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United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service
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Veterinary Student Employment Program
Training Plan
The student will work directly under the supervision of a FSIS Public Health Veterinarian (PHV) acquiring knowledge of what veterinarians do throughout the Agency. Students will learn what our in-plant veterinarians do to ensure the meat and poultry products that reach the consuming public are safe, wholesome and properly labeled. Students may spend time with other PHV's in the Agency to gain an understanding of the variety of roles PHV's have in our Public Health Regulatory Agency. By the end of the student's program, they will have in-depth knowledge of the entry-level PHV position, roles and responsibilities as well as understanding the career opportunities throughout the Agency for PHV's.

First Week
The student will receive orientation in a District Office (DO) and will spend time with their mentor and begin initial exposure to the below. If the mentor is located at the DO, the student will begin the direct mentoring process at the orientation. If the mentor is not at the DO, then the mentor will arrange conference calls with the student mentee.

The District Manager (DM)/Deputy District Manager (DDM) will arrange someone to personally guide the student through administrative functions (completion of time sheets, how to make travel arrangements, credit cards, what to expect in the plant, etc.). The DM or DDM will introduce the student trainee to the organization and the key provisions in Pathogen Reduction/HACCP System regulatory changes that have transitioned FSIS into a Public Health Regulatory Agency. In this discussion, the student will understand how the PHV's roles are changing from pathology to food safety systems assessment.

The DM/DDM will provide the student with the Student Trainee Job Description, discuss the Performance Expectations and describe how the summer job evaluation will be conducted by the Mentor.

The DM/DDM will assign the student a DO coach and a computer to use while at the DO to review PHV training modules on CD from the Center for Learning (HRFO will order cd's ahead of time for each district). The student will review the following modules. Upon completion of each module, the coach will orally review each course's objectives with the student to ensure the modules were understood. As an option, the DM/DDM may assign this responsibility to the student Mentor if adequate computer and other arrangements can be made to ensure that at a minimum the following can be covered:
  • FSIS Web Site - New Employee Orientation
  • FSIS Regulatory Framework - 1 hr.
  • Overview of the Regulated Industry - 2 hrs.
  • Professionalism - 2 hrs.
  • Ante-Mortem Inspection Overview - 2 hrs.
  • Humane Handling of Livestock - 3 hrs.
  • Reportable and Foreign Animal Diseases - 2 hrs.
  • FSIS Statutes and Your Role - 3 hrs.
  • Food Microbiology - 3 hrs.
  • Homeland Food Security - 3 hrs.

The student will be directed to the FSIS Web site, select the banner "Careers" and then select"Veterinary Opportunities" in FSIS. The DM/DDM or coach will then meet with the student prior to leaving the District Office and review potential career pathways and opportunities for PHV's throughout FSIS.

The Mentor will evaluate the student and provide a written report. A copy of the Evaluation should be sent to laura.sepulveda@fsis.usda.gov, HRFO. As a guide for the student, the Mentor may use the PHV Checklist to ensure that the student is exposed to as many critical duties and responsibilities as possible during the employment period.

Depending on student's geographical location and personal interests, most of the following will be covered:
  • District Office orientation.
  • PHV training modules.
  • Poultry, red meat slaughtering and processing plants. The student will gain hands-on experience. Utilize the PHV Training Checklist.
  • 1 week with a Frontline Supervisor if mentor is not a Frontline Supervisor. Both would cover multi-plant management and food safety issues. Meet with District Veterinary Medical Specialist to review humane slaughter, food security and foreign animal diseases.


Last Modified: November 8, 2010

 

 

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