Bridging Learning with Practice

Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is a hotbed of educational opportunities with a variety of internship programs offered.

Those opportunities include an internship program for veterinary technician students.

“The internship is designed to bridge classroom learning with clinical practice,” said Stephanie Canon, clinical manager support in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC). “The program helps future veterinary technicians develop the confidence, technical skills, and experience needed for a successful career in veterinary medicine.”

The Iowa State internship attracts students from vet tech programs throughout Iowa. Three vet tech students are currently internship in the LVMC, which includes the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital and the Large Animal Hospital.

The diversity and breadth of the internship caught Taylor Yordy’s attention.

“Iowa State offers a wide variety of opportunities that I am able to do,” said the Kirkwood Community College student. “I have gained so much from this experience, including knowledge of routine procedures.

“I have been a part of other veterinary procedures here that I wouldn’t have been able to participate in anywhere else.”

The vet tech interns spend multiple weeks in the small and large animal hospitals assisting with patient exams, restraint and nursing care. They also monitor anesthesia during procedures and perform technical skills including blood draws, catheter placement, blood pressure monitoring, vaccinations, laboratory testing, and medication administrations.

The LVMC offers specialty care to small and large animal patients. The ability to work with large animals was a plus for another intern, Jessica Unterberger.

“This internship allowed me to learn new skills while working directly under licensed veterinary technicians,” Unterberger said. “I have worked in several veterinary clinics prior to starting (vet tech) school, which helped build my interest.

“This experience has helped me gain confidence in my skills and given me valuable hands-on exposure to both general and specialty veterinary care.”

Because of the breadth of the LVMC offerings, interns in this program are also exposed to diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy, ultrasound-guided procedures, blood donor collections, and dental radiography.

July 2026