What advice do you have for me to find the right internship?

If the hospital does not offer in person interviews for you to tour the facility, then it is not the best idea to rank them. First question I answer, and I am already starting off blunt and to the point (haha!). I feel very strongly about this answer because your internship year is going to be challenging with long hours. You will spend an entire year at their hospital, so you want to ensure it is the best fit possible. Your visit will allow you to differentiate among programs to determine your rank order. You get to meet current interns giving you an inside look into their internship program. Are they smiling, stressed, positive, or tired? You will also meet staff members and observe how the hospital operates, as well as experience the work culture first hand. You can take all of this information and ensure the program description matches what you expected and what they told you in your phone interview.

If you cannot visit or they do not allow visits due to outside factors, then it is important to ask for current intern’s email addresses. You can ask them direct questions to gain a feel for how they like the program. I also recommend researching the hospital. Check out their website, social media, and reviews. You can see how they are seen in the community and use all of this information to find the right internship program for you. If you want further information on this topic, check out my book available on Amazon, “Becoming a Millennial Veterinarian.” Chapter 3 elaborates on all things internships, and I will be answering your internship related questions here on NextGen! (@vpnextgen) Stay tuned, and ask away fellow students and colleagues.