Welcome!

Thank you for choosing the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine when considering completing your clinical training requirement.  The VMCVM Office of Academic Affairs is ready to support you as you transition from the classroom to the clinic floor. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns that you might have at dvmclerkship@vt.edu.

SGU Visiting Student Checklist

Please ensure that you understand your responsibility to complete the items listed below. You are advised to complete these items in the order in which they are listed.

  • Immediately upon acceptance, please review the student handbook and select a track.
  • The Student Handbook outlines policies and procedures for all students. It is imperative that you review and are familiar with the handbook before your arrival.
  • Please review SGS Visiting Student Curriculum and Tracks below.

Clerkship


Number of 3-week rotations


CORE

Community Practice 1
Shelter Medicine 1
Anesthesia 1
Lab Services 1
Radiology 1
Large Animal Medicine & Surgery (LAMS) 1
Production Management Medicine (PMM) 1
Public/Corporate 1
Small Animal Medicine (SGU requirement) 1

TRACK

Equine Medical Center (EMC) 1
Large Animal Medicine & Surgery  1
Equine Field Services (EFS) 1
Equine  Private Practice (external) 2

ELECTIVES

Internal or External Electives 2
Vacation 1
Total # of blocks 17

 

In addition to the three week vacation block you will have one week vacation during block 11.


Clerkship


Number of 3-week rotations


CORE

Community Practice 1
Shelter Medicine 1
Anesthesia 1
Lab Services 1
Radiology 1
Equine Field Services (EFS) 1
Production Management Medicine (PMM) 1
Public/Corporate (external) 1
Small Animal Medicine (SGU requirement) 1

TRACK

FA Private Practice 2
Production Management Medicine 1

Choose 2 of the following

Large Animal Medicine & Surgery (LAMS) 1
Beef Production 1
Dairy Production 1
Equine Field Services 1
Equine Medical Center (EMC) 1
Emergency & Critical Care 1
Ophthalmology 1
Oncology 1

ELECTIVES

Electives 2
Vacation 1
Total # of blocks 17

 

In addition to the three week vacation block you will have one week vacation during block 11.


Clerkship


Number of 3-week rotations


CORE

Community Practice 1
Shelter Medicine & Surgery 1
Anesthesia 1
Lab Services 1
Radiology 1
Equine Field Services (EFS) 1
Production Management Medicine (PMM) 1
Public/Corporate 1
Small Animal Medicine (SGU requirement) 1

TRACK

Large Animal Medicine & Surgery (LAMS) or Equine Field Services or Equine Medical Center (EMC) 1
Mixed Animal Private Practice 1
Private Practice (SA, FA, EQ, or Exotic) 1
Emergency & Critical Care 1

Choose 1 of the following 

Large Animal: EMC (Leesburg Campus), LAMS, EFS 1
Small Animal: Cardiology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Small Animal Surgery, Dermatology (specialty practice) 1
Exotic Animal Experience: Preceptor must be ACZM or ABVP boarded 1

ELECTIVES

Internal or External Electives 2
Vacation 1
Total # of blocks 17

 

In addition to the three week vacation block you will have one week vacation during block 11.


Clerkship


Number of 3-week rotations


CORE

Community Practice 1
Shelter Medicine & Surgery 1
Anesthesia 1
Lab Services 1
Radiology 1
Large Animal Medicine 1
Production Management Medicine (PMM) 1
Public/Corporate 1
Small Animal Internal Medicine (SGU Requirement) 1

TRACK-Choose 5 rotations from the following subject areas. You may choose the same subject area multiple times but cannot complete more than two rotations at the same facility for the same subject area. All external rotations

Federal/State Government 1
Research/Diagnostics 1
Institutional Applied Clinical Medicine 1
Corporate/Associate/Administrative 1

ELECTIVES

Internal or external electives 2
Vacation 1
Total # of blocks 17

 

In addition to the three week vacation block you will have a one week break during block 11.


Clerkship


Number of 3-week rotations


CORE

Community Practice 1
Shelter Medicine & Surgery 1
Anesthesia 1
Lab Services 1
Radiology 1
Large Animal Medicine & Surgery(LAMS) 1
Production Management Medicine (PMM) 1
Public/Corporate (internal or external) 1
Small Animal Internal Medicine 1

TRACK-Choose 5 from below (may repeat twice)

Veterinary Ophthalmology 1
Emergency & Critical Care 1
Neurology 1
Oncology 1
Cardiology 1
Dermatology 1
Clinical Pathology 1
Small Animal Internal Medicine 1

ELECTIVES

Internal or external electives 2
Vacation (two weeks) 1
Total # of blocks 17

 

In addition to the two week vacation block you will have a one week break during block 11.

