September 30, 2008 Meeting Minutes
• Quiz with candy! YaY!
• Shirt ideas: Everyone can help and submit their ideas! Hoodie possibility?
• Horse Haven volunteer opportunity: contact Allison.
• Want to take trips, but unsure of dates due to football Saturdays.
• Dr. Hill is today’s speaker!
o Lab Animal Vet
o Vet College Admissions
• What, in Dr. Hill’s opinion, would make your application stand out? Diversify experiences, especially large animals, research, work on personal statement (why you want to become a veterinarian and demonstrate understanding of veterinarian profession); need to convince admissions that you understand depth of veterinarian medicine.
• Develop personal mission statement. Why do you exist? What imprint do you want to make on the world?
• What is a lab animal? Rat, hamster, monkey, rabbit, guinea pig, dog, cow, horse, frog, black bear, turtle – any animal that is used in teaching, testing, or biomedical research.
Animal Resource Management:
o Animal resource is more than particular animal being used; includes facilities used to house animals. Jesse Harris, Walter Life Sciences, basement of Vet School, and medical center primary animal facilities. Employees, materials, etc. is animal resource.
o Veterinarians develop policies/practices about dealing with all these animals.
o Personnel and fiscal management (usually senior level positions).
o Veterinarians actively participate in facility management and design and intimately know regulations set by government agencies.
Veterinary Medical Care
o Focus on health of colony more than single animal.
o Give guidance to researchers – vets don’t actually do the research; instead, advocate for animals (i.e., how to alleviate stress, use less animals).
o Surgical and post operative care – alleviate pain and stress.
o Animal well-being. How make cage better for animals.
o IACUC protocol review
Independent and Collaborative Research
o Most lab animal vets are involved in collaborative research; help with design and execution of projects.
• Species diversity – many different animals that lab vets get to work with.
Employment Opportunities:
o Vet school
o Others
• Good pay, job market wide open; always need for lab vets. Benefits and vacation.
• ACLAM recognized program – necessary
• Give animals best that you have, even if they’re not your favorite. Have an open mind.
• wahill@utk.edu tell him where you met him.
• Ethics lectures – let Dr. Hill know if you’re interested
• Next Meeting:
o Ethics discussions
o Talk about our own jobs/experiences