Program Overview

Program Overview

The Small Animal Specialty Veterinary Internship is a Graduate Certificate (G.Cert.) program designed for D.V.M. graduates who wish to take the first step towards specialty training. This experiential, clinical training program is offered by the University of Saskatchewan and begins on July 15th each year.

Program Structure

The program is one year in length and consists of nine credits of courses and associated non-credit training. The program structure includes:

• Three credit units of electives
• Biosafety
• Safety Orientation for Employees
• VSAC 825.3 Clinical Practice Specialty Internship I
• VSAC 826.3 Clinical Practice Specialty Internship II
• VSAC 980.0 Clinical Practice
• VSAC 990.0 Seminar

Areas of Specialization

Students will develop skills, knowledge, and clinical experience in one of the following specialties:

• Zoologic, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Small Animal Internal Medicine
• Small Animal Surgery
• Neurology

Faculty

The faculty members for this program have diverse research interests, including:

• Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), pain management, and anesthesia in exotic species
• Imaging science
• Electrocardiography, blood pressure, and platelet function
• Small animal internal medicine
• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Avian and canine orthopedic and soft tissue injuries
• Resuscitative techniques, Fluid resuscitation, Acute kidney injuries, Sepsis
• Patient quality of life, human-animal bond, novel cancer therapy development, comparative oncology
• MRI technology, degenerative myelopathy in the German Shepherd dog

Tuition and Funding

The College of Western Veterinary Medicine will provide salary support for qualified students. A fellowship is available from the College to cover a portion of tuition costs for both Canadian and international students. Tuition fees are as follows:

• Maintenance of Status course: $879.00 CAD (Canadian students), $1,977.60 CAD (International students)
• Cost per graduate credit unit: $293.00 CAD (Canadian students), $659.20 CAD (International students)
• Cost per 3 credit unit graduate class: $879.00 CAD (Canadian students), $1,977.60 CAD (International students)

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), or equivalent, from a recognized college or university
• A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study
• Eligibility for restricted, educational SVMA licensure to practice veterinary medicine in Saskatchewan
• Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English

Application Process

Interested students can begin an application through the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians residency matching program. Once matched, students will be asked to submit a formal application to the University of Saskatchewan. Applications to some internships, such as Ophthalmology, are made directly to the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.