City Of Tulsa Animal Welfare: My Experience as a Veterinary Extern in an Underserved Area

SAVMA's Public Health and Community Outreach Committee (PHCOC) grants Underserved Areas Stipends to multiple students each year. Awards cover externships that are carried out between September 1^, 2012 and August 31, 2013. A total of eight (8) $500 awards are available for each academic year and awards can be distributed in a retroactive manner. For more information, please see https://www.avma.org/About/SAVMA/Events/Documents/Underserved-Areas-Stipend-Application-2012-2013.doc

Read on to see how one student spent his externship.

By: Ken Sieranski, 4^th year Veterinary Student, Texas A & M University

During a cold two weeks in the January of my final year of veterinary school at Texas A & M, I traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma to complete a two week externship at City of Tulsa Animal Welfare.  My experiences at this large municipal shelter impacted the lives of homeless pets in this underserved community and increased my confidence as a spay/neuter surgeon.  I worked under the supervision of Dr. Cathy Pienkos who is not only an exemplary shelter veterinarian, but a kind and patient mentor to many students, most of whom attend Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. 

I selected this particular externship, because my intended career path is to become a shelter veterinarian.   I have obtained an Internship in Shelter Medicine for next year at University of Florida which will allow me to work towards becoming a specialist in this emerging discipline.  The Tulsa externship has undoubtedly helped me to prepare for my internship next year.  In addition to our typical daily routine described below, I also joined Dr. Pienkos on shelter rounds, experienced the management and flow of the large municipal shelter, and participated in an animal cruelty investigation.   While this experience was invaluable to me as a future shelter veterinarian, I believe that this externship is ideal for any student wishing to both help shelter animals and increase their surgical confidence.   The externship is largely surgery-based, and it was noted on the Association of Shelter Veterinarian’s Website that externs complete an average of 20 surgeries per week. 

A typical day at the shelter started with performing preoperative physical examinations on animals scheduled for surgery that day.

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2013 AVMA Student Legislative Fly-In

The SAVMA Governmental Affairs Committee and Education and Professional Development Committee are offering a grant to veterinary students and veterinary student organizations to provide funding for awareness of the current financial concerns for veterinary students. Read to see how this grant helped send students to the fifth annual student fly-in, hosted by the AVMA’s Governmental Relations Division:

Sarah Fry, Tayler Foshee, and Stef Bolas
Oklahoma State University
Class of 2015 & 2014

On March 4^th & 5^th, 2013 we had the opportunity to attend the AVMA Student Legislative Fly-In in Washington D.C. This event occurs annually and allows students to learn about the legislative process. It shows the impact constituents can have on the legislative process and how to communicate with your congressmen to make a positive impact on your community and profession. As well as the alternative governmental career paths that veterinarians can pursue.

On the first day of the event, we learned about current legislation impacting veterinary medicine and what role the AVMA’s Governmental Relations Division plays in representing the veterinary profession on Capitol Hill. Two pieces of legislation were our focus for the Fly-in, the Horse Protection Act Amendment and the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act Amendment. Most of the day was spent preparing for our meetings with our congressmen about these amendments. We also had the opportunity to learn about the AVMA Congressional Fellowship by speaking with a current and past fellow. They answered many of our questions about what it is like to work on Capitol Hill.

On the second day of the Student Legislative Fly-In, we each met with our respective congressional members. Walking through the legislative buildings and the Capitol building was an amazing experience. Before our meetings, we spoke with Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR) and Representative Ted Yoho (R-FL). They are veterinarians who are currently serving in Congress. They offered their guidance for young people entering the veterinary profession and also shared their thoughts on the legislative process.

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Checking in on SAVMA's Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC)

SAVMA's very own Governmental Affairs Committee helped sponsor three Economic Initiatives and Education Integrated Outreach (EIEIO) Events. Read on to see how SAVMA is helping to empower students in this difficult economic climate:

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On February 27, 2013, the Purdue University VBMA Chapter (Veterinary Business Management Association) hosted a panel of Veterinarians and office managers that spoke about a variety of topics relevant to the successful management of Veterinary practices. The panel consisted of Equine, Swine, and Small Animal Veterinarians, a manager from a Chicago shelter, an administrator of the VCA hospitals and a director of a wildlife clinic. The panel answered questions concerning how to run a practice in terms of hiring and firing, decisions about cost of services, what to look for in an employee, how they manage their staff, and other similar questions. Along with the predetermined list of questions, there was also a part of the meeting where students would be able to ask the panel more directed, specific questions. The event also provided opportunities to network with these members of the profession, both before and after the question sessions. This event was made possible by the cooperation of several other clubs that helped to arrange the speakers for the panel. The other clubs included SCAVMA, Shelter Medicine, Exotics, SVECCS and Food Animal Club. The panel was attended by over 170 students, staff and faculty of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Thank you to SAVMA for their help in funding this event!

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The Minnesota Chapter of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) hosted a day-long seminar for members on February 23, 2013.

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Cleaning the Cow

Entry, Creative Corner
Ellen Reinke, University of Minnesota

 

Making the best of your free time

Entry, Experiences
Joshua Yoo, Ohio State

"Take full advantage of your free time," is some of the best advice I have received in recent years from a respected mentor last spring.  While it seems trivial at first, it reminds me to live life to the fullest while also maintaining a sense of balance.  I'll never forgot the first day of class, we had a lecture on erythropoiesis and thinking that it was going to be a long semester.  Oddly enough, before I could blink, finals were around the corner.  While finals sometimes seemed to drag on, our class persevered with purpose and were delighted when break came.

 

I returned to Los Angeles to visit my family and catch up with old friends which was terrific.  I also took a fun short road trip to catch up with colleagues and mentors.  Sure, we keep in touch with people through email, phone, text, and etc, but nothing can replace a face to face meeting.  It was comforting to share stories with current and past veterinary students as we have all experienced many of the same joys and challenges of veterinary school.

 

Cleft PalateI was fortunate to schedule an externship at a southern California referral hospital which quite frankly, blew my socks off.  This was my first externship as a veterinary student and I really enjoyed the camaraderie, education, and support that the specialists, interns, and technicians gave me.  Working with interns who were recently in my shoes gave me a tangible idea of what to expect when I pursue internship.  Words can't describe how much I learned and enjoyed accompanying surgeons and interns on consults and then watching surgery being performed.  I saw a number of orthopedic and soft tissues surgeries but will especially remember watching a 7 pound gastric foreign body removal, laparoscopic gastropexy, and a secondary cleft palate repair.  I will definitely apply to the rotating internship at this hospital in my 4th year and look forward to other visiting other externships down the road.

 

I'm really thankful and glad for my externship as nothing can replace the clinical education.  In additionSeven pound gastric foreign body! to that, being able to experience the culture of the hospital through externship is something that can only be done face to face.  That said, I also caught up on Dexter and Homeland over break, so I'd say my break was a success.