November 16, 2012

2012-2013 Surgical Externship Offered at Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling, MA - 17 Laurelwood Rd Sterling MA - 01564 www.sterlingshelter.org

To Sign Up or Receive more Information Please contact: Edward Schettino DVM, PhD, MS & Medical Director Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling edward.schettino@gmail.com Leigh Grady Executive Director leigh13@ix.netcom.com
We are pleased to offer a 4-day surgical externship for veterinarians preparing to take the Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) in the ECFVG Certification Program. We offer an opportunity to work with our staff Veterinarian in our on-site high volume spay/neuter clinic. We provide veterinarians with the opportunity to perform routine spays on dogs and possibly cats depending on our caseload each day. All surgery will be performed under the direct supervision of our veterinarian throughout the 4 days. The exact number of animals spayed by each extern depends on caseload, as well as the externs experience, skill level, and ability to adhere to protocol, but our goal is to allow the extern to perform a minimum of 2 surgeries per day and possibly more. We will do our best to book at least 2-3 spays for each extern each day, but we cannot guarantee the number. If there are circumstances that arise such as illness, weather issues etc it is always possible that we may have to cancel surgeries and no refunds will be issued due to unforeseen cancellations. If for some reason a full day or more is cancelled we will offer you an opportunity to come back to make up that day/s. Our animal shelter is located in Central Massachusetts only one hour from Boston, MA, Providence RI and Hartford CT and is easily accessible from most all points in New England. For door to door direction please click here Application Procedure: We offer a limited number of weeks for this externship and often have a long waiting list of applicants, so please plan ahead and we will attempt to find a week that works for you in our schedule. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to take all applicants and spots are filled on a first come first serve basis.

If you are interested in attending please contact Dr. Edward Schettino Staff Veterinarian ewschettino@gmail.com by email only . In the subject line of your email please type: Surgical Externship and your name.
Once you have contacted us by email please send the following: All forms should be faxed to 978-422-8574 - Attention: Staff Veterinarian/Surgical Externship 1. Applicants must submit proof from the AVMA that they are registered in the ECFVG Certification Program and that they have completed steps 1, 2, and 3. 2. -Applicants must submit a notarized copy of their Veterinary Diploma or other proof of completion. 3. -Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English. 4. -Applicants must submit proof of health Insurance and current rabies vaccination. Expenses: Externship Total Cost: $2000 $650 Payment is due within 10 days after applicant has been accepted and assigned to a specific week. This includes a $50 application fee and $600 for the purchase of surgical supplies needed for your externship. $1350 Final payment due 10 days PRIOR to the start of your externship.

All payments should be submitted and payable to: Animal Shelter Inc. and mailed to: Animal Shelter Inc. Attention: CPE Surgical Externship. 17 Laurelwood Road Sterling, MA 01564 The applicant is responsible for all costs associated with attending the externship including but not limited to travel expenses, transportation, lodging, food, medical insurance, pre-exposure rabies vaccines, etc. All fees are non-refundable unless for any reason Animal Shelter Inc. has to cancel or change the dates of your externship in which case all fees would be refunded IF an alternative week cannot be scheduled. Scheduling: All scheduling is done by our staff veterinarian directly. The Externship runs Monday through Wed from approximately 10AM-4PM and Thurs 10-2PM the week you are assigned to. Conduct:

The Animal Shelter Inc. has the right to dismiss an extern at any time for any reason and will not issue a refund in any case that an extern is dismissed from the program. Externs are expected to treat the animals and staff at Animal Shelter Inc of Sterling, with respect and maintain professional conduct at all times. Failure to do so will result in immediate dismissal. As an extern you are working under the license of our veterinarian and must be respectful of this privilege and follow all direction given by our veterinarian. Further, as a visitor to our facility we also ask that you are respectful to our highly trained veterinary technicians. Our surgical team is highly concerned for the safety and well-being of animals in our care and the technicians will be monitoring any animals you are performing surgery on. They are also keeping track of time that an animal is under anesthesia and will alert the doctor to make sure all safety aspects are of the highest caliber.
What To Bring: You should bring your own surgical scrubs to wear each day and a stethoscope. There is a deli and coffee shop in walking distance if you do not bring lunch. We have a break room with a full kitchen and bathroom. Externs will have approximately a 30 minute lunch break. What to Expect: This is an externship to practice spays only. This is not an externship for you to do pre-op exams, anesthesia, etc. Your patients will be examined and prepped for surgery by our veterinarian and veterinary technicians. The first day you should expect to observe our veterinarian who will review surgical protocols before you begin to spay your first patient.. We do limit the time that you have to complete your spays to 2 hours maximum and if the time limit is reached, our veterinarian will finish the surgery and you may possibly be given another spay to do if one is available. If at any time our veterinarian feels you have compromised the safety of the animal our veterinarian will step in and finish the procedure. Depending on the circumstances you may be dismissed or given another spay to do. You will be expected to do post op exams on the dogs you have spayed to check their incisions, temperatures, etc. As an extern you are working under the license of our veterinarian and must be respectful of this privilege and follow direction given by our veterinarian. Animal Shelter Inc. of Sterling and our veterinarian do not guarantee that you will pass your CPE exam and we accept no responsibility for your success or failure in your exam. We do not guarantee that our protocols and surgical techniques are acceptable to your CPE examiners. We only offer you the opportunity to practice spaying and hope to help you improve your surgical skills and gain the confidence you need to be successful. Recommendations for accommodations: Chocksett Inn www.chocksettinn.com is only a few hundred yards down our street within walking distance to our shelter. Our shelter has a corporate rate if you call them at 800.331.7829 and ask for ANIMAL SHELTER INCS CORPORATE RATE. More info on Sterling, MA click here.