Residencies & Internships

Faculty members in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University are dedicated to providing outstanding training for interns and residents. In addition to exposure to a large caseload, house officers in the department's internship and residency programs have opportunities to attend numerous in-house rounds, seminars, and conferences, to teach fourth-year veterinary students, and to participate in clinical or basic research projects. The Tufts Residents Enhanced Veterinary Education and Academic Learning (REVEAL) Program developed through an NIH education grant focuses on veterinary residents with the goal of attracting veterinarians to academic and research careers. Learn more about REVEAL Program here.

Internship programs are one-year programs that provide intensive experience in managing cases under direct faculty supervision. Internships generally occur in the first year following graduation from veterinary school. Most programs offer opportunities to rotate through a variety of specialties within Cummings School hospitals and can be tailored to the specific interests of individual interns.

Residency programs are typically three years in length and offer opportunities to obtain specialty training under the supervision of experienced, board-certified faculty members. All programs conform to the guidelines established by the relevant specialty colleges and are designed to prepare residents for specialty board certification and a career in private or academic specialty practice.

Internships

Internship programs at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine are one year programs that provide an intensive experience in managing cases under direct faculty supervision. Most programs offer opportunities to rotate through a variety of specialties within Cummings Veterinary Medical Center's seven teaching hospitals and clinics, and can be tailored to the specific interests of individual interns. Only individuals eligible to work in the US or who qualify for TN visas will be considered for internship programs.

• Small-Animal Rotating Internship
• Large Animal Surgery Internship
• Zoological Companion Animal Medicine Internships

Residencies

Residency programs are typically three years in length and offer opportunities to obtain specialty training under the supervision of experienced, board-certified faculty members. All programs conform to the guidelines established by the relevant specialty college and are designed to prepare residents for specialty board certification and a career in private or academic specialty practice. Opportunities to teach fourth-year DVM candidates and interns, and to conduct clinical or basic research, are features of all Cummings School residency programs.

• Anesthesiology Residency
• Cardiology Residency
• Diagnostic Imaging Residency
• Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency
• Large Animal Surgery Residency
• Neurology Residency
• Ophthalmology Residency
• Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Residency
• Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency
• Small Animal Medical Oncology Residency
• Small Animal Surgery Residency

Candidates must possess a D.V.M. or VMD degree or their 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.

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

• Anatomic Pathology Residency
• Clinical Pathology Residency

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.  

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.