PRAIRIE VIEW, TX – Texas A&M University veterinary students will receive further veterinary training at Prairie View A&M University’s International Goat Research Center, thanks to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant.
The $165,683 grant is for an educational project, “Targeted training for veterinary students in goat medicine and production.” The funds are part of the $2.8 million awarded to programs that support rural veterinary programs through the Veterinary Services Grant Program. The project will allow veterinary students to complete an externship at the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences’ International Goat Research Center.
Alphina Ho, DVM, research and clinical veterinarian at PVAMU, wanted students to receive more agricultural and veterinary work with goats that may not have been possible without the financial support.
“I reached out to the Texas A&M University veterinary college to see if we could collaborate and use our expertise and facilities for targeted training of their 4th-year vet students on their clinical rotations. I received the full support and encouragement from retired and Interim, International Goat Research Center Directors, Dr. Gary Newton, and Dr. Bill Foxworth,” Ho said. “Though my goal is to target those who – like me when I was a vet student – want more time working on goats, we’ve also had a couple of small-animal-focused students who have taken this rotation and enjoyed their time here.”
According to Ho, the funds cover the students’ daily commute from College Station, a stipend for gas and lodging, and materials to assemble a mobile aesthesia unit for future veterinarians to apply up-to-date pain management to farm animals.
The grant also funds supply costs for creating surgical models that allow students to train for common small ruminant surgeries.
Pascale Mondesir
Communication Specialist II
pamondesir@pvamu.edu
(936) 261-5155