SAVMA Symposium Insight

Michalina Kenig from Ross University shares with us her experience at last year's Symposium held at Texas A&M. We hope you consider attending this coming Symposium at UPenn for an experience just as fulfilling as Michalina's.  

The SAVMA Symposium is a unique experience, it allows for veterinary students from multiple veterinary schools across the United States and the Caribbean join together and have the opportunity to interact and network.

The symposium this past year was held at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. Never having attended a SAVMA Symposium, nor Texas, I figured this was the ideal year to attend. The days were filled were a variety of guest speakers, wet labs, as well as various day trips.

My most memorable moment from the trip was the Emergency Procedures wet lab that I was fortunate enough to attend. During this wet lab groups of 3 were able to perform a variety of emergency and life-saving procedures on fresh cadavers. These procedures included placing a central line, esophagostomy tube placement, performing a thoracocentesis, intraosseous catheterization, performing a tracheostomy, and placing a urinary catheter. A board certified emergency and critical care specialist demonstrated the procedure for us and then it was our turn to perform the procedure we had just observed. However, when assistance was needed, the specialists were more than willing to help guide us and help us perfect our technique. Within our group, we had different skill sets, therefore we were able to help each other with various aspects of the procedures. For example, one of the other members of the group was not familiar with suturing, therefore I was able to assist her with holding the instruments and proper technique.

Overall, the symposium was a wonderful experience. I would like to thank the SCAVMA board at Ross University for the opportunity to attend this symposium. Also, I would recommend every veterinary student attend in order to learn from experts, network with veterinarians and veterinary students, and create a memorable experience.