Fall 2019 EPDC Extracurricular Grant Awardees - Day 1

One of the many incredible perks of being a part of SAVMA is being able to apply for grants to help YOUR school put on incredible events! The SAVMA Economics and Professional Development Committee (EPDC) awarded grants for up to $500 to a few universities. Check out the events those schools put on over the next few days!

"The Ohio State Shelter Medicine Club was able to provide a unique opportunity for veterinary students during the Midwestern Veterinary Conference by having three experts in the field of animal forensics and law come to talk about their careers and lead students through expert witness interrogations.

Dr. Melinda Merck is the owner of Veterinary Forensics Consulting in Austin, Texas. She also chairs the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Animal Wellness and Welfare Committee and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Science. Dr. Emily Walz has extensive experience as an expert witness in animal cruelty and neglect cases for shelters across the Midwest. She also has a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Diane Balkin, J.D., worked as a trial attorney for 32 years, where she prosecuted multiple types of felonies, including animal-related crimes. She also worked with Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program and is a past president of the International Veterinary Forensic Sciences Association. 

First, the speakers demonstrated two examples of expert witness testimony using a closed case that they were involved in. Diane acted as both the prosecutor and defense as Emily and Melinda took the stand. Throughout the demonstration, Diane would pause and explain why she was asking certain questions, and Emily and Melinda would add in tips of what to be prepared for as an expert witness. Then, we worked through two fabricated scenarios composed by the Shelter Club E-board; one was an animal violence case and the other was a hoarding/neglect case. Here, students were able to practice taking the stand and demonstrating their knowledge as well as professional composure in a low stress environment. All the students who participated did a great job, and we were so happy to have Melinda, Emily, and Diane to help show us the different tricks used in the court system and how to compose ourselves! It was truly a unique experience for our students, and we wouldn’t have been able to make it a huge success without the SAVMA extracurricular grant!"

Vet Students Impacting Environmental Health

Daria Hagan from Kansas State

I am participating in an ornate box turtle population survey with Sunset Zoo in conjunction with six other AZA facilities in Kansas. We conduct line transection surveys at two different sites, twice each per month when the weather is warm enough for turtle activity. Any box turtles that we find are measured, weighed, and marked so that they can be identified if found again. We also keep track of location, which may help with determining preferred environment or movement patterns. Ornate box turtles are rather difficult to find in the wild so no one is sure about their current population status. Motor vehicle collisions and collection from the wild may pose a significant threat to the species, but we need an understanding of their population in order to understand the level of threat. The population survey will continue for two more years and the results could help to implement regulations preventing public collection from the wild in order to protect them. Although most of my time with the project is spent hiking through long grass trying to tell the difference between a rock and a shell, our team has a lot of fun working together. We know that the information we gather will help protect our state reptile and their habitat for many other species.

WINN AND THE AAFP OFFER TWO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2020

[Wyckoff, NJ, Hillsborough, NJ - February 18, 2020] Winn Feline Foundation (Winn) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are pleased to announce two scholarships for third- or fourth-year veterinary students enrolled in accredited veterinary colleges or schools in the United States or Canada. The $2,500 awards are based upon academic achievement, financial need, leadership, and dedication to and excellence in the study of feline medicine, health, and welfare.

The Boards of Directors of both the AAFP and Winn are thrilled to offer these scholarships to support future veterinarians and continue to advance feline medicine. These two leading feline-dedicated organizations are offering one $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest in feline practice and the second $2,500 scholarship for a veterinary student with an interest in clinical scientific research.

All applications will be reviewed, selected, and approved by the AAFP and Winn. In addition to a short application form, interested students will also be required to answer two essay questions asking for the applicant to explain his/her specific interest and background in feline health and welfare, and to describe plans for future participation in feline medicine.

All completed applications with accompanying supplementary documents must be received no later than March 20, 2020. The winning recipient will be notified of their award on or before April 15, 2020. 

Applications and instructions are available shortly on each organization’s websites: 

www.winnfelinefoundation.org/partners/affiliations    

www.catvets.com/members/students/  

How Do YOU Feel About Declawing Cats?

The AVMA recently voted upon and released a statement saying they "discourage declawing of domestic cats as an elective procedure. The Association encourages the use of alternatives but says professional judgment is key when making a decision as to whether to declaw a cat."

Check out the rest of the article here, and share it with your peers!

Externships During Clinical Year

Kaitie Ban, Ross University

Externships during your clinical year are like the little prizes that come with a kid’s meal. Your clinical year in general is the time you finally get to touch things, do things, and put all the hours of memorizing into practice. Realistically, at your university, you will often be writing SOAPs, surgery reports, and treatment sheets for post-operative orders. You’ll be reading literature relevant to your current cases and learning how to use a professional medical library. All of this is important to your education in fourth year, even if it means more paperwork than hands on experience. That’s where externships come in. More often than not, you’ll be even more hands- on with your patients and your cases than at your clinical affiliate. While on an externship you may find yourself as the only other assistant scrubbed into surgery or even performing your first solo spay! 

I have been lucky enough to do the majority of my externships at different veterinary universities on either their anesthesia services or their emergency services. As I am planning to become a veterinary anesthesiologist, it is important to me to see how other universities perform the same tasks/procedures that my clinical affiliate has taught me. I have appreciated the varied exposure to familiar disease processes and procedural work-flow. Each new clinician and house officer I have worked with has taught me something new and that is my favorite part of externships - the never-ending learning. 

I have also used these externship weeks as working interviews or meet-and-greets. I have chosen my externship sites based on where I think I would like to pursue an anesthesia residency. Many classmates have similarly scheduled externships in places they may want to apply to work as a new grad. This has been beneficial in many ways, as I have been able to rule in or rule out programs as well as adjust how each program falls on my rank list. I have heard good and bad reports from students externing with possible future employers. Truthfully, the only way to really get to know the vets, support staff, and workflow of a hospital is to spend time there. That is what makes externships so fruitful! 

Choose your externships wisely, my friends! Make sure that you know what the two to three weeks will entail. Will you be able to touch patients, write treatment plans, take histories? Will you be able to work one on one with a clinician or will you work with a technician? It’s always best to go in with eyes wide open and with a good understanding of what will be expected of you. Consider, also, what you will want to pay attention to and what questions you would like to ask of them. Most externship locations are expecting an inquisitive student and will offer time to answer any questions you have. Take advantage of these opportunities to get to know the kind of clinic or hospital you are considering! These externship weeks are what you make of them, so do your research beforehand and most importantly - have fun!