Large-animal handling at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Colleges of veterinary medicine face many challenges in teaching the handling of large animals. It is imperative that students be taught how to manage large animals, however, not only for their safety but for that of their clients and of the animals themselves. Confident, safe, and efficient handling can improve job satisfaction and may encourage students to enter large-animal practice. There is wide variation in the large-animal-handling components of US veterinary curricula.     

Admissions procedures at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria

RATIONALE FOR THIS STUDY: The admission procedure implemented in fall 2005 in consequence of new laws passed in summer 2005 is described and evaluated. The general set-up, the underlying considerations, and the changes resulting from the establishment of this procedure are presented. METHODOLOGY: Admission variables and demographic information (sex, age, nationality) for 172 students who entered their first academic year at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (VUW) and their academic performance measured according to their results in the three first-year examinations (successful versus unsuccessful) were assessed. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between predictor and outcome. RESULTS: Regression analysis indicates that Austrian students were more likely to be unsuccessful than German students (R(2) = 0.366, p < 0.001). Previous school performance was the best predictor for success in the Austrian cohort (R(2) = 0.196; p < 0.001), whereas the personal interview scores provided the best predictor in the German cohort (R(2) = 0.122; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study supports our existing selection practices relating to cognitive and non-cognitive skills. The number of strugglers may be reduced on the basis of an admissions procedure, but struggling may not be excluded by the existing selection practices, which do not assess a specific threshold but are related to a score-ranking system and a predefined number of available openings in the program.     

Development of a health and safety program at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine

An accident prevention and zoonotic disease control program at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, was developed by a Health and Safety Committee comprised of members from all instructional departments. The program incorporated safety educational input during the basic, preclinical, and clinical years; a standardized accident reporting procedure; rabies vaccination, with serologic evaluation; a blood serum bank; and recommendations for future control procedures.     

Public-health education at Kansas State University

What are veterinary medical and public-health professionals doing to remedy the immediate and impending shortages of veterinarians in population health and public practice? This question was addressed at the joint symposium of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and the Association of Schools of Public Health, held in April 2007. Thinking locally, faculty and students at Kansas State University (KSU) asked similar questions after attending the symposium: What are we doing within the College of Veterinary Medicine to tackle this problem? What can we do better with new collaborators? Both the professional veterinary curriculum and the Master of Public Health (MPH) at KSU provide exceptional opportunities to address these questions. Students are exposed to public health as a possible career choice early in veterinary school, and this exposure is repeated several times in different venues throughout their professional education. Students also have opportunities to pursue interests in population medicine and public health through certificate programs, summer research programs, study abroad, and collaborations with contributing organizations unique to KSU, such as its Food Science Institute, National Agricultural Biosecurity Center, and Biosecurity Research Institute. Moreover, students may take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of public-health education at KSU, where collaborations with several different colleges and departments within the university have been established. We are pleased to be able to offer these opportunities to our students and hope that our experience may be instructive for the development of similar programs at other institutions, to the eventual benefit of the profession at large.     

Practice-based education at Michigan State University

Practice-based large animal education at Michigan State University (MSU) was initiated in 1995. Urbanization of the area surrounding MSU and the declining number of livestock and farms to provide clinical experience under field conditions were the major reasons for adopting this educational model. Veterinary students, as a requirement for graduation from the professional program, must successfully complete a three-week clerkship in a private practice that has either a food animal or an equine emphasis. The objective of the practice-based program is to provide students with introductory on-the-farm experience, with emphasis on examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of common medical and surgical conditions of horses and/or food animals. Participating practices must be located in Michigan, have a sufficient case load, be interested in teaching senior veterinary students, and be willing to interact with the program coordinator and attend annual meetings. Sixty-nine practices are currently participating. The program coordinator matches students to practices based on the students' species interest and background, the personalities of the student and practitioner, and any special concerns or needs of the students (health conditions, child care). Assessment of students includes a practitioner's performance evaluation and review of written assignments (case log, clinical case reports, and a practice management assessment report) by campus faculty. A pass/no pass grading system is used. Overall, the Practice-Based Ambulatory Program represents a successful model for meeting the clerkship objectives. Additionally, exposing students to a high volume of commonly encountered conditions in a private business setting complements the referral cases seen in our large animal teaching hospital.     

Department of Clinical Veterinary Practices, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Circular excised skin wounds in the thoracic and metatarsal regions of the dog were studied. A similar sequence of events took place in the two regions although differences did occur due to the different reactions of the tissues which surrounded the wounds. None of the wound cavities became filled with exudate during the early stages of healing. In the thoracic wounds the cavities were largely filled by the swelling and inward movement of adipose tissue. Epithelium first grew on the wound surface in the sector of the wound that was situated in the direction of hair flow. The average time to complete epithelization was similar in both sets of wounds. A zone of alopecia developed around the wounds.     

Communication skills training at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island

Communication skills are considered a core clinical skill in human medicine. Recognizing the importance of communication skills and addressing them in veterinary curricula, however, is just beginning. In the fall of 2003, the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, markedly changed the way in which it approaches communication teaching. An intensive one-week elective rotation on client communication was offered in the senior year. This rotation made extensive use of experiential techniques through the use of role plays and videotaped real client interactions. A group of faculty and hospital staff members were trained as coaches to support students as they practiced their communication in various client scenarios. The skills taught were based on the Calgary-Cambridge Observation Guide, which outlines observable behaviors that contribute to effective medical communication. Student response to and feedback on the rotation have been very positive. As a result, the number of rotations given per year has been increased. Long-term plans include expanding communication skills teaching into other years of the DVM program and incorporating simulated clients into the teaching program. Challenges that lie ahead include the development of a fully integrated communication teaching program that spans the whole curriculum, addressing the ongoing need for the professional development of coaches, improving methods of student assessment, and recruiting/training a sufficient number of coaches.