DVM Mission Launch: Externship + New Grad Opportunity

About the role

Hickory Veterinary Hospital has been a trusted cornerstone of pet healthcare in Chesapeake, Virginia, since 2006. We are dedicated to providing compassionate, full-service, and high-quality medicine in a welcoming, friendly facility. The excellent 4.8-star Google rating reflects the deep community trust we have earned as a partner in pet healthcare. We believe in inclusive care, offering services in both English and Spanish (Se Habla Espanol), ensuring every pet owner feels seen and heard. Join us, and find a place where you can truly do your best work alongside dedicated teammates. We are committed to helping every teammate succeed and grow their professional skills.

Though we operate with the personalized touch of a local hospital, you join a network that is committed to supporting your professional journey through continuous education and career advancement opportunities. We provide programs designed to help you achieve your goals, whether that means becoming a credentialed technician, moving into leadership roles, or accessing internal specialty consultations to advance your clinical knowledge in complex cases. You will find the support and mentorship necessary to succeed here.

As a full-service facility, you will practice diverse and advanced medicine across a variety of species. Our comprehensive offerings include essential wellness and prevention, sophisticated testing and diagnostics, and complex surgical procedures. Your skills will be utilized across a broad caseload that includes dogs, cats, pocket pets, and exotic pets. Our commitment to cutting-edge care extends to offering alternative therapies, including dentistry, acupuncture, and Eastern Medicine, ensuring our patients receive comprehensive traditional and alternative treatments.

Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, our hospital is situated within the vibrant and growing Hampton Roads region. You will discover a unique blend of historical charm, southern hospitality, and modern convenience. Chesapeake offers an ideal environment for veterinary professionals seeking a high quality of life, featuring abundant waterways, easy access to coastal activities, and the cultural amenities of a major metropolitan area. This setting provides countless ways to relax and recharge, making it an exceptional place to settle down and enjoy your time away from the hospital.

Externship Details

DVM Mission Launch: Externship + New Graduate Opportunity

$1,000/Week Stipend | Open to the Class of 2027

We’re doing more than offering a great externship—we’re looking for the veterinarians who will join our team. This is an externship track designed for students who are ready to start thinking about where they’ll launch their careers. Externs in this track receive an enhanced stipend of $1,000/week—double our standard rate—because this experience is tied to a hiring opportunity. This hospital has an open new-grad doctor position, and your externship here is a genuine first step toward a full-time role. You get paid, hands-on experience, and we both get the chance to see if this is the right fit for your career.

This externship is designed to give you a real, working look at what it’s like to practice here—the team, the caseload, the community, and the day-to-day. Think of it as a two-way conversation. You get to evaluate whether this is where you want to begin your career, and we get to know you as a future colleague. There’s no obligation, and there’s no pressure. But if it clicks, the path from extern to full-time doctor here is a short one.

What To Expect

• Gain broad clinical experience: Receive mentorship & supervision from experienced veterinarians
• Observe & participate: Get involved in medical and surgical procedures, the diagnostic process, and (when possible) client communication
• Genuine mentorship: You won't get lost in the shuffle. Our team invests in the students who train here
• Enhance your diagnostic skills: Practice interpreting fecal samples, blood smears, radiographic images, urinalysis, and CBC/Chemistry panels
• Fine-tune your technical skills: Put your classroom knowledge to the test and develop your hands-on abilities in a supportive environment

What You'll Bring to the Team

• Active enrollment in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at an accredited university, graduating in 2027
• Professional comportment and appearance, with excellent interpersonal skills and a positive, friendly attitude
• A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine and upholding the veterinary code of ethics
• A compassionate, team-player attitude and a respect for clients and their pets
• Authorization to work in the United States