General information
City: Lombard
State: Illinois
Hospital Name: Carriage Animal Hospital
Job Type: Veterinary Extern
Description & Requirements
$2500 Travel Stipend for Carriage Animal Hospital
Additional housing/accommodations provided by Carriage Animal Hospitalup to $1,000. That's designed to help make it easier for you to spend time gaining valuable clinical experience with us.
Veterinary Student Externship | Carriage Animal Hospital | Lombard, IL
Explore your interests. Build your confidence. Experience what's possible in veterinary medicine.
Are you a veterinary student looking for a hands-on externship where you can grow your clinical knowledge, learn from a supportive veterinary team, and discover what makes general practice so rewarding?
At Carriage Animal Hospital, you'll have the opportunity to experience life in a full-service small animal hospital, see how an experienced team delivers high-quality patient care, and explore the clinical interests that will shape your future as a veterinarian.
Located in Lombard, Illinois, just 20 miles west of Chicago, our practice combines a collaborative team environment with the equipment and resources to support a wide range of veterinary services. We'd love to be part of your journey toward becoming a confident, compassionate veterinarian!
Why Choose Carriage Animal Hospital?
Learn alongside a supportive team
Your externship should be about more than observing appointments. It's an opportunity to ask questions, learn from real-world cases, and see how veterinarians work together to provide exceptional care.
At Carriage Animal Hospital, teamwork and communication are central to our approach. You'll have the opportunity to learn how our doctors collaborate with veterinary technicians and support professionals to care for patients, communicate with clients, and navigate the day-to-day challenges and rewards of veterinary medicine.
Explore your clinical interests
Curious about surgery? Interested in dentistry? Excited to learn more about diagnostics and comprehensive patient care? Our full-service hospital offers opportunities to explore a variety of clinical areas.
Depending on your experience, learning goals, and the cases available during your externship, you may gain exposure to:
- Preventive wellness care and routine examinations
- Diagnostic testing and laboratory work
- Surgical procedures and perioperative care
- Comprehensive dentistry and dental radiography
- Medical case workups and treatment planning
- Laser surgery and cold laser therapy
- Client communication and patient education
Whether you're still exploring your interests or beginning to develop a passion for a particular area of medicine, our team can help you gain valuable insight into the possibilities available in small animal practice.
Hands-on learning in a well-equipped hospital
Having the right tools and technology makes a difference in patient care—and provides valuable learning opportunities for veterinary students.
Carriage Animal Hospital features:
- Five spacious examination rooms
- A dedicated dental suite with digital dental X-ray
- A surgical suite with surgical and cold lasers
- An in-house laboratory
- A fully stocked pharmacy
You'll have the opportunity to see how veterinary teams use their equipment and resources to support diagnostic decisions, treatment plans, and quality patient care.
Build confidence for your future
Veterinary school gives you an important foundation. An externship helps you connect that knowledge to the realities of clinical practice.
You'll gain insight into how veterinarians approach cases, make medical decisions, communicate with pet owners, and balance the many responsibilities of caring for patients. With opportunities to ask questions and learn from experienced team members, you can strengthen your understanding of what it takes to succeed in practice.
Hands-on participation, when appropriate, will depend on your training level, supervision, patient needs, and hospital protocols.
Continue learning beyond the classroom
Your development as a veterinarian doesn't stop at graduation. Carriage Animal Hospital is connected to learning resources through NVA, including the PetOne Veterinary Training Center, which offers additional educational opportunities in areas such as surgery, dentistry, ultrasound, and leadership.
As an extern, you'll gain perspective on the importance of continued learning, professional development, and building a strong foundation for a successful veterinary career.
Experience Life in Lombard, Illinois
Located in Chicago's western suburbs, Lombard offers a welcoming community with great restaurants, shopping, parks, and local events. You'll also be close to downtown Chicago, with its world-class dining, entertainment, cultural attractions, and weekend adventures.
Whether you enjoy suburban living, exploring new restaurants, spending time outdoors, or experiencing the energy of a major city, Lombard offers plenty to discover during your externship.
Your Veterinary Journey Starts Here
Choosing an externship is an opportunity to explore your interests, meet veterinary professionals, and discover the kind of practice where you could see yourself building your future. If you're a veterinary student who is curious, motivated, and eager to learn, we'd love to connect with you!
Come experience Carriage Animal Hospital and see where your passion for veterinary medicine can take you.
Most externship experiences at Carriage Animal Hospital range from two to eight weeks depending on student and hospital schedules. All veterinary students (regardless of class year) are encouraged to participate in NVA externships.