Fat dogs and coughing horses: K-12 programming for veterinary workforce development.
Abstract: Workforce development strategies to educate, inform, and diversify the veterinary profession of the future must begin with children in elementary school. This article provides a description of the Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses program, which takes a multifaceted approach toward informing young students, beginning in first grade, about the interesting work and career opportunities available in the field of veterinary medicine. The program, a collaboration among Purdue University and Indiana public schools, is supported by a Science Education Partnership Award from the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, a component of the National Institutes of Health. The overall goal of the program is to provide formal and informal educational opportunities for students, parents, teachers, and the public about the science involved in keeping people and their animals healthy. Examples of health concerns that impact both people and their pets are used to inform and excite children about careers in the health sciences. The program resulted in (1) curricula for students in Grades 1-3, 6, and 9; (2) four children's books and a set of collectible cards which highlight veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and research scientists who work with animals; and (3) four traveling museum-level quality exhibits. Preliminary assessment data has shown that the implementation of the curricula enhanced student science learning and science attitudes and interests. The program provides evidence that partnerships among professionals in veterinary medicine and K-12 education can result in impactful workforce development programs.
Publication Date: 2013-09-21 PubMed ID: 24052417PubMed Central: PMC3837546DOI: 10.3138/jvme.0313-053RGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses a program called “Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses” designed to educate and inspire young students about opportunities in veterinary medicine, with the goal of shaping the future veterinary workforce.
Background
- The article emphasizes the importance of early education in developing a skilled and diverse future workforce in the field of veterinary medicine. The researchers believe that informing and exciting about this field should start from the elementary school level.
Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses Program
- As a way to apply this belief, Purdue University in collaboration with Indiana’s public schools has conceived the “Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses” program.
- The program was supported by a Science Education Partnership Award from the Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, a section of the National Institutes of Health.
- The goal of this novel initiative is to provide both formal and informal educational opportunities relating to the science behind keeping humans and their animals healthy. This is achieved through an array of learning materials and activities specially designed for students of different grade levels, their parents, teachers, and the general public.
Program Outcomes
- The program resulted in curricula for students in Grades 1-3, 6, and 9 which integrated important basic concepts about veterinary science, its relevance, and aspects of health science that affected both humans and animals.
- Apart from the curricula, the program developed four children’s books and a collectible card set which introduced children to the professions of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and research scientists who work with animals.
- Four traveling museum-quality exhibits were also created as part of the program’s innovative approach to disseminate information and stimulate students’ interest in the field.
- Preliminary assessment data suggested that implementation of the curricula developed through the program had a positive impact on student science learning and on shaping their attitudes and interests towards science.
Conclusion
- The article concludes by underscoring how effective collaborations between professionals in the field of veterinary medicine and K-12 education can lead to impactful workforce development programs.
Cite This Article
APA
San Miguel SF, Carleton Parker L, Adedokun OA, Burgess WD, Cipriani Davis KS, Blossom TD, Schneider JL, Mennonno AM, Ruhl JD, Veatch JH, Wackerly AJ, Shin SY, Ratliff TL.
(2013).
Fat dogs and coughing horses: K-12 programming for veterinary workforce development.
J Vet Med Educ, 40(4), 419-425.
https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.0313-053R Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adolescent
- Animals
- Attitude
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Community-Institutional Relations
- Curriculum
- Dogs
- Education, Veterinary / methods
- Horses
- Humans
- Indiana
- Learning
- Program Development
- Students
- Veterinarians
- Veterinary Medicine
Grant Funding
- R25 OD011115 / NIH HHS
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- San Miguel SF, McDavid L, Parker LC, Simons MC. Developing a Scalable STEM Career Development Program for Elementary School-Aged Students. J STEM Outreach 2019 Dec;2.
- Shin SY, Parker LC, Adedokun O, Mennonno A, Wackerly A, SanMiguel S. Changes in Elementary Student Perceptions of Science, Scientists and Science Careers after Participating in a Curricular Module on Health and Veterinary Science. Sch Sci Math 2015 Oct 1;115(6):271-280.
- San Miguel SF, Wackerly AJ, Veatch JH, Ruhl JD, Mennonno AM. Tips for providing P-12 students career day-type presentations about the veterinary profession. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015 Mar 15;246(6):616-20.
- San Miguel SF, McDavid L. League of VetaHumanz SuperPower Pack Program: Introducing Young People from Diverse Backgrounds to STEM Learning Activities and Veterinary Science Careers. J STEM Outreach 2024 Feb;7(2).
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