University of Georgia is offering a 1 year specialty internship in Ophthalmology
The University of Georgia is offering a 1 year specialty internship in Ophthalmology.
Dates: July 15, 2025 – July 14, 2026
Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Salary: $44,000
Prerequisites: One-year rotating internship or equivalent experience.
Submission Requirements:
1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Three Letters of Reference - Letters should be submitted electronically by the individuals writing the letters, not forwarded by the applicant.
3. Letter of Intent - A personal statement describing background, reasons for applying to the internship and career goals.
Please submit all application materials electronically to Kathern Myrna: kmyrna@uga.edu
The objectives of this internship are to provide a non-degree, advanced clinical training program in companion animal ophthalmology and to offer experience in clinical ophthalmic research. This program will allow veterinarians to expand their ophthalmic knowledge base and clinical skills in preparation for further training in an ophthalmology residency. Candidates who are highly motivated and have previously completed a one-year rotating internship or its equivalent in practice experience is a plus.
The intern will spend his or her time working on the Ophthalmology Service in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. All clinical duties will be conducted under direct supervision of the ophthalmologists and will include diagnosing and treating companion animals with ocular disease, managing inpatients, providing consultations for doctors from other hospital services and surrounding general practices, and contributing to the education of senior veterinary students working in the teaching hospital. While ophthalmology interns do not have general emergency responsibilities, they will see patients of the ophthalmology service presenting after-hours on emergency, as well as provide back-up on any other after-hours ophthalmology cases. This duty is rotated between ophthalmology interns and residents.
Ophthalmology interns participate in patient rounds. Ophthalmology rounds/ journal club are held bimonthly and ocular histopathology rounds are held monthly; ophthalmology interns and residents will need to attend and participate in these rounds to expand their knowledge base and help prepare for the ACVO board examinations. Additionally, attendance at the Hospital Grand Rounds Seminar is strongly encouraged. Interns are also strongly encouraged to attend the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists Meeting.
All Applicants
The University of Georgia (UGA) College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, providing services to animal owners and veterinarians, and conducting investigations to improve the health of animals and people. The College benefits pets and their owners, food-producing animals, and wildlife by offering the highest quality hospital and diagnostic laboratory services. Equipped with technologically advanced facilities, the College is dedicated to safeguarding public health by studying emerging infectious diseases affecting animal and human health.
The College of Veterinary Medicine values all University community members, recognizing that differences in experience and culture can only lead to a more well-rounded, accepting academic environment as embodied in our Principles of Community.
The successful candidate will be licensed to practice by a faculty license. This license, obtained without examination, permits veterinarians from non-AVMA-accredited veterinary schools to practice within UGA programs only. Whereas the regular Georgia state veterinary license requires graduation from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school or successful completion of the ECVFG program, this is not a requirement for the faculty license. Professional liability insurance is provided only for work performed as a UGA intern. If the intern desires to work outside of UGA and the residency program, it is the intern's responsibility to acquire professional liability insurance.
Proof of medical insurance coverage and proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, tetanus, hepatitis B, and rabies are required. Health insurance is required and is the financial responsibility of the individual. Medical insurance is available through the Graduate School at a reasonable rate but may be waived if the intern provides proof of alternative acceptable medical insurance. Medical insurance through the Graduate School will be available beginning August 1, 2025. Please visit the following website for additional information regarding health insurance fees https://hr.uga.edu/students/Mandatory_Plan/student_mandatory_plan_home/. Be advised that the UGA policy will not take effect until August 1, 2025, so you will need to independently obtain health insurance from July 15, 2025, until August 1, 2025.
Interns receive 10 days of vacation leave for every 12 months of training and a reasonable amount of sick leave. Interns for each specialty, along with working faculty, cover service responsibilities during the Christmas and New Year's holiday break. Leave does not carry forward from year to year. Vacation and sick leave will renew on July 1 each year.
The internship is a non-degree graduate program, leading to an official University certificate of completion. A one-time application fee of $75 ($100 for international students) and tuition and student fees (approximately $3000/year) are the responsibility of the individual selected for the program. Required fees allow access to the Ramsey Student Activities Center (sports complex), the Gilbert Student Health Center, and student tickets for athletic and cultural events. Student services are accessible once the fall semester begins. Interns must pay parking fees, approximately $240/year.
The University of Georgia classifies interns as graduate students; thus, interns are not considered full-time employees for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. This makes the intern years at the University of Georgia ineligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Please consider this information if you desire to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness or other loan repayment programs.
International Applicants
International applicants must provide two official/certified copies of their academic records from each institution of higher education that the applicant has attended. These records must include all coursework. Photocopies are not acceptable. Separate proof of degrees is also required. If the original language of the academic record is not English, a certified English translation must be attached to the original. Applicants who graduated from a non-English language veterinary school must submit official TOEFL scores (see http://www.toefl.org for details). These scores must not be more than two years old. Foreign applicants who have completed a year of academic study in the U.S. can provide a university transcript instead of TOEFL scores. A valid U.S. driving license is required. International applicants must arrive three weeks before the residency start date to obtain a social security number, veterinary licensure, and driving license.
International students matching to our program must participate in a mandatory health insurance program provided by the University of Georgia (find information at: https://hr.uga.edu/students/Mandatory_Plan/student_mandatory_plan_home/ ). Proof of immunization for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, chicken pox, hepatitis, and rabies is required.
International candidates must consider application processing times well before the program's start date. Please note that it may take up to 10 days to obtain a social security number. Information about this process can be found at https://isl.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/09/Social_Security_Office-TheBasics.pdf. A social security number is required to apply for a Georgia veterinary faculty license, and it may take up to 30 additional days to receive this license. More detailed information for international candidates is available through the Office of Global Engagement (https://globalengagement.uga.edu). Offers to international applicants are contingent upon successful application for the appropriate visa.
Additional Information
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. It does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status in its programs or activities. Athens, Georgia, captures the true essence of a college town, with its focus being the university's approximately 41,615 students. It is a friendly place that blends the small-town feel with many of the amenities offered by Atlanta, which is only 65 miles away. Athens has a vibrant cultural and music scene, home to R.E.M. and Widespread Panic, among others. The weather is relatively mild most of the year, although the heat and humidity are very apparent in July and August. For more information on Athens, GA, visit http://www.visitathensga.com/
Please refer to the following website, which includes answers to the most frequently asked questions and additional information about our program: https://vet.uga.edu/education/intern-residency-programs/intern-residency-programs/.
Please email for further information on this program or refer to the ' 'Department's website (https://vet.uga.edu/education/academic-departments/small-animal-medicine-and-surgery/).
The UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMIR0Ayz6ys