Veterinary Internship at Friendship Hospital

In many industries, the title “intern” attaches to an individual who is spending a limited time in a professional setting but has not completed professional training and may, in fact, just be exploring a profession to find out if it is a good “fit” for him. This is true in the fields of law and architecture and finance among others. This is not true, however, in veterinary medicine or human medicine.
In the field of veterinary medicine, the title “intern” is only applied to a graduate veterinarian who has elected to pursue advanced postgraduate clinical training. This is commonly the case in human medicine. In veterinary medicine, however, only about 25% of graduate veterinarians are motivated to seek an internship.
A person becomes a veterinarian on the day of graduation from veterinary college. On that day, she has earned a doctorate degree, thus meriting the title, “doctor.” As in human medicine, the degree is generally conferred after four years of undergraduate study and four years of professional school. Upon graduation and the successful completion of a National Board Examination, the veterinarian is eligible for licensure in any state in the nation. No additional training is required. The majority of graduating veterinarians begin practicing days or weeks after leaving school. Some work with associates and some may work by themselves as solo practitioners.
Those electing to pursue more training do so completely voluntarily. These are generally the most highly motivated and successful of the graduating class. In return for the advanced clinical training they receive, interns may work long hours and receive lower compensation than those classmates who do not do internships. Internships are highly competitive. At Friendship, we receive approximately fifty applicants for our six internship positions. Only university teaching hospitals or high-caseload private practices with specialists are able to offer internships attractive to new graduates.
At Friendship, interns are required to attend teaching sessions and seminars, present research or scientific lectures, participate in professional journal reviews, as well as see patients as an integrated member of the hospital team. Our internship program is a hospital asset of which we are very proud. Very few private animal hospitals are qualified to offer internships. Ours is not only qualified but, in large part because of our commitment to excellence, is recognized as one of the very best in the country.
Internships (human and veterinary) generally begin in June. Each June, Friendship welcomes five new interns. They come from varied backgrounds and have graduated from some of the finest veterinary colleges in the country. They are highly motivated, ambitious, and committed to the care of your companions. They have gone through a highly competitive selection process and are willing to put in long hours for not much pay in order to be here at Friendship.
Now that you know how well trained, talented, and dedicated interns are, we hope that you will welcome them. You should have confidence in the care they provide your pets knowing that they are some of the finest graduate veterinarians in the country.
Meet this year’s interns by going to Meet the Team—Interns.

American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)

American Animal Hospital Association—Offering the Peace-Of-Mind of National Accreditation

AAHA’s website
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) is an international association of more than 33,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, AAHA is well known among veterinarians and pet owners for its standards for hospitals and pet health care. Approximately 3,000 veterinary hospitals voluntarily participate in the AAHA hospital evaluation program. Trained consultants regularly visit these hospitals to ensure compliance with AAHA’s standards for services and facilities. Individual veterinarians can also be members of AAHA.
Friendship Hospital for Animals is one of the less than 18 percent of North American veterinary hospitals accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). AAHA accreditation means that we meet strict standards for excellence in all areas of patient care, surgery and sanitation. Regular AAHA evaluation, inspection and consultations assure you of the highest quality care each and every time you trust your pet to our team of professionals. Friendship has been an AAHA member hospital since 1950!
The AAHA Standards of Accreditation address the following areas:

• Dentistry
• Emergency services
• Pain management
• Patient care
• Surgery and anesthesia
• Contagious disease protocols
• Radiology services
• Laboratory services
• Pharmacy
• Client service
• Staff continuing education and training
• Human resources and leadership
• Patient and staff safety
• Pet medical records
• Examination facilities and equipment
• Housekeeping and maintenance

Friendship's Vision Statement

The Friendship Family:
Commits every team member to a clear, shared vision of our future.
Values training and shares knowledge with the entire healthcare team to promote education and growth in order to fully meet the needs of our clients and patients.
Sets and maintains high service and healthcare standards and holds individuals accountable to those standards.
Is committed to providing excellent care to our patients, our clients and each other twenty-four hours every day.
Is compassionate to all clients and their pets.
Fosters an environment of loyalty, respect and equality. Recognizes and celebrates the diversity of our clients and our staff.
Is committed to open and honest communication.
Cultivates a positive, supportive environment, which is cooperative, civil, fun, and creative and promotes psychological, financial, and intellectual rewards.
Strives to be a national leader in the veterinary healthcare profession.
Is committed to community service.

About Our Company

Trust, compassion, sensitivity, understanding, respect and honesty—Friendship

Friendship Hospital for Animals provides high-quality, compassionate veterinary care to the cats and dogs of the Washington DC metro area. We have been accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) for over 50 years. To best meet the needs of our clients and patients, we are open 24 hours a day, every day, all year long.
Whether your companion is a puppy or a kitten, an adult or a senior, our dedicated veterinarians and team members will provide you with a wellness care program custom-tailored to your animal’s needs. We also offer state-of-the-art referral services—including cardiology, oncology, internal medicine, and surgery—all under a single clinic roof. If an unexpected health issue arises, our 24–hour emergency vet service means we’re here for you at any time of day or night.