The University of California, Davis, will reintroduce a one-year small animal rotating internship at its William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) for the 2027-2028 academic year. This program has been inactive since the 1980-1981 academic year, and the hospital will offer five internship positions in total. Applications will open on November 1, 2026, and will be accepted until January 4, 2027, through the Veterinary Intern and Resident Matching Program.

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Interns will engage in core rotations that include small animal internal medicine, soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, cardiology, medical oncology, neurology, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and clinical pathology. Elective rotations may cover areas such as exotics, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, primary care, anatomic pathology, radiation oncology, nutrition, and behavior, with potential research opportunities as well.

The VMTH is known for handling over 55,000 cases annually, one of the largest caseloads among academic teaching hospitals in the U.S. As interns advance, they will be expected to take on more significant responsibilities in patient care. Jamie Burkitt, DVM, DACVECC, co-director of House Officer Affairs at VMTH, explained that interns will gain primary responsibility for cases aligned with their skills and will receive ongoing support from faculty.

The rotating internship primarily targets newly graduated veterinarians, preparing them for various career avenues such as specialty residency, academic clinical practice, referral medicine, and general practice. Michael Mison, DVM, DACVS, chief veterinary medical officer at the VMTH, emphasized that the internship provides an immersive experience aimed at building clinical judgment and confidence.

Kate Hopper, PhD, DACVECC, director of the VMTH's Small Animal Hospital, noted the importance of allowing interns access to specialty services, which can help shape their future career directions. The program is also expected to enhance the teaching environment at UC Davis, as veterinary students will learn alongside these emerging clinicians, fostering mentorship opportunities for faculty and residents.

Further program details and application instructions can be found on the UC Davis House Officer website.