CVM SCAAEP Reaches National Audience with its Annual Technical Skills Lab
Two hundred and fifty veterinary students from all over the nation braved the chilly morning of January 21, 2012, to participate in one of the largest technical skills labs in the nation. For seventeen years, the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (SCAAEP) has hosted a workshop at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) to provide hands-on training that participants can’t get elsewhere.
With the help of students, faculty, and staff volunteers, the CVM SCAEEP was able to accommodate 18 veterinary schools. Half of the participants came from out-of-state veterinary schools, with the furthest distance being Washington State University (over 2,000 miles away).
Two labs were added to this year’s lineup, making the total number of hands-on labs 23.
“We added a Splinting lab this year which covered basic splinting techniques and scenarios when splints should and shouldn’t be used,” said Teresa Meier, SCAEEP 2012 technical skills lab coordinator. “Students were able to practice applying splints and casts, and then were able to remove the casts with a cast saw to gain experience in how a cast saw handles. We also split the lameness lab into two labs, Introduction to Lameness and Advanced Lameness, which allowed students to hone their individual ability.”
Each lab in the workshop is funded by national and local sponsors. Every sponsor gets the opportunity to contribute to the job fair, which is open to the participants after the activities are complete. Boehringer Ingelheim sponsored t-shirts, allowing more students the opportunity to purchase them at a lower price. Pfizer sponsored a lunch for the students while they enjoyed a keynote speech by Dr. Bo Brock of Brock Veterinary Clinic in Lamesa, Texas. Participants also got the opportunity to experience what the social life is like for CVM veterinary students during, “Night Out at Northgate” sponsored by Platinum Performance.
“An event of this size takes a large amount of planning and coordinating for months prior to the event, and I cannot thank the students that spent many early mornings in meetings enough,” said Meier. “I also have to say thank you to the students who volunteered their time the day of the lab to assist instructors and make sure that it ran smoothly.”
“The technical skills lab was a success again this year, and it has been a privilege to put this event on for veterinary students across the country,” said Meier. “I’m looking forward to the lab next year as the students who are planning the event have worked hard this year and developed some great ideas to try and reach more students.”
