Why Choose An Internship?

Our veterinary internships abroad offer a blend of career experience and travel, providing more flexibility than our study abroad programs. They are an excellent choice for students who want to gain valuable knowledge while still having the freedom to travel and explore independently. We simplify the logistics for you by handling the placement and housing, so you don’t have to navigate, find, and vet your own opportunity abroad. Like traditional internships, you will be placed with one of our partner projects, where you’ll spend approximately 35–40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, shadowing, observing, or assisting, as needed. This experience can be a valuable addition to your resume, and some colleges may even offer internship credit. However, please note that these internships differ from our standard programs—you won’t have a daily Loop Abroad staff member, a teaching vet, or pre-scheduled activities and transportation. Instead, you’ll have the independence to travel on your own, supported by your Loop Abroad and in-country coordinator.

Who It’s For

This veterinary shadowing internship is designed to offer vet students and pre-vet students an exceptional opportunity to gain top-quality experience in their field. Through this shadowing experience, you will gain veterinary hours and develop and enhance your skills and understanding of animal care, preparing you for a successful career in veterinary sciences. As an intern, it is essential to have a genuine interest in veterinary sciences and a strong commitment to observing in a clinical setting. This internship is great for those pursuing a career as a Veterinarian, Veterinary Nurse, Veterinary Technician, or other veterinary-related field. 

If you and a friend are applying together and would like to intern together and be housed together, please contact us at admissions@loopabroad.com to assist you.

Applicants must be 18+ and must have completed a minimum of one year of undergraduate study to apply.

This internship will be primarily a shadowing experience, but may also include experience working with exotics, wildlife, and/or companion animals.

Overview

From toucans and owls to gerbils and opossums, this busy clinic sees  a wide variety of patients and has a LOT to teach its interns! This internship offers ethical veterinary shadowing opportunities that adhere to the guidelines set forth by the AAVMC (Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges). During the internship, you will have the unique opportunity to closely observe and work side-by-side with experienced veterinarians. The veterinary staff speaks both Spanish and English.

This program is hosted at a veterinary clinic in Panama City, Panama, that sees exotic pet patients (primarily parrots, rabbits, and other pocket pets, reptiles, and fish) as well as cats and dogs. The clinic occasionally sees wildlife patients as well, though this is not guaranteed, and also routinely treats dogs and cats. 

Highlights

Highlights include:

Closely observe and work side-by-side with experienced veterinarians. 
Observe exotic patient care, which may include mammals, reptiles, fish, and birds.
Observe small animal and wildlife care
Shadow weekly scheduled surgeries (requires evening hours)
Join the veterinarian once a week at a wildlife rescue center (focused on sloths)
Explore and enjoy beautiful Panama City, Panama, in your free time

Housing, Meals, And Transportation

The accommodation provided is a fully furnished, private room with a private bathroom in a guest house. The guest house features a shared kitchen and common area, as well as access to Wi-Fi.

Meals are not included in your tuition. The housing has a shared kitchen.

You are responsible for your daily transportation between your housing and your internship. There is a public bus, which takes approximately 30 minutes and costs 50 cents. The walk to the bus stop from the housing is about 5 minutes. If the teaching veterinarian is able to have you join for rounds at the wildlife rescue center, the zoo, a bird rescue, or other locations where he offers veterinary services, you will be able to travel with him in his car. (Zoo rounds are only once every two weeks, and the wildlife center rounds are approximately once a week.)

Hours And Credit

You can receive one credit hour from Culver-Stockton College for every 40 internship hours for this program. (Optional. Additional fee applies.)