Rotating Equine Internship

Our interns play an integral role in each patient’s care. The internship program at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital is a demanding one, but it is equally gratifying and provides ample opportunity to experience a large and highly variable caseload, innovative imaging and surgery techniques, and exposure to all facets of equine practice. The hospital prides itself on advances in surgical innovation, utilizing state of the art equipment and techniques, and excelling the standard of care. It is also very focused on mentorship and development of interns to produce skilled and experienced practitioners. Primary duties will include routine clinical care, surgical assistance, sports medicine and lameness evaluations, anesthesia, intensive care, emergencies, advanced imaging, and client communication. Ample opportunity for refinement of skills in a variety of areas affords interns the opportunity to pursue a residency or private practice position with a solid foundation of excellent practical experience. Many interns also go on to be skilled and diverse ambulatory practitioners. Interns will work directly with our senior clinicians and have exposure to a large variety of cases in numerous equestrian disciplines.

We are in a unique, highly populated equestrian area where racing, showing, and equestrian events are carried out year round. Southern California is also known for its incredible weather, culture, and easy access to the ocean, the desert, and the mountains all a short distance away. The practice is located between Los Angeles and San Diego.

There are currently five positions available on an annual basis. SLREH interns participate in daily hospital rounds with the clinicians. They also have topic or journal club rounds once weekly, and clinician training rounds bimonthly (how to do a neuro exam, joint injection lab, anatomy and ultrasound labs etc).

Interns will have a 2 day orientation prior to commencing their internship. The, the first few weeks will be about learning the facility, how the hospital functions, and what role the interns play. SLREH provides continual mentorship throughout the entire duration of the internship. Interns will be subject to routine “check ins” as a group and privately if warranted to discuss performance and make sure milestones are being achieved, for the hospital, but also for the interns expectations/needs. Onsite HR personnel are available for the interns and metal health check ins are routine.

Interns have scheduled time off following or prior to each rotation (surgery, sports medicine, internal medicine, anesthesia, emergency) depending on the rotation. On call shifts rotate through primary, secondary, or tertiary coverage depending on what service/rotation the intern is on. There are no on call requirements at all during the sports medicine week.

Elective surgery case load includes but is not limited to arthroscopy, laparoscopy, upper airway surgery, fracture repair, cervical spine surgery, angular limb deformities, complex dental and sinus surgeries etc. Emergency surgery case load includes but is not limited to exploratory laparotomy, septic synovial structures, complex fractures etc. Internal medicine case load includes but is not limited to medical colics, neurologic, fever of unknown origin, respiratory (infections vs inflammatory), neonatal cases, infectious disease cases, ophthalmology, etc. Sports medicine case load includes but is not limited to extensive lameness and performance evaluations, advanced diagnostic imaging (computed tomography, nuclear scintigraphy etc), radiography, ultrasonography, pre-purchase examinations, dynamic endoscopy, rehabilitation, regenerative medicine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments etc. The practice sees a high neurologic caseload and performs frequent CT/Myelograms, cervical spinal fusion, and foraminotomy surgeries.

Interns also have opportunity to spend time with our sister practices – a comprehensive racetrack practice with over 400 horses (5 miles from hospital), a sports medicine practice (ambulatory practice catering to elite sport horse athletes), and a sports medicine and rehabilitation center with 60 horses (5 miles from hospital).