Outlook Preceptor Profile: - Western University of Health Sciences

W o r d f r o m t h e D e a nI recently heard a colleague invoke the beginning sentenceof A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens to describe thepresent economic climate: “It was the best of times, it wasthe worst of times…”The College has undergone unprecedented growth in staffand faculty during the past fiscal year, fully occupied thenew Banfield Veterinary Clinical Center, and expects tocomplete the Veterinary Pathology Center before this fiscalyear ends. At this very moment construction of newbuildings totaling approximately $75 million is underway inpreparation of the opening of four new medical colleges inthe fall and providing an additional 6,000 sq. ft. of researchspace. While the status of our state, national and globaleconomies dictate a cautious outlook and prudent planning– our microeconomic environment appears to be booming!The University is presently developing a unique interprofessional curriculum that willprovide an interactive environment for students from all nine medical colleges. The goal isfor WesternU graduates to demonstrate an understanding of other health professions and toprovide and promote a team approach to patient care and health care management, leadingto improved patient care.The veterinary profession has long claimed to be a part of the public health care team.However, the “One Medicine – One Health” concept as promoted by the AVMA does notmatch the actual public perception of veterinary medicine. There is no better illustration ofthe chasm between the veterinary profession’s view and the public’s view of the role ofveterinarians in health care, than the recent California proposal to tax veterinary services aspart of a budgetary response to astounding state deficits.Clearly, our state – indeed, our nation has significant financial problems to address. It is notthe tax proposal itself that I want to discuss. It is the framework of the debate that I foundillustrative.While defending the tax proposal, a spokesperson for the California Finance Departmentnoted that the proposed tax also would extend to auto and appliance repair, golf fees,sporting events and amusement parks such as Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm.I am sure that we all would agree that it would be a stretch to include human medicalservices in this disparate group of business activities. My dismay lies in the possibility thatthe defense provided seems to suggest that the inclusion of veterinary medical services isnot an oddity. More to the point, it seems to suggest that the contribution of veterinaryservices to the public health may be valued (at least by some) as little as a golf game, or asporting event.It is up to us to dispel this misperception. As a member of the Outlook family, I encourageyou to do what you can. We have a lot of work before us!♥theOutlookSpring 2009/Volume 10, Issue 3College of Veterinary MedicineWestern Universityof Health SciencesAssociate Editor:Paul Gordon-Ross909.706.3529pgordon@westernu.eduAssociate Editor:Leigh Wiemannlwiemann@verizon.netContributor:Renee Cook909.469.5651rcook@westernu.eduPhotographer:Jess Lopatynski909.469.5298jlopatynski@westernu.eduGraphic Designer:Paul Gettler909.469.5256pgettler@westernu.edu------309 E. Second St.Pomona, CA91766-1854www.westernu.edu/cvm♥A Work Of HeartO n T h e C o v e rCVM students from the class of 2010; Christina Portus, left andChristina Kane, right with patient at the City of AngelsVeterinary Specialty Center in Culver City, CA.Photo by Jess LopatynskiIt is the best of times; it is the worst of times…Phillip Nelson, DVM, PhD2