First TTUSVM class completes clinical rotation at Amarillo animal shelter

The inaugural class of Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine students reached a milestone this year, working with Amarillo Animal Management and Welfare (AAMW) to complete their clinical sessions as part of their degree program this summer.

Students from the veterinary school complete four weeks of clinical rotations at various veterinary clinics, working with the community's animals. Working with the city of Amarillo helps to prepare students and teaches them shelter medicine, giving them another aspect of the profession. The school has partnered with Amarillo since the first class of veterinary students came to campus.

In a news release, Victoria Medley, AAMW director, spoke about the value of collaboration with the Texas Tech Veterinary School.

“It has been rewarding to watch the collaboration between the (city of Amarillo) and the Texas Tech Veterinary School come to life,” she said. “Having veterinary students at the AAMW shelter has provided the students with a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and give back to the community. Students are not only gaining surgical experience but also assisting in adoptions, outreach and animal control service calls. Our partnership benefits the entire community in so many ways.”

Kayla Wallace, Bennett Folsom, Jaime Becker, and Bailey Baade all completed their shelter medicine rotations last week. Leah Lee, professor of veterinary practice-community shelter at the Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine, spoke about the importance of these rotations in training students to become skilled veterinarians.

“Mentoring and instructing students these last two months has been rewarding,” Lee said. "When I was in veterinary school, our shelter medicine rotation consisted of a field trip to a local shelter and one day of surgery. I want students to realize that animals in a shelter are a snapshot view of the diseases present in the communities of which they will be a part. They can help reduce overpopulation and disease spread through community outreach and education.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: First TTUSVM class completes clinical rotation at Amarillo animal shelter