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Students Gain More Than Knowledge
From India Experience
BY LYN SMITH-GLORIA
Throughout their four years at OSU, of time. “I spent just under three the muscles.”
veterinary students have the oppor- years in general practice before
tunity to participate in many extern- entering veterinary school, and saw That kind of hands-on participation
ships, from a few days at the Portland two or three pyometra surgeries the is a confidence-builder for students
Zoo to a few weeks at a local whole time,” says Gridiron. “On the just starting a difficult profession.
veterinary clinic. One of the most OB rotation [in India], I observed “I gained confidence in myself by
extraordinary externships provided two or three a day.” being there,” says Dean. “I really
by the CCVM is a month-long stay at had to break out of my shell, and
the Karnataka Veterinary University Another difference in the Bangalore become responsible for making sure
(KVU) in Bangalore, India. teaching hospital: Small animal I was engaged and asking for what
medicine is provided in one big I needed, which will help me a lot
This year Donald Gridiron was room with many exam tables, when I start doing clinical work.”
among a small group of students holding a variety of animals,
selected to participate. His receiving a variety of treatments. The India Externship Training
externship included hands-on “I got to see good examples of Program was conceived by Dr.
training in internal medicine, practicing medicine with what you Manoj Pastey, Associate Professor
obstetrics, and surgery, plus unique have available and not necessarily of Virology, to foster collaboration
learning experiences like working what is considered the gold standard, between CCVM and his alma mater.
with zoo veterinarians. “The most and realizing that it still benefits the It is financed by the Department of
interesting case I worked on, by far, animal,” says student Sabrina Dean. Biomedical Sciences. All the students
was a surgery at the Mysore Zoo. We “This knowledge will be important in on the trip gained invaluable
got to observe and assist in removal future practice, because I will work experience.
of a mass from a seven-year-old tiger with clients who cannot afford to do
named Chamundi,” says Gridiron. everything I want for a pet.” “This trip helped remind me why I
“We acted as the anesthesiologists, love doing what I do,” says Gridiron.
monitored vitals, and collected Both Gridiron and Dean were “Even though things may be different
blood.” actively involved in cases not around the world, people still love
available to second-year students their animals just the same, and
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the U.S. “I got to assist with a to me that was the coolest part. By
in Bangalore is government funded, traumatic abdominal hernia repair the end of the trip I was really able
and services are available at a low in a sheep,” says Gridiron. “The guts to understand the importance of a
cost which makes it a very busy were literally hanging out . . . it took veterinarian in any society.”
place. This gave the CCVM students eight people to properly position the
a lot of experience in a short amount sheep and surgically close the tear in
vetmed.oregonstate.edu • 9
