Employment Information
Practice name
Piedmont Equine Practice
Last Updated
October 22, 2024
Internship Type
Combined
The goal of the internship program at The Piedmont Equine Practice is to produce an intern who is a well-rounded practitioner, ready to expand their skills in any and all facets of equine practice. Each intern will rotate through a set schedule as Ambulatory Intern, Outpatient Intern, Sports Medicine Intern, and Hospital Intern in two week blocks. With the growth of our program to four interns, there has been an improvement with regards to the amount of on-call that is required compared to previous years. Piedmont aims to prioritize intern quality of life in a job that is oftentimes demanding; recently (2024) additional time off was incorporated.
Our strength is our versatility within our program – externs/ interns will be exposed to a variety of cases as we have an in-house surgeon and criticalist, and an equine ophthalmologist who works routinely out of our practice; veterinarians that focus on complex lameness exams and pre-purchases; access to a veterinarian in the area with a special interest in dentistry; and veterinarians that focus on herd health, emergency, reproduction (board-certified theriogenologist), acupuncture, chiropractic, and anesthesia. Piedmont does an exceptional job allowing their veterinarians to pursue their special interests and further their education with CE. We have top of the line radiology and ultrasound equipment and in-house nuclear scintigraphy and CT. We have great support staff in both the front and back offices. We take pride in our ability to work together as a team and being efficient. We produce a well-rounded, above average equine veterinarian and we are proud to promote them in their future endeavors, whether these be specialized training or general practice.
The internship is a one year salaried position typically reserved for recent graduates of veterinary school. In order to apply for the internship, completion of at least a one week externship is ideal prior to application and we encourage all visits to be complete before Labor Day of the year in which they are applying. A letter of intent, resume, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts are required for application for the internship. A license to practice in the state of Virginia will be required prior to starting the internship. Housing is provided, as are comprehensive benefits.
4
- Equine general practice
- Sports medicine practice
- Equine/LA critical care residency/fellowship
- Ophthalmology residency
- Theriogenology residency
- Dentistry residency
- Imaging residency
Start date
May 28, 2025
End date
June 1, 2026
Application Deadline
September 2, 2025
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
Contact Information
The Plains
[USA] Virginia
Fauquier
20198
4122 Zulla Rd
Practice Mailing Address
4122 Zulla Rd - The Plains - Fauquier - [USA] Virginia - 20198
Clinical Experience and Responsibilities
Yes
Service rotation description
2 weeks – Hospital – responsible for all hospitalized cases/ERs in and out of hrs *OFF 1 x 16hr (4P-8A) period off EACH WEEK
2 weeks – Ambulatory – on call every other night; 1 x 3 day (Friday 8A to Monday 8A) weekend off; rides with ambo associates during the day
2 weeks – Outpatient – works with ophtho, repro, dentistry and other outpatient cases; comes in for all hospital ERs out of hrs *OFF 1 x 16hr period off EACH WEEK
2 weeks – Sports Medicine – on call every other night; 1 x 3 day (Friday 8A to Monday 8A) weekend off; rides with ambo partners during the day
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
75-90%
Patient rounds held daily with senior clinicians
Yes
Teaching rounds held
Yes
Frequency of teaching rounds
As requested/organized by intern class
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
Equipment the intern has exposure to within the practice
- Arthroscopy
- Gastroscopy
- Endoscopy
- Stat CBC analyzer
- Stat whole blood chemistry analyzer
- Blood gas analysis
- On site diagnostic lab
- CT
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasound linear probe
- Ultrasound macroconvex probe
- Ultrasound microconvex probe
- Ultrasound endorectal probe
- Nuclear scintigraphy
- ECG
- ETCO2 monitoring
- Shockwave
- Stall side orthobiologics
- Stem cell capability/utilization
- Embryo Transfer
- Power dentistry
Any additional information the practice would like to share on their internship program:
Local horse shows (vet)
Local steeplechases (vet)
Labs (for DVM or vet tech students)
Caseload
Total number annual cases
11000
Total number ambulatory cases
9850
Total number in-house cases
1250
Avg number of after hour emergencies per week in the busiest time of year
25-50
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
Busy during Spring and Fall months
Our in-house caseload is compromised of both hospitalized patients (surgical, medical, imaging) as well as outpatient patients (sports medicine primarily)
Species other than equids
No
Number of specialty certified clinicians
Number of clinicians in direct support of program
13
Diplomats of the following specialties (including their European Equivalents)
ACT – American College of Theriogenologists - 1
ACVO – American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists - 1
ACVS – American College of Veterinary Surgery - 1
Other personnel of note (outside specialists, farriers, dentists, etc)
ACVIM consultation availableBoard-eligible dentist - biweekly apptsFarrier as needed
Additional certifications/area of expertise represented in the practice
Acupuncture certification, Chiropractic certification, MBA, Certified journeyman farrier (CJF)
Technician present on ambulatory calls
Yes
Overnight technical staff (if hospital present)
Yes
Other details about technician support of intern doctors
Ambo DVMs share technicians at this time - have tech support ~75% of time; when interns accompany PEP clinicians the expectation is that they function as DVMs, not technicians Interns do provide an emergency "pool" for rare technician absences - historically have received additional financial compensation and time off
Compensation
Annual Salary
$41-45k
Additional opportunity for emergency compensation
Yes
IF interns attend ambulatory out of hours emergency calls on their own (uncommon in our practice) then they get 100% of the ER fee billed to the client
Opportunities for additional income (production bonuses, working horse shows, etc).
Yes
Horse show, Steeplechases $3000 relocation stipend
Benefits
Benefits offered
Yes
Value of total annual compensation
~$80,000
Housing offered
Yes
Housing Type
On-site
Paid time off (PTO) offered
Yes
# of PTO days
7
PTO stipulations
Only 1 intern off at a time; can add onto existing 3d weekends (every 4 weeks)
Health insurance offered
Yes for employee plus dependents
Amount of health insurance premium intern is responsible for
0% of intern; 100% for dependents
Dental insurance offered
Yes
Life insurance offered
Yes
Short-term disability insurance offered
Yes
Long-term disability insurance offered
Yes
Liability insurance offered
Yes
CE stipend offered
Yes
License/DEA fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
State license required
Yes
USDA license required
Yes
DEA license required
No
Association fees reimbursed / stipend offered
Yes
Student loan payments reimbursed / stipend offered
No
401K program offered
No
Clothing / logo wear stipend offered
Yes
Phone or phone stipend offered
Yes
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
Betterment fund ($500 to be used to benefit PEP/oneself/society)
Housing (local rent averages $1500-2500+)
Contract
Non-compete clause required
No
Non-US residents may apply
Yes
Is visa support provided?
Yes
We have multiple Canadian DVMs on staff
Method internship offers are made
Usually by email or verbal
Earliest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
August of year preceding internship
Latest date of internship offer made in the last 3 years
April of year of internship
Average time provided to internship candidates to consider an offer
2-4 weeks
Outcomes Assessment
How long has the practice offered internships?
15+ 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
2 left program last year due to other job offers (Jan/Feb) that would not "wait" 1 left program in 21/22 due to family emergency (spouse/hurricane)
Number of interns from this program who applied for a residency in the past 5 years
1
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
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
4
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
6
Are current or former interns from the practice available for reference?
Yes, email the practice contact for details.
Additional information about the internship program
We are a responsive, responsible group that has received and incorporated feedback to improve our program continuously.