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CVM outreach efforts increase at dog and cat shows
LThe Texas A&M College of Veterinary
Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
(CVM) participates in many outreach
programs that educate the public
about veterinary medicine, what it
takes to become a veterinarian, and
what the CVM is doing daily to serve
Texans. Members of the CVM had
booths at two major shows: the Reliant
Park World Series of Dog Shows and
the Houston Cat Club’s Annual Charity
Cat Show in both 2011 and 2012.
Dana Heath, assistant hospital
administrator of the Small Animal
Hospital at the CVM; David Sessum,
veterinary technician III at the CVM;
and other veterinary technicians from
the CVM manned a booth at the Reliant
Park World Series of Dog Shows.
This series of dog shows lasts five days,
attracting more than 40,000 spectators
and participants and 14,000 entries.
“This was a wonderful outlet to
speak with pet owners about the importance
of veterinary medicine,” Sessum
said. “We answered questions about
veterinary school and the different specialties
within the Veterinary Medical
Teaching Hospital at the CVM. Dana
and I were able to build some great
relationships with some great people.”
Heath and Sessum plan to attend
and expand the booth next year because
this year was such a success.
“We want to continue the education
outside of the classroom and hospital
walls and bring it to concerned pet
owners,” Sessum said. “Next year, we
want to tell pet owners what clinical
trials the veterinary school is working
on to help pets like their own and
explain how the veterinary school can
help them.”
Members of the Texas A&M University
Student Chapter of the American
Association of Feline Practitioners
(SCAAFP) at the CVM, along with
their advisor, Dr. John August, professor
in feline internal medicine at the
CVM, participate in the Houston Cat
Club’s Annual Charity Cat Show, held
at the George R. Brown Convention
Center in Houston.
Throughout the show, the Texas
A&M veterinary students staffed a
booth where they answered questions
about the college’s programs in feline
medicine and discussed careers in
veterinary medicine with aspiring
veterinarians
and their
parents. In
addition, the
department
of Veterinary
Small Animal
Clinical Sciences
and the
Development
Office at the
CVM co-sponsored
a show
ring.
Lauren
Castilla, fourth
year veterinary
student and
president of
SCAAFP, led
the efforts at
the cat show.
“Our main
purpose at the
Houston Cat
Show was to
show support
for the local
community of cat owners, breeders,
and shelters, as well as to promote
the College of Veterinary Medicine’s
dedication and commitment to feline
health,” Castilla said. “We let the
public know about our feline internal
medicine residency, the Aggie Feral
Cat Alliance of Texas (AFCAT), and
the Stevenson Companion Animal
Life-Care Center. Members of our
organization were there to answer
questions about our hospital services,
veterinary program, and current research
endeavors.”
Castilla said she learned a lot from
participating in the cat show. Taking
on this leadership role, she was able to
talk with cat owners and to learn more
about her field of interest.
“It was exciting to talk with breeders
and expand my knowledge about
the unique breeds that were present,”
Castilla said. “I enjoyed having owners
share their cat experiences with us,
and every person had a wonderful story
to tell.”
The cat show not only educates the
public on the current efforts of the feline
industry. It initiates conversations
among feline enthusiasts about the
possible future of the industry.
Veterinary students Will Floyd, Lauren Castilla, Tamie Hunt, and Erin Braley
represented the CVM at the Houston Cat Show.
“I am so excited for what the future
holds for feline medicine,” Castilla
said. “It is so great to see the field growing
with more ABVP [American Board
of Veterinary Practitioners] diplomat
and the increasing popularity of feline
specialty clinics. The CVM is giving us
a great foundation in feline medicine,
and it just opens us up to so many more
opportunities after graduation.”
August said the students did a great
job representing the college at the
show. “By having a presence and being
available to concerned cat owners,
we are able to visibly demonstrate the
CVM’s commitment to feline health
and education,” he said.
SCAAFP is one of 16 Texas A&M
SCAVMA (Student Chapters of the
AVMA) sponsored organizations at the
CVM. SCAAFP’s involvement represents
the type of active roles veterinary
students take in organizations at the
CVM.
Outreach participation is important
because it leads to better learning
experiences inside and outside the
classroom, creating better prepared
professionals, and a public better informed
about veterinary medicine.
CVM Today • Winter 2012 • 33