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Small Animal Rotating Internship Jobs in Tennessee

Experience in emergency medicine, including work experience, small animal rotating, or emergency internships, is strongly recommended. Compensation is negotiable based on credentials and experience ...

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Small Animal Rotating Internship information

What is a small animal rotating internship?

A Small Animal Rotating Internship is a one-year post-graduate training program for veterinarians that provides intensive, hands-on experience in various areas of small animal medicine, surgery, and emergency care. Interns rotate through different specialty services such as internal medicine, surgery, anesthesia, emergency/critical care, and sometimes diagnostic imaging or cardiology. The goal is to build clinical skills, gain practical knowledge, and prepare veterinarians for either general practice or competitive residency programs in specialty fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a small animal rotating intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Small Animal Rotating Intern, you need a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, licensure, and a solid grounding in clinical veterinary skills across multiple disciplines. Familiarity with diagnostic imaging tools, laboratory equipment, anesthesia machines, and veterinary hospital management software is typically required. Strong communication, teamwork, and resilience are essential soft skills for effective interaction with clients, patients, and supervising veterinarians. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure comprehensive patient care, smooth workflow in a multidisciplinary environment, and effective learning during the internship.

What are some typical challenges faced during a small animal rotating internship, and how can interns successfully navigate them?

Small Animal Rotating Interns often encounter challenges such as managing a high caseload, adapting quickly to different specialty services, and balancing clinical duties with learning opportunities. Effective time management, open communication with supervising clinicians, and actively seeking feedback can help interns overcome these hurdles. Building strong relationships with fellow interns and support staff also fosters a collaborative environment and eases transitions between rotations.

What is the difference between Small Animal Rotating Internship vs Small Animal Specialty Residency?

AspectSmall Animal Rotating InternshipSmall Animal Specialty Residency
CredentialsVeterinary degree, licensure, internship completionVeterinary degree, licensure, internship, and board certification
Work EnvironmentGeneral practice clinics, teaching hospitals, diverse casesSpecialty hospitals, focused on specific fields like surgery or internal medicine
Duration1 year3-4 years
PurposeBroaden clinical skills across multiple disciplinesDevelop expertise in a specific specialty

The Small Animal Rotating Internship provides broad clinical experience across various disciplines, ideal for those exploring different fields. In contrast, a Small Animal Specialty Residency offers focused, advanced training in a specific area, preparing veterinarians for board certification and specialized practice.

What job categories do people searching Small Animal Rotating Internship jobs in Tennessee look for?

The top searched job categories for Small Animal Rotating Internship jobs in Tennessee are:

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Small Animal Rotating Internship jobs?

Cities in Tennessee with the most Small Animal Rotating Internship job openings:

Infographic showing various Small Animal Rotating Internship job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Clinical Instructor in Small Animal Emergency

The University of Tennessee Knoxville

Knoxville, TN • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 18 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Provide clinical care to patients presented to the emergency service operating 24/7.

  • Support teaching and contribute to the department's reputation through clinical service and education.

  • Work flexible hours to support the emergency and critical care service.


University Of Tennessee, Knoxville rating

7.2

Company rating: 7.2 out of 10

Based on 59 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

390th of 631 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Description
The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee invites applications for full-time clinical instructor positions in small animal emergency.
The successful candidate will share an enthusiasm for teaching excellence, strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and compassionate patient care while actively supporting an inclusive teaching and work environment. Responsibilities will include clinical care of patients presented to the emergency service which operates 24/7. The successful candidate is expected to add to the department's reputation and make contributions to the teaching and service missions of the college.
The University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) is equipped with all the resources and expertise of specialty services needed to provide first class patient care, teaching, and clinical and basic science research. Specialty services include internal medicine, oncology, neurology and neurosurgery, soft tissue surgery, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, cardiology, dermatology, dentistry, radiology, nutrition, anesthesiology, physical therapy, behavior, radiation oncology, zoo medicine and zoologic companion animal medicine and surgery. There are excellent therapeutic and diagnostic imaging facilities that include on-site MRI, CT unit, video endoscopy, laparoscopy, DEXA scanning, physical therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Clinical services are supported by comprehensive endocrinology, virology, microbiology, parasitology, clinical pathology and anatomic pathology services. A full-time Veterinary Social Work program offers counseling services for clients, faculty, staff and students. A state-of-the-art Teaching, Learning and Simulation Instruction Center is on site for teaching and skills practice. Faculty development is supported by the Master Teacher's Program.
The successful candidate will be joining an expanding Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) service that includes three diplomates in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, five ECC residents and 28 licensed veterinary technicians (2 VTS ECC). The ECC service is supported by rotating interns, veterinary assistants, veterinary technician interns and student workers. The state-of-the-art critical care unit includes 2 Puritan Bennett Covidien ventilators, 2 Vapotherm and 1 Optiflow high-flow oxygen therapy units, NOVA pHOX ultra blood gas/ critical care analyzer, multiple point of care analyzers, a new SonoSite ultrasound unit and a DRE 4 channel telemetric ECG. The ECC service also has an in-house blood bank to serve clinical patients. The hospital provides emergency and critical care services 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Candidates should be willing to work flexible hours to support the emergency and critical care service.
Knoxville is home to the University of Tennessee flagship campus and is a beautiful and friendly place to live. It is a short drive to the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as several dog-friendly state parks and recreation areas. Outdoor recreational opportunities include, but are not limited to, hiking, biking, trail running, climbing and water sports. Knoxville has a diverse and inclusive culture, a vibrant downtown with excellent shopping and restaurants; bustling farmer's markets featuring locally grown organic produce, meats and crafts; live music of all genres, ballet and theater; frequent art and cultural festivals; and men's and women's NCAA and semiprofessional sporting events.
Qualifications
Requirements include the DVM or equivalent degree, completion of a small animal internship or 1-2 years of practice experience.
Application Instructions
The position is available starting July 1, 2026. Applications are accepted immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled. For further information, please contact Dr. Kristen Marshall at (865) 974-8387 or by email at kmarsh23@utk.edu. Qualified individuals are invited to submit an application consisting of: 1) letter of professional goals, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) names of three professional references

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