SACS Courses in the Professional Curriculum

  • VEM 5003 End of Life Issues in Veterinary Medicine:
    The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to specific information on the euthanasia of different species of animals as well as how to assist veterinary clienduring the decision making process and support clients whose pets are dying or have died. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amanda Inman
  • VEM 5008 Putting Families First – Interdisciplinary Family Health. This course is designed to initiate an interprofessional learning practicum for health professions, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, dental, and medical students. The central theme of the course is learning as a team about the impact of resources and environment on health status. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amara Estrada
  • VEM 5051 Welfare and Wellness for Pets and People: This course will promote wellness for veterinary students by exploring and practicing a variety of skills needed to thrive as a student and veterinary professional. The course uses parallel examples from animal welfare and behavior to illustrate new wellness concepts for people and the importance of caring for oneself and colleagues with the same diligence used to care for pets. During the course, students will learn to recognize and reduce professional and personal risk factors (including stress, mental distress, compassion fatigue, and burnout), integrate healthy behaviors, manage stress, and utilize coping skills in everyday challenges. Online Coordinator: Dr. Julie Levy
  • VEM 5061 Introduction to Veterinary Disaster Response: This course will establish the skills and credentials needed to volunteer as a disaster responder. Students will learn about the veterinarian’s role in the Incident Command System (ICS) and how multiple agencies participate in a coordinated disaster response. First-hand accounts will illustrate what veterinarians might encounter when deploying with a local, state, or national agency. Students will learn the best practices for relocating animals from source shelters to destination shelters in a natural or manmade disaster. Finally, students will develop their own family disaster preparedness plan and learn how they can assist in their community’s preparation, response, and recovery from a disaster. Students will complete online Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) training modules to become a credentialed disaster responder. Online Coordinators: Dr. Cynda Crawford
  • VEM 5181 Radiological Techniques: Principles of x-rays and radiographic images; radiation safety; animal positioning and x-ray technique charts for large and small animal units. Course Coordinator: Dr. Elisa Spoldi
  • VEM 5191 Introduction to Veterinary Animal Behavior: Comparative behavior of companion and domestic animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Meredith Montgomery
  • VEM 5200 Supervised Patient Care and Clinical Skills I: Engage students in the application of knowledge acquired in the veterinary curriculum from day one in order to better prepare them for the level of responsibility expected of a Phase III student and practice ready veterinarian. Course Coordinator: Dr. Julia Wuerz
  • VEM 5202 Supervised Patient Care and Clinical Skills II: Engage Students in the application of knowledge acquired in the veterinary curriculum from day one in order to better prepare them for the level of responsibility expected of a Phase III student and practice ready veterinarian. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amy Stone
  • VEM 5203 Supervised Patient Care and Clinical Skills III: Engage Students in the application of knowledge acquired in the veterinary curriculum from day one in order to better prepare them for the level of responsibility expected of a Phase III student and practice ready veterinarian. Course Coordinator: Dr. Jennifer Martinez
  • VEM 5220 Basic Veterinary Nutrition: Basic principles of veterinary nutrition including effects of deficiency, therapeutic nutrition, and nutrient requirements of diseased and convalescing animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Richard Hill
  • VEM 5225 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition: Didactic and problem-based approach to small and exotic animal clinical nutrition. Course Coordinator: Dr. Richard Hill
  • VEM 5241 Veterinary Ophthalmology: Study of diseases of the eye and orbit of domestic animals. Laboratories in diagnostic procedures and surgical exercises. Course Coordinator: Dr. Ralph Hamor
  • VEM 5242 Small Animal Ophthalmology: Ophthalmologic examination techniques; problems in conjunctival and corneal disease, eyelid, nictitans and lacrimal disease, anterior segment disease, posterior segment disease, and ocular manifestations of systemic diseases. Course Coordinator: Dr. Bret Moore
