Primary Care Practice Externship Program
The College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois is pleased to announce a new clinical rotation for fourth year veterinary students. The rotation, titled Primary Care Elective Rotation, allows students to spend 2- or 4-weeks at a private veterinary practice in order to increase their knowledge and skills pertaining to practice management, business practices, primary care, and preventive medicine. A veterinarian(s) at the practice will supervise and mentor the student. If you are interested in advancing the education of a student in this way, please register your practice on-line at https://www-s.cvm.uiuc.edu/vcrc/ by clicking on the Employers Only button and following the instructions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Will students be assigned to my practice?
No – Students are responsible for identifying and contacting practices. You may accept or decline a student. If you accept, you will work with the student to arrange the dates of the rotation.
2. How do I know if my practice is eligible?
The practice must be a primary care (first opinion, general) practice or have a substantial primary care component. Specialty practices are not eligible.
The student will provide you with a checklist of learning objectives for the rotation. The student must be able to accomplish a majority of these objectives at your practice.
Small animal, mixed, or large animal practices are all eligible.
3.Must my practice be located in Illinois?
No. Practices can be located anywhere in the United States.
4. What will I be responsible for?
You will be asked to sign an agreement indicating your willingness to participate in the rotation and mentor the student.
You must provide opportunities for the student to meet the learning objectives, and assure that the student is adequately supervised.
You will verify and sign the student’s activity checklist at the end of the rotation and submit a grade to the College.
5. Do I need to pay the student or provide housing?
No. Students earn credit for this rotation and you do not need to pay them. You should assist the student in identifying housing, but are not required to provide it. Some students will only seek practices that provide housing. Do I need to provide liability insurance?
No. Student are insured by the University of Illinois
6. Will I be paid for participating?
No. Participation is strictly voluntary.
7. Will my practice be visited and approved by the University?
No. Students will evaluate their experience at the practice. Evaluation results will be kept in a secure location where other students looking for practices can view them. Students are likely to select practices with good evaluations. .
You will be sent evaluation results after 5 students have rotated at your practice. This will provide you with feedback but allow student comments to remain anonymous.
8. Can I accept students as volunteers or employees at my practice, or take student externs without participating in this course?
Yes. This is an elective rotation. Students are also encouraged to spend time at private practices during summers, vacations, and their off-clinic time. Students do not receive credit for such experiences, and expectations are arranged between you and the student.
EXTERNSHIP FORMS & INFORMATION SHEETS (all downloads are in pdf format)
- General Information
- Learning Objectives
- Grading Form
- Willingness to Participate agreement
- Activity Checklist
- Practice Evaluation Form
- Confidentiality Agreement