Individual Track

What is the Individual Track?

The Individual Track allows you to create a custom Year 4 clinical rotation schedule that aligns with your specific career aspirations. Whether you're pursuing a specialty residency, planning a unique practice model, or exploring emerging areas in veterinary medicine, the Individual Track provides flexibility and personalized mentorship to help you achieve your goals.

You will work with faculty advisors to design a rotation schedule that includes core competencies while emphasizing areas of particular interest. This track is ideal for students with clear career direction or those seeking intensive exposure to specific disciplines.

Available Rotation Options

Choose from any of these rotations to build your personalized schedule:

Small Animal Medicine

Comprehensive medical diagnosis and treatment in companion animals.

Small Animal Surgery

Operative training in routine and advanced surgical procedures.

Equine Medicine

Horse medical management with ambulatory clinic exposure.

Equine Surgery

Operative techniques and perioperative equine care.

Food Animal Medicine

Herd health and production management in cattle operations.

Food Animal Surgery

Large animal surgical procedures in clinical and field settings.

Emergency & Critical Care

Multi-species acute care with 24-hour rotation availability.

Lameness & Orthopedics

Diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal disease in large animals.

Anesthesia

Perioperative anesthesia management across species.

Radiology

Diagnostic imaging and interpretation across multiple species.

Zoo & Exotic Medicine

Specialized care of exotic species and wildlife.

Avian Medicine

Companion bird and exotic avian care.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

Care and rehabilitation of native injured and orphaned wildlife.

Dermatology

Skin disease diagnosis and treatment.

Cardiology

Cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management.

Oncology

Cancer diagnosis and treatment planning.

Neurology

Nervous system disease diagnosis and management.

Ophthalmology

Ocular disease and ophthalmic surgery.

Dentistry

Dental disease management and procedures.

Theriogenology

Reproductive health and breeding management.

Production Medicine

Herd health optimization and performance management.

Specialty Services

Other specialized areas based on availability and interest.

How to Design Your Individual Track

1. Define Your Career Goals

Residency Path: Identify your target residency/specialty and required rotations.
Practice Goals: Clarify your ideal practice model (solo, group, mixed animal, specialty).
Special Interests: Identify areas you want to explore or develop expertise in.
Skill Development: Determine which rotations will build the most critical skills for your goals.

2. Meet with Academic Advisor

Initial Meeting: Discuss your career goals and learning objectives.
Review Options: Explore available rotations and their alignment with your goals.
Design Schedule: Create a rotation timeline that balances core competencies with specialized focus.
Identify Mentors: Connect with faculty mentors in your areas of interest.

3. Balance Your Rotations

Core Competencies: Include essential rotations (surgery, medicine, emergency care) regardless of specialty.
Depth of Focus: Allocate significant time to 2-3 areas of particular interest.
Breadth of Experience: Maintain exposure across multiple disciplines for well-rounded training.
Longitudinal Exposure: Consider sequential rotations in same area to build progressive expertise.

4. Finalize & Execute

Submit Schedule: Provide your planned rotation schedule to the student services office.
Obtain Approval: Ensure your schedule meets accreditation requirements and degree requirements.
Establish Goals: Create specific learning objectives for each rotation with your mentor.
Execute & Reflect: Complete rotations, track progress, and adjust if needed.

Individual Track Proposal Template

Personalized Rotation Schedule Planning Guide

Use this template to outline your proposed Individual Track schedule. Share this with your academic advisor during your planning meeting.

Name & Contact Information

Career Goals & Aspirations

Learning Objectives for Year 4

Proposed Primary Focus Area(s)

July - August Rotations

September - October Rotations

November - December Rotations

January - February Rotations

Mentor(s) & Faculty Support

How This Schedule Supports Your Career Goals

Note: Print or screenshot this form and discuss with your academic advisor. Your final approved schedule must include all required competencies while aligning with your career goals.

Example Individual Tracks

Example 1: Emergency Medicine Residency Preparation

Primary Focus: Emergency & Critical Care (extended exposure)
Secondary: Anesthesia, Radiology, Surgery
Goal: Comprehensive emergency medicine training for VIRMP matching in EM residency

Example 2: Equine Surgery Specialization

Primary Focus: Equine Surgery (intensive), Lameness & Orthopedics
Secondary: Equine Medicine, Anesthesia
Goal: Prepare for equine surgery residency

Example 3: Wildlife Conservation Focus

Primary Focus: Wildlife Rehabilitation, Zoo & Exotic Medicine
Secondary: Wildlife Pathology, Conservation Medicine
Goal: Develop expertise for wildlife conservation career

Example 4: Small Animal Specialty Track

Primary Focus: Oncology, Cardiology, or Dermatology
Secondary: Small Animal Surgery, Emergency Care
Goal: Prepare for specialty residency in target discipline

Example 5: Mixed Practice Preparation

Primary Focus: Small Animal & Equine Medicine/Surgery
Secondary: Emergency Care, Orthopedics
Goal: Develop expertise for diverse mixed-animal practice

Example 6: Exotic & Zoo Medicine

Primary Focus: Zoo & Exotic Medicine, Avian Medicine
Secondary: Wildlife Rehabilitation, Exotic Anesthesia
Goal: Prepare for zoo or exotic practice career

Key Principles for Individual Track Success

✓ Clear Career Vision

Know what you want from your career before designing your track.
Align your rotations with your target career path.
Discuss your goals with mentors who have experience in your target field.

✓ Balance & Flexibility

Include core competencies (surgery, medicine, emergency care) regardless of specialty.
Build flexibility into your schedule for unexpected opportunities or mentorship.
Be willing to adjust your schedule if rotations reveal new interests or challenges.

✓ Intentional Mentorship

Connect with faculty mentors in your areas of interest early in Year 4.
Meet regularly with your advisor to track progress toward learning objectives.
Seek recommendation letters from faculty who can speak to your specialty preparation.

✓ Deliberate Learning

Set specific learning objectives for each rotation with your mentor.
Track your progress and competency development throughout Year 4.
Seek feedback regularly and adjust your approach as needed.

Contact Information

Office of Student Services
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Email: studentservices@ucdavis.edu
Phone: (530) 752-1349