Development of an elective course in veterinary medicine with focus in communication

BackgroundVeterinary medicine and pet care are increasingly common topics encountered in community pharmacy practice. However, current pharmacy curricula include limited didactic training on the safety and efficacy of medicine in veterinary practice. Our goal was to design and implement a new veterinary medicine and pet care elective course for second-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students in a three-year accelerated program.Educational activityFaculty provided didactic lectures and hands-on practice related to various areas of veterinary medicine. Students were assessed on communication skills, including their ability to respond to inquiries typically encountered in the community setting, and were required to develop and present educational posters to grade-school students about pet issues. They were also assessed on appropriate use of references and resources throughout the course. A cumulative final exam covered all didactic topics. This elective course in practical veterinary medicine and pet care was viewed positively by students based on standard course evaluation results. Students appreciated the focus on an area of community practice that is not currently a major part of the curriculum.Critical analysisThis veterinary medicine elective course was evaluated highly by students. It provided useful information related to care of animals and pets, as well as practice and training for patient communication. Students offered productive feedback to enhance the course in the future.