The Angell West Internship Program

Each June, the MSPCA-Angell West in Waltham, MA, welcomes a select group of veterinarians into its Small Animal Rotating and Specialty Internship Programs. These challenging and exciting opportunities emphasize mentoring and teaching. They provide the new graduate with a general and specialty referral medical practice foundation, building a future of strong clinical skills, critical thinking, ethics, continued learning, and teaching.

This comprehensive internship is designed to fulfill all requirements for applicants interested in further advancement to a residency training program. It represents an excellent opportunity for professional growth and development, particularly for those pursuing a career in general practice or emergency medicine. By the end of this program, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in your chosen field.

Overview of the Angell West Internship

The Angell West Internship is relatively new, with the first intern class starting in 2018. Angell West is a satellite hospital to Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston; the internship program at West has the support and experience associated with the longstanding Boston internship program.

With each graduating class, the number of interns has increased. Since its start, the program has graduated 100% of Angell West interns. Angell interns have gone on to residencies in various fields, specialty internships, general practice, and emergency practice.

Angell West currently brings together specialty services in

• Avian and Exotic Medicine
• Behavior
• Cardiology
• Critical Care
• Dermatology
• Internal Medicine
• Surgery
• General Medicine
• Urgent Care

Angell Boston provides any specialty services not offered at MSPCA-Angell West, and the two hospitals work closely together to provide seamless, excellent medical and client care. It is fully supported by the Angell Boston Diagnostic Imaging service, staffed by boarded radiologists, and the Angell Boston-based diagnostic laboratory, staffed by two boarded pathologists.

Angell West is equipped with

• digital radiography
• echocardiography
• ultrasonography with Doppler and color flow capabilities
• endoscopy/bronchoscopy
• arthroscopy
• laparoscopy
• video otoscopy
• computed tomography (CT)
• shock wave therapy
• major orthopedic power instrumentation

Angell West can also provide critical care support, including blood gas analysis, oxygen support, coagulation analysis, telemetry, and transfusion therapy.

The Emergency & Critical Care (E/CC) and specialty services are all supported by Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs), who work on the clinic floor more than 95% of the time and provide technical and skill support to the interns.

In addition, Angell has the unique benefit of having a licensed social worker on staff to support clients and staff, particularly those facing end-of-life decisions with pets.

Timeline of an internship

The Angell West internship commences in early June and ends in late June of the following year. Interns are expected to learn all aspects of hospital procedures, including management of a wide variety of cases, generating appropriate estimates, and communicating with owners and primary care veterinarians.

Our large caseload and emphasis on mentoring and learning will enrich the intern’s experience and prepare them for the rigors of residency training or private practice.

Interns are expected to work an average of 50 hours per week; the schedule is actively managed to ensure that this average is not exceeded.

• During non-E/CC rotations, the intern’s shift will occur during daytime hours, with an occasional late day/early evening as dictated by the specialists’ appointment schedules.
• On the E/CC, Urgent Care, and General Medicine services, interns work a mix of daytime and evening shifts.

Interns are not expected to come in during scheduled days off or to cover any clinical responsibilities when not scheduled to work. Interns can assume on-call responsibility during their rotations with the surgery service.

At the completion of the internship, the candidate will have acquired and developed

• strong clinical skills
• critical thinking
• ethics
• communication skills

Breakdown of the program

This internship aims to provide the new graduate with a general and specialty medicine foundation through primary case responsibility, specialty training, mentoring, and continuing education. This internship program was designed with the intern’s learning experience in mind.

The clinical services at Angell West work as teams; therefore, good group interaction and communication skills are essential for the intern’s success. Interns must be able to work efficiently and effectively.

Scheduling

The following outlines how an Angell West intern’s time is allocated:

• Percentage assigned to daytime and evening primary emergency: 42%
• Percentage assigned to first opinion (primary care) clinics: 42%
• Percentage provided elective time: 15%
• Percentage required to work at a secondary (satellite) clinic: 1%

The current schedule has interns rotating through the following blocks:

• Internal Medicine/Urgent Care/General Medicine (12 weeks)
• Surgery (3 weeks)
• Emergency/Critical Care and Urgent Care (23 weeks)
• Cardiology (2 weeks)
• Neurology (2 weeks)
• Elective rotations (8 weeks)

During the scheduled eight weeks of elective time, rotations in other specialties offered at Angell West can be scheduled, or rotations in areas of interest not represented at Angell West can be arranged at the Angell Boston location. Out-rotations and attendance at a veterinary conference are also possible with approval.

