The Internship in Small Animal Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation at the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) at Louisiana State University (LSU) is designed to provide 1 year of post internship training in the discipline of Integrative Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation in small animal. The clinical facilities of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) will be the primary training site for this program. The training program will use Faculty members from the Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Service in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences as mentors.

The objectives of the internship program is (1) to provide the opportunity to experience advanced training in Integrative Medicine, Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation in small animals with opportunities to participate with other species; (2) to prepare the intern for advanced or residency training of Small Animal Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation, or entry into a high quality small animal practice; (3) to prepare the intern for an advanced training in Integrative Medicine, Acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine; (4) to provide the intern an opportunity to interface with other specialties to advance patient care using evidence-based integrative medicine and rehabilitation; (5) to provide experience in the review and evaluation of the scientific literature pertaining to the discipline of Integrative Medicine, Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation through participation in the Department’s journal club; (6) to provide experience in the preparation of scientific articles for publication through participation in the House Officer rounds and seminar series and through faculty mentorship; (7) to provide training and experience in clinical teaching.

In the 1-year program, there will be 48 to 50 weeks per year of clinic duty in the Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Service. The intern will be trained in all pertinent aspects of the delivery of integrative therapy and rehabilitation to companion animal patients with opportunities to participate with other species (such as horse, food animal, and exotic animal). The training will include, but not be limited to, patient assessment & diagnosis of musculoskeletal and neurologic disease process, post-operation rehabilitation care, current recommendations, and standard and integrative care treatment for a variety of diseases, such as musculoskeletal, neurologic, gastrointestinal, and neoplastic. The Intern’s main responsibilities consist of clinical assignments, participation in the clinical teaching of junior and senior veterinary students, participation in the house officer seminars series, and possibly participation in clinical research study. All of the Intern’s work will be under the supervision of a Faculty member within the Department. Initially it is anticipated that direct Faculty supervision will be significant. It is anticipated that as the program progresses that direct supervision will decrease commensurate with the development of the intern’s clinical skills.

Our service offers acupuncture, rehabilitation, laser, massage, pain management, weight loss program, home exercise program, dietary supplement advice, and nutrition advice. Our facility includes underwater treadmill, land treadmill, class IIIb and class IV lasers, shockwave, therapeutic ultrasound, electric lift hoist, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, TENS, NMES, force platform gait analysis, and all standard exercise equipment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and spinal manipulative therapy will be offered on-site soon. In addition, the department is actively conducting clinical trials related to acupuncture, rehabilitation, and dietary supplement. 

The Internship Training Program will utilize faculty members within the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, specifically the Integrative Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, as mentors.

Faculty in direct support of the program include: Dr. Ronald Koh DVM, MS, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, CCRP, CVMMP (pending), ACVSMR Practice Experience Resident, assistant professor and service chief. Dr. Lorrie Hale DVM, CVA, CVTP, CVCH (pending), clinical instructor.

Individuals interested in this position should contact Dr. Ronald Koh via e-mail at rkoh@lsu.edu for more details including salary, compensation, benefits, program description.