Being a successful diagnostic extern veterinary student at the Department of Veterinary Sciences
Background: The department of veterinary sciences at the University of Wyoming operates the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. This full-service, nationally-accredited animal health laboratory operates under Wyoming statute to provide services to veterinary practitioners, animal owners and wildlife managers in Wyoming. Most faculty members and essentially all of diagnostic staff employees in the department have a major time commitment to running the diagnostic laboratory (typically, 100% of staff members’ time; up to 60% of faculty members’ time). We typically accept 2 – 4 diagnostic externs a year. Our strong preference is to take students attending veterinary colleges in the United States. We have, in the past, accepted students from Europe and Latin America, but this is at the discretion of the department. Our goal in taking on veterinary student externs is to give them an opportunity to see how a diagnostic laboratory operates and incorporate this understanding into their knowledge of veterinary medicine. The faculty and staff of WSVL receive no teaching or other credit for taking on externs. Our reward is to know that veterinary students have a chance to see firsthand how a diagnostic laboratory works before you are unleashed on an unsuspecting world!
Typical activities: The most useful activity for diagnostic externs is to work on the necropsy floor. This entails doing post-mortem examinations, and writing up a draft of their necropsy findings. The student’s write up will be reviewed by the pathologist and entered into the laboratory’s data management system. After the pathologist reads the slides, he or she usually passes them to the student for review. Other activities are: cutting in surgical accessions and “necropsies-in-a-bag”; reviewing histology slides of diagnostic cases; updating PowerPoint presentations given by the faculty as part of their regular teaching; literature searches; field visits (if opportunity arises); examining Western Round Robin and/or AFIP case slides; teaching pre-veterinary students; necropsy examinations of previously frozen wildlife carcasses under supervision of a WSVL pathologist or Dr. Cynthia Tate with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Expectations/suggestions/requirements:
Bring a positive, curious attitude about diagnostic veterinary medicine and how veterinary laboratories function.
Safety is important; you may be exposed to potentially serious infectious agents, and are working with sharp instruments. Follow all instructions regarding safety issues, particularly with regard to eye protection, use of biological safety cabinets, and personal protective equipment.
Ensure you have medical coverage will be in the event of an accident at the WSVL. You will not be covered under the Wyoming workman's compensation program. We need an assurance you have medical coverage in the event of an accident.
Be prepared to give a short, informal seminar on your home institution to staff and faculty while you are here.
Come vaccinated for rabies. You MUST have a protective titer to be in the necropsy laboratory area.
Bring a histology and/or pathology textbook (if you have one).
Bring your own boots. We provide eye protection and coveralls.
Follow ALL instructions from faculty members and from staff, particularly technicians in the necropsy laboratory. If an issue arises with a staff member, you should in the first instance try to resolve it yourself. If that does not work, bring it to the attention of the faculty member who mentors you.
Some of what we will ask you to do may appear menial, such as cleaning necropsy tables or the necropsy floor at the end of a post-mortem, or cutting in surgical or necropsy samples. Please remember that you are a guest in this laboratory. Anything you can do to reduce the work load on others is appreciated. Doing unpleasant tasks, such as cleaning up after yourself, is part of the job.
Show up on time.
Some faculty members teach didactically, others by asking questions, or by doing the job and having you assist. Be prepared for different teaching styles and personalities. We are not attempting to embarrass you when we ask you questions; often this is the only way to find out what you know. We are keen to learn from you, and from your experiences. This helps us in our role training our own pre-veterinary students.
Be flexible about the uneven case load flow. Some days (esp. February – April) are busy in necropsy, in which case having an extra pair of hands (yours!) is valuable. Other days are quiet. When that happens, the faculty mentor may give you slides to read, or ask you to cut in tissues, or given you some on-line or library literature work to do. Refusing to do this will be reflected in our evaluation of you.
Understand there are constraints on the time of faculty and staff members. Our primary function is to get our job done. This includes activities such as writing pathology reports, responding to clients’ requests, preparing and giving lectures, and writing papers.
The best type of extern is one who does not have to be told how to stay busy and engaged – a self-starter who helps out, is flexible, follows instructions and is willing to learn. It is most helpful when you are interested in pathology, diagnostic medicine, food animals and wildlife, and have a background in histology. We do a substantial amount of companion animal pathology, but the externship is designed for students interested in all facets of diagnostic medicine, regardless of species. Coming here “just to see dog pathology” or “to learn about diseases of range cattle” will not work, since you will be expected to help deal with whatever comes through the pathology service.
Donal O’Toole
August 12, 2009