Fence Post;

The Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine announced, without input from doctors of veterinary medicine students, faculty or external stakeholders, the cancellation of terminal surgical teaching procedures. For large and small animal owners, this means graduates will have more limited surgical experience upon graduation.
 
In a letter from Dr. Melinda Frye, associate dean for Veterinary Academic and Student Affairs, professor, Biomedical Sciences, announced the change, the strong support of Dean Mark Stetter, and the implementation of a “longitudinal surgical training program based on multispecies application of foundational principles and skills, using models, cadavers, virtual reality, and authentic clinic and field experiences.”
 
In response, a group of CSU-trained veterinary practitioners are voicing their deep concern that the change will be detrimental to the students, the veterinary profession, and the general welfare of animal clients, large and small.
 
Dr. Chad Zadina, a 2009 graduate of the program, said the outcome will be quite the opposite, damaging the welfare of animals. In Zadina’s experience, practitioners, especially in rural areas currently experiencing a grave shortage of veterinarians, a wide range of surgical procedures are often expected of practitioners. Zadina said when he was faced with this wide array of procedures on several species as a new graduate, he wasn’t as prepared as he could have been but possessed adequate skills to perform general surgeries as well as more specialized procedures independently.

Insectavore pod people of the future won’t need animals, so progress.