Residency Program in Equine Reproduction
Training Program Overview:
The training program for equine reproduction residents at UC Davis spans three years, offering comprehensive training in clinical equine reproduction, assisted reproduction techniques (ART), teaching, and research. The program prepares residents for Board Certification in Theriogenology.
Objectives:
- To provide advanced training in clinical equine reproduction.
- To provide advanced training in assisted reproduction techniques (ART).
- To provide teaching experience.
- To provide the opportunity to perform research in the field of reproduction.
- To work with Board Certified faculty and to prepare residents for Board Certification in Theriogenology (American College of Theriogenologists and European College of Animal Reproduction).
- To develop expertise in clinical equine reproduction, which encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive conditions on an individual and herd basis and assisted reproduction techniques in the horse.
Justification
The clinical program in equine reproduction provides clinical training involving the reproductive system, experience in teaching, exposure to research techniques and the opportunity to conduct research. The program focuses on clinical as well as basic physiological aspects of equine reproduction with a minor emphasis on reproduction in other animal species to strengthen the individual’s preparation for board certification. The program emphasizes clinical diagnosis and treatment of the subfertile and infertile mare and stallion, and endocrinology. Additionally, in collaboration with UC Davis Veterinary Assisted Reproduction Laboratory, the program places strong emphasis on assisted reproductive techniques such as transvaginal oocyte aspiration, in vitro embryo production, embryo vitrification, and embryo transfer. Graduates are prepared for clinical academic appointments or for specialty practices.
Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include graduation from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and a one-year internship or equivalent practice experience. The selection of residents is made on the basis of experience, academic achievement, career objectives, letters of recommendation, interpersonal skills, and clinical skills.
Duration
The duration of the residency program is three years. Renewal for each year will be contingent upon satisfactory performance.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities and activities of the resident include:
- Daily responsibility for clinical cases with senior staff and professional students at the VMTH, Center for Equine Health and in the practice area (Equine Reproduction Field Service).
- Daily responsibility for the fertility program with senior staff and professional students at broodmare and stud farms in the practice area.
- Presentation of and participation in Resident seminars, Morbidity and Mortality Rounds and participation in large animal rounds.
- Assist in the teaching and supervision of professional students in the equine program.
- Attending emergency duty after-hours on-call shifts.
- Communicating with clients and keeping records of the patients.
Special requirements of the program include:
- Carrying out a research project and/or participating in an ongoing research project under the direction of a faculty member.
- Presenting an abstract at a national/international meeting.
- Presenting one or two lectures on equine reproduction to second- and third-year veterinary students.
- Participating in Theriogenology Club talks and labs.
- Participating in the clinical endocrinology rounds.
- Participation in the Annual House Officer Seminar Day by presenting the results of the research.
- Submitting a self-assessment of relevant clinical activities in which he/she participated during the training program.
- Submitting one peer-reviewed manuscript and a case report in the field of equine reproduction during the training program. The resident must be the first author of the manuscript. The publication may be original research, a clinical case report, or an in-depth review article;
- Completing 30 hours continuing education (CE) pertaining to the field of Theriogenology during the training program.
The resident spends approximately 70% of their time in the equine reproduction practice in the hospital and the practice area, and approximately 30% in other services, departmental and service seminars as well as student discussion, participating in research, manuscript preparation, teaching, exam preparation, or other activities deemed appropriate by the Training Advisor. Under the supervision of the Equine Reproduction Field Service faculty, the first-year resident is primarily responsible for the broodmare and stud farm management in the practice area and participates in all equine reproductive referrals and emergency cases at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. The second-year resident is primarily responsible for all equine reproduction referrals and emergency cases at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, and the assisted reproduction techniques, including oocyte aspirations, oocyte manipulation, embryo vitrification/warming. The majority of the resident's clinical time is between February and August. Outside of these months, the resident will spend time (duration depends on the clinical schedules) in the food animal reproduction service and small animal reproduction clinics. Additionally, during the residency, time will be allocated for a stay in Central Kentucky at the start of the breeding season.
Residents will develop the ability to critically evaluate veterinary literature and will obtain a broad scientific base which is critical to an understanding of reproductive problems. With nine board-certified theriogenologists (list below), regular opportunities are provided to round and discuss cases and topics related to animal reproduction. Reproductive physiology topic, resident preparation round and Journal club rounds are held weekly. Reproductive Pathology rounds are held monthly. A trip to a major scientific meeting is strongly encouraged and partial funding may be provided from resident training funds to help defray expenses. When scheduling trips, priority is given to second-year residents, should conflict arises.
The VMTH is committed to building strong relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident's duties, therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians and clients.
This program will not participate in the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program. For application form, application procedures, salary and benefits, and other information about the residency program, please see Residency Information.
