Clerkships are a crucial part of veterinary education. The clinical phase is where book knowledge is put into practice. The maximum 19 clerkships that Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students can enroll in provide invaluable hands-on experience in different fields within veterinary medicine. Some are required—such as Large Animal Medicine and Surgery or Small Animal Anesthesia—while many more are elective, allowing students to study their career interests in-depth.

The Equine Clinical Proficiency Clerkship is designed to fill the gaps in hands-on experience for students pursuing a career in equine medicine. Any common procedure that future equine practitioners have yet to try will be part of the curriculum. The clerkship covers field and practitioner-based clinical techniques and training.

A short course for aspiring aquatic veterinarians that provides students with theoretical and practical training, the Aquatic Animal Medicine Clerkship aims to give students basic understanding of aquatic medicine. Students leave with a strong baseline of knowledge that will allow them to address issues impacting pet fish, fisheries, and aquaculture in their future careers. Learning about the aquatic environment, fish anatomy, and aquatic animal pathogens and diagnostics are central to this clerkship.

Throughout the three weeks of this clerkship, students engage in seven core activities designed to sharpen diagnostic skills through case studies and enhance scientific writing. The course includes lab experiences and visits to research, aquatic zoo, and aquaculture facilities.

A unique feature of this elective clerkship is the wealth of guest lecturers who contribute their expertise from around the world. Not only do lecturers impart diverse wisdom about specific aquatic health topics, but they also emphasize the importance of global partnerships in the tight-knit, international network of aquatic animal medicine. Notably, a portion of this course is organized in a virtual partnership with University of Pretoria, South Africa, aimed at promoting global learning and international professional networking.