Diary of a Vet Student: Changing curricula: Phase 3

OPINION

 DIARY OF A VET STUDENT

Changing curricula: Phase 3

Exploring how COVID-19 has impacted the veterinary program at OVC

CARLEIGH CATHCART

As with most everything else in life, the curricula at OVC has changed somewhat drastically in response to COVID-19 limitations. Today, we explore the third year of vet school, Phase 3, in ‘normal’ times, and how it looks quite different in the 2020-2021 academic year.

The actual content of the courses for Phase 3 students has changed very little. The same classes as in prior years are expected to be taken by every student: pharmacology, systems pathology, three separate ‘medicine and surgery’ courses (food animal, equine, dog/cat), comparative medicine (for less common species), clinical medicine, health management modules, surgical exercises, and art of veterinary medicine. However, the way these courses are delivered is drastically different, as outlined in the following areas.

A rite of passage for every vet student is their first surgery. Phase 3 students self-organize into surgery teams of three or four people, and throughout the year, each group (in ‘normal’ times) completes five cat or dog spay/ neuters, with students rotating the duties of each procedure. These surgeries are heavily supervised by faculty and staff members, but provide an excellent opportunity for future vets to get practice at what is a very common surgical procedure in the profession.

This year, because of capacity limitations, only one surgery group goes at a time (versus the usual five). Surgeries are staggered to fit all groups in, and everyone involved wears personal protective equipment (PPE).

Though there has been some frustration with unexpected cancellations and poor communication, at least one student has found a positive side to these new arrangements.

“[It] means we get all the attention from clinicians on us, which has been great,” says Phase 3 vet student Kathryn Arbour, adding that she appreciates staff efforts to continue providing students these opportunities.

However, it is my understanding that the quality of the surgery learning experience has been reduced.

A cat neuter is much, much different than a dog spay, for example, and the lack of exposure to more complicated procedures is a significant concern to many vet students.

There is also more than just disappointment from the loss of practical experience.

Multiple students in an OVC Facebook Messenger group I am a member of revealed serious concern at their lack of confidence in hands-on tasks, something they fear will leave them unprepared for the profession as they transition to their final year and then graduation.

“[It] was a concern in previous years even before the pandemic, and is only exacerbated by it,” said Arbour.

On the lecture side of things, there seems to have been a smoother transition.

Though there have been some “learning curves” in content navigation, Arbour says that overall, “the school did a great job of transitioning lectures online mostly smoothly.”

Student Meaghan Campigotto acknowledged the convenience provided by the new model, citing the ability to watch lectures at times other than when they were originally scheduled.

However, she said she does “find it isolating, especially on the 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. days where all you do is stare at your screen… I miss seeing my classmates.”

There are also obvious educational pitfalls to a mostly virtual platform, with diagrams and demonstrations being examples of real-time instruction that cannot be replicated online. Similarly, the inability to separate one’s home and working environments presents a challenge to learning and mental health.

“I think sometimes I learn better and pay attention more in a classroom. Plus, the routine of waking up, getting dressed and ready for the day was good for me, and by leaving the house I was better able to separate school from home,” Campigotto explained.

Phase 3 represents the final in-class year of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at OVC, and throughout the year these students begin the process of planning for their Phase 4 externships and clinical rotations. While a future article will discuss the specifics of the unique Phase 4, many of the third-year students I spoke with have already received cancellations of more distant rotations and externships well into the final quarter of 2021.

The loss of several academic and extracurricular third-year milestones combined with looming uncertainty about their final year has added to the strong frustration, isolation, and feelings of defeat among students.

As Arbour put it, “It is unfortunate. I miss my friends, I miss the atmosphere at school, I even miss the library. I study with friends over Zoom.”

The students of Phase 3 are well aware of the impact this year’s unprecedented challenges have had, particularly on their mental health.

“[Our class has] lamented about this together, and we have been vocal in continuing the conversation with administration regarding mental health,” said Arbour.

She also states that the class is frustrated with a perceivable ‘show must go on’ mentality towards academic rigour as everyone tries to grapple with isolation, disappointment, and online learning.

Despite this, she acknowledges that her situation is not entirely disadvantageous.

COURSES

SURGERY

CLASSROOM LEARNING

U of G veterinary student and Ontarion columnist Carleigh Cathcart says Phase 3 vet students are missing out on crucial hands-on surgical experience because of the pandemic restricting most classes to a virtual format. CREDIT: PEXELS

PLANNING FOR EXTERNSHIPS AND FOURTH-YEAR OVERALL IMPACT

“I remain supremely privileged and am grateful to be able to continue my education safely despite the chaos that is a pandemic,” Arbour said.

In closing, she notes that things could be made easier with more compassion and communication from those in charge.

“At the end of day, I know [our classmates] are mostly looking out for each other, and are working together to ask for more transparency, and for admin to continue the dialog on wellness.”

Special congratulations are in order to OVC’s Class of 2022, the Jade Jackals, as they approach the end of their in-class learning and prepare for the clinical world. Be proud of all you’ve accomplished so far; it’s just the beginning!

This is part three in a series of ‘Diary of a Vet Student,’ exploring how COVID-19 changes have impacted the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC).