Veterinary Medicine

This elective course provides an opportunity for students to conduct research under the supervision of a faculty investigator. On a case-by-case basis, the faculty investigator, in conjunction with the interested student, determines the content of the course and the evaluation criteria, and obtains approval of the Associate Dean for Research.

In this elective course, applied improvisation (AI) is taught as an instructional strategy. AI adapts the concepts of improvisational theater to teach complex skills so that they can be applied in other contexts, such as veterinary practice, and teaches participants to accept uncertainty and ambiguity as the conditions in which they must learn and work. Most importantly, this kind of learning experience cultivates an other-oriented sensibility, geared toward empathy and collaboration. Overall, the principles and practices of AI support the basic tenets of relationship-centered care in veterinary medicine, such as partnership and empathic connection with other people.

This elective course will provide students with the essentials needed to be a well-rounded and successful primary care veterinarian. Topics critical to primary care are selected and taught by a team with over 180 combined years of practice experience. This course will not only help students be prepared for life after graduation but also aid in a smooth transition into the clinical year. A wide variety of topics, including, but not limited to, dermatology, preventative care, parasitology, caring for all life stages, communicating with veterinary staff, mental well-being, business and contract know-how, utilizing reliable resources, and euthanasia/hospice care will be discussed.

This elective course offers comprehensive training in veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) based on the internationally recognized RECOVER (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation) guidelines, published in 2024. Students will learn the principles and techniques of both Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS), in addition to critical care advanced techniques. 

This elective course is meant to introduce and build veterinary knowledge to successfully practice on reptiles and amphibians. Emphasis will be on husbandry, preventative medicine, clinical techniques, diagnostics, methodologies, interpretation of clinical data, common diseases, medicine, surgery, infectious disease, zoonotic disease, animal welfare, and regulations. The course will cover non-avian reptiles and amphibians.

This elective course introduces and builds knowledge in the practice of veterinary medicine for aquatic animals. The course covers a broad range of topics that contribute to a veterinarian's role in aquatic animal health. Students will be introduced to anatomy, physiology, husbandry, preventative medicine, clinical techniques, diagnostic methodologies, interpretation of clinical data, common diseases, medicine, surgery, infectious disease, zoonotic disease, animal welfare, and regulations, as well as conservation for numerous aquatic animals including invertebrates, teleosts, elasmobranchs, sea turtles, aquatic avian species, and aquatic mammals. Laboratories will provide additional training in handling, diagnostic methods, and necropsy techniques for select taxa.

This elective course focuses on the clinical knowledge and skills needed to manage the emergency and/or critical veterinary patient from presentation, through medical and surgical treatment, and later during convalescence in the critical care facility or veterinary hospital. The emphasis of this course will be focused on the knowledge, clinical skills, and techniques that are needed to manage commonly seen emergency/critical care patients in clinical companion animal practice.

This elective course takes a practical look at dog and cat behavior and how it can be understood. The role the private practitioner plays in assisting clients with pets displaying undesired behaviors and how to provide clients with assistance other than offering referral with be emphasized.

This elective course is a clinically based class in which students will use a variety of surgical and dissection techniques to gain additional anatomical knowledge and hone their surgical skills. Each student will select a clinical topic involving a dissection or surgical technique of the veterinary profession. Students are expected to write a proposal for performing their selected dissection. The students will present their projects to the University community at a poster presentation, followed by the demonstration of their projects in the laboratory.

This elective course focuses on foreign animal diseases that are important for animal and human health. The elective will include a theoretical and a practical component. Students will be required to join ProMED and instructors will urge the open discussion of postings. The practical component will include a visit to a slaughterhouse and a classroom exercise reproducing a proper response to a FAD. These opportunities will showcase the veterinarian’s role in recognizing and preventing the incursion of FADs into the country.

*This course utilizes distance education. 

This elective course teaches basic veterinary medical Spanish for veterinary medical students who may interact with Spanish speaking clients and their pets/livestock . This class is an introduction to Spanish specific veterinary medicine and is designed to prepare the student for clinical conversations between a veterinary physician and clients. The content of this course aims to be specific and practical and therefore many elements of the Spanish language are not included. We will review applicable cultural aspects of communication. There are many Spanish-speaking countries, each with its own variations of the language. The language presented here should be comprehensible to all Spanish speakers.

