Veterinary Internships
Shelter Medicine Internship
These veterinarians have diverse educational opportunities as they rotate through experiences at our Pilar & Chuck Bahde Center for Shelter Medicine, which opened in 2019, and at our various other campuses and locations. They gain skills in clinic medicine, surgery and multiple veterinary specialty areas. They also engage in public speaking, teaching seminars, participating in rounds, external shelter evaluations, field experiences and so much more.
For more information or to apply, please visit: Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program.
Wildlife Medicine Internship
These veterinarians spend the year at both our Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center and Ramona Wildlife Center, learning about how to care for everything from hummingbirds and ducklings to bobcats and coyote pups. Through the Wildlife Medicine Internship, participants are able to make a lifesaving difference for fragile animals who don’t normally get a second chance, helping them to recover and be released back into the wild where they belong.
For more information or to apply, please visit: Veterinary Internship & Residency Matching Program.
Meet Our Interns
Dr. Stephanie Hidai
Dr. Hidai earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California, Davis, where she also completed dual undergraduate degrees in animal science and gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. With over 5,500 hours of shelter volunteer experience, she has a deep-rooted passion for shelter medicine that led her to establish the Shelter Medicine Club at UC Davis and lead a student-run access to care clinic. Dr. Hidai is especially interested in high-volume spay/neuter surgery, disease prevention in large populations and improving access to veterinary care in underserved communities. During her internship with San Diego Humane Society, she looks forward to strengthening her clinical and surgical skills, expanding her knowledge of shelter operations and continuing her work to create meaningful impact for both animals and the people who love them.
Dr. Youkyung (Alice) Jung
Dr. Jung joined San Diego Humane Society’s internship program after serving part-time as chief veterinarian at Irvine Animal Care Center, where she provided high-quality care for shelter animals and collaborated on programs that enhanced animal welfare. Originally trained in South Korea, Dr. Jung completed the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECVFG) certification and gained experience in both private and corporate veterinary settings before fully dedicating her career to shelter medicine. Her work has included complex medical and surgical case management, high-volume spay/neuter procedures and serving as an expert witness in an animal cruelty case — an experience that deepened her commitment to animal welfare. Dr. Jung looks forward to expanding her knowledge in shelter operations, contagious disease control and animal advocacy, and is excited to continue making an impact through community-centered, evidence-based shelter care.
Dr. Andrea Brkic
Dr. Brkic earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Western University of Health Sciences. Her passion for shelter medicine spans over a decade and has guided her work in both clinical and leadership roles, including managing a feline shelter program, launching trap-neuter-release and One Health initiatives, and serving as president of her school’s American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) chapter. She has experience in high-volume surgical operations, neonatal and critical care and public outreach through organizations like Stray Cat Alliance and Street Dog Coalition. Dr. Brkic is especially interested in improving access to veterinary care for underserved communities, refining her clinical skills in high-caseload settings and applying evidence-based approaches to population health in shelters. She is thrilled to build on this foundation during her internship at San Diego Humane Society.
