Professional Program Goals

Graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine will have:

1. A sound medical knowledge base
   
   1. Have a broad working knowledge of the scientific concepts, principles, and processes relevant to the current practice of veterinary medicine
   2. Understand the role of scientific inquiry (i.e., research) in the advancement of medical knowledge
   3. Can obtain, evaluate and apply new knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease
2. The necessary clinical skills for comprehensive patient diagnosis and management
   
   1. Effectively apply basic medical skills in the diagnosis and treatment of patients
   2. Effectively apply basic surgical skills in the treatment of patients
   3. Administer analgesics and anesthesia with appropriate concern for patient welfare
   4. Provide basic emergency treatment and critical care
   5. Provide timely documentation in medical records that is clear, concise, and organized to optimize patient care and minimize errors
3. Strong professional and interpersonal skills
   
   1. Demonstrate good oral and written communication skills with clients, colleagues, team members, and the general public
   2. Interact compassionately with patients and clients
   3. Demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for the emotional attachment of clients to their animals and their financial concerns
   4. Collaborate effectively with colleagues and technical staff to facilitate patient care; give and receive performance feedback in a constructive manner
   5. Recognize and uphold the veterinarian's professional, legal and ethical obligations to animals, animal owners, professional colleagues and society
   6. Understand the importance of sound business and financial management principles to the practice of veterinary medicine
4. Effective problem-solving skills
   
   1. Are self-motivated learners and critical thinkers
   2. Utilize effective strategies for self-improvement and recognize the need for life-long learning to maintain and improve clinical competence
   3. Utilize information technology to retrieve, manage, and apply biomedical information for the diagnosis and management of individual patients and populations
   4. Recognize their strengths, weaknesses, and limitations; seek help and advice when needed, including case referral where appropriate
5. The necessary skills to practice health promotion and disease prevention
   
   1. Demonstrate the ability to apply basic disease prevention and health promotion practices to individual patients and populations
   2. Recognize important zoonotic and foreign animal diseases and be able to articulate appropriate diagnostic, prevention, and control strategies
   3. Contribute to improved public health by promoting food safety, food security, and biosecurity practices that reduce the spread of infectious diseases in human and animal populations

Adopted by the Council on Education, February 1, 2010