Our team at Alpine Animal Hospital believes that a career in veterinary medicine should be collaborative, fulfilling, and exciting. Our mixed animal hospital offers year-round clinical externships to students looking to experience highly efficient, referral level small animal practice with a well-rounded large animal caseload. Externship experiences can be adapted to a student’s unique interest or passion. 

We are located in rapidly growing Southeastern Idaho, and see a wide range of appointments and surgery both for large and small animal patients. Alpine is also the primary hospital providing emergency services within a 50-mile radius. Our team is equipped with state-of-the-art tools and diagnostics to provide the highest level of care. In addition to preventative and ill patient care, we offer STEM-cell, PRP, cold laser therapy, acupuncture, as well as advanced orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. While on site, students will have the opportunity to attend weekly doctor meetings where cases are reviewed and evaluated, and medicine is discussed in a collaborative and considerate manner.

We are also on a mission to educate and empower the next generation of hospital owners and leaders. We encourage students who may have an interest in hospital management and ownership to incorporate these aspects into their externship experience. While not mandatory, we can provide opportunities to learn about Key Performance Indicators and how to impact them, analyze and interpret financial statements, as well as explore best practices for building and maintaining a healthy practice culture while encouraging independence and growth-mindedness in support staff. Students will also have the option to attend management and leadership meetings, intended to provide an impression of practice management as well as a chance to participate in troubleshooting real life problems that confront practices daily.

Students are expected to practice in the role of doctor-to-be including:

• Discussing and summarizing patient history
• Identifying physical examination findings and abnormalities
• Creating a chief complaint and master problem list
• Developing an appropriate and relevant diagnostic plan, and with supervision, performing basic diagnostic procedures (laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging)
• Interpreting laboratory and diagnostic imaging results
• Developing a treatment plan
• With supervision, performing basic surgical procedures