UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six Penn State preveterinary students recently completed internships at an area veterinary hospital, gaining hands-on experience and education.
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, through its departments of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences and Animal Science, collaborated with VCA Metzger Animal Hospital and Mars Inc. to establish the Penn State-Mars preveterinary student internship.
The students participated in a six-week, clinical rotation-style program at VCA Metzger Animal Hospital in State College during May and June. At the end of the six weeks, the students presented case studies to Penn State faculty, VCA Metzger Animal Hospital veterinarians, students’ families and other guests, focusing on a patient they worked with during their internship.
One goal of the internship program, coordinated by Jennifer Koehl, assistant teaching professor and undergraduate program coordinator in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and Fred Metzger, founder and medical director of VCA Metzger Animal Hospital, is to support the next generation of veterinarians, said Koehl, who is a doctor of veterinary medicine.
“There’s been an ongoing shortage of veterinarians in the country and in Pennsylvania for years,” she said, noting that currently, in the United States, there is only one small-animal vet for every 3,000 pets.
Koehl explained that the internship is structured similarly to veterinary school clinical rotations. Students completed two-week shifts each in emergency overnights, surgery and scheduled appointments at the animal hospital, which sees 30,000 animals per year and has a 24/7 emergency room.
“They were in the middle of it all, doing rounds, discussing cases, being involved in everything from puppy vaccinations to humane euthanasia,” she said. “They received a robust experience in six weeks.”
This kind of experience for preveterinary students is invaluable and hard to come by, Koehl added. To get accepted into veterinary school, students typically are required to have between 800 and 1,000 hours of experience working alongside a veterinarian.
“It’s competitive, and those hours can be difficult to get,” she said. “Most veterinary hospitals can’t afford three or four summer students, so I have a lot of students struggling to get those hours. This is a great opportunity for them to get that experience through a structured internship at a hospital here in central Pennsylvania that provides top-notch care.”
Experience in small animal care is important to be a competitive applicant for veterinary school, Koehl explained.
“Even if you know you want to be an equine vet, for example, you still need small-animal experience on your resume for most schools,” she said. “And in the real world, it’s not uncommon for large-animal vets to get asked questions about small animals. The reality is that you get called to a farm to take care of a large animal, and there are always farm dogs and farm cats around that might need care. You have to be well-versed across the board.”
Metzger, doctor of veterinary medicine, internship director at VCA Metzger Animal Hospital and a 2024 recipient of Penn State’s Distinguished Alumni Award, pointed out that the preveterinary student internship is the first of its kind in the United States.
“It’s been exciting for all of us, and we’re already talking about growing the program for next year,” he said. “I could not be prouder of our students — they set a high bar for future Penn State preveterinary interns.”
The students came away with an appreciation for real-life experience in a busy veterinary hospital.
“At first, I was overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle,” said Olivia Cover, a junior in animal science with a minor in equine science. “But the staff welcomed us with open arms. The techs especially jumped right in and got us directly involved with their cases. We were encouraged to ask questions, go into the rooms with doctors, run blood work in the lab, watch surgeries and talk with the new veterinarians. Dr. Metzger was an incredible instructor, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to gain real-world job skills and catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be a veterinarian.”
Lydia Periconi, a senior with a double-major in veterinary and biomedical sciences and Spanish, said she feels fortunate to have been selected for the internship, calling it a crucial learning experience.
“Working with the technicians and doctors has taught me so much about the profession,” she said. “As someone with little prior experience in a small-animal clinic, I was nervous about being able to keep up. But I didn’t need to be apprehensive — the enthusiasm of the doctors to teach and help us along the way really boosted my confidence. I learned so much about common surgeries and procedures, treatments, medications, and the inner workings of a hospital. I appreciate the enthusiasm of Dr. Metzger and the staff for giving us the best possible experience and preparing us for veterinary careers.”