Policy for Visiting Clerkship and Scholar Programs

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
The Ohio State University

Visiting Clerkship and Scholar Policy (Printable version)
Visitor Approval Form (Printable version)

Overview

The Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences offers a variety of clinical programs for visiting veterinary students, interns, residents, practitioners, and faculty. Visitor programs enrich our own clinical program, provide academic growth for visiting participants and help other institutions meet specific programmatic needs. Visitors provide opportunities for collaboration and sharing of ideas in teaching, clinics, and research. International visitors enhance our cultural diversity and encourage development of professional relationships between OSU and the global veterinary community. In some cases, visiting students and residents from other institutions develop an interest in applying for future intern, resident, or faculty positions in our program.

Visitors are accepted by special arrangement and prior approval of the faculty and Chair of the Department. The categories of visitor programs include the following.

• Visiting Student Clerkships—Unique clinical rotation experiences for visiting 4^th-year (senior) veterinary students who are enrolled in AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges in North America.
• Visiting Intern and Resident Clerkships—Unique clinical rotation experiences for visiting veterinary interns and residents from North American post-professional training programs.
• Visiting Practitioner Clerkships—Unique clinical rotation experiences for practicing veterinarians from North America, including veterinarians in private practice, industry, or nonprofit programs.
• Visiting Faculty Scholars—Focused clinical experiences or academic collaborations for faculty members from peer colleges of veterinary medicine in North America.
• International Visiting Clerkships and International Faculty Scholar Programs—Unique clinical rotation experiences for international visitors and observers who are senior veterinary students, interns, residents, faculty, or practitioners from other countries.

Specialty Areas Available

Visiting clerkship rotations are usually for one week blocks in a specialty. Available clerkship rotations are listed below. Other areas of specialty focus may be possible by special arrangement. Visiting faculty scholars generally arrange to collaborate with a specific OSU faculty member.

• Small Animal Internal Medicine
• Cardiology and Interventional Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Oncology and Hematology
• Dermatology and Otology
• Comparative Ophthalmology
• Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
• Community Practice, Shelter & Outreach Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology)
• Radiation Oncology
• Anesthesiology & Pain Management
• Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue and/or Orthopedics)
• Equine Medicine
• Equine Surgery
• Equine Emergency and Critical Care
• Equine Field Services (Ambulatory Medicine)
• Food and Fiber Animal Medicine and Surgery

Clinical Activities

The daily clinical activities of participants in visitor programs are varied and determined primarily by the faculty in each specialty service. Opportunities for learning are enhanced by the outstanding faculty, the large and diverse clinical caseload, and the comprehensive facilities of the OSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Clerkship participants are encouraged to observe and assist our faculty and students in all clinical activities, including patient exams, rounds, special procedures, and surgeries, as the opportunity arises; however, they do not have specific primary patient care responsibilities or structured didactic learning experiences. Arrangements for special focused clinical experiences must be approved in advance by the faculty members and Service Head in the applicable specialty service. The clinical activities of visitors must comply with Ohio law and the policies of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board.

Guidelines and Information

• Clerkship Grades—Clerkships are not routinely graded or evaluated, but special forms will be completed and grades provided (pass/fail) for veterinary students whose institution requires completion of such forms. Visiting students must provide advance notice of special requirements for grading or evaluation when they submit their application.
• Accommodations—Clerkship participants are expected to make their own arrangements for transportation and living accommodations. Many motels and hotels are available in the Columbus area through the Yellow Pages, the OSU Housing website or the Campus Bulletin Board. International visitors can also get assistance through the university's Office of International Affairs—OIA.
• Insurance—As visitors may be exposed to zoonotic illnesses and animal inflicted injuries, it is highly recommended that you carry personal health insurance during their clerkship period. The Ohio State University including its faculty, staff, students, agents and representatives are not responsible for illness or injuries encountered during your visit nor for payment of any care received.
• Liability—Visitors in clinical areas of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will be required to complete the Visiting Clerkship & Scholar Program Request & Release form. This form includes a Release of Liability/Statement of Confidentiality.
• Fees—The standard visitor fee is US $400 per week (see Table 1). This fee is waived for faculty, residents, interns, and veterinary students from North American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine for up to a maximum of 4 weeks, after which the standard fee applies. In addition, a visa processing fee of US $250 is required for all international visitors who are not U.S. citizens, unless they qualify for a standard tourist visa. The visa processing fee cannot be waived. Payment of all fees before the scheduled visit is required in US dollars by bank draft, money order, or cashiers check, made out to Ohio State University--Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. For special circumstances that justify a waiver of the required visitor fee, the sponsoring faculty member may request approval from the Service Head and the Department Chair. Upon approval of the Visiting Clerkship & Scholar Program Request, the visitor will be notified of the fees that must be paid.

