Residency Information

The residency is a 3-year program, with the option of a fourth year with the mutual consent of the resident and SAS faculty. The residency provides in-depth surgical training that permits individuals to pursue a career in either private practice or an academic setting. The program meets all requirements of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS); during this time the resident must produce at least one manuscript that is accepted for publication in an appropriate journal.

Didactic training programs include Advanced Clinical Orthopedics, Canine Arthroscopy Laboratory, Canine Arthroplasty Laboratory, and Microvascular Surgery Laboratory.

There are three surgical services (orthopedic surgery, soft tissue surgery and oncologic surgery) on duty in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). A service consists of the faculty member, 1 or 2 residents, and 4-6 senior veterinary students. Receiving occurs 2 days/week and operations are performed the remaining 3 days of the week. Surgical residents actively participate in client interviews, physical examinations, and interpretation of diagnostic procedures. The findings and interpretations of the resident are evaluated and extended by consultation with faculty surgeons, and with residents and faculty from the various support services.

Operative experience is extensive in this program. At first the resident assists or operates under direct supervision; later primary responsibility is gradually transferred to the resident. Clinical experience is supported by participation in service rounds as well as by attending clinical rounds in medicine, radiology, pathology and anesthesiology. Clinical rounds at the UCD Medical Center are open to VMTH residents including Orthopedic Grand Rounds, Morbidity/Mortality Rounds, Oncology Grand rounds, etc.

• Neurosurgical cases are handled through the Neurology/Neurosurgery Service; Small Animal Surgery (SAS) residents rotate through that service and participate in related laboratory exercises to gain training in the subdiscipline of Neurosurgery. Two week rotations in Radiology, Pathology, Internal Medicine, and Anesthesiology are required to comply with ACVS Residency program guidelines.
  
  
• First year residents are assigned to clinic duty for approximately 40 weeks per year, second and third year residents approximately 32 weeks per year. Residents are in charge of their own service for a period during their third year. SAS residents participate in the emergency in-hours and after-hours surgery and are also responsible for overnight general emergency duty on a rotating basis with other VMTH residents. During off clinic time, the resident is expected to organize and conduct research projects and maintain ACVS required documents.

1. Daily case management of all patients assigned to his/her surgical service, including after hours admissions.
   
   
2. Assistance and supervision of student treatment of animals on the surgical service.
   
   
3. Extensive preparation for surgical management of patients is expected, i.e., the resident should be completely familiar with the pertinent surgical anatomy and clinical literature relative to each patient prior to the surgical procedure.
   
   
4. Correspondence with clients and referring veterinarians, as directed by the faculty member in charge of the service. The resident is expected to maintain follow-up communication with clients until resolution of the initial problem.
   
   
5. Attendance at rounds and seminars as scheduled by the surgery service. Active instruction of students is expected.
   
   
6. The resident maintains a surgical log and related ACVS documents.
   
   
7. The resident is expected to present at at least one major extramural conference during the residency program. This will often consist of a presentation at the Resident's Forum at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the ACVS but may be another major meeting. The resident is also expected to participate in the Annual House Officer Seminar Day.
   
   
8. The resident will also present a variable number of lectures as a participant in Surgical Resident Rounds or didactic courses organized by the SAS group.
   
   
9. The resident must have a minimum of one major manuscript submitted to a refereed journal by the end of the third year. All manuscripts must be reviewed by a member of the SAS faculty prior to submission.
   
   
10. The resident is expected to be abreast of the surgical literature. Specific journals and methods for periodic review will be discussed with the resident early in the program.
    
    
11. Medical records must be kept current, using computerized input of case summary data. All medical records must be completed prior to completion of the residency program.

Selection will not utilize the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program. For application procedures, salary and benefits, and other information about the residency program, please see General Information on the VMTH web site.

The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the residents’ duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.

The University of California, Davis, and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity.

RESIDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF AN EMERGENCY, THEREFORE, RESIDENTS MUST PLAN TO LIVE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL.

ALL RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA LICENSE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RESIDENCY.