The Ohio State VMC is a teaching clinic. Veterinary students come from all over the US and overseas to complete their clinical rotations during their fourth year of study.

Each rotation is two weeks long and sometimes the rotation will return the students for a second round with a department. They learn how to diagnosis trauma, read radiographs, gain surgical experience in the operating room and understand the importance of communicating effectively with the clients.

The students are assigned patients on receiving days and follow their progress throughout the stay. When the patient needs to stay over for surgery, the student presents the case during end-of-the-day rounds. Then on the day of surgery they maintain the paperwork and contact the owner to inform them of their pet’s condition. They follow the animal from surgery to radiology, recovery and back to the animal run.

In addition, the student needs to order medication through the pharmacy, update the patient’s record on the computer and be responsible for inputting billing information into the record.

Their days are long and continue on late into the evening when they are on call.