Residency Application & General Information
Salary and benefits:
The current salaries for first, second, and third-year residents are $52,291, $54,729, and $57,256, respectively, prior to mandatory deductions for taxes and retirement.
Residents are eligible for Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, paid sick leave (12 days per year), paid vacations (24 days per year), enrollment in retirement plan and life insurance.
In addition, the UC Davis veterinary hospital's Hospital Wellness Service offers a wellness program for all its House Officers (residents). Through the House Officer Wellness (HOW) Program, residents can set personalized goals related to stress management, self-care, and overall well-being.
Each year residents are allocated continuing education funding of $ 1000 (susceptible to change by university policy) and a training fund for performing procedures at the VMTH in patients with lack of funding (reserved for procedures that pose a learning value for the resident).
The list of the board-certified faculty and clinicians at UC Davis:
- Alan Conley, BVSc, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT (hon)
- Pouya Dini, DVM, PhD, PhD, Dipl. ECAR, Dipl. ACT
- Ghislaine Dujovne, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT
- Fabio Lima, DVM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACT
- Soledad Martin-Pelaez, DVM, Dipl. ACT
- Bret McNabb, DVM, MPVM, Dipl. ABVP(FA), Dipl. ACT
- Stuart Meyers, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACT (Emeritus Professor)
- Daniela Orellana, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT
- Catherine Renaudin, DVM, Dipl. ECAR
Tentative Schedule Overview:
First Year:
During the first few days, the new resident will participate in Orientation alongside residents from other services. They will assist the faculty and second and third-year residents with clinical cases (in-house and trailer-in appointments) involving both stallions and mares. During the first-year resident will primarily be responsible for the Equine Reproduction Field Service. Additionally, they should be available whenever the service faculty requests assistance with in-house cases. The first-year resident will also have secondary responsibility for in-house cases and tertiary responsibility for oocyte aspiration training. They should focus on mastering techniques related to cytology and biopsy collection and interpretation, breeding management, stallion collection, pregnant mare evaluation, embryo collection, handling, and transfer. It is important for the first-year resident to thoroughly review foundational texts such as "Pathway to Pregnancy and Parturition" and "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics" during the first year. A research proposal should be submitted (Center for Equine Health – resident project). The resident is expected to attend all the courses related to reproduction during the first year.
- Eight months in Equine Reproduction Service
- Two months of external rotations, including Livestock Medicine service, Herd Health and Reproduction service, and small animal theriogenology (off-site; the service cannot provide financial aid)
- One month vacation
- One month of research- depending on the duration of the external rotations
Second Year:
The second-year resident is expected to have primary responsibility in the in-house clinical service, embryo transfer, and semen collection and secondary responsibility in the oocyte aspiration service. The resident might be asked to assist with the Field Service Equine Reproduction cases if needed. By the second year, the research project should be initiated, and data collection and analysis need to be performed during the designated research time. The resident is advised to attend the reproduction courses if the schedule allows.
- Eight months in Equine Reproduction Service
- One month in Livestock Reproduction Services and Small Animal theriogenology (off-site; the service cannot provide financial aid)
- Two months off-clinic for research and study leave
- One month of vacation
Third Year:
The third-year resident is expected to be primarily responsible for the oocyte aspiration program and embryo transfer, with secondary responsibility for the other in-house clinical services. Additionally, the third-year resident may need to attend to emergencies and provide after-hours patient care without faculty supervision.
- Six months in equine theriogenology clinics
- 1-month equine rotation off-site (the service cannot provide financial aid)
- One month in small animal theriogenology (the service cannot provide financial aid)
- Three months off-clinics
RESIDENTS MUST BE ABLE TO ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF AN EMERGENCY CALL, THEREFORE, RESIDENTS MUST PLAN TO LIVE WITHIN 15 MILES OF THE HOSPITAL.
The University of California, Davis and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity.
Information for foreign applicants
SPECIAL NOTE: The California Veterinary Medical Board requires all veterinarians working at the University of California, Davis with primary patient care duties to hold either a California license or a special University license. To obtain a university license, veterinarians are background checked. The cost of licensure will be the responsibility of the trainee (currently ~ $1000). This limited license only permits individuals to work in California as veterinarians for University-related practice. Although veterinarians that do not have hands-on patient care duty (e.g., anatomic pathologists, clinical pathologists) are not required to hold this license, obtaining the license is encouraged whenever your activities may have an impact on animal-owning members of the public. If in doubt, please contact the Office of the CVMO for clarification.
For additional questions, please contact Audra L. Johnson at alpjohnson@ucdavis.edu.
The deadline for receipt of application materials is November 30, 2024, 11:59 PM (PST).
Applicant must be able to begin the program on July 29, 2025.