Following a 6-month internship, the program encompasses a 2.5-year residency of which approximately 80% will be spent in clinics with a board-certified veterinary dentist present. In addition, approximately 20% of the time will be spent in any of the following ways:

Fulfillment of the requirements for surgery, anesthesiology, and radiology.
Basic research or clinical investigation, and preparation of manuscripts.
Attendance of lectures and seminars including the dental forum.

Our practices are located in cities with extensive opportunities for employment in a wide variety of other fields, lively nightlife, and cultural opportunities, safe and affordable family housing, and fantastic schools. We are looking to establish long-term relationships, preferably with residents staying on indefinitely following training. In addition, we offer ownership programs to assist new diplomates who wish to start their own practice and are open to expansion throughout North America.

Our residency program includes time spent in both standalone and large specialty practices, which allows for interaction and support from a variety of specialists. In addition, we contract with an anesthesiologist providing our residents excellent support in this area. Further, travel for specialty hours is not required

VDS hosts a variety of visiting veterinary students, interns, and technicians, for whom the resident will be involved in their informal education.
Residents will be expected to assist at the San Diego Vet Dental Training Center, and involvement with other labs taught by our Diplomates is encouraged.  If this opportunity is elected, the resident will be monetarily compensated.
Our residents are expected to lecture at the Veterinary Dental Forum as well as our local events. 
Involvement and presentation in the Niemiec On-Line Veterinary Dental Journal Club is mandatory.

Our caseload is varied and unsurpassed, with residents filling most of their MRCLs in their first year. We have successfully trained numerous residents including international trainees in the alternate pathway. There are 3 Board-certified dentists in our group, as well as 2 residency-completed associates and three current residents. This allows for significant support in the training period and while preparing studies, radiology sets, and publications.

Residents are expected to work approximately 50 hours per week. There are no scheduled on-call or weekend shifts. While we occasionally stay late for an emergency case, 95% of our schedule is 8-6 Monday-Friday.

Please note, that we are not a university residency site, therefore all residents must have the appropriate documentation already fulfilled to work and practice veterinary medicine in the USA.  California licensure is optimal, but we will work with the successful candidate to procure if necessary.

VDS is not a corporate group, and we interact and work as both a team and a family. Most of our employees have been with us for many years, increasing the support. Several of our residents and specialists are raising young families, traveling extensively, and enjoying the kind of work-life balance rarely seen in traditional residencies.