Option 1: The Access to Care Veterinary Externship
is a collaborative program between five organizations in the Dallas / Fort Worth area focusing on the importance of insuring veterinary care for all pet owners. We believe veterinary students graduate with a desire to help pet owners struggling to provide veterinary care for their pets. Our Externship broadens students’ understanding of community needs and explores a variety of ways they can be of service by utilizing private practices, not-for-profit organizations, and municipal entities.
Students will generally spend 1 day per week with each organization and participation will be in a variety of areas within each group.
This program can be customized depending on the length of the student’s externship with flexible dates and lengths to fit your 4th year rotation schedule. Contact Dr Lavender for more details on weekly schedule and any potential financial or lodging assistance.
We may have a stipend in the future so be sure to ask!
Email Dr. Lavender at drlavender@gmail.com.
DAY 1: METRO PAWS ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Time at metro paws will expose externs to a busy practice in an underserved area of Dallas. The clinic is GP with a heavy er/walk in caseload. Many clients are cost conscious, and this practice excels at finding treatment plans that are possible for owners. They offer significantly discounted feral cat packages to help control feral cat colon and reduce the number of stray cats. Two DVM’s are heavily involved with the Spay Neuter Network and low cost spay/neuter is presented to owners as a viable alternative to in-house spay/neuter. Metro Paws was the first hospital in Dallas to partner with the Texas A&M based TVMF Pals (Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation). This practice also works with the City of Dallas and multiple rescue organizations. The goal of this rotation is to demonstrate how even a profit-based practice can help ensure veterinary care is accessible.
DAYS 2 and 3: OPERATION KINDNESS and THE CITY OF DALLAS SHELTER
One day will be spent at each shelter allowing students to compare/contrast the operations of a private vs. municipal shelters. Both have in-house veterinary care and sterilization capability. Time at these facilities will involve a variety of areas of the shelters – from in-take/assessment to adoption – and everything in between!
DAY 4: Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation LEAP Program
This Texas based organization serves a direct link between pet owners and access to veterinary care through their Lending Economic Assistance for Pets (LEAP) program. As many Meals on Wheels clients are housebound, getting their pet to a clinic for care can be a challenge. LEAP helps coordinate transportation of pets in need of medical care. Meals on Wheels also provides pet food to their clients, ensuring the meals delivered to people are consumed by them rather than shared with their pets. Externs may help sort food for delivery or make MOW pet food deliveries, allowing direct contact with the pets and people in need. Time may also be spent transporting pets to/from veterinary appointments and helping pet owners understand the medical needs of their pet. (likely only 1 day per externship, ie does not repeat subsequent weeks)
DAY 5: SPAY NEUTER NETWORK
SNN is a private not-for-profit low cost spay neuter organization. Jennifer Lavender, DVM runs an HQHV spay neuter mentorship program at one of their locations. Externs will spend the day in the trenches of a busy spay neuter clinic. They will be expected to participate in all areas of spay neuter, such as – check in, preop exams, prep, induction, surgery, recovery, and discharge. Get ready to be busy!
This program is RACE CE approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Co-founders Drs Lavender and Sarpong created Metro Paws with a commitment to bridging the gap between private practice and access to care for all pet owners. Learn how to integrate resources and develop programs to ensure the community you serve has the care its pets deserve.
Get acquainted with HQHV SN (high-quality high-volume spay and neuter) at a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing no cost or low-cost spay/neuter services in Texas.
Operation Kindness, a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare organization, operates a lifesaving animal shelter and programs to assist people and pets.
Learn how city facilities and programs serve cities, house adoptable pets, provide services, promote animal welfare, and protect humans from animal related dangers.
The Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation partners with Meals on Wheels to provide pet food and veterinary care to MOW clients.
Details coming soon
Option 2: SPAY/NEUTER EXTERNSHIP
– 3 day course
– limited availability
– TUITION – $750 (for DVM’s or 4th year students)
EXTERNSHIP
During the 1st week – students will participate and complete Dr Lavender’s 3-day HQHV surgery mentorship program. This will be the most surgery intensive portion of the externship. Once the course is completed, subsequent time will be mapped out on an individual basis to maximize the student’s interests and needs. Additional days at SNN are possible but may not all involve performing surgical procedure. Additionally, we have the option to partners with local clinics and shelters. This allows us to help create an externship with exposure to a variety of disciplines.