Learning Opportunities

Veterinary Summer Research Fellowship, Shelter Medicine Rotation, Northwest Bovine Veterinary Experience Program, Clinical Microbiology Externship, Pathology Externship

Veterinary Summer Research Fellowship

A mentored summer research project experience for first- or second-year veterinary students


Shelter medicine

The shelter medicine program at WSU provides veterinary students a learning opportunity in community-based, primary care facilities during their final year of the DVM degree program where they can have a positive effect on the health and behavior of shelter animals.  

“Seattle Humane helped me to reinforce my medical knowledge and clinical skills, allowing considerable hands-on learning opportunities while I was there.

Krysta Dawson (’20 DVM)

Northwest Bovine Veterinary Experience Program

A 6-week summer experience on a dairy farm or local food animal veterinary practice for first- and second-year veterinary students. The program provides hands-on experience to prepare veterinary students for a career working with livestock. 

If you are a current student, see more information on our internal website.

The opportunity to spend six weeks on one dairy is unique and very valuable. I was able to gain a more thorough understanding of the complexities of dairy management and the critical role of the veterinarian.

-Abbi Olson

Pacific Northwest Salmonid Veterinary Externship Program (PNSVEP)

Student with fish

Aquaculture medicine remains an underserved and largely-unknown specialty within the scope of veterinary practice. Only a small number of veterinary schools incorporate fish health classes into their core curriculums and fewer still offer insight into herd health management of aquatic species for production (human consumption) and/or mitigation (wildlife supplementation) purposes. This program was created in the hopes of exposing veterinary students, those who have a proven and focused interest in the field, to a variety of salmon and trout hatcheries, natural resource agencies, aquatic health professionals, and fish diagnostic laboratories within the Pacific Northwest.


Clinical microbiology externship

 A 2-week rotation focusing on infectious disease and infectious disease diagnosis in the Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology department and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL). Veterinary students will gain experience within the field of diagnostic medicine with an emphasis on bacteriology, mycology, virology, serology, parasitology, and molecular techniques.

Contact: Claire Burbick, DVM, PhD, DACVM

Pathology externship

During a 2- to 4-week externship, veterinary students are introduced to the combined anatomic pathology residency/graduate training program offered within the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) and the Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology department.

Contact: Chrissy Eckstrand, DVM, PhD, DACVP  

 If you are a current student, log into our internal website for application information.