Education

1.  Observership

Observership program for veterinary students and graduates

An Observer Program (Observership) in veterinary medicine is an excellent way for recent graduates, international veterinary graduates (IVGs), or veterinarians transitioning specialties to gain exposure to clinical workflows, advanced diagnostics, and case management without engaging in direct hands-on care.

1. Program Objectives
2. Shadow clinicians,
3. Attend patient examinations by clinicians
4. Observe surgeries
5. Diagnostic procedures (ultrasound, CT, X-rays) and
6. Review medical records for educational purposes.
7. Application & Selection Process

1. Required Documents: CV/Resume, proof of veterinary graduation (or final-year status), and a brief Letter of Intent explaining what they hope to achieve.
2. Duration Caps:One day to a maximumof 2 weeks.
3. Capacity Limits:We Accept only1 or 2 observers at a time per hospital location to prevent overcrowding the treatment floor or operating rooms.

1. Administrative & Regulatory Onboarding Kit

Before an observer enters the clinic floor, they must review and sign off on a foundational packet. This protects the practice and establishes professional boundaries.

• The “No-Touch” Agreement: A formal document explicitly stating that the observer will not perform physical exams, administer treatments, restrain animals, or scrub into surgeries.
• Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality Agreement (NDA): Protects proprietary hospital protocols, financial information, and client privacy (compliant with veterinary practice acts).
• Safety & Hazard Manual: Essential readings covering:
  • Radiation safety (staying out of the x-ray room during exposures).
  • Zoonotic disease protocols (Leptospirosis, Rabies, etc.).
  • Sharp object disposal and chemical safety.
• Dress Code & Identification Guide: Requirement for specific colored scrubs (different from staff) and a mandatory “Veterinary Observer” name badge to avoid client confusion.

2. Core Clinical Modules (The Learning Content)

Because observers cannot practice physically, their curriculum focuses on diagnostic reasoning, case management, and clinical workflow.

Module A: Diagnostic Interpretation & Lab Rounds

• Radiology & Advanced Imaging: Observing how patients are positioned, studying the resulting X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs, and participating in the radiologist’s interpretation.
• Clinical Pathology: Reviewing complete blood counts (CBC), biochemistry panels, cytology, and urinalysis results alongside the attending DVM.
• Ultrasound Shadowing: Observing the technique of an echocardiogram or abdominal ultrasound, focusing on structural abnormalities.

Module B: Surgical &Anesthesia Monitoring Observation

• Pre-Surgical Planning: Reviewing the patient’s history, ASA physical status classification, and selected pre-medication protocols.
• Anesthesia Induction & Maintenance: Watching the veterinary technicians intubate, calculate fluid rates, and monitor vitals (capnography, ECG, blood pressure) from a safe distance.
• Surgical Technique: Observing soft tissue, orthopedic, or ophthalmic surgeries from the perimeter of the OR or via overhead cameras if available.

Module C: Client Communication & Case Workups

• The Art of the Anamnesis: Observing how experienced DVMs take a thorough patient history and navigate difficult client conversations (e.g., financial constraints, quality-of-life discussions).
• Differential Diagnosis (DDx) Generation: Encouraging the observer to mentally formulate a DDx list for a patient before the mentor reveals the final diagnosis.

3. Daily and Weekly Interactive Content

An observership should not be passive staring. Incorporating active-learning touchpoints keeps the graduate engaged.

• Morning Medical Rounds: The observer listens to the handoff between the night shift and day shift, learning how critical hospitalized cases are managed over a 24-hour cycle.
• The “Shadowed Case” Workbook: A template provided to the observer to track 3 to 5 complex cases throughout the week. They log the initial symptoms, diagnostic steps, finalized treatments, and patient outcomes.
• Journal Club Participation: Weekly meetings where the observer reviews a recent peer-reviewed scientific paper (e.g., from JAVMA or JVIM or equivalent) and discusses its clinical relevance with the veterinary team.

4. Assessment & Program Wrap-Up Content

To provide tangible value for the graduate’s career progression, the program concludes with formal milestones.

