LGVMA members who have opportunities for LGVMA's student members are welcomed and encouraged to contact lgvma@lgvma.org

PAWS VETERINARY AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

The PAWS Veterinary Internship Program was established in 1998 to address the lack of training in the field of the human-animal bond in traditional veterinary medical education. In response to few opportunities for veterinary students to gain practical experience in issues involving the human-animal bond, a month-long veterinary internship program was established to provide firsthand experience in the context of a private, nonprofit organization such as PAWS. In 2003, this program was expanded to students pursuing a Masters in Public Health. By having top students from both the veterinary and public health fields as interns, PAWS fosters communication and cooperation between the human and veterinary medical communities. PAWS believes it is important for these fields to work together to ensure the mutual health benefits for both humans and animals.

Every year two to four interns are selected through a competitive process. This supervised, education-oriented externship involves public speaking experiences, direct interaction with clients and PAWS staff members, research projects, and field days with the local veterinary community. The work is designed to train and educate potential leaders and professionals who will have an impact in the field of the human-animal bond.

PAWS encourages intern applicants to propose their own research projects in their application, particularly around the topic of health benefits of the human-animal bond. PAWS is proud of this program and hopes that it will continue to grow and develop in the future as more people recognize the significance of healing and the human-animal bond.

Veterinary Internship

The PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) Veterinary Internship Program is a 1 month internship at the PAWS San Francisco office. The objectives of this program are to educate future and current veterinarians about the significance of the human-animal bond, promote public health via education on the health benefits and risks of animal companionship, and provide experience with the operation of a community-based, non-profit organization.

In addition to engaging in an educational project at the PAWS office and participating in the Food Bank, students have opportunities to participate in field days with Vet SOS mobile veterinary services to homeless camps in San Francisco and Pets Unlimited, a non-profit animal hospital and community partner of PAWS. In the past, interns have assisted with:

• initiating a pilot study on the diversification of PAWS' client base
  
• developing the PAWS Safe Pet Guidelines, which published and presented valuable information on the risks of zoonotic diseases to both the general public and health professionals
  
• creating the Health Benefits of Companion Animals brochure which documentsthe top scientific health benefits research