  • VEM 5243 Equine Ophthalmology: Form, function, disease, and treatment of the equine eye. Course Coordinator: Dr. Caryn Plummer
  • VEM 5251 Emergency Medicine and Critical Care: Evaluation and monitoring of animal patients; shock syndromes; respiratory distress syndromes; hemorrhagic disorders; trauma; cardiopulmonary resuscitation and seizure. Course Coordinators: Dr. Ashley AllenDr. Travis Lanaux
  • VEM 5261 Diagnostic Veterinary Radiology: Interpretation of roentgen signs of normal and abnormal systems of small animals (dogs and cats). Course Coordinator: Dr. Federico Vilaplana Grosso
  • VEM 5262 Advanced Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging: Radiographic, ultrasound, and scintigraphic equipment and techniques for observing skeleton and soft tissues in order to identify sites of injury, disease, and other processes in small animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Aitor Gallastegui
  • VEM 5264 Large Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: Radiographic, ultrasound, and scintigraphic equipment and techniques for observing skeleton and soft tissue in order to identify sites of injury, disease, and other processes in large animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Erin Porter
  • VEM 5286 Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology: This course builds on the fall sophomore core pharmacology course, VEM5171, where students have already learned basic mechanisms of action of drugs. Course Coordinator: Dr. Travis Lanaux
  • VEM 5288 Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology: This course is designed to be a case based, interactive course where cases are presented on various topics related to small animal clinical pharmacology with the use of Turning Point to promote interaction between faculty and students. Course Coordinator: Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell
  • VEM 5301 Veterinary Cardiopulmonology: Veterinary medical aspects of diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems of domestic animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amara Estrada, Dr. Andrew Specht
  • VEM 5304 Small Animal Neurology: Course is designed to combine basic neuroscience and clinical neurology for students in the small animal area of concentration. Course Coordinator: Dr. Sheila Carrera-Justiz
  • VEM 5305 Veterinary Urology: Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the urinary system of domestic animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Specht
  • VEM 5306 Veterinary Endocrinology: This is a very clinical oriented course providing a brief review of 32 Care in Animal Shelters as a guide to be best practices in shelters. Course Coordinator: Dr. Chen Gilor
  • VEM 5320 Shelter Animal Behavior and Welfare: Students will learn about canine and feline communication; the influence of behavior on relinquishment, adoption and retention; how to assess and enhance behavioral wellness at the individual and population level; and ways to use training and learning principles to modify common shelter pet behaviors. Students will use the problem-oriented approach to identify, diagnose, and treat behavior problems in shelter dogs and cats using environmental, social, training, psychopharmacological, and enrichment resources as appropriate. Course Coordinator: Dr. Julie Levy
  • VEM 5321 Integrating Veterinary Medicine with Shelter Systems: This course will establish a foundation of knowledge and expertise in the growing field of shelter medicine using the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters as a guide to best practices. Students will learn about the critical role played by shelter veterinarians in protecting the health and welfare of sheltered dogs and cats while developing evidence-based population wellness and management practices that optimize wellbeing and best outcomes. The course will use common real-world scenarios to explore preventive healthcare, population medicine, infectious diseases, behavior, housing, animal cruelty, spay/neuter, and careers in the Shelter Medicine. Students will earn Fear Free Professional certification, a valuable credential and competency for clinical rotations. Course Coordinator: Dr. Julie Levy
  • VEM 5324 Veterinary Forensic Medicine: This course introduces students to the role of veterinarians in recognition and reporting of animal abuse, the different types of animal abuse, differentiation of animal neglect from animal cruelty, identification of medical conditions commonly associated with animal neglect and cruelty, and how to perform and document forensic examinations of live and deceased victims of abuse. Course Coordinator: Dr. Cynda Crawford
  • VEM 5325 Small Animal Medicine: Essentials of small animal medicine including diagnosis and treatment of clinical problems of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, urinary, and hemolymphatic systems; includes infectious diseases, critical care, pediatrics, and dentistry. Course Coordinator: Dr. Kirsten Cooke
