Melbourne DVM students perform 900 life-changing surgeries!
University of Melbourne veterinary science students are getting set to toss their graduation hats in the air this March, following their final-year placements at The Lost Dogs’ Home North Melbourne shelter recently drawing to a close.
Running since 2012, the vocational program offers each Melbourne DVM student two weeks of hands-on work experience performing life-changing surgeries to stray patients. In the last year alone, a total of 120 students have conducted 900 surgeries—predominantly desexings.
“The tangible experience these vet students gain through conducting or helping conduct surgery simply cannot be learned from a textbook,” said Senior Veterinarian Dr Alan Bolton.
“By the time they finish their second week with us, each student will have a few surgeries under belt and leave much more confident having had practical hands-on experience that is vital for their careers ahead.”
Dr Bolton said learning the ropes at a shelter had many benefits to students.
“Students who do their placement at a shelter are more exposed to real-life scenarios, cases and issues,” he said. “They leave with a realistic understanding and an awareness of the social issues—for instance, the overpopulation of cats—that exist beyond the hospital walls.”
Story by The Lost Dogs’ Home; images by Emma Morgan
About The Lost Dogs’ Home
Founded in 1910 and located in North Melbourne, The Lost Dogs’ Home was originally established to provide a temporary home for Melbourne’s lost and starving dogs. Today, The Lost Dogs’ Home cares for more than 31,000 dogs and cats every year and is Australia’s largest animal shelter. They provide a wide range of animal welfare and community services.
The Lost Dogs’ Home is very active in fighting for a better deal for animals without owners. They are a voice for Australia’s unwanted, stray and lost dogs and cats. The Lost Dogs’ Home plays a crucial role in the promotion of responsible pet ownership programs and is a strong lobbyist for fair animal laws that will decrease the number of abandoned and stray animals being admitted to animal pounds and shelters in the community.
University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program
The Melbourne Veterinary School’s DVM program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). This means that graduates are considered in the same category as graduates from North American Veterinary Schools when undertaking licensing examinations in North America. Graduates are eligible to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination along with graduates from accredited veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada. AVMA accreditation is well recognised as the international benchmark for quality in veterinary education.
Program title: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Semester intake: Late February/early March
Program duration: 4 years
Application deadline: December 23, 2014
Apply to the University of Melbourne Veterinary School!
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