Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

Residencies & Internships

Small Animal and Large Animal Clinical Sciences

Elevate Your Veterinary Career at Tufts
Join a community dedicated to the next generation of specialists. Small Animal and Large Animal Clinical Sciences offers intensive, hands-on training designed to bridge the gap between graduation and elite practice.

Why Train With Us?

  • Academic Integration: Diverse caseload, attend in-house rounds, seminars, and conferences.
  • Professional Development: Gain teaching experience with 4th-year D.V.M. students.
  • Expert Mentorship: Work directly with board-certified faculty at the top of their fields.
  • Research Opportunities: Participate in clinical or basic research including the Tufts Residents Enhanced Veterinary Education and Academic Learning (REVEAL) Program, an NIH-funded initiative designed to launch careers in research and academia.

Internships (1 Year)

Intensive, supervised case management for recent graduates. Programs are customizable and include rotations across various specialties. (Note: Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. or qualify for a TN visa).

Residencies (3 Years)

Advanced specialty training following the guidelines of relevant specialty colleges. Our programs prepare you for board certification and success in private or academic practice.

Candidates must possess a D.V.M. or V.M.D. degree or the equivalent. Applications must be submitted through the AAVC's Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program.

Please contact the individual named in the VIRMP program description with questions regarding programs or the application process.

Most programs are available in VIRMP, with some exceptions depending on their availability (for instance, every year versus every other year).

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine takes tremendous pride in its residency and internship programs, which are designed to help veterinarians grow as expert clinicians, teachers, and researchers.

Comparative Pathobiology

The Department of Comparative Pathobiology at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, in conjunction with the Cummings Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDL) which serves the school's hospitals and clinics, offers top-tier training for residents in Veterinary Pathology. Our 3-year residency programs provide a rich and varied caseload, ensuring ample practical experience. Residents have the chance to participate in a wide range of in-house rounds, seminars, and conferences, instruct fourth-year veterinary students, and contribute to clinical or basic research projects.

The picturesque 600-acre campus in North Grafton, MA provides a rich environment for both professional development and personal enjoyment, while offering easy access to Boston and Worcester, as well as New England's beaches and mountains.

Spanning three years, these residency programs deliver specialized training under the guidance of seasoned, board-certified faculty. Compliant with the American College of Veterinary Pathology guidelines, the programs are meticulously designed to prepare residents for specialty board certification and to excel in both private and academic specialty practices.

Residencies

Tufts Veterinary Field Service

Internship in Large Animal Ambulatory Medicine

Tufts Veterinary Field Service at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine offers a one-year internship position in large animal ambulatory medicine that begins in July. The internship program provides a new or recent graduate with robust mentorship and a diverse practice environment, enabling them to become proficient and confident large animal ambulatory clinicians capable of handling bovine, equine, small ruminant, and porcine cases.

The intern shares on-call responsibilities after a dedicated training period, and a back-up clinician is available throughout the internship. The intern participates in clinical and laboratory training of veterinary students throughout the academic year. Attendance and presentation in weekly didactic rounds are mandatory. 

Requirements for the internship are a D.V.M. or equivalent degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school, with current licensure to practice in the United States. The candidate should have the ability to obtain Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island licensure and USDA Category II accreditation for the same states.

Please address any questions to Dr. Isabelle Louge, TVFS Internship Director, damt@tufts.edu.  

Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic

  • Internship

    The Tufts at Tech (TaT) Community Veterinary Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University offers a unique and immersive internship experience for veterinarians pursuing advanced training in small animal community medicine and primary care.

    Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, approximately one hour west of Boston, TaT provides outpatient veterinary care for nearly 6,000 canine and feline patients annually. The clinic is uniquely embedded within Worcester Technical High School, creating a collaborative learning environment where fourth-year Tufts veterinary students work alongside vocational high school students training to become veterinary assistants.

    TaT’s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable veterinary care to underserved pet owners throughout Worcester and neighboring communities while fostering the next generation of veterinary professionals. Through this innovative model, veterinary students gain hands-on clinical experience as primary care clinicians, and high school students develop meaningful exposure to veterinary medicine and animal care careers.

