Description
Lake Community Pet Clinic – Small Animal Practice
Lake Community Pet Clinic is offering veterinary externship opportunities for DVM/VMD students interested in gaining real-world experience in small animal general practice, preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, and client communication.
We are a privately owned, veterinarian-owned small animal practice located in Leesburg, Florida. Our clinic was built around the idea of providing compassionate, high-quality veterinary medicine while remaining closely connected to the community we serve.
We take pride in being a true community clinic. Our team works to build long-term relationships with local families, provide thoughtful and individualized care, and create an environment where clients feel heard, supported, and comfortable asking questions about their pets.
For veterinary students, we want the externship experience to be welcoming, educational, and practical. Students will have the opportunity to see how medicine is practiced in a privately owned clinic while learning alongside our veterinarian and experienced support team.
Our environment emphasizes communication, teamwork, mentorship, compassion, and real clinical decision-making rather than corporate quotas or production pressure.
What Makes Lake Community Pet Clinic Different
Local and veterinarian-owned practice
Community-focused clinic with strong relationships with local pet owners and shelter organizations
Supportive, welcoming, and team-oriented environment
Direct exposure to the day-to-day operation of an independently owned veterinary practice
Opportunities to learn alongside an experienced veterinarian and support team
Exposure to wellness care, sick visits, diagnostics, surgery, and dentistry
Emphasis on compassionate medicine and individualized patient care
Opportunity to observe real clinical decision-making and treatment planning
Experience with client education and communication
Mentorship-friendly environment for students considering small animal general practice or future practice ownership
Externship Experience
Depending on the student's level of training, comfort, school requirements, case availability, and supervision, externs may have the opportunity to:
Shadow the veterinarian during wellness and sick-patient appointments
Participate in patient examinations and case discussions
Observe and assist with diagnostics and treatment planning
Review laboratory results, radiographs, and other diagnostic findings
Learn medical record and SOAP note documentation
Observe surgical procedures, anesthesia, recovery, and dentistry when available
Practice clinical skills when appropriate and permitted by the student's veterinary program
Develop client communication and education skills with guidance
Work alongside veterinary technicians, assistants, and reception staff
Learn how different areas of a veterinary hospital work together
Gain exposure to the business and operational side of a privately owned veterinary practice
We want students to feel comfortable asking questions and being involved. Our goal is for externs to leave with increased confidence, practical experience, and a better understanding of what practicing veterinary medicine in a community setting is really like.
Schedule
Externship blocks are flexible based on veterinary school requirements, student availability, and clinic scheduling.
Students should provide their preferred externship dates and desired length of rotation when applying.
Experience Central Florida
Lake Community Pet Clinic is located in Leesburg, Florida, in the heart of Lake County, giving externs the opportunity to experience both the welcoming atmosphere of a smaller community and easy access to some of Central Florida's most popular destinations.
We are conveniently located near The Villages, Mount Dora, Tavares, and Eustis.
Mount Dora offers a charming historic downtown filled with local restaurants, shops, festivals, farmers markets, and lakefront activities. Lake County itself is known for its beautiful lakes, boating, kayaking, fishing, trails, parks, and outdoor recreation.
Orlando is also within convenient driving distance, providing access to theme parks, entertainment, sporting events, concerts, shopping, dining, and Orlando International Airport.
Our central location also makes it easy to explore more of Florida. Both the Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches are within reach for day trips and weekends away.
Students can spend their externship gaining meaningful clinical experience while also enjoying everything Central Florida has to offer.
Apply Today
Interested students should submit:
CV or résumé
Veterinary school and current year of study
Preferred externship dates
Desired length of externship
Areas of clinical interest
Any school-specific externship requirements or documentation
Lake Community Pet Clinic
Leesburg, Florida
Email: lakecommunitypetclinic@gmail.com
Phone: (352) 901-6589
Privately owned. Veterinarian-owned. Community focused. A supportive place to learn, grow, and experience real-world veterinary medicine.
Requirements
Applicants should:
Be currently enrolled in an accredited DVM or VMD program and in good standing
Have an interest in small animal veterinary medicine
Be dependable, professional, and eager to learn
Be comfortable working as part of a collaborative team
Communicate respectfully with clients and staff
Demonstrate compassion and professionalism when handling patients
Follow all clinic safety, confidentiality, and patient-care policies
Provide any documentation required by their veterinary school
Be willing to ask questions, accept feedback, and actively participate in the learning experience
Maintain their own professional liability insurance coverage for the duration of the externship and provide proof of coverage prior to beginning the rotation. SAVMA members may be eligible for complimentary veterinary student professional liability coverage through AVMA PLIT.
Students interested in small animal general practice, surgery, dentistry, community medicine, client communication, or future practice ownership are especially encouraged to apply.
