Veterinary Extern

Mentorship that actually teaches. Medicine you actually practice. A location worth traveling for.

Red Hills Animal Hospital stands out for students who want more than shadowing. This is a hands-on learning experience led by Dr. Caleb Gwilliam, an adjunct professor at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine, who brings an educator’s mindset into everyday clinical practice. If you’re looking for thoughtful mentorship, real case involvement, and a team that wants you to learn why decisions are made — this is the place.

Why Red Hills Animal Hospital?

• Direct mentorship from a veterinary educator actively involved in academic instruction

• A culture that encourages questions, discussion, and clinical reasoning

• Meaningful involvement in cases, not just observation

• A supportive team environment where students are treated as future colleagues

What You’ll Be Exposed To

Red Hills Animal Hospital is a full-service companion animal practice with a diverse, practical caseload. Students gain experience with:

• Preventive and wellness care

• Dentistry services

• Soft tissue surgery

• Diagnostic workups and treatment planning

• Medical case management

Working alongside Dr. Gwilliam, externs benefit from case-based teaching, clinical discussion, and mentorship designed to help bridge the gap between school and practice.

How You’ll Spend Your Time

Externs participate in patient histories, physical exams, diagnostics, treatment planning, surgical observation or assistance, and ongoing medical management. You’ll also develop the communication and teamwork skills that matter just as much as technical ability in real-world practice.

Externship experiences typically range from two to eight weeks, depending on schedules. All veterinary students, regardless of school or class year, are encouraged to apply.

Veterinary students in the clinical portion of their education may be eligible for a travel and living expense stipend. 

Why This Location?

Red Hills Animal Hospital is located in St. George, Utah, where red rock landscapes, national parks, and year-round sunshine are part of daily life. Spend time off hiking in Zion National Park, exploring Snow Canyon State Park, or enjoying the water at Sand Hollow and Quail Creek. It’s an externship that feels like a professional investment and a reset.

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) is a leading North American pet health care company with nearly 1,300 locations spanning general practice veterinary hospitals, Ethos emergency and specialty hospitals, and pet resorts and equine veterinary care. With approximately 40,000 team members, we care for pets and support pet families in communities across the United States and Canada.  Our purpose is to give pets and the people who love them more quality years together, and our mission is to make care more personal, easy and accessible while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. Across NVA, we support our teams with the resources, expertise and opportunities they need to deliver exceptional care and help shape the future of veterinary and pet care.

Purpose: Give pets and the people who love them more quality years together

Mission: Transform the pet family experience to be personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine and care across every stage of life. 

Values: Care Deeply, Do What’s Right, One Team, Own It, Shape What’s Next 

One NVA: Bringing General Practice & Ethos Together

NVA is built to make care personal, easy and accessible, while advancing medicine across every stage of a pet’s life. 

At National Veterinary Associates, we want to make sure your experience connecting with us is seamless and straightforward. Here’s what to expect when interacting with us:

- We’ll always reach out via verified LinkedIn profiles or emails ending in @nva.com

- We may also contact you via text message from an identified NVA representative for recruiting-related communication

- All job opportunities and applications are hosted on our official careers site: careers.nva.com

- There is no cost or confidential information required to apply or be considered for a position

If you have any doubts about a communication, feel free to visit our careers page to verify authenticity or email us at hiringhub@nva.com. Thank you for exploring opportunities at NVA!

NVA offers a comprehensive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, a 401k with employer match, and paid time off (including sick time) for all eligible employees.  The team can provide more information about compensation and benefits for your specific location during the process.  For positions based in Colorado, NVA provides eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and public health emergency leave in accordance with the requirements of Colorado's Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.

NVA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and any other state or local hiring regulations, we will consider for employment any qualified applicant, including those with arrest and conviction records, in a manner consistent with the applicable regulation.