Willows has a team of ten rotating Interns; with intakes to the programme in March and July each year. The programme lasts 13 months, the first of which consists of four weeks’ extensive induction prior to commencement of the Internship proper.

Our Internship programme has three key components:

• Working alongside Specialists and Residents within Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service
• Primary case responsibility through Willows Emergency Service
• Caring for critical patients in our ICU, supervised by our ECC service

Interns rotate through a full range of disciplines including; Internal Medicine and Oncology, Orthopaedics, Soft Tissue Surgery, Cardiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Emergency and Critical Care, Diagnostic Imaging and Anaesthesia. There is daily case-related tuition from Specialists and Residents, in addition to more structured CPD. Interns have the opportunity to be involved in a research project leading to publication of a paper in a peer-reviewed journal.

Interns will become competent in history taking and performing a clinical examination of complex cases, under Specialist supervision. Training will be provided covering a wide range of diagnostic procedures, Interns will also gain experience of the management of a range of medical and surgical cases. Interns will have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects of anaesthesia, analgesia, and intensive care.

Involvement in Willows Emergency Service is a key part of the program. Working alongside fellow Interns and a team of dedicated RVNs, each Intern will have direct case responsibility for primary care cases admitted out-of-hours. There is 24-hour back-up support from Specialists and Residents across all referral disciplines.

Our Interns have the benefit of four weeks’ holiday, time off in lieu for any Public Holidays worked, generous CPD funding, paid membership of RCVS and one other professional organisation and a company pension scheme.