Surgery Residency

Overview

The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine provides advanced surgical training with two competitive residency positions. Our program provides comprehensive clinical training that permits the candidate to engage in a variety of surgical cases and to obtain the essential knowledge and skills for board certification by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (www.ACVS.org).

Faculty & Resources

Texas A&M University has seven board-certified small animal surgeons working directly with our surgical residents:

  • Dr. Jacqueline Davidson,
  • Dr. Vanna Dickerson,
  • Dr. Don Hulse,
  • Dr. Sharon Kerwin,
  • Dr. Laura Peycke,
  • Dr. Brian Saunders, and
  • Dr. Kelley Thieman Mankin.

Our faculty interests are diverse and include multiple areas of orthopedic and soft tissue surgery, and surgical oncology including minimally invasive surgical and interventional techniques (thoracic, abdominal, orthopedic), total joint replacement, regenerative medicine, and neurosurgery. The robust and varied caseload provides adequate exposure to cases both during business hours and on an emergency basis. The faculty is deeply committed to providing assistance as needed with emergency cases, both during the routine workday and after hours. Other specialties directly supporting our large caseload include anesthesiology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, radiology (including radiation oncology), and zoological medicine/surgery.

State-of-the-art diagnostic equipment is available, including color-flow Doppler ultrasonography, video endoscopy, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, fluoroscopy, operating microscopy, image-guided neuro-navigational system, onsite 3 Tesla MRI, and 40-slice per revolution CT.

Programs

The two residency positions offered are varied in time commitment and expectations. Opportunities to attend other specialty rounds within the college and participate in other clinical rotations within and outside the college are available and encouraged.

Four-year Surgery Residency

  • The 48-month program is combined with a Master of Science degree program; the resident will complete a thesis-based Master of Science degree in the first year prior to entering clinical training in their second year of the program. This person will also participate in the first-year veterinary anatomy course and other teaching duties.

Three-year Surgery Residency

  • In the 36-month program, the resident will begin work in the clinic upon arrival and will not be engaged in formal graduate studies. Both programs are supervised by senior faculty members and include weekly journal clubs, book clubs, case rounds, and arthroscopy and soft tissue laboratories.

For More Information & to Apply

  • More information about the program is available here or by contacting Dr. Laura Peycke, ACVS program director (lpeycke@cvm.tamu.edu).
  • Application to both the three- and four-year residency programs should be completed through the Veterinary Residency and Internship Match Program (VRIMP) (www.virmp.org).

Ciepluch checking up the dog

Previous Residents Talk about the Program

“I feel very lucky to have matched to this residency program. The unconditional support from my mentors is the most valuable part to me. I’ve seen incredible growth in myself, even just after the first year. I know I will leave here as a well-rounded surgeon with strong research experience. Knowing that makes all of the hard work well worth it!”
—Brittany Ciepluch, DVM, Surgery Resident 2015–2019

Corriveau washing her hands

“With the guidance of a wonderful surgical department and great interdepartmental cooperation, I feel that my residency has been preparing me very well for a progressive career in veterinary small animal surgery. I will never forget my experiences at TAMU!”
— Kayla Corriveau, DVM, Surgery Resident 2014–2017