Auburn Vet Students Begin Preceptorships

By Veterinary Practice News Editors

Senior class students from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine have begun their eight-week preceptorships. Preceptorships give students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in classrooms, laboratories and clinical rotations in a real-world setting under the supervision of veterinarians around the world, according to the college which made the announcement in early March.

Students are required to choose a hosting practice that is at least 30 miles away from the college. Practices undergo a “rigorous evaluation process” before they can host students, the college noted.

The class of 2016 is comprised of 116 students. While many will be staying close to home (27 students will remain in Alabama and 24 will go to Kentucky), others will be completing their preceptorships in locations such as California, Montana and even Germany.

“Having the opportunity to complete my preceptorship at a learning institution in a different country will be very eye-opening,” said Robert Schnurr, who will be attending Hannover University College of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany. “It gives me the chance to not only see how veterinary medicine is practiced differently but how it is taught differently as well. Being in a different country, they have different needs and focuses.”

Austin McConnell is completing her preceptorship in San Diego, Calif., at a U.S. Navy marine mammal program.

“My goal is to work in the Veterinary Corps with the U.S. Navy marine mammal program,” MacConnell said. “I have always had an interest in marine mammal medicine. Aquatics are not a big part of our curriculum at Auburn, so this will be my opportunity to see things from a different standpoint, including the military aspect of veterinary medicine.”

Preceptorships will be completed at the end of April at which time students will spend a day debriefing and discussing all their prior educational experiences, according to the college. Commencement ceremonies will take place May 3.