Wisconsin Vet School Adds Director Of Clinical Scientist Training

Specialists are not returning to academia after completing training but instead are going into private practice.newslineWisconsin Vet School Adds Director of Clinical Scientist TrainingIn a move to recruit veterinary clinical scientists, the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, has appointed Lauren Trepanier, DVM, Ph.D., to the new role of director of clinician scientist training.

The school noted that specialists are not returning to academia after completing training but instead are going into private practice, citing salary and the difficulty of committing to additional research training. The average salary for a specialist pursing a doctorate degree is $45,000 to $51,000, whereas the same specialist can make about $90,000 to $200,000 in private specialty practice.

“We need to instill a passion for research into our trainees so that money isn’t the only factor in their future career choices,” said Dr. Trepanier, who is a small-animal internal medicine specialist with a second board certification in clinical pharmacology. “Our goal is to mentor residents so they have a better idea of how to approach clinical research and how to get results.”

The school is seeking a grant from the National Institutes of Health to host a workshop as a launching point for residents and new veterinary medical faculty considering clinical research.

The focus will be on how to conduct successful research, including topics such as grant writing, data interpretation, and laboratory and money management.

Trepanier said she hopes that by providing residents with more exposure to the culture of research and tips on how to succeed in that environment, residents may become excited about doing work that helps move the profession forward.

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