Nailing Your Vet Student Externship: A Chat with Dr. Sara Beth Speziok
Hey there, all you future vet superstars! Dr. Sara Beth Speziok here, you may know me from my Instagram: currently @sarabeththemixedanimalvet but formerly @sarabethbecomesavet. It’s somehow been over a year since my 2022 graduation, so I’m starting to feel up to providing some advice to y’all. This one is all about externships. The traditional vet student externships are done in the summer between your 3rd and 4th year of vet school (disclaimer: this is all US specific, I’m not well versed on international schools timing, but the other tips still apply!). However, there’s no law against doing externships in the summers between your other years, or even in spring or winter break. I even had classmates that did externships during our elective didactic semester when they had a 2 week break between electives. Externships are like your backstage pass to the real deal, and I’m here to spill the beans on how you can make the most of ’em. So, let’s dive in.
Starting Off Strong: Preparation
Before you dive headfirst into the whirlwind of externships, it’s time to do your homework. You know, snoop around about the clinic you’re about to crash. What kinda cases do they handle? What’s their vibe? Having some intel can make you feel less like a lost puppy on your first day. Check out their website and social media [if they don’t have a social presence, are you sure you want to go there? 😉 ] The best option is to chat with someone who has already externed there. This is where making friends with someone in the class above you can be really helpful. My school has a Big/Little program to help facilitate this. But this blog is about succeeding once you’ve arrived to the externship. If you’re wondering if you can trust me, I’ll say my humblebrag is that I received a job offer from every single veterinary externship I did (and I accepted one of them)…
Being the Wingman (or Woman)
You’re at your externship clinic to learn, but that doesn’t mean you’re a passive bystander. Be a team player, and watch how doors start opening for you. Soaking up the wisdom from the support squad is like adding some secret sauce to your experience. The absolute truth of vet med is that support staff are the most important people in a clinic. 99% of doctors could not function with out their staff (I know I couldn’t!!). Techs, assistants, and the friendly faces at the front – they’re your backstage crew. Don’t just shake hands, dive into conversations. They’ve got stories that textbooks can’t teach you.
Balancing Act: Humble Confidence Wins the Game
You’ve got brains, otherwise you wouldn’t be a vet student, and that’s awesome. But remember, nobody likes a know-it-all. Drop knowledge bombs when the moment’s right, and don’t shy away from learning from others. You will get more opportunities and make it much farther by focusing your energy into being a helpful, friendly person rather than proving how many facts you’ve memorized. It’s all about being cool, not cocky.
You’re at your externship clinic to learn, but that doesn’t mean you’re a passive bystander.
Be a team player, always.
Juggling Clients, Patients, and You
The client-patient-doctor dance is real. When it comes to talking to clients, follow the clinic’s lead. Some places might let you join in on the chit-chat, while others want you to stick to the sidelines. Respect their style, and don’t steal the show unless they give you the mic. To clarify, I would recommend never disagreeing with the doctor in front of the client/owner. You are currently in school and there’s a good chance you actually have a more cutting edge take on a case, so I am ALL FOR you bringing that up to the doctor and teaching them something! However, the relationship between a client and doctor is fully based on trust, and in the current distrust of expert culture, most of us are already at a disadvantage. It can be really harmful to that trust to catch your doctor off guard with new information in front of the client.
Fearless Learning with a Side of Caution
Externships are like the sandbox of your vet career. You’re gonna play, experiment, and learn. This is a time to be brave and try new things with supervision. But hold up – there’s a line between bold and bonkers. Be honest and up front with your comfort level and never, ever lie about what you’ve done before. A patient should never be put in harm’s way because you’re using them to learn.
Final Word: Rock Your Externship Like a Pro
As you gear up for your vet student externship, remember this journey is all about soaking in knowledge, growing relationships, and having a blast. Go in prepped, be a helper, own your knowledge but stay grounded, bond with the backstage heroes, follow the clinic’s flow, and learn like a fearless warrior. You’ve got this – make each of your externships a major milestone on your vet journey!
You will get more opportunities and make it much farther by focusing your energy into being a helpful, friendly person rather than proving how many facts you’ve memorized.