FVBS Clinical Behavioral Residency

FVBS Clinical Behavioral Residency

Residency Position at Florida Veterinary Behavior Service

The Florida Veterinary Behavior Service (FVBS) is accepting applications for a clinical behavioral medicine residency.

Who We Are

Florida Veterinary Behavior Service is a multi-doctor practice led by Dr. Lisa Radosta. Since 2017, FVBS has provided residency training for 8 residents. Our resident graduates are helping patients in private practice and in shelters. Additionally, they are accomplished speakers and authors.

We have a support team including a full-time practice manager, veterinary technicians, client care representatives and doctor’s assistants to support the doctors, clients and patients in an innovative, efficient way that promotes exceptional client and patient care. The number of cases that we see and the high percentage of rechecks helps our doctors feel clinically competent and confident when they complete the residency. 

Where We Are

FVBS is located in Southeast Florida where the temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees and you are never more than a short distance from the beach. Take a day trip to Miami or the Florida Keys. Go snorkeling, surfing, diving or for a hike in the Everglades. Swim with the manatees in Florida’s beautiful natural springs. The sun is out and the sky is blue almost every day of the year. Want to stay in the air conditioning? Southeast Florida has some of the best shopping and restaurants around. We currently have two locations (West Palm Beach and Coral Springs). Our Coral Springs location is within Coral Springs Animal Hospital, a large, 24 hour specialty referral center.

What We Stand For

FVBS is committed to improving the quality of life of people and companion animals through excellence in delivering high-quality, compassionate behavioral wellness care, expanding the horizons of behavioral knowledge through educating and training veterinarians, their teams, and educating pet parents.

How We Practice

To facilitate meaningful and frequent changes to patient treatment plans without a lot of email and phone back and forth, we offer 15 minute telehealth progress appointments in between longer rechecks. We have in-house behavior modification support staff including a CSAT trainer. 

We see our patients frequently facilitating a strong client-doctor bond. Generally, our clients live close enough that they can return for in-person rechecks, however telehealth rechecks are commonly offered and account for approximately 35% of our appointments. Finally, we offer doctor-to-doctor telehealth consultations to improve the lives of animals who do not live close to our offices. 

Our referral community is very supportive. It is commonplace for our service to see puppies, recently adopted dogs and cats and patients early in the progression of emotional disorders. In addition, we have a robust list of training partners who refer to us and to whom we refer for behavior modification. 

We have 100+, ready to use client education handouts which are electronically generated for to decrease the time spent writing discharges. Our website is educational and functional, consistently attracting over 8,000 users per month from all over the world. This year, upgraded to a new electronic medical records system which has been customized to suit our needs as a behavior specialty practice. 

Why work with us?

  • You have a voice
    • If doctors choose to do so, they have a voice in how we practice medicine, our forms, handouts, new treatments, testing and just about everything else. 
  • We can pivot quickly
    • Because there is no corporate office or bureaucracy, we can implement innovative processes and treatments quickly enhancing learning.
  • You matter
    • In a small business, every person is important to the team’s success.
    • We care about the quality of life of our team members and make every effort to have a flexible schedule that suits their needs while continuing to serve our patients and advance the doctor in their residency.
  • Structure and assistance without micromanagement while still allowing flexibility for life considerations.
    • There is a strong, organized, efficient support system and safety net. 
    • Outline and schedule for the first year of residency with benchmarks.
    • Access to Dog Nerds online training courses.
    • Behavior modification education with our in house staff and training partners. 
    • Rounds 3-4 days a week
    • Applications to share and store articles, ideas and case discussions with ease
    • A library of videos, articles and textbooks for reference.
    • Question of the Week example boards questions posted most weeks of the year (and sometimes twice a week.)
    • Thorough review of clinical cases so that residents are confident and ready to practice when they graduate.
    • Textbook review outlines and recorded rounds for boards study.
    • A dedicated workstation so that the resident can work off-site if they so choose.
    • Preexisting recommended out rotation locations and recommended courses for new residents based on what our past and current residents have found most helpful. 
  • Opportunities
    • Lecture mentorship and practice through intern teaching lectures.
    • If the resident desires, exposure to writing professionally and speaking with the media.
    • Residents have access to hospital teaching rounds at Coral Springs Animal Hospital.
  • Mentorship
    • Talk to our current and past residents, mentor access and availability is something that we take pride in. Dr. Radosta is available for counsel, advice, case support and coaching via Slack, phone, video conference or in person. 
    • Monthly, one-hour, one-on-one meetings with Dr. Radosta to ensure that your residency is moving in the right direction on your timeline.
  • Clinical aspects
    • Our high caseload provides residents a strong clinical education. 
    • Our referral community is very supportive and we have a team of doctors to whom we can allot cases so you won’t end up seeing only the most severe cases. Case type and severity is variable fostering an environment where some days are slam dunks and everyday isn’t filled with the toughest cases. 

