As discussed in “The Overview,” LMU-CVM applies a hybrid workplace-based model involving one-on-one education for each student entering their clinical year. Our well-prepared 4th-year veterinary students obtain real-world learning experiences from highly qualified veterinary professionals in the practice of Veterinary Medicine in various types of veterinary practices across multiple geographies in the United States.
The typical 52-week LMU-CVM Clinical Year Curriculum consists of 48 (forty-eight) weeks of hands-on, immersive clinical experiences. Various clinical experiences comprise a total of 11 (eleven) four-week rotations for each student; an additional four-week block is comprised of self-directed study in preparation for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).
- An accounting of the clinical experiences follows: All students attend 20 weeks of Foundation Courses designed to give all students solid building blocks upon which to build. They occur with a select group of private practices, University Laboratories, and virtual spaces.
- All students take 28 weeks of elective courses, including Small Animal, Large Animal, and Mixed Animal practices. These practices may be general, specialty, exotic, and zoo animal practices in 45 states. As part of these elective courses, students may take up to 8 weeks of Student Proposed Electives.
- Four weeks of Required Experience consist of a three-week window to take the NAVLE examination. The final week of the clinical year is “Launch Week,” a series of experiences designed to launch students into successful careers in Veterinary Medicine.
LMU-CVM Clinical Year Curriculum
Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another.
- G. K. Chesterton
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FOUNDATION COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
All students attend 20 weeks of Foundation Courses designed to give all students solid building blocks upon which to build. They occur with a select group of private practices, University Laboratories, and virtual spaces.
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CVM 770: Small Animal General Practice Foundations
Course CVM 770 consists of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, pre-approved, high-quality, small-animal general practice (canine, feline, pocket pets). Students see a wide variety of medical and surgical cases. They are active participants in their diagnostic and therapeutic management, including documentation of findings and care in problem-oriented medical records and performance of clinical procedures. Prerequisite: successful completion of pre-clinical course work, clinical year standing.
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CVM 771: Small Animal Specialty Practice Foundations
Course CVM 771 consists of supervised clinical instruction in a selected, high-quality specialty practice (canine, feline, lab animal, exotic, zoological, equine, and large animal). Instruction will occur in practices with board-certified internists, radiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, or other specialists and access to those specialists. Students are active participants in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of a wide variety of cases with instructive pathophysiological learning issues requiring appropriate medical and surgical management in advanced veterinary care, emergency, and critical care situations. Prerequisite: successful completion of pre-clinical course work, clinical year standing.
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CVM 773: Diagnostic Medicine | Pathology | Foundations
The CVM 773 course is a 2-week rotation during which the students will receive senior-level training in diagnostic pathology and ten ancillary diagnostic services. The ancillary diagnostic services are; bacteriology, virology, molecular biology, serology, toxicology, clinical receiving, histology, parasitology, clinical pathology, and epidemiology. The course is composed of lecture/cooperative/ active /group and self-learning morning sessions. The students will spend the afternoon sessions performing post-mortem examinations on the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (UKVDL) necropsy floor or will work on Diagnostic Case Studies and allied diagnostic services assignments. The students will also participate in the weekly UKVDL pathology gross and histopathology rounds, deliver diagnostic pathology case presentations on case submissions and receive clinical pathology assignments. The clinical pathology assignments are composed of cytology slides collected from case submissions. The students read the slides using microscopes and write and submit their diagnostic reports.
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CVM774: Large Animal | LMU-CVM DVTC | Foundations
The CVM 774 course is a 2-week rotation during which the students will be introduced to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for large animals, which may include internal medicine, surgery, preventative medicine, lameness, herd and flock health consultation, routine procedures, diagnostic imaging, reproductive technology, wound care, dentistry, anesthesia, and general surgical procedures using a combination of live animals, case discussion, models, and cadavers. Students will demonstrate continued communication skills development, including communication with owners through written discharge instructions and communication with colleagues via referral letters. Small animal wellness and surgery may be included in the rotation.
