Ambulatory Internship

About McKee-Pownall Equine Services
We are an innovative and growth-oriented 15-doctor practice with 3 locations all within an hour of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our practice includes the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and treatment options, including a standing Hallmarq MRI.

Over the last 20 years, McKee-Pownall Equine Services has consciously developed a strong and distinct company culture of highly enthusiastic, collaborative, and talented employees who can enjoy their version of work-life balance while focusing on excellent client service. Almost every veterinarian at McKee-Pownall has been through an internship program and we are excited to be able to give back to our industry by offering this program and give new veterinarians a great foundation for a sustainable career as an equine veterinarian that is professionally and personally fulfilling.

As part of Altano, we are leading the way in equine veterinary care, and that starts with our employees. When it comes to benefits, we’ve got you covered, from traditional benefits that include health and dental benefits, membership, and licensing dues to paid parental leave and mental health and wellbeing services through Moka Care. Continue learning and growing in your career with Altano Academy, which includes a worldwide network of colleagues and specialists with whom you can collaborate through exchange groups, virtual and in-person CE events, and VetPD courses.

About the program
Our goal to expose new veterinarians to as many varied cases and appointments as possible, which will depend on our schedule and appointments that arise. Our program will educate you on how to function as an independent veterinarian and will encompass not just clinical competencies, but also communication with clients and colleagues along with the basics of practice management. The program will provide experience and exposure to wellness, dentistry, sports medicine, advanced imaging, reproduction, horse show, podiatry and acupuncture/bodywork services on a wide variety of patients from the beloved pleasure horse to top-level racehorses, hunter/jumpers, eventers, dressage horses and western performance horses. We also have a board-certified specialist in internal medicine on our veterinary team and work with a board-certified ophthalmologist and dentist regularly allowing for additional opportunities to gain exposure to these specialties.

Our internship program is based out of our Caledon clinic, with the opportunity to spend days at each of our three clinics so you can gain a varied experience across our practice working with different doctors, cases, patients and clients. We are primarily ambulatory and have ship-in facilities at Campbellville and Caledon.

Program Coordinators
Drs. Kate Robinson BSc, DVM, MVSc, DABVP (Equine Practice), Maggie Turner, DVM and Marisa Markey, DVM are the internship program coordinators and primary mentors. They will be responsible for coordinating and tracking your training and development; conducting monthly check-in meetings with you to provide feedback, reviewing skills learned, and setting goals for skill development. All McKee-Pownall veterinarians will be involved in providing mentorship to you when you are scheduled to join them on cases.

Program Details
At the beginning of the internship, you will be paired with an associate to shadow appointments giving you a general overview of equine practice and client communication. We will review the your core competencies, skills and goals so that we can focus your training throughout the program.
As the internship progresses and depending on your and your mentor’s comfort level with your experience and skills, you will be scheduled for independent uncomplicated appointments such as vaccines, general health exams, and independent rounds at the rehab farm. Your training will focus on emergency services in preparation for independent on-call

You will be scheduled 2 nights per week and 2 weekends per month of on-call coverage. Initially, you will be shadowing the primary on-call veterinarian and then will transition to handling the emergency with the supervision of the primary on-call veterinarian and eventually handling emergencies independently.