Supervising Clinician: Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB

Learn more about Dr. Radosta here: flvetbehavior.com and www.drlisaradosta.com

Program Structure

FVBS is in the process of applying to become an ACVB-approved residency program. The program structure follows ACVB guidelines for nontraditional residents. It is the resident’s responsibility to read and understand the residency packet so that they can be an active participant in the structure of their program. The resident is required to fulfill all obligations as outlined by the ACVB before receiving a completion certificate. There are opportunities to consult with other services as needed.

The overall objective is to provide the clinical experiences and learning opportunities sufficient to enable the resident to meet the requirements to sit the board examination of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) while contributing to the clinical service and teaching programs of the Florida Veterinary Behavior Service. The specific objectives are outlined below.

• Provide advanced training and skills in clinical animal behavior within, but not confined to, the hospitals with which Florida Veterinary Behavior Service (FVBS) is associated. Training will emphasize the diagnosis and treatment of problem and abnormal behaviors of companion animals. Case management will include follow-up with pet owners, behavior modification and communication with referring veterinarians

• Provide education experiences in veterinary behavioral science, and also in the related disciplines of ethology, sociobiology, internal medicine, anatomy, neurology, neuroscience, neurosurgery, clinical pathology, psychopharmacology, learning theory, and comparative, developmental, physiological and clinical psychology (including client counseling). 

• Provide clinical teaching experience of externs and interns who rotate through the Behavioral Medicine Service, headed by Dr. Lisa Radosta. Additionally, there may also be opportunities to lecture to veterinarians, technicians, and other organizations.   

• Provide experience in designing and implementing one or more research projects in the area of animal behavior. This research experience is expected to lead to at least one publication in an approved peer-reviewed journal that is first-authored by the resident.   

• Facilitate limited training in the diagnosis and treatment of cases in the Neurology, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Exotics and Orthopedic (non-surgical days only) Services by means of rotations through these Services. 

• Facilitate the acquisition of advanced knowledge regarding large animal and non-companion animal behavioral medicine through auditing courses, externships, participating in seminars and workshops, and self-directed study.

Length of program:

3 years

Salary: $45,000

Schedule:

FVBS is open 5 days a week M-F, 8:30-5:30 pm. 

Doctors generally work 4 days a week, but there is flexibility within the schedule.

Benefits:

  • Continuing education reimbursement ($1500)
  • Uniform reimbursement
  • Vacation
    • 6 months-1 year-10 days
    • 1-3 years-12 days
  • Healthcare
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Personal pet discount
  • 401K
  • Paid time off for continuing education including out rotations

Is a contract required? Yes

Is a non-compete clause required? No

Is a State license required? Yes 

Is a DEA license required? Yes

Is USDA accreditation required? No

Prerequisites other than being a Graduate of an accredited College of Veterinary Medicine: 

Total Number of Annual Cases:

700 new cases and 2400 rechecks per year

Number of Faculty/Clinicians in Direct Support of Program:

1

Assigned to the Emergency Service per shift: 

No formal emergency duties necessary however the resident will need to cover phone/email emergencies on days where the resident is already scheduled to work and other doctors are out of office. 

Prerequisites other than being a Graduate of a College of Veterinary Medicine: Completion of a one-year internship or general veterinary medicine practice equivalent.

Requirements for Application

Personal Statement

Curriculum Vitae

3 Professional References (provide phone numbers, relationship, qualifications). These should be sent directly to Dr. Radosta at [email protected].

Additional Information about FVBS

AA/EOE. In addition, FVBS welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation or genetic information. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks, and motor vehicle checks. 

For additional information, please contact us at [email protected] or call us at 561-795-9398.