Thrive Pet Healthcare invests in the education of future veterinarians at Ohio State
Article by: Allison Burk
Originally Published
Evolving veterinary standards to benefit both pets and their human families is a goal shared by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Thrive Pet Healthcare. This presented a unique opportunity for the two to work together to enhance the education for future graduates of Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Through the generous support of Thrive Pet Healthcare, the college recently created the Thrive Pet Healthcare Spectrum of Care Clinical Educator faculty position to coordinate and weave the spectrum of care education thread throughout all four years of a student’s DVM program. To further strengthen the business skills that are needed for future veterinarians to successfully operate a general practice, the Thrive Healthcare Spectrum of Care Business Minor Support Fund was also created to support DVM students enrolled in the Graduate Minor in Business in Health Sciences offered by the Max M. Fisher College of Business.
Thrive Pet Healthcare also supports the college’s spectrum of care summer externship opportunities where DVM students entering their second year are placed in spectrum of care (SOC) private practices to combine intensive educational and clinical training while serving clients from a broad socioeconomic spectrum. This early exposure to hands-on veterinary practice is transformational.
“The spectrum of care concept aims to address the growing problem of affordability of veterinary care by providing a continuum of acceptable care that considers available evidence-based medicine while remaining responsive to client expectations and financial limitations, thereby successfully serving an economically diverse clientele,” said Roger Fingland, DVM, MS, MBA, DACVS, executive associate dean and chief medical officer at Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the Frank Stanton Endowed Chair in General Practice and Canine Health and Wellness.
The Preparing for Excellence In Veterinary General Practice Program at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine aims to graduate confident and competent veterinarians who are practice ready upon day one of graduation. The program is centered around SOC education and providing early and repeated clinical skills training and SOC concepts within Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine’s curriculum. A key component of this training includes immersing veterinary students throughout all four years in experiences that include customer service, health care team utilization, business management and spectrum of care clinical hands on experiences in the newly opened Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic.
“Our veterinarian-led leadership team values strongly personal growth, education and mentorship which are foundational pieces of the Preparing for Excellence In Veterinary General Practice Program at Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine,” said Bob Murtaugh, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC, chief professional relations officer with Thrive Pet Healthcare.
“Building a strong foundation for veterinary graduates to be day-one ready to meet the challenges of our profession aligns with the values and mission of Thrive Pet Healthcare. Additionally, we are strong believers in the human-animal bond and advocates for access to veterinary care for all pet owners,” Murtaugh said.
Michelle Wisecup, DVM, assistant professor-clinical, joined the college in September 2021 as the Thrive Pet Healthcare Spectrum of Care Clinical Educator. As the previous owner of a private practice and a regional medical director with Thrive Pet Healthcare, Dr. Wisecup has worked with many new graduates. She brings a unique perspective to the position because she knows what skills veterinarians need in a practice setting and she understands what skills these graduates will need to make private practices function optimally. Her role ensures that the connection is being made between the didactic content and the practical application. In her new role, Dr. Wisecup has the opportunity to share her knowledge and clinical experience with students so that they are confident and competent graduates, able to offer a broader range of treatment options to a wide variety of clients.
“Having the Thrive Pet Healthcare Spectrum of Care Clinical Educator embedded in the Preparing for Excellence In Veterinary General Practice Program provides the unique opportunity to bring material from the clinic into the new curriculum and into purpose designed courses that focus on integrated problem solving,” said Emma Read, DVM, MVSc, DACVS, associate dean for professional programs at Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Creating graduates that are better able to problem solve and identify innovative solutions to everyday problems is the goal of the spectrum of care philosophy.”
Active participation of first- through third-year students in a dedicated primary care practice clinic is a novel aspect of the Preparing for Excellence in General Practice Program, as is having a dedicated educator focused on incorporating the spectrum of care philosophy through the four-year curriculum.
“The development of these training opportunities in the Frank Stanton Veterinary Spectrum of Care Clinic means that every student who walks through the doors of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is exposed to general practice from early on in their program,” said Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD, DACVS, dean of Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “We would like to thank Thrive Pet Healthcare for their vision and support in preparing the next generation of veterinarians to be confident and competent practice-ready practitioners upon graduation.”
To learn more about Thrive Pet Healthcare visit thrivepetcare.com