SVM hosts Seventh Annual Clinical Meeting

Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, representing a number of veterinary schools, convened at the St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine's Seventh Annual Clinical Meeting held February 2-4, 2009 at the Caribbean House on the True Blue Campus.  Deans and faculty members from our affiliated schools of veterinary medicine across the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K. and Australia, participated in clinical program discussions and presented their clinical program to our SGU students. The meeting began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Allen Pensick, University Provost, followed by an introduction and orientation by Dr. Raymond Sis, SVM Dean, with comments by Dr. Rolf Larsen, Associate Dean, Clinical Resources, SVM.

The SVM Clinical Meeting, which normally occurs in February, provides a forum for representatives from SVM’s affiliated veterinary schools to meet with students and provide first-hand information about the clinical training available at their various schools.  In order to complete SVM’s four-year DVM Program, each student is required to complete his/her final year in one of  SVM’s twenty-nine affiliated veterinary schools. These schools provide clinical training for SGU veterinary students over a 48 week period.  During this period, students are provided with opportunities to participate in clinical rotations, elective courses and externships.  

The clinical meeting therefore provides an avenue for students to interact with deans and faculty members from these affiliated schools, as well as get answers to questions pertaining to the various clinical programs available, so that they can each make informed decisions regarding where they choose to undertake their fourth-year clinical training.  Likewise, the meeting provided SVM faculty members with the opportunity to interact with the representatives from the affiliated veterinary schools and to discuss and review their respective programs and best practices, in order to offer SVM students the best education possible.  Presentation topics included: Web-based student evaluation, grade collection and competency assessment; Research and Grading in the clinical year.  This year, twenty-seven of SVM’s twenty-nine affiliated schools were represented at the clinical meeting.

We wish to thank all of the participants who were able to take time away from their busy schedules to attend.  Thanks are also extended to all of the SGU faculty and staff who worked assiduously to ensure the success of this meeting.

Story submitted by: Mrs. Donna Neckles-Charles

Photograph provided by: Mrs. Catherine Wybern