    Clinical Experience

    The internship provides extensive hands-on experience in a fast-paced teaching hospital environment with a diverse and high-volume caseload that includes:

    • Preventive and wellness care
    • Urgent and emergency care
    • Chronic disease management
    • Soft tissue surgery
    • Dentistry
    • Diagnostic imaging and ultrasound

    With a fully equipped surgical suite and strong mentorship culture, interns develop confidence in both medical and surgical case management within a high-volume primary care setting.

    Internship Responsibilities

    Interns play a critical role in supporting fourth-year veterinary students through:

    • Case consultations and clinical guidance
    • Diagnostic and treatment planning
    • Surgical mentorship and procedural instruction
    • Daily rounds and patient management

    In addition to mentoring students, interns maintain their own primary case responsibilities and serve as important role models for the high school veterinary assistant students participating in the program.

    Educational and Professional Development

    The TaT internship is designed to strengthen:

    • Clinical and diagnostic reasoning
    • Communication and client education skills
    • Surgical and dentistry proficiency
    • Problem-solving and case management abilities
    • Ultrasound technique and interpretation
    • Teaching and mentorship experience

    A distinguishing feature of the program is the consistent opportunity for primary surgical and dentistry experience, allowing interns to build advanced procedural skills in a supportive academic setting.

    Upon successful completion, interns emerge as confident, capable small animal clinicians prepared for careers in community medicine, primary care practice, or advanced clinical training.

    Specialty and Elective Rotations

    As part of Cummings School, interns also benefit from access to the resources and specialty services e of a large academic teaching hospital.

    Elective rotations may include:

    • Internal Medicine
    • Emergency & Critical Care
    • Cardiology
    • Neurology
    • Nutrition
    • Radiology
    • Dermatology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Anesthesiology
    • Behavior
    • Exotics

    Interns also rotate through Luke & Lily Lerner Clinic, where they serve as primary surgeons for routine spays and neuters and, when caseload permits, more advanced soft tissue surgeries.

    Additional elective opportunities with shelters, community medicine programs, and local primary care clinics may also be tailored to align with individual career interests and professional goals.

    Academic Participation

    Interns are expected to actively participate in:

    • Clinical rounds
    • Journal clubs
    • Seminars and lectures
    • Case discussions

    Each intern will present one formal seminar during the program and will have access to extensive academic and research resources through the School’s veterinary library system.

    A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the internship program.

    Contact Information

    Questions about the Community Medicine Internship may be directed to Dr. Nicole Freeman, Program Director, Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic.

  • Program Overview

    Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is accepting applications for its 2026–2028 American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) Canine/Feline Residency in a community medicine setting.

    This unique residency prepares veterinarians for specialty certification in Canine/Feline Practice while emphasizing:

    • Accessible veterinary care for underserved communities
    • Advanced medical and surgical case management
    • Clinical teaching and mentorship
    • Community-based veterinary medicine
    • Academic and professional career development

    The program is ideal for veterinarians interested in careers in academia, community medicine, or high-quality general practice, while building confidence in managing complex medical and surgical cases.

    Clinical Training Environment

    Residents join a collaborative teaching and clinical team that includes:

    • Two ABVP Canine/Feline Diplomates
    • Two faculty veterinarians with more than 20 years of clinical experience each
    • One Community Medicine Intern
    • Four certified veterinary technicians, including a Veterinary Technician Specialist (Dentistry)
    • Two certified veterinary assistants
    • One client service liaison

    The residency is based at Tufts at Tech (TaT), a primary care teaching clinic located within Worcester Technical High School in Worcester, Massachusetts, approximately 20 minutes from Cummings School campus in North Grafton.

    Residents work closely with:

    In addition to receiving mentorship, residents also provide clinical support and teaching to rotating interns and students.

