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College of Veterinary Medicine

Focus Area – Equine Practice

The focus area is designed to prepare a student for entry level equine practice.

Focus Area Leader

KS
M. Sheats
Katie Sheats

Associate Dean and Director of Professional Education and Admissions

Focus Area Advisors

AB
Anthony Blikslager
Anthony Blikslager

Associate Dean & Director of Veterinary Medical Services

919-513-6411
MB
Megan Burke
Megan Burke

Assoc Clinical Professor

KD
Katarzyna Dembek
Katarzyna Dembek

Assoc Professor

MG
Mathew Gerard
Mathew Gerard

Teaching Professor, Veterinary Anatomy

919-513-6378
BG
Brian Gilger
Brian Gilger

Professor

919-513-1273
LG
Liara Gonzalez
Liara Gonzalez

Professor

SJ
Sam Jones
Samuel Jones

Assoc/Asst Dean, Vet Medicine

919-513-7722
TP
Timo Prange
Timo Prange

Assoc Clinical Professor

LS
Lauren Schnabel
Lauren Schnabel

Professor

KS
M. Sheats
Katie Sheats

Associate Dean and Director of Professional Education and Admissions

Steps to pursue a focus in equine medicine

  • Identify an advisor within the focus area.
  • Plan CVM selectives and other activities with the help of your advisor
  • Make contacts/arrangements for externships during summers and 4th year
  • Plan 4th year CVM rotations

Year 1-3 Requirements

  • No required electives or selectives
  • Recommended Selectives
    • Equine Colic
    • Active Learning in the VH (Equine Medicine)
    • Active Learning in the VH (Equine Emergency)
    • Active Learning in the VH (Equine Soft Tissue Surgery)
    • Active Learning in the VH (Equine Orthopedic Surgery)
    • Large Animal Practice -Equine Exposure
    • Veterinary Medicine and Farriery
    • Equine Field Skills

Year 4 Requirements

To see course descriptions, visit the Clinical Year Course Catalog page.

Required

  • VMB 976: Radiology
  • VMB 977: Anesthesia
  • VMP 977: Necropsy
  • VMP 978: Clinical Pathology & Lab Med (* if not taken as 3rd-year Selective)
  • VMC 939: Small Animal Primary Care
  • VMC 966: Equine Emergency
  • VMC 979: Equine Medicine
  • VMC 968: Equine Orthopedics
  • VMC 949: Equine Primary Care [2 consecutive blocks] (Instructor Approval)
  • VMC 975: Equine Surgery
  • VMC 940: Theriogenology

CHOOSE TWO Equine Rotations:

  • VMC 974: Equine Dentistry & Podiatry (Instructor Approval)
  • VMC 978: Equine Lameness & Imaging (Instructor Approval)
  • VMC 979: Equine Medicine (second block)
  • VMC 968: Equine Orthopedics (second block)

CHOOSE ONE Small Animal Rotation:

  • VMC 954: Medicine/Companion Animal for Food Animal/Equine
  • VMC 971: Medicine/Small Animal [2 consecutive blocks]
  • VMC 960: Small Animal Emergency
  • VMC 973G: Small Animal Surgery
  • VMC 973O: Small Animal Orthopedics OR VMC 994O: Extramural Experiences – Small Animal Orthopedics

CHOOSE ONE Ophthalmology Rotation

  • VMC 982A: Ophthalmology
  • VMC 982: Equine Ophthalmology

Other Experiences

Students should consult with their advisor regarding extramural studies and other educational experiences.

Other Useful Information

Useful Website: http://www.aaep.org/

Recent/Current Number of Equine Practice Focused Students

  • Class 2013: 8
  • Class 2014: 4
  • Class 2015: 5
  • Class 2016: 9
  • Class 2017: 4
  • Class 2018: 14
  • Class 2019: 8
  • Class 2020: 7
  • Class 2021: 8
  • Class 2022: 6
  • Class 2023: 8
  • Class 2024: 0 declared to date