Ross & St. George's Students

Your predecessors have created an excellent reputation at MU we hope that you will continue.

Knowing that you are anxious to become settled in Columbia and prepared for your first day of clinical rotations, we have provided this website as a means to provide you with information on a more timely basis than the mailings, which you will also be sent.

Student schedules are designed on an individual basis as near to the beginning of the first rotation as possible to balance student assignments and maximize the learning experience. You will not receive, or need, your clinical rotation schedule until your orientation at MU.

Please contact me, Dr. John Dodam at DodamJ@missouri.edu or Sharon Kimbrell at KimbrellSK@missouri.edu if you have any other questions about your transition into your year at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Vaccinations

Rabies and Tetanus
Veterinary medical students are at higher risk for exposure to rabies and tetanus than the general population. Therefore, you will need to provide records of tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years and the final vaccination in an initial series or a booster vaccination for rabies within the last year. Alternatively, a protective rabies titer (1:5 or greater serum dilution RFFIT) should be demonstrated within the past two years. Vaccinations and serum titers are performed at the College of Veterinary Medicine in September and October. Tetanus vaccinations will cost $10-15.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
The University of Missouri, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, requires that all newly enrolled or readmitted MU students born after December 31, 1956 must comply with the two-dose Measles Immunization Policy. If a second immunization is needed, it must be the combined MMR vaccine. Students who do not comply will not be allowed to register or pre-register for their second semester at MU.

Requirements
2 doses of MMR vaccine. The first dose must have been given at age 12 months or later. The second dose must have been given at least one month after the first one.
                      OR
1 dose of MMR vaccine AND 1 dose of Rubeola at 12 months of age or later.
                      OR
Titer (blood test) rresults proving immunity to measles (rubeola), mumps and rubella. Documentation is required.

*A waiver for medical, religious, or philosophical reasons may be granted if valid proof is provided. MMR and TB screening forms can be found on the MU Student Health Center website at:

http://studenthealth.missouri.edu/iframe/
New&ProspectiveStudents/MUMandatoryImmunizationForm.pdf
or
http://studenthealth.missouri.edu/iframe/
New&ProspectiveStudents/MUMandatoryImmunizationForm.doc

These forms must be competed prior to entering the clinical curriculum at MU.

Health Insurance

Veterinary medicine is a relatively dangerous profession. There is always risk of injury when working with animals. In addition, you may be exposed to zoonotic diseases during the course of routine preclinical or clinical training. Please note that students are responsible for the cost of their own medical care during their veterinary training. Thus, all students are STRONGLY encouraged to have health insurance.

Please contact the Student Health Center for information on their service plans. Alternatively, a representative from the American Veterinary Medical Association Group Health and Life Insurance Trust or another insurance provider may be contacted to obtain medical and/or disability coverage.

Commonly Asked Questions

What do I wear and what supplies do I need?

This varies and depends on each rotation you are assigned to. Coveralls and clinic jackets are standard, i.e. you MUST buy these AFTER YOU ARRIVE IN COLUMBIA and other supplies from the veterinary medical student owned bookstore, Missouri Veterinary Education Service. You cannot buy the apparel and supplies at less than that charged by MVES. If you wish to contact MVES in advance, the address is:

MVES Bookstore
PO Box 7331
Columbia, MO 65205
(573) 882-0990
MVES@missouri.edu

What is my clinical rotation schedule going to be?

Your sequence is not determined until shortly before the time of your arrival to keep student distributions balanced.

Each student’s schedule will include all of the following 6-8 week rotations. The order of the rotations will vary between students:

1. Small Animal Medicine
2. Small Animal Surgery
3. Food Animal Medicine and Surgery
4. Equine Medicine and Surgery
5. Medical Services (Anesthesiology and Radiology)
6. Pathology (Clinical Pathology and Necropsy)
7. Ophthalmology/Theriogenology/Oncology
8. Elective Rotation or Evaluated Preceptorship (Evaluation form below):

What do I do during my elective rotation?

Ross and St. George’s students are scheduled one elective rotation and can elect to complete this rotation by taking elective classes at the University of Missouri. Two-three week or one-six week rotation may be taken to at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Alternatively, students may choose to complete an evaluated preceptorship at a private practice. This off-site experience requires supervision and evaluation by a licensed veterinarian in good standing, and the student should gain some experience in diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and practice management. A total of 4 weeks and 160 hours of time is required for an evaluated preceptorship. Other preceptorships may be chosen in the areas of public health, epidemiology, or veterinary research. Questions about the suitability of an externship experience should be directed to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. If two externships are completed during an elective block, the grades assigned by each supervisor will be averaged. The student must register with the Office of Academic Affairs prior to leaving on an externship. The Office of Academic Affairs also has paper copies of the required evaluation form and self addressed envelopes. Alternately, the form may be accessed via the following link:

Clinical Experience Evaluation Form: Ross or St. George's University Students

Disability Accommodations

If you have a documented physical or learning disability, please review the Schedule of Courses. If you anticipate the need to ask for accommodations, please contact Dr. Cott (573-882-1902) as soon as possible. You also need to discuss any possible accommodations that will be requested with affected course leaders at least 60 days before the course begins. You may contact me or Dr. Cott to assist you in arranging the necessary meetings.