General Information
Position
Rotating Equine Internship
Last Updated
August 1, 2024
Internship Type
Combined
Location: Snohomish, Washington
Program Duration: One year (June 2027 – June 2028)
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital is now accepting applications for our 2027-2028 Equine Internship Program.
Join our enthusiastic team of specialists and ambulatory practitioners in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!
Our program accepts three interns per year, ensuring excellent mentorship and a healthy work–life balance. We offer assistance with pet-friendly, affordable housing conveniently located near the clinic.
Program Overview
This is a rotating internship between the hospital and ambulatory services. Interns receive mentorship from board-certified surgeons, a board certified internist, and experienced general practitioners who are dedicated to hands-on teaching and collaborative case management.
Our goal is to provide interns with the knowledge, technical skills, and confidence to succeed in private practice or to pursue a residency program. By the end of the internship, participants will be fully competent in all aspects of equine patient care, and will be well prepared to pursue work in general practice or further specialization. Throughout the internship, independence in seeing cases is gained, with a senior clinician available as back up.
Facilities and Resources
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital is the only equine referral facility in this region with multiple boarded specialists.
Our hospital features:
-Two full surgical suites with pillow recovery systems
-A standing procedure/surgery room
-A reference-quality laboratory
-Covered lameness evaluation arena
-16 in-patient stalls, 3 ICU stalls, and 4 isolation stalls (convertible NICU with padded foal box)
-Onsite 24/7 trained technical staff
Equipment includes:
-Digital radiography, digital ultrasound, 600 mA radiology, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, ASIF bone plating instruments, extracorporeal shockwave, PRP, IRAP, Pro-Stride, two SurgiVet anesthesia machines with ventilators, full anesthesia monitoring equipment, and a 0.3 Tesla MRI.
Our integrative medicine and rehabilitation center offers acupuncture, chiropractic, and Chinese herbal medicine.
Additional consulting services include clinical pathology, dentistry, cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and radiology with board-certified specialists.
Internship Duties
-Interns have primary case responsibility under senior clinician supervision throughout the program.
Core duties include:
-Daily patient assessment and medical record completion
-Case presentation during daily rounds
-Performing diagnostics and anesthesia
-Assisting in surgery and medical procedures
-Participating in monthly journal club
-Ambulatory rotations include dentistry, lameness exams, reproduction, and podiatry.
-After-hours emergency duty is shared among interns and always supported by a senior clinician. Weekends and weekdays off are pre-scheduled to ensure protected time away from duties. Licensed veterinary technicians share weeknight anesthesia call. Overnight technicians handle most treatments and monitoring after hours, with support from the primary clinician as needed.
Benefits
-Competitive stipend and full employee benefits
-Continuing education allowance
-Paid attendance at the annual House Officers’ Retreat (November)
-Employee pet care discounts
-Option for CE training at conference of your choice
Application Process
-Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
To apply, please submit the following materials:
-Updated resume/CV
-Cover letter
-Three professional references
Send applications to Dr. Liz Marchant, liz.marchant@thrivepet.com
3
- Equine general practice
- Sports medicine practice
- Equine/LA surgical residency
- Equine/LA medicine residency
- Equine/LA critical care residency/fellowship
- Theriogenology residency
- Imaging residency
- Anesthesia residency
Anticipated Start date
June 1, 2027
Anticipated End date
June 30, 2028
Preferred Application Date
December 31, 2026
Does the practice offer externships?
Yes, please email the practice contact for details
Is an in person visit or externship with the practice required to be considered for an internship?
No, but recommended
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Contact Information
Snohomish
[USA] Washington
WASHINGTON
98290
11308 92nd St SE
Practice Mailing Address
11308 92nd St SE - Snohomish - WASHINGTON - [USA] Washington - 98290
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Clinical Experience and Responsibilities
Yes
Service rotation description
Hospital Rotation
Hospital interns have primary case responsibility for inpatients
and are assigned to clinicians for daytime appointments.
During the work week, daytime interns do not have after-hours
patient care responsibilities or primary emergency coverage.
On weekends, the hospital intern rotates with the ambulatory
intern to provide emergency and anesthesia coverage.
Overnight Rotation
The ICU/night intern manages overnight emergencies during
the week, with anesthesia duties rotated among two daytime
interns and four licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs). The
ICU/night intern does not perform routine treatments (these
are completed by technicians and assistants) but instead plays
an active role in triaging emergencies with the primary clinician
on call. They are also responsible for overseeing after-hours
care of hospitalized patients.
ICU/night interns have Friday through Sunday off to facilitate
transition back to daytime duties the following week.
Ambulatory Rotation
The daytime ambulatory intern is paired with a clinician for
scheduled farm calls. In most cases, both a primary clinician
and technician are present, allowing the intern to focus on
developing clinical and communication skills.
As experience and confidence increase, interns are gradually
eased into solo daytime appointments. Ambulatory emergency
coverage begins after the New Year and is limited to one night
per week, ensuring interns maintain adequate time off.
Additional ambulatory opportunities—both daytime and afterhours—
are readily available for interested interns seeking
more hands-on experience.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
50-75%
Patient rounds held daily with senior clinicians
Yes
Teaching rounds held
No
Weekly journal clubs held
Yes
M&M or other specialized rounds held
Yes
Intern has opportunity to attend a professional CE meeting
Yes
Intern has opportunity to complete a study or publication
Yes
Intern has access to current medical textbooks
Yes
Intern has access to online journals
Yes
In the past 5 years, how many studies/cases have been published by interns as the primary author from work pursued primarily during their intern year?
