An Insider's Look into VetMED Emergency and Specialty Veterinary Hospital
VetMED Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital, situated in the Phoenix area, is committed to providing top-tier emergency and specialty care, offering a distinctive learning experience for future veterinarians.
In their third year of study, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine have unique opportunities to develop their clinical skills in existing hospitals as opposed to learning within a centralized teaching hospital. Students learn in outstanding clinical sites and learn from seasoned professionals. The clinical year comprises various hands-on experiences in areas ranging from general practice to emergency medicine to specialty care and more.
VetMED Emergency & Specialty Veterinary Hospital, situated in the Phoenix area, is committed to providing top-tier emergency and specialty care, offering a distinctive learning experience for future veterinarians. We spoke with Dr. Stephanie Foote, Medical Director at VetMED, about how students grow at this clinical site. Having been with VetMED since 2010, Dr. Foote has hard-won insights into the veterinary field and what students will need to succeed in practice. Most important, she says, is collaboration and willingness to work together to meet challenges.
A Typical Day at VetMED
VetMED sees a diverse range of cases, thanks to its array of specialties, including surgery, anesthesiology, dermatology, and radiology. Unlike some practices, VetMED does not operate in silos—all their specialists collaborate seamlessly. This intentional approach leads to efficient patient care and fosters open communication between departments.
The patient load at VetMED comprises complex cases often referred from other emergency hospitals and local veterinarians. These cases frequently involve endocrine issues, auto-immune disorders, esophageal and intestinal foreign bodies, toxicities, and trauma cases. VetMED’s impressive onsite facilities include CT, MRI, fluoroscopy, and high-flow oxygen units, ensuring they are equipped to handle a wide variety of cases.
VetMED is a 24-hour facility, so emergency team members work overnights and weekends to ensure quality patient care at all times of day. Throughout the day, the emergency and specialist teams collaborate closely, ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient care. Their specialists are on-call over holidays and weekends to provide high level care not found at all specialty hospitals.
What VetCats Learn at VetMED
VetMED serves as a rich learning environment for students, whether or not they have plans of pursuing a specialty in the future. Here, they exercise the fundamentals of history-taking, thorough physical exams, and diagnostic planning. They practice common types of exams they will need to gain confidence in, such as orthopedic exams and FAST scans. Dr Foote shared,
“Our doctors are committed to teaching and providing an environment for students to challenge themselves and get involved in case management. U of A students…are [practicing] record keeping, writing SOAPs, doing those initial morning exams, really taking the time to think about and write their diagnostic plan, writing that treatment plan and being able to follow those patients throughout the day. They are also learning some multitasking; if they're on our surgery service, they might be scrubbing into a surgery, but there might also be an inpatient that they will need to follow up on and ask, what does the lab work look like?”
Students’ time at VetMED ensures experience in prioritizing their daily responsibilities, practicing client communication skills, providing updates, and other essential soft skills such as mentorship and collaboration.
Student Experiences
Dr. Foote and her team have observed growth in VetCats who complete clinical rotations here. VetMED values students’ feedback and acknowledges that each student has their unique strengths and areas where they may need extra support. They encourage students to actively participate in their learning, conduct case research, and make the most of their four-week rotation.
The hospital maintains flexibility in tailoring the experience to individual students, as some students may intend to work in general practice, and some may be interested in pursuing a specialty themselves. For students with an interest in emergency or specialty medicine, VetMED offers a collaborative environment to learn high-quality care.
Teamwork and Collaboration
One of VetMED's driving values is collaboration. The hospital’s ability to work as a cohesive team, regardless of the complexity of cases, is what makes it exceptional. The collaborative atmosphere extends from doctors to technicians and throughout the management levels. This clinical site takes pride in offering a supportive environment for learning and emphasize that students not only gain technical skills, but also learn vital soft skills, such as effective communication, being an effective team member, and coping with challenging situations. Dr. Foote shared about the importance of learning effective communication and teamwork, saying,
“Learning how to get along with your technicians, your fellow doctors, and particularly clients [is important]. I think it's good for them to see [those tense situations] and figure out their coping mechanism so that they don't get freaked out in that situation. They know how to go about that calmly and recognize where those emotions are coming from. It's all part of that growing into being a doctor.”
Dr. Foote understands that these traits are learned and that they are vitally important to veterinary professionals. Her team strives to embody strong communication and working together effectively, and students learn as they observe these essential traits in action.
VetMED Emergency and Specialty Veterinary Hospital embraces challenges as opportunities for growth and prioritizes growth and development of their team as a whole, preparing students for the dynamic world of veterinary medicine. VetMED’s commitment to excellence makes it the perfect place for aspiring veterinarians to take one step closer to day one of their careers.