Student ambassador Jessica Desrosiers talking about heart anatomy.
On September 21, the Oregon State College of Veterinary Medicine’s student ambassadors organized a High School Day for local students in Corvallis, Albany and Sweet Home. The purpose of the day was to expose the students to concepts learned in veterinary school and to give information about the process leading to veterinary school. Forty-five students attended, accompanied by several counselors, teachers and parents. The day started with the student ambassadors sharing their different backgrounds and schooling leading to veterinary school, and discussing tips to prepare in secondary and post-secondary education. Ambassadors then gave a breakdown of the classes taken within the four years of undergraduate school, and finally the application and interview process delivered to the group by Dr. Tornquist.
Students then dressed down into lab coats, goggles and gloves and participated in dissecting sheep eyes and examining hearts led by ambassadors that taught eye and heart anatomy and physiology.
Mid-morning, clinicians led radiology and large animal physical exam stations with the high school students. Students learned about the physics behind the radiograph machine and looked at a wide variety of radiographs from horse fractures to eggs inside a turtle with Dr. Suzanne Stieger. Students then watched a short video explaining how the CT works, and were then able to see the CT itself. Dr. Barb Hunter led a horse physical exam station to show the students how a veterinarian would perform a basic physical.
High school students listening to the heartbeat of a greyhound.
The afternoon was composed of multiple stations, each a different aspect of veterinary sciences. The gross anatomy station, led by Andrea Sundholm, taught the students about bone anatomy and comparative anatomy between different species. Radiology led by Michael Glynn, delved into reading radiographs, with interesting cases for the students to practice on. Cate Dolan taught a microanatomy station looking at both normal and abnormal tissues under the microscope. Ellie Jacobs and Stephanie Schulz taught how to give basic physical exams on dogs and let the students practice listening to heart and lung sounds. Finally, Liana Granum and Sarah Tauber taught a neuroscience station discussing how to perform a neuro exam and practiced by watching videos of neurologic animals. Jessica Desrosiers helped take pictures, and accompany the students to the different stations.
Student ambassadors Liana Granum and Sarah Tauber talking with high school day participants.
The first annual High School Day was very successful. The students all had a great time with positive feedback at the end of the day. The ambassadors hope to start making this an annual event expanding to a broader area of schools. The student ambassadors would like to thank Drs. Tornquist, Stieger, and Hunter for donating their time and to the Dean’s Office for sponsoring the students’ lunch. Many thanks to the student ambassadors that helped make the day successful and a fun learning experience for the high school students.
