Description
Residency in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
The Department of Clinical Studies – New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to offer a comprehensive three-year residency in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, beginning in July 2026. This advanced training program is designed to meet the residency requirements of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) and provides in-depth clinical experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of equine athletes.
The resident will work closely with a team of six ACVSMR-boarded faculty members within a high-volume, referral-based hospital setting, gaining exposure to a wide range of complex cases. The Equine Sports Medicine Service is supported by extensive diagnostic imaging capabilities, including digital radiography, ultrasonography, helical fan-beam and standing robotic cone-beam computed tomography, nuclear scintigraphy, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. Additional diagnostic modalities include high-speed treadmill evaluation, over-ground endoscopy, gastroscopy, exercising electrocardiography, and echocardiography. The resident will also benefit from close, collaborative case management with experts across multiple specialties including Neurology, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Reproduction, ensuring a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diagnosing and treating complex poor performance cases.
Therapeutic services encompass a broad array of modalities, including intra-articular and intra-lesional injections, orthobiologic therapies such as blood-based therapies and autologous mesenchymal stem cells, shockwave therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).
In addition to clinical responsibilities, the resident will participate in the clinical instruction of veterinary students, engage in hospital rounds and seminar presentations, and, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, complete a research project aligned with their interests. This program fully satisfies the supervised training criteria for eligibility to sit for the ACVSMR certification examination.
Training at New Bolton Center offers the unique advantage of being located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a region renowned for its rich equestrian culture and diverse range of equine disciplines and competitions, providing residents with unparalleled exposure to a wide spectrum of performance horses and sport-related cases.
Qualifications: Applicants must have the following:
VMD/DVM or equivalent degree
Completed a one-year internship or equivalent experience with an equine focus
Demonstrated interest in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation.
Requirements: The application materials should include
1) Curriculum vitae
2) A letter of intent indicating the reasons for seeking admission to this program and professional career goals
3) Transcript of university performance, including documentation of graduation
4) Three letters of recommendation
Application deadline: December 31, 2025, or until position is filled.
Submit application materials to:
Ms. Patricia Antes, Assistant to the Department Chair, Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, email antes@vet.upenn.edu
Inquiries about the program can be directed to Dr. Elizabeth Davidson (610-925-6329); email (ejdavid@vet.upenn.edu).
Interested parties are welcome to view the Penn Vet YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/u2Sg3REO9r0?si=eWQTiN3g5Zr7N-eT
The successful applicant will be required to sign a non-disclosure and non-competition agreement prior to the start of the program.
Due to immigration restrictions, we cannot accept applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico.
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
