SAVMA Public Health/Community Outreach Grant Summary

Editor's note: The following is a trip summary from a veterinary student that received a grant from SAVMA's Public Health and Community Outreach Committee to participate in an externship in an underserved area.  If you are interested in receiving funding for your own externship, please contact the committee at savma.phcoc@gmail.com.  Applications must be received 45 days prior to the externship experience.

Lori Newman
Tufts V’13

I recently returned from a Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) trip to San Carlos and White Mountain Apache Reservations in Arizona.  I participated in a field clinic providing vaccination and spay/neuter services for dogs and cats living on those reservations.  

RAVS was incredibly valuable for me. I gained experience in several technical domains, including placing intravenous catheters, performing intubation, administering injections, performing physical exams, and running anesthesia cases for surgery. I saw cases that I am unlikely to encounter at Tufts, such as puppies suffering from parvovirus and animals covered in ticks or sarcoptic mange. I learned that tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever pose a health risk to not only dogs but also people on the reservation. Several children have already died of this disease, and the tribe is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control to fight it.
 
In addition to practicing technical skills, I had the unique privilege of experiencing Apache culture. It amazes me that while Native American nations lie within the borders of the US, few Americans ever have the chance to explore a native culture. I learned that Apaches do not generally allow dogs to live inside their homes and that dogs roam freely rather than being confined or tied up.  This obviously increases the prevalence of communicable diseases, fights, and injuries from vehicles. Clients reported difficulties in simply catching their animals to bring them to the clinic and explained that breeds prone to theft, like Chihuahuas, are often kept as indoor pets. I also had the unique opportunity to observe a Sunrise Dance, a large dance around a bonfire that represents a rite of passage for teenage Apache girls. I immensely enjoy learning about other cultures, and it was a privilege to do so while working to improve their animals' health.

These experiences reaffirmed my commitment to provide veterinary care in underserved communities with limited English proficiency. I speak several foreign languages and have traveled extensively abroad, and I hope to bring these skills and experiences to bear in communities in need of veterinary services. Towards that end, I have worked with the low-cost clinic in Worcester, MA, where my Spanish skills were quite handy. I plan to perform additional electives at the Worcester Technical High School Clinic and high-volume spay/neuter clinics. RAVS has provided me with both technical and interpersonal skills and experience that will make me a better clinician.

Comments

[Mandy]

Thanks for the great post, it is a good example of how to obtain an externship. Here work in the rural setting sounded very enriching, and most likely the most beneficial experience for a vet.