Indianapolis Zoo
Description
The Indianapolis Zoo Veterinary Department offers a 4 - 8 week externship opportunity for 4th year veterinary students. The Indianapolis Zoo refers to these experiences as Internships. A maximum of 6 students will be accepted annually. The student will spend a minimum of 40 hours per week at the zoo, observing and assisting the staff veterinarians with all aspects of clinical work including treatments, immobilizations, necropsies, lab work, radiology, surgery and animal records. The zoo has a very modern veterinary hospital and is fully staffed with 3 full-time veterinarians, 1 post-graduate veterinary intern, 1 zoo nutritionist, 3 veterinary technicians, 2 hospital keepers, and 1 clerical assistant. A small project such as a case report or similar project is required, and will be presented at the end of the externship.
Details
Associate Veterinarians and special expertise available
- Senior Veterinarian: Dr. Jeff Proudfoot, DVM. Member of AAZV, WDA, AVMA. Areas of interest: Rhino and elephant medicine.
- Associate veterinarian: Dr. Jan Ramer, DVM, Dipl ACZM. Member of AAZV (President 2010), AVMA, IAAAM, ARAV, AZA. Areas of interest: Primate and avian medicine, iguana conservation.
- Associate Veterinarian: Dr. Michelle Bowman, DVM. Member of AAZV, IAAAM, WDA, AAV, AZA. Area of interest: Primate and avian medicine, emergency medicine.
- Zoo Nutritionist: Jason Williams, PhD
Educational Resources
- Journals: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, Journal of Herpetological Medicine and Surgery, Zoo Biology, JAVMA Proceedings: AAZV, IAAAM, ARAV, AAV
- Texts: Numerous exotic animal medicine specialty texts (e.g. Fowler: Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Eds 1-6, The Veterinary Clinics of North America - Exotic Animal Practice, CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Mader: Reptile Medicine and Surgery) plus numerous small and large animal medicine texts.
- Student computer with internet access.
- Monthly subject rounds (1 hour discussion on a specific subject - e.g. great ape cardiomyopathy, avian analgesia, marine mammal ophthalmology, water quality analysis).
- Journal club 2 times per month.
Responsibilities
The student will spend a minimum of 40 hours per week at the zoo, observing and assisting the staff veterinarians with all aspects of clinical work including treatments, immobilizations, necropsies, lab work, radiology, surgery and animal records. A small project such as a case report or similar project is required, and will be presented at the end of the externship.
Student Supervision
The student will have access to a veterinarian at all times during the internship. At least 1 veterinarian is on duty at the zoo 7 days per week, approximately 8 hours per day.
Housing
None reported.
Practice Information
Indianapolis Zoo
1200 W. Washington St.
PO Box 22309
Indianapolis, IN 46222-0309
Ph: 317-630-2065
Fx: 317-630-5154
email: mbowman [at] indyzoo [dot] com
web: www.indyzoo.com
Updated: 7/17/09
Signature on file: Michelle Bowman, DVM
