Student Externship Program

Learn Where It All Happens — Urgent Care, General Practice, and Beyond

2–4 week clinical externships for veterinary students ready to grow their skills in a fast-paced, supportive environment.

Why Extern at H3PUC?

Most externships give you one thing. We give you everything.

At Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Care, you'll rotate through Urgent Care/ER, General Practice, Mobile and In-home services— all under one roof. Our team of 10 DVMs and 13 LVT’s brings diverse specialties and communication styles, so you'll leave with broad exposure and real confidence.

We're a teaching hospital at heart. Our doctors love to mentor, and we've built a structured program designed to help you grow — not just watch.

Facilities

Newly remodeled in 2022- 13,000 sq ft building

  • 10 exam rooms, one isolation exam room, two dedicated comfort/euthanasia only rooms

  • Two surgical suites and one dental suite

  • complete in house lab(heska) and pharmacy

  • Digital radiology(Heska Cuattro DR) and Vimago HDVI CT unit

  • Newly purchased (2023) GE/Sound ultrasound for abdominal and cardiac imaging

What We Provide

✔ On-site housing at our facility — no need to find (or pay for) a place to stay

✔ Structured mentorship — you'll rotate with different DVMs daily, learning diverse approaches

✔ A team that wants to teach — ask questions, get involved, and be curious

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

  • Cadaver surgery practice — enucleation, laceration repair, amputation, OVH, castration

  • Technical skills — venipuncture, IV catheter placement, bandaging, cytology, radiographs

  • Mock client interactions — recorded or live, with feedback

  • Full department rotations — shadow CSRs, assistants, techs, and managers to understand the whole practice

  • Diagnostic lab practice — cytology, urinalysis, radiology interpretation

Tell us what you want to learn — we'll make it happen.

Our Services & Equipment

You'll get exposure to a full-service hospital, including:

  • Same-day urgent care / ER

  • General practice wellness and preventative care

  • In-house Heska/Idexx lab with same-day results

  • Digital radiography (Heska Cuattro DR)

  • In-house ultrasound

  • Vimago HD CT for dentals and advanced imaging

  • In-home euthanasia and mobile wellness

  • Two dedicated comfort rooms for end-of-life care

How to Apply

Ready to join us? APPLY HERE

  1. Email your application to records@h3puc.com with:

    • Your resume or CV

    • A brief cover letter telling us about yourself and your goals

    • Your preferred dates (2–4 weeks)

  2. Questions? Contact us via email or call- (509) 581-0647

We review applications on a rolling basis and will reach out to schedule your rotation.

APPLY HERE

Who Should Apply?

We welcome veterinary students at all stages:

  • 4th-year DVM students completing clinical rotations

  • 1st–3rd year students seeking early clinical exposure

  • Veterinary technician students looking for hands-on experience

We tailor the experience to your skill level and goals. Whether you're here to observe or ready to get your hands dirty, we'll meet you where you are.

Before You Arrive

We'll send you a full orientation packet, but here's what to expect:

  • Attire: Scrubs or business casual (lab coats optional — our DVMs don't wear them)

  • Name tag: You'll wear one identifying you as a veterinary student

  • Meals: Bring snacks! We have fridges, microwaves, and coffee. Lunch breaks are a priority.

  • Mindset: Come ready to ask questions, reflect on your goals, and engage with every department