The MU College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the progression of third-year students from classroom to clinics during the annual White Coat Ceremony on Oct. 16. The event, held at the Missouri Theatre, marked the midpoint in the professional curriculum for 113 students.
The first two years of preclinical training included courses in anatomy, physiology, cell and molecular biology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, virology and toxicology. The doctor of veterinary medicine candidates also learned fundamentals in clinical disciplines, including anesthesiology, clinical pathology, radiology, public health and medicine and surgery.
During the ceremony each student had a white laboratory coat, presented to them by a family member, friend or mentor who then assisted their student in donning the coat.
The ceremony marked the next step in the students’ education as they will spend the remaining 19 months of the DVM curriculum working in the Veterinary Health Center in the Small Animal, Food Animal and Equine hospitals and the Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, as well as completing preceptorships in private practices or with public agencies.
CVM Dean Neil C. Olson, DVM, PhD, told the class that they are entering veterinary medicine at an exciting time that is marked by rapid change. He urged them to embrace that change, but also reminded them that they are entering a people-oriented profession.
“Your success as a veterinarian will have more to do with your interaction with people than any other variable,” Olson said.
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Chairman John Dodam, DVM, MS, PhD, welcomed the students “across the parking lot,” and advised them that they would no longer be able to ask if the material they were learning would be on a future test as their future pop quizzes would be assisting during a difficult calving and caring for a pet that had been hit by a car.
“Every conversation with an (animal) owner reflects on our school and on our profession,” Dodam said.
Phillip Digasbarro gave the response on behalf of his classmates, thanking family members, friends and mentors for their support.
The Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, represented by President Mel Falk, DVM, and Executive Director Richard Antweiler provided lapel pins for the ceremony.
The MU College of Veterinary Medicine is Missouri’s only institution that confers the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Thank you for exploring how you can partner with us to make a positive difference in the lives of animals and people.