Summer/Fall 2013 PDF - University of Minnesota College of ...

RESEARCH ANIMAL MEDICINE
medicine,” says Dr. Robert Washabau,
RAM club advisor and chair of the
Veterinary Clinical Sciences department
at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“It is important for veterinary students to
understand the tenets of animal research
and to recognize and differentiate highquality
research from less valid forms
of research. Following graduation,
veterinarians will often be asked about
the importance and viability of animal
research. As a result, veterinarians are
uniquely positioned to advocate, shape,
and support animal research policy.”
While the field of animal research
is expanding, veterinarians are still
underrepresented due primarily to the
smaller population of veterinarians
compared with physicians. In 2012, just
over 97,100 veterinarians were licensed
in the United States, according to the
American Veterinary Medical Association.
By contrast, the Federation of State
Medical Boards Census of Licensed
Physicians identified more than 878,000
licensed physicians in 2012.
“Veterinary students are increasingly
aware of these needs, and many are
becoming more interested in research as a
career alternative,” says Washabau. “We
are seeing more interest in our combined
DVM/PhD degree program, as well as
non-degree research fellowships following
the DVM curriculum. Parallel to this
development is the increased recognition
of companion animals as excellent animal
models of human disease.” Increasingly,
veterinary research that focuses on
animals as models of human disease
provides breakthrough discoveries that
benefit humans and non-human animals
alike.
“Animal-based research affects both
veterinary and human medicine,” says
Thomson. “There are partnerships
occurring in research between the medical
and veterinary schools, and vets need to
be involved in the conversation about
research because we are the advocates for
animals and animal welfare.”
The RAM club accomplishes its mission
by hosting monthly speakers, hands-on
wet labs, laboratory tours, journal club
sessions, and educational workshops. To
make the most of these events, each month
has an assigned research theme.
For instance, October 2012’s theme
was cardiac research. Dick Bianco, ESS
program director and Zoe’s father, spoke
to club members on animal models for
cardiac research. The lecture was followed
by a tour of the ESS facilities, and
students then participated in a necropsy
demonstration and suture practice.
Medtronic also hosted a tour in December
2012, providing students a glimpse into
what it’s like to be a researcher in industry.
“There was time for discussion with
several industry leaders on how they
arrived at their current position and steps
students could take to obtain an industry
STUDENT PROFILE
Zoe Bianco
CLASS: 2015
HOMETOWN: Minneapolis
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:
president, Research Animal
Medicine Club; offi cer, Orphan
Kitten Project; member, Pathology
Club
PROFESSIONAL GOALS:
Hopes to pursue a career in mixed
animal medicine that will include
academic and/or clinical research
and anatomic pathology. She also
aspires to bring more awareness
and generate interest in the role
of veterinarians in the animal
research fi eld.
career in biomedical research,” says
Bianco.
In one wet lab, 15 students shadowed
University fisheries and wildlife researcher
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STUDENT PROFILE
Chris Thomson
CLASS: 2015
HOMETOWN: Centerville, South
Dakota
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS:
vice president, Research Animal
Medicine Club; national student
liaison, American Association of
Veterinary State Boards; treasurer,
CVM Student Council; senior
delegate, Student American
Veterinary Medical Association;
University chair and college chair,
Academic Health Center Student
Consultative Committee; member,
Veterinary Business Management
Association, Student Chapter
of Veterinary Pathologists, and
Student Society of Veterinary
Surgery
PROFESSIONAL GOALS:
After graduation, Thomson hopes
to attain a residency in either
cardiology or emergency and
critical care. He also wants to
remain active and involved in
organized veterinary medicine,
both at the local and national
level, and hopes to integrate some
form of clinical or investigational
research into his career.
Profiles Summer/Fall 2013 7