Experiences with a veterinary preceptorial program.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine Education
• Clinical Training Programs

Background:

• Established in 1972, the off-campus, practitioner-supervised training program at Michigan State University addresses the need for food animal medicine specialization.
• The program offers senior veterinary students degree credit for practical, on-the-job experience with private practitioners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide students with practical experience in clinical veterinary medicine through off-campus settings.
• To expose students to private practitioners' clinical skills, case-based learning, and realistic diagnostic environments.
• To offer insights into evolving veterinary education for faculty and practitioners.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an off-campus, supervised preceptorial program for veterinary students.
• Integration of on-the-job training with private practitioners for degree credit.

Main Results:

• Participating students and practitioners reported the program as successful and valuable.
• Both students and practitioners viewed the experience favorably, deeming it a worthwhile teaching-learning opportunity.
• The program provided faculty and practitioners with insights into changes in veterinary education.

Conclusions:

• The off-campus, practitioner-supervised training program is considered successful and worthy of continuation and expansion.
• The program effectively bridges academic learning with practical clinical experience in food animal medicine.
• Positive feedback from both students and practitioners supports the program's educational value.