  • VEM 5343 Small Animal Dentistry: To educate students in the basics of diagnosis of dental diseases and oral pathology, formulate a treatment plan, intraoral radiograph, tooth extraction and repair of jaw fractures. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amy Stone
  • VEM 5344 Small Animal Dentistry Skills and Techniques: Laboratory practicums and clinical experience in small animal and exotic species dentistry. History taking, physical examination, pre- and post-operative as well as medical management of dental patients. Course Coordinator: Dr. Amy Stone
  • VEM 5381 Shelter Animal Physical Health: Students analyze and apply evidence-based guidelines and protocols that protect and enhance shelter animal physical health and well-being. This includes best practices and strategies for preventive healthcare and infection control, diagnosis and treatment of common infectious and zoonotic diseases, management of disease outbreaks, population management analyses to maximize positive outcomes for shelter animals, and humane euthanasia of animals with unmanageable pain and suffering. Students develop skills in modifying and adapting best practice protocols and strategies based on available resources in the shelter and community. Students also utilize communication and leadership skills to discuss their shelter healthcare plans with professional peers and to promote a collaborative approach with shelter personnel and the community. Course Coordinator: Dr. Cynda Crawford
  • VEM 5384 Veterinary Neurology: Evaluation of the neurologic patient with special emphasis on localization of lesions, formation of a differential diagnosis, development of a diagnostic plan, and recommendation for treatment of common neurologic disorders. The class is based largely on clinical case presentations. Course Coordinator: Dr. Sheila Carrera-Justiz
  • VEM 5387 Veterinary Dermatology: Clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin of domestic animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Rosanna Marsella
  • VEM 5388 Small Animal Dermatology: The goals of this course are to provide advanced knowledge on how to logically and systematically approach small animal dermatological diseases with particular emphasis on problem based approach. Course Coordinator: Dr. Rosanna Marsella
  • VEM 5402 Fundamentals of Soft Tissue Surgery: Fundamentals of aseptic technique, basic surgical techniques, wound healing and surgical management of disease. Surgical procedures for organ systems of domestic small animals. Course Coordinator: Dr. Penny Regier
  • VEM 5402L Introduction to Surgery Lab: Developing technical skills takes time, patience, and practice. The goal for this laboratory series is for participants to become familiarized with, and comfortable performing the basic foundational skills used in nearly all veterinary surgical procedures. Learning a new technical skill can be frustrating and trying at times. Remember to be kind to yourself, and understand that anyone can improve with practice. With each day and each repetition – you will become a more skilled veterinary surgeon. Stay focused, put in the energy, and you will leave this course with an excellent foundation to build the rest of your surgical training on. Course coordinator: Dr. Christopher Adin
  • VEM 5432 Advanced Small Animal Surgery: Problem oriented topics and mini-lectures in small animal soft tissue surgery including skin, oral cavity, nasal/mandible, esophagus, head/neck, intestine, thoracic cavity, urinary tract, liver/spleen; handling chest and abdominal trauma, reconstruction, and neoplasms. Course Coordinator: Dr. Dan Lewis
  • VEM 5433 Small Animal Surgery Laboratory: This course will expand upon the knowledge attained in VEM5432 and give a better understanding of various problems and surgical techniques discussed in VEM5432. Course Coordinator: Dr. Stanley Kim
  • VEM 5440 Fundamentals of Orthopedic Surgery: Basic orthopedic techniques and principles. Course Coordinator: Dr. Dan Lewis
  • VEM5892 Externships (1) Shelter Medicine and (2) Spay/Neuter: During a 2-credit Shelter Medicine externship, most of a student’s time will be spent working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian in the shelter. In addition, some time may be spent with veterinary technicians, kennel staff, animal control officers, and customer service representatives to gain a full appreciation of the wide range of shelter activities and functions. During a 2-credit Spay/Neuter externship, students will spend the majority of their time developing their surgical proficiency while also exploring the facets of successful high-quality-high-volume Spay/Neuter programs.

You can read more information about any of the courses in the Student Handbook.