House officers 101: Who’s who on your pet’s care team

Published on Aug. 12, 2025

Story contact: Deidra Ashley, CVMMarCom@missouri.edu
Photos by Karen Clifford

You might hear your pet’s care team mention an intern or resident during your visit to the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center — but what does that mean?

In veterinary medicine, house officers are veterinarians who have already earned their DVM degree and are completing advanced clinical training. Interns are typically in a one-year rotating program, gaining experience across many specialties. Residents are pursuing multi-year, specialty-specific training to become board-certified experts in fields such as surgery, internal medicine, oncology and more.

House officers are an essential part of our hospital. They care for patients, consult with faculty specialists and help teach the next generation of veterinarians. They bring passion, dedication and fresh insight to every case — and they’re here because Mizzou is a national leader in veterinary education and clinical care.

Each summer, we welcome a new group of interns and residents to our clinical training programs. These veterinarians are the future of specialty care — and they’re learning from the best while they provide high-quality care to our clients and patients.

Read on to see the full cohort and join us in celebrating their journey.