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CVM778: Diagnostic Medicine | Radiology (virtual) | Foundations
The CVM 778 course is a 2-week virtual rotation that will provide a structured means for students in the clinical year of the DVM program to apply and synthesize the knowledge gained in the pre-clinical training into the clinical setting. Students will use the knowledge and skills gained in the Radiology Short Course to perform radiographic interpretation during their clinical placements.
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CVM779: CVM779 Diagnostic Medicine | Clinical Pathology (virtual) | Foundations
The CVM 779 course is a 2-week virtual rotation that will build on the core concepts of clinical pathology as presented in CVM 733 while fostering higher-level interpretation of laboratory data. This asynchronous, virtual course will review clinical biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, cytology, and molecular diagnostics.
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CVM776: NAVLE Prep Block – Mandatory * Block SIX
CVM 776 is a 4-week virtual Foundations course offered in the Fall Semester. Students will prepare and sit for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Students will conduct independent studies and review to prepare for the NAVLE. Students are not required to pass the NAVLE to pass the course.
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CVM 770: Small Animal General Practice Foundations
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ELECTIVE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
All students take 28 weeks of elective courses, including Small Animal, Large Animal, and Mixed Animal practices. These practices may be general, specialty, exotic, and zoo animal practices in over 350 Clinical Affiliate Sites in over 35 states. As part of these elective courses, students may take up to 8 weeks of Student Proposed Electives.
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CVM 780: Elective Clinical Rotation
Course CVM 780 consists of four (4) weeks of supervised clinical instruction in high-quality learning experiences available at institutions and practices in North America and around the world, including specialty practices (such as medicine, surgery, cardiology, dermatology, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology), species-specific practices, other accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, zoos, and other LMU-CVM approved public and private biomedical institutions.
Students are active participants in their elective rotations, participating in various cases with instructive learning issues and situations to which they will be exposed. Elective clinical courses can either be selected from a preapproved list, or a proposal can be submitted and approved through the Clinical Relations Office on E*Value.
Prerequisite: successful completion of pre-clinical course work, clinical year standing.
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CVM 780SPE: Student Proposed Elective Clinical Rotation 4 Weeks
Course CVM 780 consists of four (4) weeks of supervised clinical instruction in high-quality learning experiences at locations identified by the students within specific LMU-CVM guidelines.
Students are active participants in their elective rotations, participating in various cases with instructive learning issues and situations to which they will be exposed. Elective clinical courses can either be selected from a preapproved list, or a proposal can be submitted and approved through the Clinical Relations Office on E*Value.
Prerequisite: successful completion of pre-clinical course work, clinical year standing.
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CVM 781SPE: Student Proposed Elective Clinical Rotation 2 Weeks
Course CVM 781 consists of Two (2) weeks of supervised clinical instruction in high-quality learning experiences at locations identified by the students within specific LMU-CVM guidelines.
Students are active participants in their elective rotations, participating in various cases with instructive learning issues and situations to which they will be exposed. Elective clinical courses can either be selected from a preapproved list, or a proposal can be submitted and approved through the Clinical Relations Office on E*Value.
Prerequisite: successful completion of pre-clinical course work, clinical year standing.
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CVM 780: Elective Clinical Rotation
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Required Experiences
Four weeks of Required Experiences consist of a three-week window to take the NAVLE examination and the final week of the clinical year is “Launch Week,” a series of experiences designed to launch students into successful careers in Veterinary Medicine.
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NAVLE Preparation and Test Scheduling (3 weeks)
All students have a 3 week block off from clinical rotations in order to study and sit for the November-December NAVLE®.
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CVM 777 | Launch Week (1 week)
All LMU-CVM students will return to LMU-CVM to participate for a 1 week assessment and evaluation of the program.
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NAVLE Preparation and Test Scheduling (3 weeks)
To view the clinical year academic calendar, click here.