Introduction to Veterinary Science and Medicine

Course Director & Instructor

• Dr. Mercedes Velazquez de Zerpa
  • Office: Veterinary Office Building (SGU campus map: # 48) 
  • email: mvelazqu@sgu.edu 
  • Zoom Office hours: by appointment

Additional Instructors: 

• Dr. Austin Kirwan, SVM
  • Assistant Dean for UK Clinical Affairs,
  • emails: barnlodge@aol.com and akirwan@sgu.edu
• Dr. Rolf Larsen, SVM
  • Professor Vet. Theriogenology
  • email: rlarsen@sgu.edu
• Dr. Hector Zerpa Gonzalez
  • Professor. Vet. Physiology 
  • email: hzerpago@sgu.edu
• Camille Coomasing Instructor. Pathobiology email: ccoomansingh@sgu.edu

On Mondays, in the B2A Hall (Top floor of Windward Hall), and on Wednesdays in the Keith B Taylor West Hall (Left-hand side room). Online material—Sakai resources: Panopto, Zoom meetings, Test & Quizzes, Lessons, Assignments, and others).

Visit the following link regarding the required computer specifications to use ExamSoft. https://mycampus.sgu.edu/group/office-of-institutionaladvancement/examsoft1

The recommended textbooks for this course are:

-Merck Veterinary Manual by Susan E. Aiello & Michael A. Moses, 11th Edition; Elsevier, 2016 

You can access it here https://www.merckvetmanual.com

- Saunders Manual of Small Animal Practice by Birchard Sherding is accessible through Research4Life. Steps to access:  

         Use the link: https://auth.elsevier.com/ShibAuth/institutionLogin?entityID=http://s tsr4l.who.int/adfs/services/trust&appReturnURL=https://www.scienc edirect.com/science/book/9780721604220 

You will be prompted to log in to Research4Life

• Username: gra002
• Password: 77083

1. Students with disabilities who need accommodations should contact Student Accessibility and Accommodations Services (SAAS), located in the Dean of Students Office.
2. Information can be found at mycampus.sgu.edu/group/saas

This introductory course to Veterinary Science and Medicine offers an overview of the veterinary profession for future veterinary students in the SVM-DVM program. 

This course familiarizes students with basic concepts related to the veterinary profession. Students will acquire a fundamental and introductory working knowledge of clinical practice, infectious diseases, preventive medicine, and therapeutic principles. The students will be exposed to clinical scenarios to illustrate the impact of the veterinary profession on animal welfare and health.

 Upon completion of the Introduction to Veterinary Science and Medicine course, students should be able to: 

• Describe the areas of impact in veterinary medicine, including examples of clinical practice and the structure of the veterinary clinic.
• Recognize the principles of the clinical examination and its relevance to the diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. 
• List the characteristics of relevant infectious diseases, parasitological diseases, and relevant pathologies in small and large animals.
• Distinguish the influence of reproduction in veterinary medicine.
• Describe the basic principles of therapeutics.
• Recognize the basic principles of veterinary surgery.

Detailed lecture learning outcomes have been designed for every section and are found in the course handouts, which will be posted weekly on Sakai.

There will be assignments, midterm, and final proctored online exams. The midterm and the final examinations will be based only on modular questions. Modular examinations expect a student to demonstrate in-depth and detailed knowledge about the material covered. All examinations are sequestered. Exams may contain multiple-choice (single best answer), true/false, and fill-in blanks.

Examination questions come from material covered in lectures, handouts, and any other sources the instructors indicate. All rules and regulations concerning examinations, including EXAMSOFT, are detailed in the SGU Student manual.

https://www.sgu.edu/studentmanual/school-of-arts-andsciences/academic-policies/examination-policies/

A grade reduction of 5% will be applied to that exam if students do not observe the parameters during exams monitored online. 

There will be 2 (two) modular examinations as listed in the table below. Modular examinations expect students to demonstrate indepth, detailed knowledge about the material covered, including integrating basic concepts. Detailed study objectives are included in each handout. All examinations are sequestered. Exams may contain multiple-choice (single best answer), true/false, and/or fill-in blanks. Examination questions come from material covered in lectures, handouts, and any other sources the instructors indicate. All rules and regulations concerning examinations, including EXAMSOFT, are detailed in the SGU Student manual.

Assessment: Content : POINTS

• Exam 1: Lecture weeks 1-7: 50
• Exam 2: Lecture weeks 8-15: 50
• Assignments: Lecture weeks 1, 11 and 14: 30
• TOTAL POINTS: 130

The assignments will be presented to the class during each module and the students must submit them individually via Sakai at the end of each module. The instructions for the assignment will be given by each instructor.

Every learner is different, and these are only general recommendations:

1. Assist in lectures and revise the material on a weekly basis.
2. Make your notes, ensuring that the content is understood.
3. For exam preparation, a self-challenge is crucial: explain the learned material to yourself first without referring to your handouts and notes. Use the lecture learning outcomes for this purpose. Then work in small groups and repeat this process. Vocalization is an essential element to check and improve your knowledge and understanding of concepts. Prepare as if you were going to take oral exams. 

https://mycampus.sgu.edu/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=b86c9763-3655-45d7-be25-8fa11656ca03&groupId=5742976

Professionalism statement

Students are always expected to adhere to the Professionalism Policy (see XVIII) and demonstrate respect towards SGU faculty, staff, fellow students, and the general public.

The student is expected to review lecture recordings, assignments, and any other material indicated by the professor before lectures.