This elective course will provide students with the experience in a veterinary infectious disease diagnostic microbiology laboratory. The course will familiarize the students with the potentials and limitations of modern veterinary clinical microbiology laboratory. Areas of focus include the process involved in sample submission, completion of submission forms and specific test requests, hands-on experience and/or demonstration of the current methods used in veterinary pathogen detection, antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the minimum inhibitory concentration method (MIC), test results interpretation and application of test results in veterinary practice.

This elective is designed to reinforce the concepts of diagnostic imaging and the basics of interpreting a diagnostic imaging exams of common diseases encountered in veterinary medicine that were covered during VMEDG 1635 in a case-based format. Students will use the clinical PACS software as a method to familiarize themselves with the system prior to clinics.  

*This course utilizes distance education.

This elective course will provide advanced veterinary pathology training focused on common entities diagnosed by biopsy in domestic animals. The focus will primarily be on biopsy samples from dogs and cats but will also include some large animal species. Each session will explore different types of biopsies under the microscope and include discussions on histologic, diagnostic, and prognostic features. Scanned histopathology slides (or glass slides) will be provided to students at the end of each class and students will be expected to interpret the histopathology, list pathologic changes, form a diagnosis, and provide a prognostic comment. Near the end of the course students are expected to give a group presentation on a pathology topic of interest and relevance. Students will gain advanced abilities and knowledge of common biopsy samples, histopathologic interpretation, lesion recognition, and prognostic indicators. As time permits in each class, biopsies from current clinical cases will also be examined. This course will be beneficial to those interested in pursuing advanced training in the fields of veterinary pathology, dermatology, oncology, research, or small animal practice.

Infectious Diseases in Veterinary Pathology is a 2-credit elective that provides advanced veterinary pathology instruction focusing on select infectious diseases of animals. This class will focus on multiple case-based studies in various species that may include Canidae, Felidae, Bovidae, Equidae, Cervidae, non-human primate, rodent, rabbit, reptile, and other exotic species afflicted by infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, arthropods, protozoans, and helminths. Scanned histopathology slides (glass slides, video, or appropriate images) will be provided to the students prior to each class and students will be expected to read/interpret pathological findings and integrate into etiology (or differential lists), pathologic changes, pathogenesis, and additional diagnostic tools. Students will gain superior abilities in histopathologic and cytologic interpretation, infectious agent identification (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), antimicrobial susceptibility determination of mixed bacterial infections, and results interpretations for patient care. This course will be beneficial for those interested in pursuing advanced training in the fields of veterinary pathology, microbiology, research, or practice in the areas of small, large, or exotic animal medicine.

This elective course is case-based in which students will hone their skills in the interpretation of clinical pathology case data for large and small animals. Students will be expected to interpret case data and integrate their interpretation into relevant pathophysiologic mechanisms of disease, while also identifying additional testing that may aid in confirmation of the suspected diagnosis. This class will require students to think critically and to support their case interpretations with literature from peer-reviewed sources.

This elective course will focus on an understanding of pain pathways and modalities for providing analgesia, as well as pain assessment, in a variety of species, including dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, and exotic animals. The student will review and deepen their understanding of the pathophysiology and neuroanatomy of nociception, pain pharmacology, and non-pharmaceutical analgesic modalities that are critical in providing appropriate and effective pain management in clinical settings. Pharmaceutical analgesic modalities covered will include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, opioids, local anesthetics, gabapentinoides, and locoregional anesthesia techniques. Non-pharmaceutical analgesic modalities will include physical rehabilitation, low-level laser therapy, shockwave therapy, and underwater treadmill. Students will also gain an understanding of species-specific differences in assessment and treatment of pain. 

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession.

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession. Equine basic handling is taught in this course, along with an introduction to equine physical examination, nutrition, administration of medications, and bandaging.

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession.

This course aims to develop skills for the systematic identification, evaluation, integration, and adaptation of scientific evidence. It is also meant to develop the ability to formulate questions and solutions, as well as educate others. This will be accomplished through lecture and the systematic process of building a Knowledge Summary (also known as a Critically Appraised Topic, or CAT), a short critical summary of the best available information on a defined clinical question. Students will also be made aware of research opportunities at Midwestern University.

