Program

Most applications will be completed through VIRMP, the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program. Students should consult that site for admission deadlines.

This internship program begins July 15th each year.

ProgramExpected LengthProject and/or thesisCourse based
Certificate1 year

This experiential, clinical training program is for D.V.M. graduates who wish to take the first step towards specialty training. Completing this certificate program will position graduates well for the oftentimes competitive entry into clinical residency positions. During this program, students will develop skills, knowledge and clinical experience in one of the following specialties:

  • Zoologic, Exotic and Wildlife Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Small Animal Internal Medicine
  • Small Animal Surgery
  • Neurology

Students will also be trained in communications and public speaking through seminars. The broad range of knowledge gained through this certificate will prepare students for clinical residency and graduate degree training programs for further board certification in a specialty.

Program structure

Over the course of one year, students will take nine credits of courses and associated non-credit training:

  • Three credit units of electives
  • Biosafety
  • Safety Orientation for Employees
  • VSAC 825.3 Clinical Practice Specialty Internship I
  • VSAC 826.3 Clinical Practice Specialty Internship II
  • VSAC 980.0 Clinical Practice
  • VSAC 990.0 Seminar

Faculty

You do not need to identify a research supervisor for this program. You may however, be interested in the research interests of our faculty.

Name Research areas
Barbara AmbrosTotal intravenous anesthesia (TIVA), pain management and anesthesia in exotic species.
Koji Aoki
Gurpreet AulakhImaging science
Shannon Beazley
Anthony CarrElectrocardiography, blood pressure and platelet function
Kevin CosfordSmall animal internal medicine
Isabelle Desprez
Yu Gu
Marina LeisVeterinary Ophthalmology
Kathleen LinnAvian and canine orthopedic and soft tissue injuries
Jennifer LoewenResuscitative techniques, Fluid resuscitation, Acute kidney injuries, Sepsis
Candace Lowe
Valerie MacDonald DickinsonPatient quality of life, human-animal bond, novel cancer therapy development, comparative oncology
Arata Matsuyama
Monique MayerVeterinary radiation oncology, medical physics, oncologic imaging
Tammy OwensSmall animal clinical nutrition
Dennilyn ParkerAvian, exotic and wildlife medicine including projects related to avian renal portal system, ferret diseases and the rabbit's gastrointestinal system
Lynne SandmeyerVeterinary ophthalmology, congenital stationary night blindness, equine recurrent uveitis
Cindy ShmonSoft tissue surgery, lumbosacral stenosis, neurosurgery, urogenital surgery
Elisabeth SneadRadioisotopes as an alternative treatment for infectious diseases in dogs and cats, feline obesity, intraosseous bone marrow
Sally Sukut
Behzad Toosi
Kimberly TryonMRI technology, degenerative myelopathy in the German Shepherd dog

Tuition and funding

Funding

The College of Western Veterinary Medicine will provide salary support for qualified students. Further, a fellowship is available from the College to cover a portion of tuition costs for both Canadian and international students.

Tuition

Canadian students International students
Cost per graduate credit unit$265.80 CAD $598.05 CAD
Maintenance of Status course$797.40 CAD $1,794.15 CAD
Cost per 3 credit unit graduate class$797.40 CAD $1,794.15 CAD

Admission requirements

Graduate Certificate (G.Cert.)

Applicants must be accepted for an internship to be eligible for admission to the certificate program.

  • A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), or equivalent, from a recognized college or university
  • A cumulative weighted average of at least a 70% (USask grade system equivalent) in the last two years of study (i.e. 60 credit units)
  • Eligibility for restricted, educational SVMA licensure to practice veterinary medicine in Saskatchewan
  • Language Proficiency Requirements: Proof of English proficiency may be required for international applicants and for applicants whose first language is not English

Application process

Interested students can begin an application through the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians residency matching program. We typically offer eight internship opportunities each year.

Once you have been successfully matched to this program, you will be asked to being a formal application to the University of Saskatchewan. Further details will be provided at that time.

Please contact the department below if you have any questions at all about this program or how to apply.

Note: Applications to some internships, such as Ophthalmology, are made directly to the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.

Contact

Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
52 Campus Drive
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4

Graduate Chair
Lynne Sandmeyer
Email: lynne.sandmeyer@usask.ca

Graduate Program Co-ordinator
Charla Penner
Email: sacs.gradstudies@usask.ca