Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency
The Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency Program at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University provides advanced clinical training in large animal internal medicine and related disciplines leading to board certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Program Highlights
This three-year residency combines intensive clinical training, teaching experience, and scholarly activity within a collaborative academic environment. Residents work closely with four board-certified large animal internists while gaining experience in primary patient care, emergency medicine, specialty diagnostics, and clinical research.
The program places particular emphasis on:
- Large animal internal medicine
- Equine pulmonology
- Clinical research
- Advanced diagnostic procedures
- Veterinary teaching and mentorship
- Access to the NIH-supported REVEAL academic enrichment program
Participation in the clinical pulmonology testing service and ongoing respiratory research projects is strongly encouraged throughout the residency.
Clinical Training
Residents participate in all aspects of patient care and hospital service, including:
- Primary case management
- Emergency duty and after-hours coverage
- Daily case rounds
- Seminars and clinical conferences
- Advanced diagnostic evaluations
- Collaborative specialty care
The residency provides exposure to a diverse large animal caseload, including both referral and emergency cases.
Caseload Distribution
Approximately:
- 85% Equine
- 15% Camelid, small ruminant, porcine, and bovine cases
Most food and fiber animal patients presented to the hospital are companion rather than production animals.
Equine Caseload Includes
- Racing horses
- Sport horses
- Pleasure horses
- Neonatal foals
Each spring, approximately 20–30 neonatal foals receive care through the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Advanced Diagnostic & Clinical Resources
Residents gain experience utilizing a wide range of advanced diagnostic modalities, including:
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasonography
- Endoscopy
- Nuclear scintigraphy
- High-speed treadmill evaluation
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Advanced respiratory function testing
These resources support comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and advanced case management across a broad range of internal medicine conditions.
Teaching & Academic Development
As part of their training within Large Animal Clinical Sciences, residents actively contribute to veterinary student education through:
- Clinical rotation instruction
- Clinical skills laboratory teaching
- Student assessment and grading
- Clinical competency evaluation
Additional specialty exposure is provided through rotations in:
- Pathology
- Radiology
These rotations are designed to broaden interdisciplinary diagnostic and clinical expertise.
Research Requirements
Residents are required to complete a clinical research project during residency and submit a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed professional journal prior to program completion.
Failure to meet the publication requirement may delay approval and signing of the residency certificate.
Program Structure & Certification
Appointments are made on a 12-month basis and renewed annually following satisfactory completion of each training year.
Upon successful completion of the program, residents receive a certificate of residency training and become eligible to pursue board certification through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Residents also receive emergency fees for primary emergency duty cases managed after normal working hours in addition to their base salary.
Application Information
Applications are submitted through the AAVC Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program (VIRMP).
For further information, contact Dr. Daniela Bedenice, Program Director.
Tufts University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer.