Orientation programs help DVM and Vet Tech students start strong
As the Purdue University campus began to awaken from the relative quiet of the summer break, the familiar sights and sounds of vet school life returned to the hallways of the College of Veterinary Medicine with “Launch! DVM 2030” – the festive and thorough orientation program for new Purdue veterinary students. Members of the college’s new first-year DVM class, the Class of 2030, began the week of activities, presentations, and social gatherings Monday, August 17. New Veterinary Technology students got help acclimating to life in Lynn Hall during orientation sessions that coincided with the first days of class.
With the theme of “Educating Veterinarians of Tomorrow,” the Launch! DVM 2030 orientation program is designed to inform, equip and energize the first year veterinary students through a full agenda of presentations, activities, team-building exercises and facility tours. Highlights of the program included a Fair Oaks Farms Tour on Thursday, August 20, marking the first time that incoming students had the opportunity to visit the popular attraction as part of the Launch orientation program. The experience was sponsored by Belstra Milling/Malcolm DeKryger, Indiana Pork, Indiana Dairy Producers, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Growers Association, and the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association.
That night, the students were back on campus for the traditional Stethoscope Dinner that officially welcomes the incoming veterinary students to the college. The week wrapped-up with an optional Class of 2030 Cookout Friday evening, August 21.
Other activities that were part of the orientation schedule included the Boiler Challenge, which involves classmates working together to accomplish a variety of challenging activities on the Purdue Ropes Course, and the Lynn Hall Adventure, in which class members visited the locations of key resources, including the Clinical Skills Lab, Student Success Office, Wellness Room and the Histology Lab. The day concluded with an Ice Cream Social. The students also had the opportunity to find out about international learning opportunities and tour the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.
The Office of Student Success organized and planned Launch, and a team of veterinary student Launch Ambassadors played a pivotal role in helping to carry out the orientation program. A big thank you to the following Launch Ambassadors:
DVM Class of 2029
Carter Blessing
Josue Ramirez
Devin Thomas
Jalynn Justice
Albert Chu
Katie Wininger
Zoey Moore
Luke Bagwell
Connor Guest
Hadley James
Joe Lafiosca
Mason Tipton
DVM Class of 2028
Mea Smith
Zukari Castillo
Fionna Freeman
Elisabeth Wolf
Madeline Frey
Riley Beliveau
The DVM Class of 2030 has 87 students, of which 24% are first-generation college students, 53 are Indiana residents and 34 are non-residents. Just over three-fourths of the class are women and 24% are men.
Each class member was recognized at the DVM Stethoscope Dinner, which was held August 20 in the Buchanan Club at Ross Ade Stadium, where the students each received a complimentary stethoscope to support their education from Patterson Veterinary. They also heard from representatives of the other event sponsors, which are the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) and the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association (PVAA). The IVMA was represented by the president, Dr. Matt Hobson, and Leslie Ferguson, RVT, spoke in her role as president of the PVAA.
Then College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh, DVM, led the students in the recitation of the Veterinarians’ Oath, after which Dr. Wendy Townsend, associate dean for academic success came forward with Rob Fulkerson of Patterson Veterinary for the presentation of the stethoscopes. As Dr. Townsend read the students’ names they stepped onto the stage to receive their stethoscope and to be congratulated by Dean Marsh.
As the program concluded, the class members convened outside for a class picture after which they took advantage of the opportunity for many photo ops.
As the new semester got underway the following week, attention turned to the Veterinary Technology students in the second year class, the Class of 2029, as they reached the part of their degree program when they begin taking courses in Lynn Hall after an initial year of attending core courses that are taught across campus. Their orientation began on the first day of class Monday, August 24, with a variety of sessions that included an opportunity to meet the Pet Professors, which are the personal pets of faculty and staff members who volunteer to bring them in as teaching dogs and cats that help students learn through practicing non-invasive techniques.
The Veterinary Technology students also got an overview of the fall semester courses, learned about study abroad opportunities and toured facilities. There are 26 students in the Veterinary Technology Class of 2029. Of those, 21 are from Indiana. Othere states represented are Illinois, Nevada, Ohio and Oregon.
Also on that Monday, the college’s Office of Student Success gave any interested veterinary technology or DVM students a chance to capture some keepsake images with a photo booth complete with a Purdue branded inflatable and a Polaroid camera.
Then on Monday night, the veterinary technology students gathered at the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom for their Stethoscope Dinner. The program included remarks by the president of the Indiana Veterinary Technician Association, Myranda Jennings, RVT, as well as representatives of the event sponsors. Sara Young, RVT, spoke on behalf of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association as a board member, after being introduced by Julia Wickard, executive director of the PVAA. Rob Fulkerson represented Patterson Veterinary.
Then Dean Marsh called forward the assistant dean for the Veterinary Technology Programs, Dr. Mindy Anderson, to lead the class in the recitation of the Veterinary Technician Oath. Dr. Anderson is a Purdue Veterinary Technology alumna herself and also earned her PharmD degree from the Purdue College of Pharmacy.
Next, Rob Patterson joined Dr. Anderson on the stage to present the stethoscopes. As Dr. Anderson called the students’ names, they came forward to accept their stethoscope and sign a board displaying the Veterinary Technician Code of Ethics, demonstrating their understanding of the importance of ethical conduct in their clinical training as they begin working with animals, their owners and practitioners.
The evening concluded with the students posing for a class photo as well as plenty of candids and selfies.
Congratulations to the Veterinary Technology Class of 2029 and DVM Class of 2030!