1
- Arthroscopy
- Laparoscopy
- Fracture repair sets
- Gastroscopy
- Endoscopy
- Stat CBC analyzer
- Stat whole blood chemistry analyzer
- Blood gas analysis
- On site diagnostic lab
- MRI
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasound linear probe
- Ultrasound macroconvex probe
- Ultrasound microconvex probe
- Ultrasound endorectal probe
- ECG
- ETCO2 monitoring
- Shockwave
- Stall side orthobiologics
- Stem cell capability/utilization
- Embryo Transfer
- Advanced podiatry/therapeutic farriery
- Power dentistry
Any additional information the practice would like to share on their internship program:
Interns have allocated time to attend annual house officer's symposium in Austin. This is generally held in November of each year.
Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital has an Integrative Medicine Department with the presence of two Equine practitioners.
Practice works closely with other specialists providing interns with further learning opportunities in ophthalmology, cardiology, dermatology, and dentistry.
Close association with large rehab and training facility in Redmond, WA that provides diagnostics such as nuclear scintigraphy.
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Caseload
Total number annual cases
5000
Total number ambulatory cases
3500
Total number in-house cases
1500
Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the busiest time of year
10-25
Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the least busy time of year
5-10
Significant seasonality to the caseload
Yes
Seasonality description
The practice maintains a steady caseload of performance
horses and after hours emergencies, though the volume
typically decreases during the winter months as many clients
are out of state or less active in the off-season.
Foaling season generally begins in mid-February and
continues through June, with occasional outliers. The summer
months are the busiest, coinciding with show and racing
seasons.
Species other than equids
Yes
Number of specialty certified clinicians
Number of clinicians in direct support of program
8
Diplomats of the following specialties (including their European Equivalents)
ACVA - American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists - 1
ACVIM - American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - 1
ACVS - American College of Veterinary Surgery - 3
Other personnel of note (outside specialists, farriers, dentists, etc)
One of our clinicians is also a farrier/podiatrist
- Acupuncture certification
- Chiropractic certification
- Certified journeyman farrier (CJF)
Technician present on ambulatory calls
N/A
Overnight technical staff (if hospital present)
Yes
Other details about technician support of intern doctors
Each doctor has an available technician for the vast majority of appointments. Ambulatory technicians are assigned to their respective clinicians.
Four LVTs have extensive anesthesia training.
Technicians are responsible for treatments, including afterhours.
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Compensation
Annual Salary
$51-55K
Additional opportunity for emergency compensation
Yes
90% ER fees on solo ambulatory calls
Opportunities for additional income (production bonuses, working horse shows, etc).
Yes
On site veterinarian at local shows. Local fair veterinarian work.
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Benefits
Benefits offered
Yes
Value of total annual compensation
$55,000.00
Housing offered
No
Housing Type
Other
Housing Amount
$
Paid time off (PTO) offered
Yes
# of PTO days
5
PTO stipulations
40 hours
Health insurance offered
Yes for employee plus dependents
Amount of health insurance premium intern is responsible for
Variable with selected plan
Dental insurance offered
Yes
Life insurance offered
Yes
Short-term disability insurance offered
Yes
Long-term disability insurance offered
No
Liability insurance offered
Yes
CE stipend offered
Yes
License/DEA fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
State license required
Yes
USDA license required
No
DEA license required
Yes
Association fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
Student loan payments reimbursed / stipend offered
No
401K program offered
Yes
Employer matching offered
Yes
25% up to 4% of their eligible pay.
Clothing / logo wear stipend offered
Yes
Phone or phone stipend offered
No
Maternity / paternity leave offered
Yes
Discounted pet care and / or a pet medications policy offered
Yes
Practice vehicle or mileage reimbursement offered
Yes
Other benefits offered
Long term disability and life insurance are offered separate
with different tiers. These also go through a third party.
HSA, Lyra, Bright Horizons, Carrot, and access to student loan
education and refinancing options. Relocation support of $1000 and PLIT coverage.
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Contract
Non-compete clause required
No
Non-US residents may apply
Yes
Method internship offers are made
Position is discussed and a verbal offer extended. This is followed by an employment agreement and signed contract.
Earliest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
July 25th
Latest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
March
Average time provided to internship candidates to consider an offer
21 days
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Outcomes Assessment
How long has the practice offered internships?
40 years
Avg number of interns who completed the program per year for the past 5 years
3
Number of interns that haven't completed the program over the past 5 years, with explanation
One intern did not complete due to personal reasons including distance from family, personal pet injury, and fear of anticipated work load.
Number of interns from this program who applied for a residency in the past 5 years
2
Number of interns from this program who entered a residency position directly out of the internship in the past 5 years
Number of interns from this program who accepted a second or specialty internship in the past 5 years
1
Number of interns from this program who accepted a residency position in the past 5 years
1
Number of interns retained by the practice as associates in the past 5 years
2
Of the interns that started the program in the past 5 years, how many are still in equine practice (and/or in an advanced training program targeted at specialty equine practice)?
70-99%
Number of former interns currently employed by the practice
2
Are current or former interns from the practice available for reference?
Yes, email the practice contact for details.
Additional information about the internship program
Interns have the opportunity to work with an outstanding team
of ambulatory and specialist equine veterinarians dedicated to
collaboration and the highest standards of patient care.
Our roots are well established in the equine community and we
emphasize a horse first approach to care. Our goal is to help
our intern doctors become confident and competent
practitioners who love their careers.
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