Application process

Individuals' interested in visiting must submit a complete application and payment for any applicable fees in advance of their planned visit. Materials required for a complete application are detailed below. Applications must be reviewed and approved by the faculty member, Service Head and chair of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. For visitors requesting rotations through 2 or more clinical service areas, the faculty member and Service Head from each clinical service must approve the proposed visit for their specialty area, including the date and duration. Visitor requests may be denied, if the proposed visit is scheduled to occur during a time when a large number of OSU veterinary students or other visitors are expected in the specialty service, or if the proposed visit is scheduled to occur when faculty staffing is insufficient to meet programmatic needs. The Department Chair reserves the right to limit visitors at any time.

When a decision is rendered on the application request, you will be notified via the email provided on the Visiting Clerkship & Scholar Program Request and Release form. If the application is approved, you will be advised rotations and dates approved as well as all applicable fees. Fees, in total, are due prior to your arrival and must be paid in US dollars by bank draft, money order, or cashiers check, made out to Ohio State University--Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. You will also receive additional information regarding your visit; including the day and time you should arrive on your first day and directions to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

To apply, please submit the following

1. Completed Visiting Clerkship & Scholar Application Form
2. Completion of the State of Ohio Declaration Regarding Material Assistance/Non-assistance to Terrorist Organizations (DMA) Form
3. For international visitors, proof of funding, if a visa is requested.
4. For students, a transcript or letter of verification from Dean of Student Affairs (or other comparable institutional official) verifying that the student is matriculated and in good academic standing in a college of veterinary medicine.
5. For interns, residents, faculty, and practitioners a letter of intent and curriculum vitae or résumé.

Please send all application materials to

Robin Bennett
The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Veterinary Clinical Sciences
601 Vernon L. Tharp St.
Columbus, OH 43210
UNITED STATES

Only complete application packets will be forwarded for review and approval.

Fees

• Visitor Fee—The standard visitor’s fee is $400; however as noted above and in Table 1 the fee may be waived for faculty, residents, interns and students from North American Colleges of Veterinary Medicine for up to a maximum of 4 weeks, after which the standard fee applies. If a fee has been designated for your visit; you will be notified via email when you are notified that your visit has been approved. Fees are payable in US dollars by bank draft, money order, or cashiers check to The Ohio State University - Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Office prior to your visit.
• Visa Processing—International visitors are required to have an appropriate visa and clearance from Homeland Security. We charge a fee of $250, payable to The Ohio State University, for the administrative processing related to visa eligibility documents. The visitor is responsible for paying this and all other fees and expenses incurred with the visa application. Processing fees must be received before J-1 eligibility documents and supporting materials will be sent to international visitors. If a visa processing fee is required, this can be included in the same envelope with your visitor fee, but must be a separate check.

All applicable fees must be paid prior to your visit. If the fee due is a large amount we realize that most carriers (Fed Ex, DHL, etc) will not insure the envelope, therefore, arrangements can be made that the fee is paid on your first day with a check, money order or cashiers check payable in US Dollars and provided to The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences administrative office. Please note that cash is not accepted and you will be directed to the nearest financial institution to acquire the appropriate payment method. Fees are not refundable.

If the fee has not been paid on or before your first day, and satisfactory arrangements have not been made, the visitor will not be allowed to spend time in the department until the financial arrangements have been satisfied. Once payment is made, the visitor will be allowed to participate in their visit. If you are an international visitor and financial arrangements have not been satisfied within 3 days of the start of the visit, the Univerisity’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) will be informed that the visit has been cancelled and OIA will contact the appropriate US Agency to advise them that the visit has been cancelled.

Special Institutional Agreements

Formal agreements or contracts may be appropriate for veterinary schools and other institutions that send students or trainees to OSU's College of Veterinary Medicine on a recurring basis. These negotiated agreements may provide for specific funding commitments or for a reciprocal exchange of students that is mutually beneficial to both institutions. Each institutional agreement is a unique contract that requires thorough consideration by the faculty and administrative approval by the Chair, Dean, and institutional fiscal officer. Our College currently has special institutional contractual agreements with Ross University, St. Georges University, and Rakuno Gakuen University (RGU; Japan).