Young and Old Spring into PVM Open House

Friday, May 4, 2018

A visitor holds a baby chick in the petting zoo at PVM’s Open House on April 14.

Visitors flocked to Lynn Hall on Saturday, April 14, for the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Open House. The annual event coincides with Purdue’s Spring Fest to promote education about all the different aspects of veterinary medicine. With the theme, “One Health, One Goal. Because Our Health Depends on Theirs,” the student-organized event aimed to inform guests on the connection between health for humans, animals, and the environment.

The first-year DVM room featured hands-on discovery about the components that make up blood as well as a walk through the chambers of the heart.

PVM students worked hard to create fun and engaging exhibits the whole family could enjoy. PVM Co-chair Brook Shell, of the DVM Class of 2019, reflected, “I am very proud of how our team pulled everything together. We had a lot of big ideas in the beginning and we found a way to bring in new things, while keeping some traditions alive.” Brook added, “Despite some events shutting down early due to volunteer needs and the uncertainty that came with the weather, I still think we were able to pull off a very successful Open House. I was so impressed by the creativity that was put on display for the public and how well clubs and committee chairs communicated our One Health theme. My hope is that we were able to spark a renewed sense of enthusiasm and initiative within the student body in support of the Open House for years and years to come.”

PVM’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital Small Animal Medicine Technician Katie Beard, RVT, and Versa Technologist Deborah Ramirez, RVT, are accompanied by a blood-donor greyhound at their booth where they talked about the life-saving value of blood donation.

Participants learned all about the role veterinary nurses play in the veterinary profession with displays by Veterinary Technology Program students at the main east entrance to the building, where attendees could also take advantage of face painting and meet-and-greets with PVM’s pet professors. First-year DVM students took visitors on a guided tour through the chambers of the heart that included an opportunity to learn about the components that make up blood with bowls of “blood” featuring “white and red blood cells,” and a chance to feel a dog’s heartbeat. Attendees also were able to adopt the role of a parasite in the second-year DVM room, as they traveled through the gastrointestinal tract, and practiced their surgical skills removing found objects in stuffed animals with the third-year DVM students. Returning favorites also included the popular petting zoo and equine treadmill demonstrations, allowing visitors to view the high-speed treadmill in action and learn how it is used to diagnose serious issues such as lameness, respiratory, and cardiovascular issues in horses. Attendees also learned about rumen physiology from Buttercup the Fistulated Cow with special presentations by Dr. Diane Little, assistant professor of basic medical sciences. Additional special events included a “mini zoo” put on by Lafayette’s Columbian Park Zoo, a live spay demonstration, an admissions talk, a special visit by a Lafayette Police Department K9 officer and handler, a demonstration involving specially trained detection dogs, and many more outstanding exhibits! Open House guests also took the opportunity to recharge in the Open House food tent where they could purchase food and drinks in support of the Food Animal and Equine Clubs.

“This year’s Open House was a great success! Many community guests were raving about the event and how helpful and fun the volunteers were,” commented PVM Open House Co-chair Leslie Lundewall, of the DVM Class of 2019. “Brook and I look forward to seeing Open House grow and have an even larger community impact next year.”

A big thank you to the many volunteers who made the 2018 Open House a success!