The course will emphasize anatomical features for the most relevant clinical disorders, as well as medical and surgical techniques specific to veterinary medicine. Normal anatomy as observed by commonly employed imaging procedures (radiography, ultrasound, CT and MRI) will be presented as a prelude to the Diagnostic Imaging (VMEDG 1635) course later in the curriculum. Students will have the opportunity to learn clinical anatomy as it relates to small and large animals in both wet labs and live animal labs.

This course focuses on principles of clinical and public health practice, emphasizing a One Health approach and is divided into four major topic areas: public health principles, epidemiology principles, food safety and security, and zoonotic diseases. Delivery of course material will be through a combination of lectures, interactive games, case study scenarios, and an interactive mock outbreak investigation. The main objective of this course is for the student to build the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to become a competent and successful practitioner with an overarching understanding of preventive medicine and veterinary public health. 

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession.

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession.

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession. This course provides opportunities for students to explore important aspects of personal and professional development that are essential for happiness and fulfillment in their careers and lives.

This course is an introduction to veterinary diagnostic imaging. Digital radiography, fluoroscopy, MRI, CT, and ultrasound will be discussed, along with the principles of interpreting images of each of these modalities in various species and disease conditions.

*This course utilizes distance education.

VMEDG 1641 is the first half of a 2-course series that introduces concepts in disease recognition and pathogenesis. The beginning of this course introduces the student to general pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause disease, including biochemical, structural, and functional changes. Concepts covered include normal and altered cell development, metabolic diseases, inflammation, cell aging and repair, immunopathology, and neoplasia. The remainder of this course focuses on common diseases within specific body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and reproductive). The system-based sessions focus on how diseases develop, their gross and microscopic appearance, and how they present in a clinical context. Laboratories will supplement course material.

In this course, students apply their knowledge of general pathology to specific disease processes as they affect various organs or systems. Four aspects to be learned for each disease are etiology, pathogenesis, morphologic changes, and biochemical alterations. Laboratories will supplement course material.

This course is an introduction to the evaluation and interpretation of hematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, cytology, and endocrinology tests. Coursework will consist of lectures with integrated case discussions to establish a foundation in the interpretation of lab work in a clinical veterinary setting. The course will also contain separate hematology and urinalysis wet laboratories, to practice and establish proficiency in performing essential clinical practices and techniques. This knowledge base and skill set will be expanded upon in other courses in medicine and surgery, as well as during the clinical year.

Principles of Surgery with Lab is a 3-series course that will introduce students to surgical principles and anesthetic techniques. Students will have the opportunity to practice in wet lab and live animal settings. Aseptic technique, intravenous catheterization, tracheal intubation, basic surgical skills, and other techniques will be emphasized. Students will participate in all aspects of the perioperative management of patients.

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery is a 3-course series designed to be interactive discussions on medical and surgical disorders, based on presenting clinical signs seen in small animal practice. Disorders of the endocrine, neurological, reproductive, hematopoietic, ophthalmologic, urinary, gastrointestinal, cardio-pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and immune systems will be discussed. These courses are designed to emphasize the clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of common diseases. Medicine and surgery, including pre- and post-operative management of surgical patients, will be integrated in the course to emphasize the problem-based approach to management of small animal patients.

*This course utilizes distance education.

Equine Medicine and Surgery is a 2-course series that will introduce students to principles of diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical conditions found in the equine species. Emphasis will be placed on the clinical assessment of patients, signs of common and uncommon diseases, management of diseases, pharmacologic agents used in equine species, and fundamental techniques used in clinical practice.

Equine Medicine and Surgery is a 2-course series that will introduce students to principles of diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical conditions found in the equine species. Emphasis will be placed on the clinical assessment of patients, signs of common and uncommon diseases, management of diseases, pharmacologic agents used in equine species, and fundamental techniques used in clinical practice.

The Practice of Veterinary Medicine courses are a 7-quarter series designed to teach veterinary students the clinical and communication skills necessary to become competent and successful veterinarians. The main objective of these courses is for the student to build the foundational pillars of communication, physical examination skills, medical knowledge, and critical reasoning, all essential for a successful career in the veterinary profession. This course will be completed by mixed animal track students in the fall quarter and by small animal track students in the winter quarter.