Before your arrival, it is imperative that your rabies and tetanus immunizations are current. Without compliance, students are not allowed to participate in clinical activities. Our program requires the following:

  • Proof of tetanus immunizations must be within the past 10 years.
  • Proof of rabies with actual results of titer within the last three years must reflect 1 ≥ 0.5.
  • Please review additional immunization information.
  • Please review additional information about required health and accident insurance.
  • Mail or fax official, signed, and legible copies of proof of health and accident liability insurance to:
    Office of Academic Affairs (0442)
    Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
    245 Duckpond Drive
    Phase III Suite 203
    Blacksburg, VA 24061
    Fax: 540-231-9290

At least 60 days before your arrival in Blacksburg:

  • The Office of Academic Affairs will schedule you for all clerkships based on your curricular requirements. Please access your clinical year calendars below. 
  • There will be opportunities prior to your arrival to meet with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs to review those schedules before they are finalized.
  • You will be notified by email once your Virginia Tech PID (Personal Identifier) has been set up. Upon notification, please change your password. Our sole method of communication will be through your vt.edu email address, which is your PID@vt.edu.
  • Your PID will be used both for email and for access to tools to help manage your clinical year.
  • Once you have access to your vt.edu email, we will only communicate with you via your VT email.  In addition to your individual email,  you will be added to the student listservs.
  • Once your PID has been created, you will be contacted to complete the online Radiation Safety Certification Exams. For your convenience, please find the folowing links: Operator and Nuclear Medicine.
  • Once you have completed your exams, please ensure your receipt of an official certification of completion and send to dvmclerkships@vt.edu.
  • It is required that you complete the Radiation Safety Training certification tests at least four weeks prior to arriving for orientation at VMCVM.
  • After certification you will need to obtain your own dosimetry badge. A badge will not be provided for you.
  • Under no circumstances is a student permitted to begin his or her clinical rotations at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital without successfully completing the required certification exams and receiving the certification.
  • If you have any problems accessing the secured website, please contact Academic Affairs at (540) 231-1735 or dvmclerkships@vt.edu.

Prior to arrival:

Options for housing include, but are not limited to, the following:

Once you arrive:

  • Prior to orientation, all students are required to have a Virginia Tech Hokie Passport and a Veterinary Teaching Hospital Identification Card. These can be obtained at the student services building shown on the map below.
  • DVM students who plan to park on campus are required to purchase a parking permit and register their vehicle with the University Security Division. You must be able to provide a valid driver’s license, state vehicle registration, license number, description of the vehicle, and your new Hokie Passport Identification. Please obtain your parking permit before orientation. 
  • Parking passes can be purchased online or at the parking services building shown on the map below. 
Map of the Student Services building and the Parking Services building.
  • Once you have received your parking pass, be sure it is prominently displayed hanging from your rear-view mirror (cannot be hanging while operating the vehicle). While parking on campus, please be mindful of where you are parking. Certain lots and certain spots are reserved for certain parking passes. If you have any questions regarding parking, you may email them at parking@vt.edu or contact them by phone at (540)-231-3200. 
  • Please NOTE: Student parking for the vet school is located in the designate VMCVM student parking lot shown below: 
Map of VMCVM student parking.

We look forward to your orientation! We have an informative and fun orientation planned for you.

  • The orientation day schedule will be provided to you approximately a week in advance. View a sample orientation schedule.
  • During orientation, you will receive information about one45, Canvas, the Office of Academic Affairs, and other available resources for managing your clinical year. You will be given a tour of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, your name tag, a locker (please provide a lock), information about Doc Halo, and your radiation dosimetry badge.
  • Please bring your Virginia Tech Hokie Passport and your Veterinary Teaching Hospital Identification Card to orientation.

Managing Your Clinical Year:

  • You will use the one45 database to manage your clinical year. This tool will be used to track your clinical year and view your schedule.
  • Before your arrival, log-in instructions will be sent to you by the Academic Affairs office.
  • During orientation, you will receive training on the use of the one45.
  • Please review instructions for navigating the one45 clinical year management system.
  • Once we process your PID, you will have access to all of the clerkship material.
  • In this portal you will be able to request days off and submit your externship requests. More details about this tool will be provided during orientation.

Academic Affairs support will be available to you as needed to assist you with any questions you may have. We can be reached at:

Office of Academic Affairs
Phone: 540-231-4090
Fax: 540-231-9290
Email: acadaff@vt.edu