Food Animal Imaging and Diagnostic Pathology

General Concept: The course is designed for those students anticipating entering a food animal, large animal, or mixed animal practice. Students will engage in hands-on laboratories directed at gaining proficiency in large animal ultrasonography, radiology, and pathology: 1) Ultrasonography in the Field: students will gain experience in the use of diagnostic ultrasonography in the evaluation of various systems including but not limited to the following: calf lungs, calf umbilici, small ruminant abdomens, small ruminant thorax, adult cow thorax and abdomen, etc., 2) Radiology in the Field: students will gain experience in the use of diagnostic radiology in the evaluation of various systems including but not limited to the following: small ruminant limbs, small ruminant skull/dental rads, small ruminant thorax, etc., and 3) Pathology in the Field: students will know how to 1) perform a postmortem exam in a farm animal and how to submit samples for diagnostic testing; 2) describe and identify common postmortem lesions in large animals; 3) correlate gross and microscopic findings with signalment and clinical history to formulate appropriate differential diagnoses; 4) recognize reportable diseases encountered in large animal populations and common zoonoses. There will be a small number of lectures and group discussions to solidify important material and concepts. The in-house laboratories will be conducted at the New Bolton Center Pathology Floor, Marshak Dairy, local privately owned dairies, and the CAHP computer lab. There will be several field trips to outside farms, so transportation is required. The rotation is 5.5 days in length, Monday through Friday with a half day on Saturday. There is no on-call, weekend, or night duty nor is there any in-house patient care. Students will be evaluated based upon enthusiasm, effort, ambition, and advancement in diagnostic imaging and pathology knowledge as evaluated through imaging modalities, diagnostic autopsy technique, directed group discussions, and clinical competency outcomes assessments. Grades will be determined by in-class and take-home online (Canvas-based) assignments, and attendance/participation in required laboratories and small group conferences. 3 Credit Hours