World Vets International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is our official student program where licensed veterinary technicians with at least one year of clinical experience can provide instruction to pre – veterinary and veterinary technician students.
What will I be doing?
LVT/RVT/CVT instructors will work one-on-one with students to teach students basic clinical skills such as preparation of patients for surgery (pre-med, placing catheters, intubation etc.), performing physical exams, basic anesthesia concepts and patient recovery. There are typically 2-3 veterinary technicians and up to 5 pre-vet and/or vet tech students per session. Volunteer techs will work one on one with 2-3 students at a time. Our field service veterinarian will also provide orientation and be there throughout the program.
During the community outreach activity, techs will work alongside students to do basic health consults and administer preventive healthcare treatments while sharing knowledge and basic techniques with students.
You may also add RACE -approved continuing education credit to your participation on this program. World Vets offers an add-on CE option for veterinary technicians who register as IVM instructors. Click here to learn more
What are the requirements?
- Must be a licensed, registered or certified veterinary technician
- Must have at least 1 year of clinical experience
- No prior teaching experience is required, though you must be comfortable and competent in performing and teaching basic technical skills such as IV catheter placement and intubation.
To be considered for an LVT/RVT instructor position, please send an email to info@worldvets.org and include a copy of your CV/resume and current license. In your email, please state the specific session(s) you are interested in applying for. All upcoming sessions are listed here. Registration links are provided exclusively to those selected to fill an instructor role and are not posted publicly.
We accept instructor applicants year round. As such, prospective instructors are encouraged to contact us with their interest prior to the opening of a specific IVM session for general registration. In this way we will be able to consider all potential applicants when making instructor selections.
What does it cost?
This is a low cost volunteer opportunity. The 2019 IVM Program instructor registration fee is $295 USD per session/week in Ecuador and $495 USD per session/week in Peru. The full registration fee is due at the time of sign up. Instructor fees are subject to change
What’s included:
World Vets scrub top and volunteer kit, pre – trip planning and coordination (per the program session itinerary), accommodations for 7 nights (per the session dates selected), breakfast included with accommodations, lunches on clinic/veterinary service days, airport transfers per established meeting times on official arrival/departure days (per your session), a group activity as well as all supplies and full participation in the program.
What’s NOT included:
* Read more about membership here
Will I have free time to explore the area?
Yes. World Vets will arrange a group activity on one day. This will give you the opportunity to get acquainted with your local surroundings as well as interact with other members of the group. There is an additional day with no scheduled activity so you are free to make your own arrangements. Specific activities and excursions may vary depending on the location where the IVM Program will be operated.
Accommodations
Accommodations may vary depending on the location where the IVM Program may be operated. Nevertheless, IVM participants can expect to stay in similar lodging as this; a colonial style home or beautiful inn located just a few blocks away from the center of town and within walking distance from restaurants, shops and others sights. Accommodations and living quarters will be shared.
Typical Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day
Today marks the official arrival day of the IVM session. There will be two airport shuttles provided for arrivals based on the arrival times of the majority.
Day 2: Group Activity & Orientation
In the morning you will take part in a group activity followed by orientation.
Day 3 & 4: Clinic/Surgical Days
Today students and instructors will work to provide low volume free spay/neuter services for community animals in need of the operation. Students will receive one on one instruction and have the opportunity to work with various types of equipment. There may also exist the opportunity to perform basic diagnostic tests such as blood and tissue smears, fecal flotations, PCV/TP, and urinalysis.
Day 5: Leisure Day | Free Time
Take advantage of your day off and explore the area! World Vets will have 3 activities that we can arrange and you can sign up for upon your arrival.
Day 6: Community Outreach Day
Students will take part in a community outreach clinic today. They will be involved in assisting with health consultations and administering vaccines and preventative health medicines to cats and dogs. We may also be attending horses (depending on location) allowing students to assist with administering vaccines and preventative health medicines to horses as well as cleaning and treating wounds and abrasions.
Day 7: Clinic/Surgical Day
Today students and instructors will work to provide low volume free spay/neuter services for community animals in need of the operation. Students will receive one on one instruction and have the opportunity to work with various types of equipment. There may also exist the opportunity to perform basic diagnostic tests such as blood and tissue smears, fecal flotations, PCV/TP, and urinalysis.
Day 8: Departure Day
Today marks the official end/departure day of the session. There will be airport shuttles provided for early morning and afternoon departures.
Participants are welcome to extend their stay after the IVM Program under their own arrangements. If you are not planning to travel back to the airport with the group, you will need to make your own arrangements for departure airport transportation.
A few special notes:
- All surgeries are performed on community animals that require sterilization. Members of the local community own most of the surgical patients, but homeless cats and dogs are also considered for sterilization. Although this is a training program, patient care and patient needs are always our top priority, so patient comfort and appropriate pain management is always implemented.
- Participants are responsible for obtaining any travel documentation required of them to enter/exit the country location for the IVM Program (i.e a passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from the date of departure, visa if applicable). U.S. volunteers can find passport information at TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
- Participants are responsible for obtaining any health requirements and/or precautions (i.e. vaccinations) prior to the course and its associated cost. World Vets is not able to provide medical advice. Participants are encouraged to consult with their family physician, nearest travel clinic and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding recommended immunizations and/or health precautions prior to the trip. We require all volunteers to have some form of health insurance.
- Participants are encouraged to purchase travellers insurance to cover for any unforeseen illness, injury, extreme weather causing flight delays and/or cancellations. World Vets has a partnership with Global Rescue. A membership with Global Rescue provides volunteers with medical evacuation & advisory services, among many other things.
- The International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is for instructors and students respectfully. We are not able to accommodate any children (under the age of 18) of instructors should they not be participating in the capacity of student. This also extends to spouses of instructors should they not be eligible to fill a DVM and/or LVT instructor position.
- The gloves provided on World Vets projects are made with latex. Volunteers who have a latex allergy will need to provide their own gloves for this project.
- World Vets is able to accommodate vegetarians on this program. However, we will notable to accommodate any specialty diets such as vegan, kosher and/or gluten free etc. Those who have strict dietary restrictions will need to bring their own supplements and/or snacks for the program. The gloves provided as part of this program are made with latex. If you have a latex allergy, you will need to supply your own gloves for this program