• Grand Rounds Case Presentation: During their final week, the observer selects one interesting case they witnessed and delivers a 10-minute presentation to the hospital staff detailing the pathology, diagnostics, and alternative treatments.
• Exit Interview & Mentorship Feedback: A 20-minute sit-down session with the medical director to discuss career goals, resume building, or steps for local licensing (especially critical for International Veterinary Graduates).
• Certificate of Completion & Letter of Hours: An official document verifying the exact departments observed and hours logged, which the graduate can attach to future employment or residency applications.

2.  Internship

Provides hands-on experience to the candidate veterinarian to be part of the team. Level of involvement depends on the candidate’s skill level.

3. Animal Birth Control surgery training – Castration and Spaying in dogs and cats

• Training programs in castration (orchiectomy) and ovariohysterectomy (spay) for veterinary graduates typically span from intensive 2-day skill-building workshops to comprehensive 10residential Animal Birth Control (ABC) courses.

  The curriculum progressively builds surgical competency and confidence using lectures and supervised live operations.

  1. Program Objectives
  2. Attend patient examinations by clinicians
  3. Observe surgeries
  4. Perform surgeries under supervision and independently
  5. Application & Selection Process
  1. Required Documents: CV/Resume, proof of veterinary graduation (or final-year status), and a brief Letter of Intent explaining what they hope to achieve.
  2. Duration Caps:Two daysto 10 days.
  3. Capacity Limits:We Accept only1 or 2 graduate trainees at a time per hospital location to prevent overcrowding the treatment floor or operating rooms.
  1. Administrative & Regulatory Onboarding Kit

  Before an observer enters the clinic floor, they must review and sign off on a foundational packet. This protects the practice and establishes professional boundaries.

  • The “No-Touch” Agreement: A formal document explicitly stating that the observer will not perform physical exams of regular outpatients or administer treatments.
  • Non-Disclosure & Confidentiality Agreement (NDA): Protects proprietary hospital protocols, financial information, and client privacy (compliant with veterinary practice acts).
  • Safety & Hazard Manual: Essential readings covering:
    • Radiation safety (staying out of the x-ray room during exposures).
    • Zoonotic disease protocols (Leptospirosis, Rabies, etc.).
    • Sharp object disposal and chemical safety.
  • Dress Code & Identification Guide: Requirement for specific colored scrubs (different from staff) and a mandatory “Veterinary Trainee” name badge to avoid client confusion.

  Standard 10 Day Course Schedule

  These programsgenerally follow a routine schedule:

  • Days 1–4: Theory and Foundation
    • Aseptic protocols, surgical instrument identification, and instrument pack preparation.
    • Small animal anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system in male and female dogs/cats.
    • Drug selection for sedation, anesthesia (injectable/inhalant), and patient monitoring.
    • Pain management, post-operative care, and physical examination.
  • Days 5–7:Hands-On Castration
    • Practical, supervised training on male dogs/cats.
    • Trainees perform an average of 5-10 procedures each, managing anesthesia, pre-operative prep, surgical technique, and monitoring recovery.
  • Days 8-10: Hands-On Ovariohysterectomy (Spay)
    • Practical, supervised training on female dogs/cats.
    • Trainees perform an average of 5-10 spay procedures under the supervision of experienced clinical surgeons.
  • Days 10: Advanced Topics & Case Assessment
    • Review of surgical complications, hemorrhage control, and advanced wound management.
    • Final assessments and certification distribution.

   

  Short-Term Intensive Workshops (2–7 Days)

  For recent graduates needing to master foundational confidence, 2-day foundational skills workshops are also available.

ADVANCED – IMAGING

A.    X-RAY

• Positioning of the patient
• Factors influencing image quality
• Interpretation of a radiograph

 B.    USG

• Positioning
• Principles of USG
• Interpretations

 C.     SURGERY – OPHTHALMOLOGY

• Surgery of eyelids
• Surgery of the Conjunctiva 
• Surgery of the Cornea

 D.    SURGERY – ORTHOPEDIC

• Use of Palter forceps
• Basic fracture repair of long bones

 E.     CARDIOLOGY

• Approach to a canine patient for cardiac function
• BP
• ECG