Externship Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common questions we receive from out externs. Please look below and click on the question to see the answer. Thank you for visiting our Externship FAQ’s page.
Why do I want to spend my externship at Deason Animal Hospital?
At DAH we provide an atmosphere where students can gain exposure to all aspects of small animal, food animal and equine medicine on a daily basis. We hope students can observe and participate in management of routine cases as well as surgeries and emergencies. We also see on occasion see that farm chicken, pet hamster and pet monkey.
How many Veterinarians/ Staff members:
8 Full time Veterinarians and 2 part-time veterinarian, 15 Technicians, 6 Receptionist, 4 kennel technicians and 3 outside technicians.
How do I apply?
The easiest way is to fill out the Extern form and communicate through emails or calling the hospital.
What information do you need to apply?
You are welcome to contact us at any time, but we will not schedule more than 1 ½ years out from your day of externship. We have seen in the past doing further out we have more cancellations and no shows. When you have that information, let us know and we will move forward and pencil you in on the calendar.
Where should I email my information?
Please send emails to: deason.externship@yahoo.com
Will I be there with other externs?
Depending on the dates and availability, yes there could be multiple externs.
Where do I stay?
We have 2 houses that are fully furnished for our externs to stay in. One is a 2 bedroom/2 bath and the other is a 3 bedroom/1 bath, located on the hospital property.
Do I need to bring things for the house?
All bedding, towels, laundry detergent, toilet paper, shampoo, soap, etc. will be supplied and should be cleaned when you are leaving for the next student. Some people bring their own pillow and towels, but everything is here if needed. I would recommend getting here first, then see what, if anything is needed as far as food. There is a grocery store and plenty of restaurants less than a quarter of a mile away.
How do I get there?
Our address is 1712 D. Street, Floresville, Texas 78114. If you are flying into the San Antonio Airport we will have someone there to pick you up and drop you off at the airport for your trip home. Flight arrivals and departures during the week need to be scheduled between 9am – 5pm to be considerate to the person having to get to the airport in enough time. Flight arrivals or departures need to get approval to make sure that weekend is available for someone to get to the airport. If you are driving by vehicle, you can map quest our address or call the hospital and we can give you directions to the hospital. Greyhound bus does have stopping place in San Antonio, just keep up posted on arrival times and someone will be able to pick you up.
What Clinical Supplies should I bring?
If your school issues a name tag, please bring that. You can bring your own stethoscope, etc. You are not required to have any clinical supplies.
What should I wear?
Our normal attire is leather boots/leather closed toe shoes, tennis shoes, jeans/scrub pants and a scrub shirt. In the past we have had students wear their assigned school scrubs and that is just fine.
Are there laundry facilities available?
Both houses have a washer, dryer and laundry pods are provided.
When should I arrive?
Any day of the week is fine, as long as its within reasonable hours.
What is my schedule?
The Clinic is open 7:00 am- 9:00pm Monday thru Thursday, 7:00am – 5:00pm Friday and 8:00am- 12 pm on Saturday. The staff rotates lunch schedules and is normally gone for 1 hour for lunch between 11am -1 pm. Occasionally, externs need to be gone for the weekend, and that Is okay. We encourage you to be here if possible and asked that you communicate with the doctor on call which rotates everyday and weekends. Most schools require a minimum of 40 hours a week. You will obtain the most valuable learning experiences during after hour emergencies, because you are working with a veterinarian directly.
Do I get paid?
No. Sorry
What paperwork and Insurance do I need to fill out?
Externs will be working hands on, and are required to have insurance coverage through AVMA PLIT. You will first need to join SAVMA (Student AVMA) to obtain a PLIT certificate. We do not allow any other Liability insurance. We do not have workers comp for externs, so health insurance or travel insurance would be recommended for International Students. Applying for your insurance coverage takes about a month to acquire, so please do not wait until the last minute.
http://ebusiness.avma.org/savma/dues/signin
http://www.avmaplit.com/
Once you have been accepted, please forward a personal photo and confirmation of your student professional liability insurance to:
Can I bring my family?