A significant portion (more than 90% to 95%) of the internship occurs with direct supervision; however, interns are encouraged to become progressively more independent throughout the year as their knowledge base, skill sets, and confidence improve.

• During the internship – Interns will have both primary and secondary case responsibilities. On the E/CC, Urgent Care, and General Medicine services, interns have primary case responsibility while being supported by senior clinicians.
• During the specialty rotations – Interns more commonly have secondary case responsibility, but they work closely with the specialists in managing their cases and play an active role in case management.

Daily patient rounds occur on all services, during which all hospitalized patients and some outpatients are discussed.

Each intern is supported by a mentor and is evaluated regularly by the staff on their professional performance, communication skills, and progress in pursuing knowledge and clinical aptitude.

Outside employment

Concurrent employment at any other veterinary practice is discouraged to maximize the benefits gained during the year.

• Volunteer work (such as at a local shelter) is permitted if it does not negatively impact an intern’s ability to perform during scheduled hours at Angell West.
• If open shifts are available, interns may elect to work additional emergency receiving shifts at Angell West or the Angell Boston location (for additional compensation).

Interns are not required to sign a non-compete agreement at any point during the internship.

Continuing education

Weekly lectures

Interns participate in more formal didactic training at least once weekly.

Interns are expected to virtually attend a once-weekly continuing education intern seminar. Angell has a weekly continuing education program for the veterinary staff and area veterinarians; these lectures are presented by the staff, residents, and guest lecturers, and the topics cover a wide range of interests related to veterinary medicine. Interns also have unlimited access to Angell’s online library (over 27 periodicals) and the physical libraries at both West and Boston locations; the intern is also provided with a one-year membership to VIN. (Due to the 13-mile distance between Angell West and Angell Animal Medical Center, we recommend interns have access to personal transportation.)

Benefits

Interns can take advantage of the benefits package outlined in the MSPCA-Angell employment materials, which includes three weeks (150 hours) of paid vacation.

Requirements to apply

Interns are required to be fully licensed in the state of Massachusetts prior to the start date. Applicants are considered based on their academic record, letter of intent, and letters of recommendation.

A personal, telephone, or virtual interview is VERY STRONGLY recommended. Interview dates are available each year between November and January. Once you have applied through VIRMP, please email Courtney Peck, DVM, DACVECC-SA (cpeck@angell.org), to schedule an appointment.

Prospective applicants are also encouraged to schedule an externship at Angell West during their time in clinics during veterinary school. Externs meet with Dr. Peck and have opportunities to speak with current rotating interns and other members of the Angell West staff.

Applicants are selected through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP); details about the application process and deadlines are available at virmp.org. The Angell West veterinary internship program is a 13-month program. If you are interested in applying, please visit virmp.org.

Program prerequisites

• Graduate of a college of veterinary medicine
• Full licensure in the state of Massachusetts and a DEA license

Standard VIRMP Application packet
– VIRMP application
– Veterinary school official transcript from university registrar
– Personal statement
– Curriculum vitae
– Three to four standardized letters of reference
– A personal, telephone, or virtual interview is strongly recommended. To make an appointment, please contact Dr. Courtney Peck at cpeck@angell.org.

Please note: We do not give E3 or H1B visas; we can provide TN1 visas. Massachusetts accepts the PAVE.

For more information regarding caseload, clinical responsibilities, didactic training, and equipment, please visit virmp.org and choose Angell West.

The Angell West Specialty Internship Programs

In addition to our Small Animal Rotating Internship Program, which offers multiple positions annually, Angell West offers select specialty internship programs for veterinarians seeking advanced training in specific areas. Current offerings include an Avian and Exotic Medicine Specialty Internship, a Surgery Specialty Internship, and a Dermatology Specialty Internship. Please visit virmp.org and choose Angell West to see the listed positions, and contact Dr. Courtney Peck (cpeck@mspca.org) with any questions.

The above description of the Angell West internship reflects the program as of the date of this writing. This is a dynamic program; changes may be made at any time, leading to deviations from this description.