School of Veterinary Medicine

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The School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) is an entity within the College of Agriculture (COA) at Utah State University (USU). It is administered by the Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences (ADVS). In partnership with the Washington State University (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), the USU-SVM offers a professional degree in veterinary medicine. The program operates under WSU’s American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accreditation and leads to the awarding of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). The joint USU/WSU DVM Program accepts 20 students from Utah and 10 non-resident students per year. Veterinary students spend their first two years receiving pre-clinical training at the USU Logan campus, and the last two years at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Pullman, Washington where they complete the clinical portion of their veterinary education. The joint program has dedicated, internationally recognized faculty members and state-or-the-art teaching, animal and research facilities. WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine is considered one of the nation’s best veterinary schools. The WSU-CVM has one of the best-equipped teaching hospitals in the world with distinguished faculty members who are recognized as leaders in the field of veterinary medicine and are respected worldwide. Students in the joint USU/WSU DVM program receive an exceptional educational experience by attending two world-class universities for their veterinary education. The inaugural class for the USU/WSU DVM Program begins fall semester of 2012.

Curriculum

The first and second years of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine will be completed at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. The third and fourth years, including most clinical rotations, will be completed at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Fourth Year/Clinical Rotations

It is important for veterinary students to spend time in clinical rotations so that they can learn the art and practice of veterinary medicine. Students will witness and participate in cutting edge medicine, surgery and critical care. They will see the most advanced diagnostic and imaging technology. These experiences will be invaluable as they prepare to eventually refer cases themselves. To gain these experiences, students will rotate through various services offered in the WSU Teaching Hospital.

The USU/WSU DVM Program firmly believes that students’ educational experiences must not be limited entirely to a teaching hospital setting. It is equally important for them to participate in cases that typically present to primary or secondary care centers. The externship/preceptorship program allows students to leave campus to interact with veterinarians in a routine practice setting, to interact with clientele, to gain experience in their particular area of interest, and/
or to explore diverse career opportunities. Some externship/preceptorship programs will provide students additional experience in food animal medicine.

Basic required/CORE rotations (29 weeks total):

Equine Surgery

Large Animal ICU


Small Animal Referral/Internal Medicine


Equine Medicine


Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery

Student Initiated Professional Experience (SIPE)


Neurology

Small Animal Community Practice


Anesthesia


Small Animal Soft Tissue/General Surgery


Small Animal ICU

Scientific Writing & Presentation


Guided Preceptorship

Supplemental CORE rotations (14 weeks required): Student selects based on area of clinical emphasis.

Ag Animal Medicine (Intro or Advanced)

Cardiology
Diagnostics


Theriogenology (General LA, Equine & Bovine)


Equine Medicine or Surgery (Advanced)


Equine Surgery

Lab
Herd Problem Investigation


Small Animal various (Advanced)


Pharmacy


Anesthesia (Advanced)


Clinical Pathology


Exotics


Oncology


Laboratory Animal Medicine


Research


Epidemiology


Radiology (Ultrasound, Equine Radiography, Diagnostic Imaging)


General Agricultural Animal Production Medicine (Off-site at Caine Center):
                

            Preventive Medicine             

            Beef Calving         

            Feedlot

            Reproductive Biotechnology

            Lambing

            Small Ruminant

            Cow/Calf

            Dairy

Elective rotations/Vacation (9 weeks available): Student selects additional rotations based on their area of clinical emphasis. CORE & supplemental CORE rotations may also be selected after an initial rotation has been completed. Electives may be taken anywhere.

Admissions  

The faculty of the USU School of Veterinary Medicine and the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine are excited about the joint collaborative medical education program leading to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. There are great and diverse faculty at both universities, that by joining forces can provide an outstanding educational experience. Students on the USU campus will benefit from small class sizes, excellent teaching and animal facilities, and unique opportunities to gain hands on, practical experience during their two years at USU. As students move to WSU for their third and fourth years, they will receive their clinical training at one of the nation’s top veterinary medical schools with a state-of-the-art teaching hospital. We encourage students to apply to the USU/WSU DVM Program. If you have questions about the program or desire additional information, please visit the USU-SVM website http://vetmed.usu.edu/ or contact Michael S. Bishop at 435-797-USVM (8786) to request further information.

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