This course provides an introduction to the principles of financial literacy and their application to the professional and personal lives of veterinarians. Emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed financial decisions throughout one’s career. Topics include budgeting, debt management, student loan repayment strategies, savings and investment planning, insurance, taxes, and retirement preparation. Students will gain the analytical tools and practical understanding needed to evaluate financial options and make sound, evidence-based decisions that support long-term financial well-being. 

This course will introduce the most common toxins encountered in veterinary medicine in all species with emphasis on the mechanism of action of these toxins and the pathophysiology in the animal body. Clinical presentation of animals exposed to various toxins, and treatment of toxic exposures, will also be presented.

Principles of Surgery with Lab is a 3-series course that will introduce students to surgical principles and anesthetic techniques. Students will have the opportunity to practice in wet lab and live animal settings. Aseptic technique, intravenous catheterization, tracheal intubation, basic surgical skills, and other techniques will be emphasized. Students will participate in all aspects of the perioperative management of patients.

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery is a 3-course series designed to be interactive discussions on medical and surgical disorders, based on presenting clinical signs seen in small animal practice. Disorders of the endocrine, neurological, reproductive, hematopoietic, ophthalmologic, urinary, gastrointestinal, cardio-pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and immune systems will be discussed. These courses are designed to emphasize the clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of common diseases. Medicine and surgery, including pre- and post-operative management of surgical patients, will be integrated in the course to emphasize the problem-based approach to management of small animal patients.

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery is a 3-course series designed to be interactive discussions on medical and surgical disorders, based on presenting clinical signs seen in small animal practice. Disorders of the endocrine, neurological, reproductive, hematopoietic, ophthalmologic, urinary, gastrointestinal, cardio-pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and immune systems will be discussed. These courses are designed to emphasize the clinical diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management of common diseases. Medicine and surgery, including pre- and post-operative management of surgical patients, will be integrated in the course to emphasize the problem-based approach to management of small animal patients.

This course is the first of a 2-course series that will introduce students to principles of diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical conditions found in the bovine, porcine, caprine, and ovine species. The clinical presentation and treatment of common disorders and fundamental clinical techniques will be taught. Zoonotic disorders and importance of animals in the human food chain (relative to food-borne illness) will also be discussed.

This course is the second of a 2-course series that will introduce students to principles of diagnosis and treatment of medical and surgical conditions found in the bovine, porcine, caprine, and ovine species. The clinical presentation and treatment of common disorders and fundamental clinical techniques will be taught. Zoonotic disorders and importance of animals in the human food chain (relative to food-borne illness) will also be discussed.

This course will introduce veterinary students to the practice of veterinary medicine on species other than dogs, cats, cattle, and horses. Emphasis will be placed on common species, preventive medicine, and diseases encountered in companion pet exotic veterinary practice. Coverage will be broad and will include birds, non-avian reptiles, amphibians, rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and fish. General husbandry needs, safe handling, diagnostic options, and common diseases of concern will be discussed.

Varied credits. Students must complete the appropriate amount of clinical elective rotations for their track in order to complete the clinical component of the curriculum. A variety of on-campus rotations are available, including rotations in existing core rotations, Veterinary Business and Operations, and Wildlife.

This 4 block rotation will allow students the opportunity to have primary responsibility for all aspects of primary care for dogs and cats in the CVM’s Companion Animal Clinic, modeling after high-functioning small animal practices. Students will spend their time seeing patients in well and sick appointments and performing common primary care surgical and general dentistry procedures under the supervision of clinicians. Students will be responsible for primary communication with clients, documenting and maintaining their patient medical records, creating diagnostic and therapeutic plans, prescribing treatments and diets, providing wellness/preventive medicine services, and following up with clients on diagnostic testing with their cases. The rotation also involves a series of dental wet labs, which include models and cadaver work to train students in dental anatomy, oral examination, nerve blocks, extraction techniques and oral surgery expected of a general dentist in practice. The rotation also includes designated time for both large group and small group rounds. When scheduling permits, students may have the opportunity to serve as student coaches in first, second, and third year SIMS communication training.

