WCVM students to host Vetavision 2012
Third-year veterinary student Michelle Tuma. Photo: Debra Marshall.
For four days this September, veterinary students at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will play host to thousands of people of all ages during Vetavision 2012, the veterinary college’s popular public open house.
Held every three years, the show includes more than 30 educational displays, more than a dozen speakers and demonstrations, and of course, a wide range of furry, slippery and feathery creatures to visit.
Organizing the college-wide show, which will be held on the University of Saskatchewan campus from September 20 to 23, is a daunting task for the WCVM’s 319 veterinary students, says Angela Lê, chairperson of Vetavision 2012.
“It’s a huge show, so September will definitely be a hectic month for all of us with classes, labs and exams on top of Vetavision,” says Lê who is working closely with a student committee to manage the hundreds of details involved in organizing the special event. At the same time, the busy fourth-year student is in the middle of a dairy medicine clinical rotation as part of her senior year.
What makes all of the work worthwhile? The people, says Lê. “Veterinary medicine is one of those professions that everyone is curious about so it’s a lot of fun to answer people’s questions, demonstrate what we do and give people a closeup look at the animals and the facilities here at the WCVM.”
Lê adds that veterinary students can also help the public to understand some of the major shifts in all health sciences — including veterinary medicine.
“I think more and more people are realizing that veterinary medicine is much more than taking care of animals. Because of our broad-based training, veterinarians are getting more involved in public health initiatives, in research that benefits humans as well as animals, and in One Health.”
One Health is a global movement that encourages collaboration among all health disciplines with the goal of attaining optimal health for people, animals and the environment.
This is the 15th Vetavision since WCVM students hosted the very first event in 1970. When people visited the WCVM during its first Vetavision, the new regional veterinary college at the U of S was barely five years old and equipped with the basics for training students.
Forty-two years later, Vetavision 2012 visitors will tour through a college that has dramatically grown in size as well as reputation. Today, the WCVM is Western Canada’s centre of excellence in veterinary education, clinical services and research as well as an integral part of Canada’s food safety and public health networks.
This year’s Vetavision visitors will also witness the results of the WCVM’s seven-year infrastructure project. Since 2004, the veterinary college has added on to its Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC), diagnostics area and research laboratories. Renovations to its large and small animal clinics and lecture theatres, along with the addition of new technologies for medical imaging and research, have also helped to enhance the WCVM’s veterinary education, clinical and research programs.
The veterinary college’s expanded equine performance centre, which will have all of its equipment in place later this fall, will also be hosting some of the Vetavision’s equine-focused activities.
For more details about Vetavision 2012, please visit www.vetavision.ca to view a list of displays, show schedule, admission fees and tour information.
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