Fitzpatrick Referrals’ team of interns are qualified veterinary surgeons undertaking a 12-month supervised placement with us to improve their understanding of specialist treatment and care in their chosen disciplines.
Interns are pivotal in our clinical care team and provide truly exceptional veterinary care and management options for our patients and clients.
Mario is currently nine months into his internship at Fitzpatrick Referrals Orthopaedics and Neurology practice and kindly shared his experience in this Q & A.
NAME: Mario Garcia
AGE: 27 years old
JOB TITLE: Veterinary surgeon
HOMETOWN: Malaga, Spain
Which internship are you doing at Fitzpatrick Referrals?
I’m currently completing the orthopaedics and neurosurgery internship, which I started in May 2019.
What were the most important factors for you when choosing a practice to apply to?
I was looking for a practice with good professionals, where I could learn and improve my skills and knowledge in veterinary medicine.
What made you decide to do an internship at Fitzpatrick Referrals?
It is one of the best veterinary practices in the world and a good friend of mine told me that I could learn from some of the best surgeons and that it would be an amazing opportunity.
Talk us through a typical day as an intern
We share cases with the surgeons, helping them in theatre or with the diagnostic and taking care of the patients, for example. In addition, we have a theoretical training programme almost every day. We learn whilst we work, which is the most important point for me.
What have been your highlights?
The good moments working with a great team at the practice and whenever I learned something new.
Were there any tough moments?
There are sometimes hard times, but in the end, it’s worth it.
What skills do you feel you have developed as a result of your internship?
I have improved my surgery and neurology skills and I have learned massively about those specialities.
What are your plans when you complete your internship?
I would like to keep learning and became a specialist orthopaedic surgeon in the future if possible.
What would you say to a vet considering doing an internship?
Do it, do it and do it! You have to work hard and spend a lot of hours, but I think that it is the best way to become a “Supervet”.
