Internship Opportunites

The internship program at the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is designed to provide a learning environment in which first year veterinarians:
  • Sharpen their diagnostic, therapeutic, reproductive management, and decision-making skills that are crucial to well-rounded equine veterinarians.
  • Learn to communicate with and manage clients through a ‘hands-on’ approach.
  • Benefit from our collection of experts that provide stateof- the-art veterinary care.

Field Care Internship:

Consists of rotations through Hagyard Field Care, McGee Fertility Center, McGee Medicine Center, and Davidson Surgery Center from July through December. The remainder of the year primarily consists of field/ ambulatory responsibilities involving emergency duties both with and without a senior practitioner. The experience is very intense and extremely diverse due to the large volume of horses treated by a practice of over 40 veterinarians and the enormous referral base that Hagyard Equine Medical Institute enjoys. Interns are often housed on or near some of Kentucky’s most spectacular breeding farms.

Sport Horse Internship:

This internship involves aspects of veterinary sport horse management. It focuses on client communication and comprehensive services including health and wellness diagnostics and therapies, performance maintenance programs and consultative partnerships. Veterinary work will be with area sport horse clients and at competitions in the area that range from entry level to international events. Time may be split at the winter circuits in either Florida or California. This internship consists of rotations through the Hagyard Field Care, McGee Fertility Center, McGee Medicine Center, and Davidson Surgery Center.

Surgery Internship:

Surgery internships are designed forthose students with a sincere interest in pursuing surgical residency programs. Greater then 90% of the intern experience will take place within the Davidson Surgery Center, performing daily patient assessments, treatments, nuclear scintigraphy,anesthesia, digital radiography, MRI, as well as lameness andperformance evaluations with a high speed treadmill. This internship consists of rotations through the McGee Medicine Center and the Hagyard Field Care division.

Benefits for internships include:


• Salary $25,000.00 per year
• Health and Dental Insurance
• One Regional Continuing Education Meeting
• Professional Dues and Licensing Fees
• AVMA Professional Liability Coverage
• Business Mileage Reimbursement

Applicants must participate in an externship in their area of interest prior to the November 1 application deadline.

Prerequisites of Acceptance:


1. Completion in good standing of a DVM or VMD
degree at an accredited university.
2. A passing score on the NAVLE.
3. A veterinary license and accreditation to practice in the
State of Kentucky.
4. All required board tests must be completed by the
beginning of internship.

Application Process:


E-mail information to: Jamie O’Flynn at joflynn@hagyard.com
Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are evaluated upon submission. November 1 is the absolute deadline. A visit of the facility is required for all applicants, preferably between February and May.

1. Letter of Intent addressed to Dr. Rhonda Rathgeber.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Three letters of recommendation addressed to Dr. Rhonda
Rathgeber.