Experience at TRC: Tambopata Research Center, Peru

This edition's Life as a Vet Student category: Each day the veterinary profession becomes less national and more global. The AVMA states, "In recent years the AVMA has turned to the global stage to advance its strategic goals, particularly in the areas of animal welfare and veterinary education, and has worked hard to ensure that the U.S. veterinary profession's voice is heard in international settings." Are you interested in global health? How have you contributed or plan to contribute in international veterinary medicine?

Entry, Life as a Vet Student
Lauren Thielen, Texas A&M University

TRC, Tambopata Research Center, is a macaw conservation research facility located in south-eastern Peru, deep within the beautiful Peruvian Amazon, along the Tambopata River. The lodge is about 100km from the closest city, Puerto Maldanado, an 8hr boat ride upriver from the town. The research is lead by Texas A&M’s Dr. Donald Brightsmith, supported by Texas A&M Veterinarians and many volunteers from throughout the world. The lodge serves as both a research facility as well as a site for ecotourists to become immersed in the Amazon.

Over Christmas I was given the unbelievable opportunity to volunteer at TRC as a veterinary student. TRC’s research is focused on the long term monitoring of macaw and parrot biology, research first began in 1999. The location of the TRC lodge is no coincidence, as it is located only a 2 minute boats ride to the clay lick. The clay lick is a huge part of the research, as it is a location where thousands of birds can be observed at once. The purpose of animals arriving at the clay lick is to ingest the sodium-rich clay not provided in their diet. Additionally, by studying the clay lick the social order and behavior of different parrot species can be observed.

Breeding season is during the rainy season, December to June, and that is when the veterinarian comes into play. Chick growth data is taken to better understand the reproductive success of both Scarlet and Red-and-green Macaws. The data sets are used to help understand the fluctuations in clay lick use related to nesting, food supply, and bird abundance. As a veterinary student I spent my days walking throughout the Amazon Rainforest to different macaw nest sites to check on the development of the chicks.

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Case Report- Belgium Draft Nurse Mare with Chronic Progressive Lymphedema

Entry, Case Study
Rachel Ruden, University of Pennsylvania

History:

Lewie presented with gross lesions on both front fetlocks and a small cluster of nodules on the dorsal surface of her left hind pastern. The affected area was clearly painful. Her fetlocks were so swollen with edema it was hard to separate individual lesions, and they readily bled when manipulated. The odor and fluid attracted flies, but upon further examination, the moist spaces were also supporting colony of maggots. Finally, movement was onerous. All of these signs indicated Lewie was suffering from Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL), commonly called Draft Horse Dermatitis. This is a skin disease that causes inflammation of the legs, most commonly affecting the fetlock region. Though the original insult may be a cut, the disease becomes escalated by secondary infections that produce edematous nodules that bleed and fester. Finally, ectoparasites complicate the issue, especially in mares that should not be treated with medications like Frontline while nursing. There is no cure for CPL, and due to its progressive and debilitating nature, this disease will put an early end to a horse’s career, and often, its life.

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3rd Annual WesternU VBMA Symposium

SAVMA's very own Governmental Affairs Committee helped sponsors the Economic Initiatives and Education Integrated Outreach (EIEIO) Grant. Read on to see how SAVMA is helping to empower students in this economic climate. For more information on how to apply for the EIEIO grant and others, click here. 

 Written by Adrienne Snider, WesternU VBMA Treasurer

January 27^th, 2013 saw the latest installment of WesternU’s Veterinary Business Management (VBMA) Symposium.  Originally the brainchild of Brandi Bayliff (’13) and the 2010 board, Symposium is in its third year and continues to grow.

WesternU’s VBMA is a chapter of the National VBMA, which is entirely student-run and is the second largest veterinary student organization (behind SAVMA).  One of the goals of our chapter is to increase business knowledge in students, as this type of education is not included in our normal veterinary curriculum. From left to right are Dr. Paul Gordon-Ross (faculty advisor), Adrienne Snider (treasurer), Alexis Galvez (marketing director), Kendra Bettis-Scheibe (speaker liaison), Jon Silverman (vice president), and Audrey Collinet (president). Missing are Kelsey Gapstur (secretary) and Anthony Carrier (IT director). All students are class of 2015. The club sponsors 10-12 events per school year, with topics covering finance management, practice ownership, interview skills, and more. 

The annual symposium is the premiere event for the club.  This year, 75 students, faculty and local practitioners gathered for the day to listen to three speakers.

 The club was very excited to bring in nationally known veterinarian Dr. Ernie Ward.  Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Ward is an owner of two small animal practices, a contributor to the “Rachael Ray Show,” and an author.  Ward gave two talks, “What You Need to Know to Succeed During the Next 20 Years” and “Performing the Perfect Physical Exam:  Communicating Compassion and Expertise.”  

The take-home message for students was how we, as the incoming face of the profession, can grow its reputation and improve public opinion of what we do.  For students entering the work force with massive debt, it’s critical that we innovate, not only to survive in the profession, but to excel as well.

 Mr. Cornel Catrina of GL Advisor provided students with invaluable information on personal finances.  “Managing Student Loan Debt, Personal Finances, and Personal Investing” provided explanation of topics that many students find confusing and intimidating. 

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Communicating the Diversity within Veterinary Medicine Grant

The Integrative Communications and Diversity Committee (ICDC) has extended the deadline of this grant to April 5, 2013. Applications can be found here, or you may contact Emily Colwell directly at ecolwell@upei.ca. 

Goal: To enhance communication between SCAVMA, SAVMA and the AVMA while enhancing diversity awareness through promoting community activities and opportunities.

A total of four grants will be awarded to clubs or individuals. Grants will be given to deserving individuals or groups who host a diversity-based activity with a larger communication component for the public. Please write a 300-500 word essay briefly describing the activity and how communication occurred. Successful examples will be published in the Vet Gazette. In order to qualify for the grant, no fundraising component can come from the activity, and any notes, posters, or pamphlets given at the event must accompany the write up.

Note: Diversity is NOT limited to multicultural diversity and write-ups focusing on diversity within the veterinary field will be accepted.

2013 SAVMA Symposium!