Alliance Animal Health logo
Alliance Animal Health
West Tisbury, Massachusetts

DVM Student Externship - Animal Health Care Associates

VeterinarianIncludes callContract

Listed compensation

$15/hour

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Company Description

Animal Health Care Associates has been a trusted part of the Martha's Vineyard community for over 45 years, providing exceptional veterinary care in a collaborative, supportive, and well-established environment.

We're seeking enthusiastic DVM students who enjoy surgery, value strong client relationships, and are excited to learn from an experienced team.

Why You'll Love Externing Here

At Animal Health Care Associates, you'll find the unique combination of a close-knit, family-oriented team and the opportunity to learn from a veterinary practice with advanced medicine. Our hospital is known throughout the island for its friendly, compassionate care and serves a diverse clientele that is highly invested in their pets' health.

We primarily care for dogs and cats (over 90% of our caseload), while also offering the opportunity to see occasional equine and other large animal patients for DVM students with mixed-animal interests.

Our doctors are encouraged to practice medicine to the fullest extent of their training. We perform a wide range of surgical and medical procedures in-house and refer cases only when truly necessary.

  • Advanced Medicine & Services
  • Our hospital offers comprehensive diagnostic and treatment capabilities, including:
  • Orthopedic surgery
  • Soft tissue surgery
  • Dentistry with dental radiography
  • Ultrasound
  • Endoscopy
  • Internal medicine
  • Therapeutic laser
  • Acupuncture (with a licensed veterinary acupuncturist on staff)
  • Thermography
  • Stem cell therapy

In-house Diagnostics

We're also continually investing in the future of our practice, with plans for facility expansion and additional equipment upgrades as the hospital continues to grow.

Our practice also participates in a collaborative after-hours emergency rotation with other veterinary hospitals on Martha's Vineyard, helping provide overnight emergency coverage for the island community.

About Martha's Vineyard

Living on Martha's Vineyard offers an unmatched lifestyle. Enjoy beautiful beaches, charming coastal towns, outdoor recreation, incredible restaurants, and a welcoming year-round community. Whether you're boating after work, exploring scenic trails, or simply enjoying the slower pace of island life, you'll quickly understand why so many people choose to call the Vineyard home.

To learn more about us, click here!

Job Description

We’re Looking For

  • 1st through 4th Year Veterinary Students
  • Compassionate, Team Player and Strong Communicator
  • Veterinary students looking to enhance their education through real world experiences

We Offer Our Veterinary Student Externs

  • Paid Externship Hours
  • 1:1 Mentorship and Guidance
  • Future Veterinarian Opportunity Preferences
  • Future Ownership Opportunities through Partner Track Program
  • DVM Mentor Network
  • Flexible Scheduling

Qualifications

  • Must be an Active Veterinary Student from an AVMA Accredited Institution.
  • Additional Information

We Are a DRUG-Free, Smoke-Free, Equal Opportunity Employer.

Company Policy & Federal & State Laws Forbid Discrimination Because of Age, Color, Race, Religion, Sex, Disability, Sexual Orientation or National Origin

Compensation: up to USD 15 - hourly

Key Responsibilities

The extern will participate in clinical veterinary procedures, including surgery and internal medicine, under the guidance of an experienced team. They will also engage in client communication and contribute to the hospital's collaborative emergency care rotation.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Veterinary medicineClient relations

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$28k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $27k in an average-cost state. 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 40 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 83% have no call, 75% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Massachusetts?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$25k–$31kVeterinary Medicine median $250k (middle half $250k–$250k)161 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$27k in purchasing powerMassachusetts index 105.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Massachusetts70 active3,101 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 83% no call · 75% no weekends40 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMassachusetts healthcare professional listings: 33% state a sign-on bonus · 15% offer loan repayment108 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings962 in the last 30 days517 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+1.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Veterinarian Jobs

13 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

12 jobs · 9 employers
3
<$130k
1
$130k
3
$150k-170k
4
$170k-190k
1
$205k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

12 jobs · 9 employers
401k / retirement match
83%
Sign-on bonus
67%
Relocation assistance
50%
CME allowance
33%
Loan repayment
25%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Norfolk, MAPer Diem

Vetco Clinics · Norfolk, Massachusetts

$122-$152/hr
#2

Hospital Medical Leader or Associate Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Wareham, Massachusetts

$128k-$205k
#3

Veterinarian - Watertown

$160k-$187k
#4

Emergency Veterinarian - Shrewsbury, MA

$140k-$185k
+ 11 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 2.8
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,072 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
Alliance Animal Health logo

About Alliance Animal Health

Veterinary Services
Rye Brook, New York
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Externship Hours
1:1 Mentorship and Guidance
Future Veterinarian Opportunity Preferences
Future Ownership Opportunities through Partner Track Program
DVM Mentor Network
Flexible Scheduling

Living in West Tisbury

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.49M
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026).

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.