Some externs have chosen to stay off site and have their families. We are very family oriented, but do not have room to house additional people the majority of the time. Because we are housing students, we cannot house other individuals not in the externship programs. If you have a special request, please let us know. We will make every effort to accommodate you while not inconveniencing another.
Do I have to stay at the clinic house?
No. There are multiple hotels within a mile of the clinic. Also, you are welcome to stay with family or friends around the area. Some externs find they miss out on afterhours by staying off-site, but we do not mind either way.
How many weeks can I stay for an externship?
Most United States Schools are at least 2- 4 weeks and International Schools required a minimum of 30 days but not exceeding 90 days. Please contact Paige if you have a special request.
What happens if I need a day off or I am sick?
We rarely have a problem with students not getting the required 40 hours a week. If you are sick, please don’t come spread it around the clinic. If your friend is getting married on the weekend, go have fun. You will find we are very relaxed. Just please communicate with someone, usually the Veterinarian On-Call. Especially if you are sick or having an issue, we want to know what is going on so we can make sure you are okay. We have 2 Urgent Cares and a local Hospital within a couple miles.
Should I bring my computer?
We have excellent wireless internet at the clinic and the extern houses.
What’s expected when multiple students are here?
Occasionally, we get externs that group together and move as a unit. Although our clients are used to seeing students, we are a teaching hospital. It can be overwhelming to a client to have a doctor walk out to the barn with 2-3 externs. Divide and conquer. Also, we rarely see issues of one-upmanship. Often, owners will ask the students what they think while the clinician leave’s the client for a moment. Be friendly, helpful, and courteous; don’t question the advice of the doctor or offer your own treatment advice. Talk to the doctor later for clarity on what was done or not done. Questioning the doctor in front of the client can set up distrust for our clients. Finally, respect of the client patient confidentiality should be maintained.
How do I get Evaluated/graded on my externship?
Usually, we will be emailed by your school administrator. To us, grades are not very important at this point, as long as you show up and are eager to participate. Expect to get good marks from us. If you want an exit interview, or advice along the way, just ask. Occasionally, I will need encouragement by you to get the grades done. A few helpful reminder emails is never a problem.
What if I am an international student?
We have had students come from all over the world. Our past externs include Canada, Taiwan, Mexico, Holland, France, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, China, Australia, England, Brazil, and Portugal. Students from accredited universities are given priority, since they are able to be involved in our extern program. International students are required to stay at least 30 days but no longer then 90 days.
What if I am not a 4th year?
If you want to come by and spend a day or two, or you have family in the area, we always love meeting veterinary students from any year. “More the Merrier” so please contact us. We do require you to have a current AVMA PLIT insurance.
What is your average case load?
Extremely Busy? We are probably 55 % small animal, 25 % food animal, 15 % equine and 5 % exotics and small ruminates. We average approximately 125-150 cases a day not including walk-ins and after hour emergencies. All externs will be involved in all species. We do not provide just a large animal externship to international students, since they require to be part of a mixed animal practice.
My externship starts in a couple of weeks; do I need to do anything?
We would like an email 2-3 weeks before your scheduled arrival to make sure all the logistics and details are lined out. Please make sure your travel itinerary has been emailed with an estimated time and date of arrival. If you are flying, please provide the actual flight itinerary with flight numbers and departure/ arrival gates and times.
My schedule has changed and I need to cancel. What do I need to do?
Please send us an email as soon as possible. We would love to have cancellations at a minimum, since we look forward to all our externs. However, we understand things change and there are no hard feelings. When we are expecting someone who does not show, it is concerning. We want to ensure your safety on the road and know who should be arriving each weekend. If your dates change, you need to cancel, or you are going to be late, please keep us in the loop.
How do I request a Recommendation Letter?
Recommendation Letters for international students are only available upon request and we will only do 1 letter per student and the letter needs to be requested within the year of the externship held at Deason Animal Hospital.
