Knollwood Hospital for Pets is integrative and wellness-focused.  Please read our website sections on "Services," "Staff," and "Policies" for details of our hospital operations and philosophy. We maintain an active externship program for like-minded veterinary student and graduate veterinarian externs, including externship hours in support of completion of credits towards International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) certification. 

All externs have access to our integrative medical library, to VIN, and to our Doctor's lecture notes and course notes, CDs, and videos.   We do not provide a stipend.  This is a learning experience for you, involving a significant investment of our time.  However, housing may be available for quiet, tidy non-smokers who will maintain their own living quarters.  For more information, please see the sections on conditions for application and how to apply, listed in bold type, below.  We look forward to hearing from you!

The following apply to each extern group:

Veterinary Student Externs

• Active membership in student chapters of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA).

• Externship period availability of at least 2 consecutive weeks.

• Availability for all clinic hours during the externship period.

• Reliable transportation.

• Willingness to read, sign, and abide by all conditions listed in our employee manual, including those pertaining to personal appearance and professional conduct and attire.

• Willingness to conduct oneself as a team member and a medical professional at all times, with equal respect for all staff.

• Respect and appreciation for the diversity of the clients we serve.

• Active participation in hospital rounds, surgery, treatments, and teleconferences with clients.

• Active participation in the medical record keeping required by our top-level AAHA status.

• Receipt of a letter of reference written and signed by a D.V.M. member of your College.

Graduate Veterinarians and IVAS Externs

• Active membership in the AVMA and the AHVMA.

• Externship period availability of at least one week.

• Availability for all hospital hours during the externship period.

• Willingness to read, sign, and abide by all conditions listed in our employee manual.

• Willingness to attire and conduct oneself as a medical professional at all times.

• Respect and appreciation for the diversity of the clients we serve. 

• Willingness to conduct oneself as a team member at all times, with equal respect for all staff.

• Active participation in clinic rounds, surgery, treatments, and teleconferences with clients.

• Active participation in the medical record keeping required by our top-level AAHA status.

If you are NOT a veterinary student, please note that we are currently booked nearly three years ahead for available externship dates for graduate veterinarians seeking IVAS accreditation hours for acupuncture certification.  However, because cancellations sometimes occur, it never hurts to contact us!  If we cannot help you, we will do our best to refer you to another veterinary practice.

To apply for an externship:
Make initial contact with our Medical Director, Dr. Deborah Mitchell, by e-mail at knollwoodnews@gmail.com with your proposed externship dates and reasons for seeking an externship with us.  If our interests mesh and your proposed dates are available, we will ask you to:

• Confirm, in writing, your proposed externship dates.

• Provide a hand-written cover letter detailing your interests and what you hope to accomplish during your externship.  Please include any pertinent holistic certifications.

• Provide a copy of your c.v. or resume.

• If a student, provide details of any documentation your College will require from us in support of externship completion.

• Contact us within 2 weeks of forwarding your materials to our office, to confirm receipt and acceptance into our externship program.