterinary Intern and Resident Matching Program.

Core and elective rotations will span most specialty services

Interns will complete core rotations in small animal internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, cardiology, medical oncology, neurology, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and clinical pathology. Other elective rotations may include exotics, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, primary care, anatomic pathology, radiation oncology, nutrition, and behavior, and the university said students may also have research opportunities.

According to UC Davis, the VMTH handles more than 55,000 cases annually, which the university described as one of the largest caseloads of any academic teaching hospital in the country. Interns will see emergency, first-opinion, referral, and specialty cases, taking on greater responsibility in patient care as their skills develop.

“Interns will assume primary responsibility for cases appropriate to their experience, knowledge, and level of comfort, with consistent faculty support and supervision,” Jamie Burkitt, DVM, DACVECC, co-director of House Officer Affairs at the VMTH, said in a UC Davis release.¹ As interns demonstrate greater proficiency, Burkitt said, added responsibilities may include managing emergency patients and taking the lead on complex specialty cases under a board-certified specialist's supervision.

Program aims to support multiple career paths

Rotating internships are typically completed by veterinarians who have recently graduated from veterinary school. The VMTH program is intended as a foundation for several career directions, including specialty residency, academic clinical practice, referral medicine, emergency care, and general practice, UC Davis said.

Michael Mison, DVM, DACVS, chief veterinary medical officer of the VMTH, called a rotating internship "one of the most immersive ways for a veterinarian to grow clinically after graduation." Over the course of the year, Mison said, interns manage a wide range of patients while training with specialists, residents, and other experienced clinicians.

"The goal is to build clinical judgment, competency, and confidence, whether the next step is general or emergency practice, residency training, or another career path," Mison said.¹

Kate Hopper, PhD, DACVECC, director of the VMTH's Small Animal Hospital, pointed to access to the hospital's specialty services as a central feature of the program. "Given the breadth of specialists at UC Davis, it is essential to allow interns access to these services to provide exposure to future career paths," Hopper said.

Broader effects on teaching at the hospital

UC Davis also expects the internship to shape the hospital's teaching environment. Veterinary students will work alongside "near-peer" veterinarians who are progressing from new graduates to more confident clinicians, while faculty and residents will gain additional opportunities to teach and mentor, the university said.

According to UC Davis, working with interns firsthand may also show current students the benefits of an academic rotating internship and could lead more of them to pursue one after graduation. Program details and application instructions are posted on the UC Davis House Officer website.

References

1. Warren R. UC Davis to reinstate small animal rotating internship. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. October 5, 2026. Accessed October 6, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-reinstate-small-animal-rotating-internship