{"id":12553,"date":"2021-06-24T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-24T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qa.vet.purdue.edu\/news\/?p=12553"},"modified":"2024-11-21T10:04:53","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T15:04:53","slug":"pvr-s2021-virtual-learning-necessitated-by-pandemic-opens-doors-to-lifelong-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vet.purdue.edu\/news\/pvr-s2021-virtual-learning-necessitated-by-pandemic-opens-doors-to-lifelong-learning.php","title":{"rendered":"Virtual Learning Necessitated by Pandemic Provides Access to Lifelong Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Even though in-person continuing education conferences and symposia went by the wayside during the past year due to the pandemic, Purdue Veterinary Medicine\u2019s Office of Lifelong Learning<\/a> found itself plenty busy serving sizeable virtual crowds. Combining technology and creativity, PVM faculty and staff worked with Lifelong Learning Director Ben Shepard to host several virtual programs that proved popular with registrants who seized the opportunity to gain knowledge, insight, and continuing education (CE) credits without having to leave home or office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe found that the inability to host in-person programs did not prevent us from engaging with veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and animal owners who wanted to continue learning despite the lack of traditional continuing education conferences,\u201d Shepard said. \u201cThe availability of good virtual platforms like Zoom enabled us to connect our content experts with veterinary professionals, clients, and scholars still looking for educational opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the college hosted three successful continuing education programs during the spring semester, utilizing the Zoom platform. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

EQUINE WELLNESS FORUM SERVES NEEDS OF EQUINE ENTHUSIASTS<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The college annually has hosted an in-person Equine Wellness Forum in February to inform horse owners and equine industry professionals about horse health issues. This year, the program galloped into new territory by going virtual, replacing the traditional one-day, in-person approach with a schedule that spanned several days and featured presentations given over the Zoom platform on topics ranging from basic preventative healthcare to the latest medical advancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first session was held on February 6 and began with a virtual walkthrough of the new Purdue University Veterinary Hospital<\/a> facilities now under construction. Participants were able to watch drone footage of the construction site as Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed provided narration. The rest of the program that day featured four speakers beginning with a faculty member who has achieved legendary status as a long-time clinician in the Large Animal Hospital, Professor of Large Animal Surgery Stephen Adams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Adams\u2019 lecture, entitled \u201c40 years of Equine Surgery,\u201d was extra special because he will be retiring this summer after a long history of helping clients with their horses at Purdue, providing life-saving treatments to patients, and improving the overall well-being of both horses and riders. In his talk, Dr. Adams spoke about how horses are living much longer today, many even living more than 35 years. Their increased life-span is due to a myriad of factors, including geriatric diets and better nutrition as well as improved surgical therapies. Additionally, newer technologies have made it possible for horses to remain standing while undergoing diagnostic procedures such as ultrasonography and endoscopy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another lecture featured Dr. Erin Wilson of Nutrena, who spoke about her findings related to customizing horse diets and shared information about healthy types of grains and grass to feed horses, and the proper mixture for each. Forum attendees also were treated to presentations by Dr. Amanda Farr, clinical assistant professor, and Dr. Sarah Waxman, visiting assistant professor, both with the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Equine Field Service, who spoke on the topics of \u201cHorse-proofing the Barn\u201d and \u201cNeck and Back Pain in the Horse,\u201d respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the program was conducted virtually, additional lectures were presented during subsequent weeks, including talks on \u201cLaminitis: What\u2019s New?\u201d by Dr. Tim Lescun, associate professor of large animal surgery; \u201cSinus and Guttural Pouch Disease,\u201d by Dr. Jan Hawkins, professor\/section head of large animal surgery; \u201cMuscle Disease,\u201d by Dr. Stacy Tinkler, clinical associate professor of large animal internal medicine; and \u201cWhen the Filters Fail: Kidney and Liver Disease,\u201d by Dr. Sandra Taylor, associate professor of large animal internal medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veterinary medical professionals were able to earn continuing education credits for their participation, but most of the attendees were horse owners looking to expand their knowledge. A total of about 120 people registered to participate in the virtual Equine Wellness Forum. \u201cGiven that it was not possible to safely hold the event in person this year, we were excited to have the opportunity to still provide this valuable information and education for the equine industry virtually,\u201d Shepard explained. \u201cThe presenters did a fantastic job and the sessions went off without a hitch. We are thankful for everyone who registered to participate, thereby making this first virtual Equine Wellness Forum a success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VETERINARY NURSING SYMPOSIUM<\/a> DRAWS VIRTUAL CROWD<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The College of Veterinary Medicine attracted strong attendance for its first virtual Veterinary Nursing Symposium the weekend of March 20-21. A total of 206 people registered for the program, a number that was on par with the best attendance figures from previous years when the event was held in-person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Veterinary Nursing Symposium speaker Brittany Laflen discusses intervertebral disc disease during her presentation entitled, \u201cThese Boots are Made for Walking: Spinal Injury and\nMobility.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Each attendee received a unique sign-in for each session they attended to enable tracking of their attendance. And in another first, the symposium was Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approved this year, which assured the attendees that the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) recognized the symposium as meeting appropriate standards of quality for jurisdictions that accept RACE credits for their continuing education requirements. Sixty one jurisdictions and provinces accept RACE credits. The AAVSB approved 11 hours of continuing education credits through the symposium for all RACE jurisdictions and provinces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2021 Veterinary Nursing Symposium was sponsored by Hills, Vetamac, and Noah\u2019s Animal Hospital, which each received recognition in the form of promotional videos that could be viewed by guests during both days of the virtual event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Saturday sessions on March 20 featured lectures on large animal care provided by four speakers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n