What veterinary students want mostJune 25, 2018When considering improvements in veterinary students' education, veterinary colleges invariably focus on the subject matter of the veterinary medical curriculum. Everyone possesses some expertise in it and therefore believes he or she knows (arguably) what it should contain. However, to be an effective teacher, other attributes are necessary. Colleges should be giving more attention to the human dimensions of education. Recently, I participated in a study that allowed me to meet a number of current veterinary students and recent graduates and discuss their college experiences. This was not a statistically validated population survey; it was simply a collection of opinions. The results were interesting. Perceptions of the material content of the DVM curriculum and the professional and academic qualifications of the teaching faculty were pleasingly positive. However, respondents expressed concerns about rigid lecture formats, information overload, and the impersonal atmosphere of the classroom. What students wanted was a less homogeneous education that respected and accommodated them as individuals with unique backgrounds, needs, and prior learning experiences. Too often, students are persuaded that medical science is a set of hard facts, every detail of which must be memorized and recalled. However, scientific facts are seldom perfect or permanent; many in …
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Why #metoo is for the vet professionJune 22, 2018It’s been 32 years since there was a 50-50 ratio of women to men entering the veterinary profession. Veterinary schools now report that more than 80 percent of their enrollees are female, and the percentage of women in the veterinary workforce tops 55 percent.
Should televeterinary medical practitioners be globally certified?May 8, 2018At the second annual Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS), which concluded recently on the campus of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (TAMUCVM), several of the veterinary startup exhibitors included a televeterinary component in their offerings, and it also was a common lecture and breakout topic. Currently, most state practice acts require a hands-on physical exam to create a veterinary-client-patient relationship (VCPR) before a veterinarian can provide any service that might involve animal diagnosis, prognosis or prescription. One of the breakout sessions featured Rolan Tripp, DVM, who spoke on the subject, "Should telemedicine practitioners be globally certified?" Following is an interview with Dr. Tripp about his presentation. How long have you been interested in telemedicine? I published my first futurist article in 1984, "Veterinary Telecommunications," and incorporated a business of the same name in 1986, so I have been interested in this field for quite some time. In that first article I predicted that high-speed broadband internet would be ubiquitous and global televeterinary medicine would be common by the year 2000. Why suggest a global standard now? Control at the state level made sense when every animal patient lived within a reasonable …
Veterinarians need to change with today's pet ownersApril 20, 2018I was at dinner recently with a couple of dear friends who among us combined have 140 years of experience as practicing veterinarians. We reminisced how what once entered the front doors of our veterinary hospitals has changed from the late 1970s and 80s when we first started practicing.
Stalking the stigmaApril 19, 2018I’m one of those people who lurks in the margins of vet-slash-med information platforms like KevinMD, VETGirl, and the vet-only Facebook page, Not One More Vet. I scour the posts and occasionally force myself to read the comments that treat the subjects of addiction, recovery, and suicide prevention.
Beyond the new year's resolutionMarch 16, 2018If you’re like 90 percent of the veterinary professional population (I’m kinda just guessing here), then I’m thinking you remember a moment somewhere right around the first where you found yourself saying something along these lines, to no one in particular: Please let me be a better version of me this year.
Top vet practice tech picks for 2018January 18, 2018January may be the youngest month of the year but, sadly, it evokes adulthood as much as December does kid-dom. It’s time to do adult. And that’s not always so fun.
The hottest topic in veterinary medicine today: AffordabilityOctober 23, 2017It’s not the sexiest topic. Nevertheless, it has some attractive angles. That’s what I’ve learned about veterinary affordability-related issues over the past few years.
A tale of four paws, two veterinary practicesOctober 17, 2017You probably remember one of the defining moments of the O.J. Simpson trial, when during closing arguments, in reference to the infamous glove found at the scene, Johnnie Cochran said, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
First and lasting impressionsSeptember 26, 2017Research shows that a first impression—the initial feeling or opinion about something or someone—usually takes place within seconds of an encounter. First and ongoing impressions can possibly make or break whether someone revisits a particular place, including a veterinary hospital.
