Montana Equine is seeking qualified applications for a one-year internship in equine internal medicine and surgery. We seek to foster a balanced internship, with interns' directly-supervised work complimented by more independent work. Interns rotate through internal medicine, surgery and lameness services under the direct supervision of our senior specialist veterinarians. As their skills increase, interns may also begin to see clinical cases, with all case-management decisions still being made under the guidance of our senior veterinarians. We also offer a balanced approach to the various facets of real-world practice: our interns are encouraged to develop not just their clinical skills, but also their ability to communicate effectively, since both skills are so critical in successful practice. We have identified specific skill areas and goals for interns. By the end of the 12-month internship, our graduating interns should be able to comfortably perform the following core components of equine practice:
Surgery:
- During their surgery rotations, the intern will assist with most surgical procedures. Commonly performed procedures include arthoscopic evaluation and treatment, airway surgery and colic surgery, but a wide variety of procedures are performed in any given month. This exposure is expected to help establish basic surgical decision-making and technical skills. Following their internship, most interns will be competent to perform routine procedures and will have obtained the essential training for entry into a surgical residency.
Internal Medicine:
- During their internal medicine rotations, the intern will assist with most advanced internal medicine procedures. Commonly performed procedures include abdominal and thoracic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsies, management of equine metabolic syndrome and Cushing's disease, and respiratory evaluation and treatment, but many different procedures are performed in any given month. Following their internship, most interns will be competent to perform routine procedures and will have obtained the essential training for entry into an internal medicine residency.
Routine lameness:
- Although we do not expect our interns to be experts in advanced lameness evaluation, we anticipate that they will become comfortable with most routinely performed evaluations, as well as regional and intra-articular anesthesia.
- Interns will also regularly assist in performing advanced lameness evaluations and treatments.
Routine Reproductive Care:
- Evaluation of breeding soundness, including rectal palpation, ultrasonography and artificial insemination.
- Interns will also assist in management of problem mares, freezing semen and performing embryo transfers.
Obtain and Interpret Radiographs:
- Obtain radiographs of all core anatomic regions, especially including axial skeletal studies (musculoskeletal), but also special exams such as cranial/dental/sinus studies, cervical spine, thoracic and abdominal exams.
- Offer evaluation and interpretation of routinely performed studies.
Performing Ultrasound Examinations:
- Performing routine ultrasonographic exams, especially evaluation of cutaneous masses and routine musculoskeletal exams.
- The intern will assist in performing advanced exams, such as complete abdominal and thoracic scans, ultrasound-guided biopsies, transabdominal fetal ultrasound, advanced musculoskeletal exams and echocardiograms.
Perform Endoscopy:
- Endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the upper airway and guttural pouches, and lower respiratory tract.
- Endoscopic evaluation of gastrointestinal structures, including esophageal and gastroscopic evaluation and treatment.
Performing Routine Dental Treatments:
- Evaluation and treatment of common dental procedures, including floating to remove enamel points, rostal and caudal hooks, steps, ramps and waves, as well as other routine work such as removal of deciduous caps, wolf tooth extraction, etc.
- Interns will regularly assist in performing advanced dental procedures, such as sinus lavage, periodontal treatments and standing cheek-tooth extractions.
Routine and Emergency Field Service:
- We see a wide variety of cases on field service and in-house emergency and anticipate that interns will be comfortable with this type of work by the end of their internship. These cases include basic preventative medicine such as vaccination and de-worming, routine surgeries like castrations and caslicks, and emergencies, especially lacerations and colics.
Anesthesia:
- Interns will perform anesthesia for routine and critical care cases. They will be trained in the use and evaluation of blood gas analysis, constant rate infusions and other advanced techniques.
Professional Development:
- As an active member of the local and regional equine community, we anticipate that each intern will contribute by presenting a talk or writing an article in the local press.
Montana Equine is pleased to offer visiting externships for professional veterinary students. With its long-established regional referral practice, Montana Equine has continued to provide advanced medical and surgical care to patients, clients and referring veterinarians throughout the northern Rockies since 1999. Our veterinarian-owned hospital, located in our state-of-the-art facility outside Bozeman in Montana's beautiful Gallatin Valley, is staffed by experts in internal medicine and surgery. Come to be a part of high-quality medicine in a friendly, professional environment; stay to enjoy some of Montana's finest outdoor recreation, including hiking in the Bridger Mountains, skiing at Bridger Bowl and Big Sky, and blue ribbon fishing on the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone rivers (to name a few).
Our new state-of-the-art facility offers digital radiography, high-definition digital ultrasound and video endoscopy. We routinely perform advanced arthroscopy and laparoscopy in a state-of-the-art surgical theatre with two induction/recovery stalls and available sling recovery. In addition to a heated indoor ICU barn including padded stalls for horses with neurologic deficits, we have multiple out-patient treatment areas and extensive in-house laboratory equipment (with automated blood counts, chemistry panels and blood-gas analysis).
We prefer externships of one or more weeks, but will schedule shorter visits. This program is designed for professional veterinary students in the final two years of their curriculum; underclassmen and undergraduates are also welcome to schedule externships. Applications are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Housing is provided for visiting students, who shadow our veterinarians and also assist with treatments and after-hours emergencies. Each individual student's experience will dictate their exposure to a certain extent, but we encourage active participation in all aspects of clinical care and seek primarily to foster an open comfortable learning environment.
Please contact Dr. Al Flint or Dr. Peter Heidmann at 406-285-0123 to schedule your visit or with any questions.
