Veterinary Intern

Description

The Zoo Veterinary Intern is a member of the Veterinary Care Team who assists in carrying out the animal health program at the Tennity Wildlife Hospital, while gaining educational experience as a practicing zoo veterinarian. This person has a minimum of 1 year of post-graduate experience working as a veterinarian, and is a motivated, energetic, and positive team player with strong organizational and leadership skills. This person works closely with TLD’s veterinary team to ensure the utmost animal welfare and highest standards of medical care for TLD’s animals. 

The Zoo Veterinary Intern must be an enthusiastic individual with strong medical, decision making, and leadership skills who can work effectively with all levels of staff. This person must have the ability to make good decisions regarding the welfare of animals, team members, and guests.

The Veterinary Care Team:

• Practices high quality medicine and maintains exceptional professional standards.
• Has great enthusiasm for the profession of zoological medicine. 
• Adheres to the highest animal welfare standards and works well in a team.
• Performs all job assignments with a positive attitude that will move TLD into the future. 

The Zoo Veterinary Intern will support the zoo in our mission “To support desert conservation through preservation, education, and appreciation” and will help the zoo achieve a forward-thinking vision of a modern zoo and inclusive culture. 

Zoo Veterinary Intern Duties and Responsibilities:

The Intern will have approximately 80% clinical time, with 5% teaching responsibilities for rotating veterinary students, and approximately 15% project time (for research, journal club, etc).

• Preventive Medicine – ~75% of cases – with oversight from senior clinicians
• Health exams
• Review of preventive medicine policies (ie vaccination schedules, deworming, etc) with senior clinicians annually to biannually
• Emergent Cases – varied depending on staffing and with oversight from senior clinicians
• Animals in Quarantine
• The Intern Vet is expected to care for emergent issues in the absence of the senior clinicians and alert them to these issues.
• The Intern Vet may perform a visual exam of any animals entering quarantine in the absence of senior clinicians. A brief clinical note should be entered into ZIMS for this visual exam.
• Quarantine exams may be performed by any clinician. The extent of necessary exam will be determined by pre-quarantine risk analysis and/or issues noted during quarantine.
• Necropsy
• The intern vet will perform gross necropsies and collect appropriate samples as dictated by protocols (SSP, etc).
• Clinical Notes
• The intern is responsible for timely entry of clinical notes into ZIMS for every patient interaction
• A review and interpretation of all test results for clinical cases and preventive health exams should be entered into each animal’s medical record
• Meetings – The intern is expected to participate in the following meetings:
• Daily morning meeting with vet team to plan day, discuss cases, logistics, etc
• Weekly meeting with a senior clinician for case and general discussion
• Monthly vet team staff meeting 
• Weekly vet/husbandry team meeting
• Monthly All-Staff zoo-wide staff meeting
• Monthly journal club meeting
• Presentations/Discussions
• The intern will create and present a zoonotic disease training lecture for the Animal Care team
• Case or disease presentations may be given to the Animal Care team as appropriate, interest, and as time allows (ie – chronic kidney disease, melanoma, etc)
• Students
• The intern is expected to mentor student externs at TLD and is an active participant in their education and final evaluations.
• Leadership
• The Vet Intern is expected to be immediately available throughout the regular workday for emergencies, unless prior arrangements are made with the senior clinicians. 
• The Vet Intern is expected to respond to outside-of-hour emergencies that occur on a regularly scheduled workday. 
• In unusual or extreme emergencies (ie – down rhinoceros, giraffe, etc), the Intern Vet may be asked to assist on a day off.
• The Intern Vet is expected to learn the basics of the hospital equipment functions.
• The Intern Vet is expected to oversee technicians, students, and Animal Care team members during procedures and daily tasks. 
• Presentations/Discussions
• Special Projects
• These may include, but are not limited to, research projects, classes, training events, and continuing education, and are encouraged. 
• Aid other departments as needed.
• Other related responsibilities as necessary to accomplish department objectives.

General Skills and Requirements:

• Liaison between Management and Animal Care Team as needed.
• Strong leadership, organizational, problem-solving, observational, and communication skills.
• Maintain open communications with Animal Care Team and Veterinary Care Team.
• Effectively collaborate with the Animal Care Team and be fully acquainted with entire animal collection, staff, and facilities.
• Actively participate in discussions of how to move the animal care/veterinary department and TLD forward.
• Emergency situations - be able to remain calm. Give and receive instructions succinctly and stabilize an animal in the absence of a veterinarian (including tranquilization, transport, emergency treatment).
• Maintain a safe and productive workplace for animals, guests, and staff.
• General knowledge of zoo animal husbandry.
• Have knowledge of contemporary practice standards of zoo veterinary care particularly as established by the AAZV and as practiced in AZA accredited institutions.
• Be familiar with the State of California’s regulations and standards that apply to the practice of veterinary medicine in California.
• Have knowledge of zoonotic diseases that may affect the collection animals, personnel, and guests.
• Ability to work safely with potentially dangerous animals.
• Ability to give and comprehend written and oral instructions, and to accurately carry out those instructions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Be a motivated self-starter who needs minimal supervision and can work well in a team setting.
• Software literate in Microsoft word and Excel.
• Able to use ZIMS.
• Ability to make independent decisions in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Able to offer professional input for animal well-being discussions
• Able to interact with guests courteously and effectively while representing The Living Desert at the highest standard of professionalism.

Requirements

Experience Required: DVM or equivalent with at least one year post-graduate clinical experience. Preference given to those with one year of clinical experience in a small or large animal rotating internship. 

Equipment Used:

PC computer, general office equipment, telephone, radio, electric cart, vehicles, x-ray machine, x-ray processor, autoclave, anesthesia machine, pulse oximeter, ECG machine, I-STAT, dental unit, miscellaneous medical equipment, pepper spray (Counter Bear Assault Deterrent), rake, shovel, wheelbarrow, catch pole, capture net, baffle board, snake hook, weight scale, garden hose, small handheld, and power tools such as hammer, screwdriver, wire cutters, etc.

Condition of Work:

PHYSICAL EFFORT: Standing, walking, bending, twisting, climbing, crawling, kneeling, reaching motions and frequent sitting. Some lifting up to 50 lbs.

DISCOMFORT/RISK: Exposure to extreme heat, chemicals, radiation, and dust/airborne materials. Works with potentially dangerous animals (i.e., large ungulates, carnivores, venomous animals). Works with potentially dangerous drugs and x-ray equipment. 

HOLIDAY WORK: Holiday and weekend work may be required.

TRAVEL: Continuing education conferences and workshops, as required to maintain licensing. 

This job specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.

Application should include: Letter of intent, CV or resume, 2 letters of recommendation sent directly to Dr. Analisa. Electronic applications, at aedell@livingdesert.org  and recommendations are accepted and preferred.

 Deadline for submissions: April 15, 2025 for an anticipated start date July 1, 2025

Salary : $24