The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed 55 new house officers (fellows, interns, residents) into its advanced training programs this year. The School’s House Officer Program is the largest of its kind in the United States with 140 total house officers training in 47 specialty disciplines. Their training programs range from one to four years, where the veterinarians focus on a specific aspect of specialty medicine such as cardiology, surgery, or critical care.

Most residencies will fulfill specialty colleges’ requirements for being board eligible. Once their clinical training is completed and board examinations are passed, these highly trained veterinarians become board certified specialists in their discipline of veterinary medicine.

Drs. Jamie Burkitt and Amandine Lejeune lead the House Officer Affairs as co-directors, with assistance from the co-chief house officers. Taking over those roles this year are Dr. Emmy Hirsch, a second-year resident in small animal internal medicine, and Dr. Elise Lenske, a third-year cardiology resident. As co-chief house officers, they will work closely with the House Officer Affairs co-directors and represent the voice of all UC Davis house officers.

Last week, the new house officers completed an orientation to become acquainted with the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) and other areas of campus. The orientation allowed the new veterinarians the opportunity to meet hospital leadership, faculty mentors, and resident mates, as well as meet Dean Mark Stetter and attend a mixer organized with the support of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

Following their three-day New House Officer Orientation, the clinicians began their duties this week at the VMTH and other training facilities, including Sacramento Zoo, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Safari Park, California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory, Wildlife Health Center, California National Primate Research Center, Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, and Marine Mammal Center.

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