FAQs
- What is a 2+2 veterinary medicine program?
- Why does Alaska need to train veterinarians?
- So how can a Department of Veterinary Medicine help Alaska?
- One Health? What is that?
- How can we reorganize existing faculty and resources without harming existing programs at UAF?
- Are there any benefits for research at UAF?
- How do I apply?
What is a 2+2 veterinary medicine program?
It is a collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree program between an existing accredited veterinary college and another university. In brief, students complete the first two years of their education here on the UAF campus, then move to Fort Collins, CO to complete their third and fourth years with access to board-certified professionals representing several different specialties and the world-class teaching hospital at CSU.
This type of program allows Alaska residents interested in becoming veterinarians to stay in Alaska and pay in-state tuition to complete prerequisites for the DVM program and receive AK-resident financial aid for the DVM program. This reduces financial and logistical burdens on students and their families. Ultimately we hope to see many students return to AK to work professionally after graduation.
Why does Alaska need to train veterinarians?
UAF conducted a Veterinary Needs Assessment in June-August 2010. There is strong support for and a recognized need from the Alaska-based veterinarians as well as the general public.
Veterinarians are engaged in a broad spectrum of health disciplines such as clinical practice, teaching and research, regulatory medicine, public health, military service, and wildlife medicine to name a few. Veterinarians are involved in local, state and federal governments, working with legislators to shape laws that protect the health, welfare and well-being of animals and people.
At present there is a nationwide shortage of veterinarians. In Alaska, this is particularly apparent in rural veterinary medicine, public health, food safety, and in biomedical research. At UAF we are uniquely positioned to address all of these areas.
So how can a Department of Veterinary Medicine help Alaska?
Families with members interested in obtaining a degree in veterinary medicine face barriers that residents of other states do not. First, being a resident of Alaska currently does not allow a level playing field for admission as they are placed in a pool of “Out of State” applicants that only accepts very few students from 100s of applicants per year. Secondly, the families or student must face “Out of State” tuition costs that can be many-fold higher than for the other students considered (“In State” or residents of the state where the program exists). This 2+2 program, as proposed, eliminates these two barriers and allows the student to remain in Alaska for 75% or more of the time required to obtain pre-requisites and the first to years of professional school.
The above focus on veterinary training inherently allows this group of faculty to focus on “pre-health” and this will benefit students with interests in other medical professions.
For existing veterinarians this Department will offer opportunities to work within the UAF, workshops, continuing education courses, facilities and services to enhance their practice (animal care), and many other facets. This will also improve the veterinary work at the UAF as many of our private sector veterinarians have skills that will enhance our educational and research endeavors.
One Health? What is that?
The One Health Initiative (formerly one medicine) is a fairly old concept that strives to break down barriers that prevent advancement of medicine and public health.
From the One Health Initiative website (Go to One Health website)
One Health shall be achieved through:
- Joint educational efforts between human medical, veterinary medical schools, and schools of public health;
- Joint communication efforts in journals, at conferences, and via allied health networks;
- Joint efforts in clinical care through the assessment, treatment and prevention of cross-species disease transmission;
- Joint cross-species disease surveillance and control efforts in public health;
- Joint efforts in better understanding of cross-species disease transmission through comparative medicine research;
- Joint efforts in the development and evaluation of new diagnostic methods, medicines and vaccines for the prevention and control of diseases across species and;
- Joint efforts to inform and educate political leaders and the public sector through accurate media publications.
How can we reorganize existing faculty and resources without harming existing programs at UAF?
The Dean of CNSM and UAF Chancellor have invested resources to preserve essential components for the department. The department offers “service” courses that are considered required or essential to other Departments and some professional courses will be made available to other students (graduate).
The Department intends to focus pre-health advising and this should relieve the burden on other Departments while those students remain matriculated in those Departments.
Are there any benefits for research at UAF?
Having a professional program at UAF shows a high level of credibility and commitment to biomedicine. Creating this program also highlights a major emphasis of the prior INBRE and SNRP funding.
Proposals specific for DVMs or for translational needs that can come from a health professional program can now be targeted. DVMs seeking graduate degrees will be attracted to UAF and we can work with CSU to increase opportunities for students wishing to pursue a combined DVM/PhD program.
The department can also play a significant role with existing faculty and the UAF Animal Resources Center to develop our animal research base. Specifically, we can focus on new and unique animal models of human disease that can be quite prominent in Alaska.
How do I apply?
After spending the final two years of their education at Colorado State University, students will ultimately graduate with their Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from CSU. Because students will be graduating from CSU, the application and admissions processes also go through them. You can see an outline of the full process on their website HERE.
In short, first you will need to complete the Veterinary Medical Application Service (VMCAS) application, which is a centralized application service for thirty-one US veterinary medical colleges, two Canadian, and twelve international colleges of veterinary medicine. Through VMCAS you can complete one application and send all your required materials through this service. Your application is then processed, verified for accuracy, and sent to the veterinary medical schools you designate.
After completing the VMCAS, the Colorado Supplemental Application (CSA) will also need to be submitted. There is a section within the CSA where you will mark your interest in the UAF/CSU collaborative program.