    About Tufts at Tech

    Tufts at Tech is an innovative community-based veterinary teaching clinic that:

    • Provides care for approximately 6,000 canine and feline patients annually
    • Serves underserved pet owners in Worcester and surrounding communities
    • Functions as a required clinical rotation for fourth-year veterinary students
    • Trains vocational high school students pursuing careers in veterinary medicine

    The clinic's mission is to deliver high-quality, affordable veterinary care while expanding educational opportunities and increasing diversity within the veterinary profession.

    Students gain hands-on experience as primary care clinicians while high school students develop practical veterinary skills and become advocates for animal health within their communities.

    Advanced Clinical Experience

    Because referrals to specialty hospitals are uncommon among the clinic's patient population, residents gain extensive experience managing complex cases from diagnosis through treatment.

    Diagnostic Capabilities

    The clinic is equipped with:

    • Comprehensive in-house laboratory analyzers
    • Digital radiography
    • Digital dental radiography
    • Two portable ultrasound units
    • Ultrasound-guided sampling capabilities
    • Fully equipped surgical suite with electrocautery

    Residents routinely perform:

    • Advanced diagnostic workups
    • Point-of-care ultrasound examinations
    • Ultrasound-guided procedures
    • Dental diagnostics and treatment

    Ongoing collaboration with a visiting internal medicine specialist provides additional mentorship and advanced ultrasound training.

    Surgical Training

    Residents receive extensive hands-on surgical experience through a diverse caseload. Surgical referrals frequently originate from local practices and the emergency service at the Foster Hospital.

    Common procedures include:

    • Foreign body surgery
    • Perineal urethrostomy
    • Enucleation
    • Cherry eye repair
    • Entropion correction
    • Mass removals
    • Mastectomy
    • Pyometra surgery
    • Cesarean section and dystocia management
    • Femoral head and neck ostectomy
    • Lateral suture stabilization
    • Perineal hernia repair
    • Cystotomy
    • Splenectomy
    • Abdominal biopsies
    • Total ear canal ablation and bulla osteotomy (TECA-BO)

    Residents also benefit from regular collaboration with a board-certified surgeon who provides consultation and support on advanced surgical cases.

    Specialty Rotations

    To support board preparation and individualized professional development, residents are encouraged to complete elective specialty rotations at the Foster Hospital.

    Available rotations include:

    • Emergency and Critical Care
    • Soft Tissue Surgery
    • Orthopedic Surgery
    • Internal Medicine
    • Neurology
    • Cardiology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Dermatology
    • Anesthesiology
    • Diagnostic Imaging
    • Behavior
    • Pathology

    These rotations allow residents to strengthen areas of interest and gain exposure to a broad range of specialty services.

    Pathway to ABVP Certification

    ABVP is an AVMA-recognized specialty organization that offers species-based certification encompassing medicine, surgery, and dentistry.

    Compared with the traditional private-practice pathway, the residency route offers several advantages:

    • Faster timeline to board eligibility (approximately three years versus five years)
    • Direct mentorship from ABVP Diplomates
    • Access to university-based specialty expertise
    • Regular teaching rounds and board preparation
    • Dedicated elective rotation time
    • Structured support throughout the certification process
    • Continued mentorship beyond residency completion

    The program is designed to help residents develop the knowledge, clinical skills, and professional confidence needed for successful board certification and long-term career growth.

    Candidate Qualifications

    Applicants must have:

    • D.V.M. or equivalent veterinary degree
    • Completion of a rotating internship or equivalent clinical experience

    Additional consideration may be given to candidates with:

    • Experience in community medicine
    • Experience working with underserved populations
    • Strong interest in teaching and mentorship
    • Commitment to pursuing ABVP board certification

    Why Choose This Residency?

    This residency offers a rare combination of:

    • Advanced medical and surgical training
    • Extensive hands-on case management
    • Board-certified mentorship
    • Community-focused veterinary medicine
    • Teaching and leadership opportunities
    • Specialty hospital collaboration
    • Preparation for ABVP certification

    Graduates are exceptionally well prepared for careers in academia, community practice leadership, and advanced general practice.

    For further information, contact Kayla Sample, Program Director.