This rotation will provide students with experience handling small animal emergency and ICU cases in the Animal Health Institute, Companion Animal Clinic. Students on the Emergency/ICU Clinical Rotation will participate in the medical treatment, surgical treatment, and case management of clinical patients in the AHI-CAC. This rotation's primary goal is to focus on the medical knowledge, clinical skills, and critical thinking needed to manage commonly seen cases in emergency medicine.  

This rotation takes place both on campus and at various shelter locations locally and state-wide. Students on the rotation will refine their knowledge and clinical skills in shelter medicine, with the main areas of focus being: shelter animal physical health, shelter animal behavioral health, community and public health, shelter management, animals and public policy, research and critical review of the literature, client and partner communication, forensic investigation, the animal shelter’s role in disaster response, and high quality high volume spay neuter (HQHVSN) techniques.

This rotation provides training in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and diagnostic microbiology.

In anatomic pathology, students will participate in postmortem examination of necropsy cases, prepare gross reports that include descriptions and diagnoses, present their findings during scheduled rounds, and attend histopathology and other assigned rounds.

In clinical pathology, students will actively participate in sessions focused on interpretation of blood work, glass slide evaluation, and practical clinical pathology techniques. Each student will also deliver a brief presentation on a pathology topic of interest and clinical relevance.

In diagnostic microbiology, students will work with microbiology cases involving proper diagnostic sample handling, bacterial and fungal culture testing, organism identification to the species level, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Students will also present assigned microbiology cases, focusing on the strengths and limitations of diagnostic methods, interpretation of results, and their application in veterinary practice.

This rotation occurs in the Large Animal Clinic of the Animal Health Institute and at Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center. Students on the Equine Medicine and Surgery rotation will refine their knowledge and clinical skills in primary and referral equine medicine and surgery through a blend of institutional instruction, ambulatory practice, and private practice experience.

This two block on-campus rotation is modeled after VMEDG 1805. Students will not spend time at Chaparral Veterinary Medical Center.

This rotation will introduce the student to the art and science of the practice of veterinary medicine in farm animal medicine, surgery, and population health. The student will work cooperatively with instructors, peers, clients, and farm personnel, in the examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of various species of farm and fiber animals. The student will also be working with the public and will gain skills in client communications, medical record keeping and basic familiarity with the medical diseases and management of farm animal species.

The rotation is modeled after 1806 and is held on campus. Students will not spend time at Heard Health Management. 

This rotation builds upon the student’s knowledge from coursework, laboratory sessions, and prior clinical rotations (if applicable) toward the diagnosis and treatment of patients evaluated through the Companion Animal Clinic Internal Medicine service.

This rotation will directly involve and expose students to small animal general and specialty surgical cases in the Midwestern University Animal Health Institute, Companion Animal Clinic. 

This rotation will require students to participate in the anesthetic and pain management of patients. The application of medical knowledge to patient care through critical thinking and communication skills is emphasized. The primary goals of this rotation will be to refine the students’ knowledge and clinical techniques needed to safely anesthetize small and large animal patients and to provide appropriate pain management in clinical practice.

Varied credits. Students must complete clinical elective rotations based on their track requirements to complete the clinical component of the curriculum. Off-campus clinical elective rotations may be completed at research institutions, other veterinary teaching hospitals, government sponsored programs, industry sponsored programs, or any approved veterinary facility. Students must be supervised by a licensed veterinarian during the rotation; special circumstances may exist (e.g. PhD) and require approval by the Director of Clinical Education. To be eligible for academic credit, off-campus elective rotations must be planned with the assistance and approval of the off-campus site and be approved by the Clinical Education Team and Director of Clinical Education. Some off-campus clinical electives may have additional cost related to travel and housing.

This required course provides focused time designed to help prepare senior year veterinary students for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). This course allows for significant independent study within and outside of the college-provided, individual VetPrep student accounts. Weekly Microsoft Teams meetings with the course director will focus on study strategies, resource utilization, time management, test-day readiness, and student wellbeing. Students will complete assignments through Canvas and VetPrep. The course director will be available for one-on-one student meetings throughout the course, and clinical year, on an as-requested basis.

*This course utilizes distance education.