10/1/02 letter of intent doctor of philosophy degree option the ...

Interdepartmental Program. While many of the past Ph.D. students affiliated with VCSwere well served by participating in course work and research projects in otherdepartments of the School of Veterinary Medicine, these other Veterinary MedicalSciences (VMS) concentrations are not as well positioned with faculty expertise toprovide training in clinical research.2) To meet the demand for candidates who wish to undertake Ph.D. studies in VeterinaryClinical Sciences. (Appendix 2)3) To provide greater opportunity for emphasis on clinical research for studentsundertaking graduate study in other Veterinary Medical Sciences concentrations andother LSU graduate programs.4) To enhance the academic tenor of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.5) Provides VCS faculty the opportunity to mentor Ph.D. students with more autonomyand flexibility.Final Note: We have aggressively attempted to establish very high visibility for our departmentby participation in major national and international scientific and professional meetings andorganizations. We have continued to recruit new, highly skilled young faculty, most of whomtrained in combined residency/graduate programs. We are emerging as a real force in theclinical sciences with a reputation for an energetic and focused program. Our Apresence@ as aquality program is becoming established (Appendix 4). The recognition of an area ofconcentration in VCS under the Veterinary Medical Sciences umbrella graduate program at thePh.D. level represents a further step in this development.Proposed DegreeDoctor of Philosophy in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences option of the InterdepartmentalProgram in Veterinary Medical Sciences.3

II: NEEDA. Potential Program Duplication.No similar program has been offered at this institution previously.B. Competing Programs.No similar program is offered at any other institution in Louisiana. However, severalother Veterinary Schools (3) in the United States offer doctoral degrees in VeterinaryClinical Sciences.C. Basis for Program Development. If similar programs exist in Louisiana, why isan additional program needed? Indicate manpower needs, including interest on the partof industry, academia, governmental agencies, or other institutions.Currently, other departments in the School of Veterinary Medicine offer limited opportunity tostudy and perform clinical research at the Ph.D. level. The VCS concentration allowsparticipation of Ph.D. candidates in clinical research which has several unique aspects. To besuccessful, clinical research requires special design because control groups often cannot becontrived as in bench research and outcomes can be so variable because one is dealing withcomplex spontaneous disease. Specific examples of unique approaches in clinical researchinclude: diagnosis and characterization of spontaneous animal models of human disease;identification and selection of suitable cohort populations to develop a basis for comparison ofpopulations; principle component analysis to determine the relative importance of several riskfactors when a disease has multifactorial etiology; and variability of predictive value dependingon disease prevalence and other test results that narrow population selection. These examplesserve to illustrate some unique aspects of experimental design in clinical research and the VCSconcentration provides the appropriate perspective for Ph.D. candidates in this field.Appended is a copy of the most recent departmental report (2001-2), which gives an indicationof the scope of clinical research performed by faculty in VCS. For the most part, otherdepartments in the School of Veterinary Medicine offering concentrations under the VMSumbrella Ph.D. program do not participate in clinical research and the addition of the VCSconcentration will fill that void. In addition, it is anticipated that faculty expertise in otherdepartments of the SVM will further bolster the strength of this new option.The range of required courses listed in the VCS concentration includes many courses offered byother LSU departments because these courses are well suited to the needs of our graduatestudents. This aspect further reinforces the fact that the VCS concentration does not representthe establishment of a new degree program. This combination of opportunities offered in theSchool of Veterinary Medicine=s graduate degree programs is in line with the current trend awayfrom redundant, Alow completer@ programs and works toward the establishment of a AOneUniversity@ concept with shared resources.4

1. State, Regional, and National Need in the Field for More Graduates.The Department=s research and teaching strengths relate to disciplines that are in need ofindividuals with additional training in clinical research. Further, faculty in the Department arecommitted to applying contemporary research techniques to clinical problems. The Ph.D. optionwould allow us to train much needed veterinary researchers to fill governmental, academic andindustrial positions. The proposed Ph.D. option would focus on the clinical sciences to insurethat the graduates are equipped to understand disciplines that will be the foundation of veterinaryclinical research in the twenty-first century. We know that we are in a unique position to providea qualified pool of graduates to help strengthen future scientific work and veterinary medicine inLouisiana and the United States.The program in Veterinary Clinical Sciences is unique because it exposes students to researchproblems that are directly related to clinical problems. This interface of research and clinicalsciences provides avenues for new and exciting projects and opportunities for research fundingfrom private foundations, industry, and federal agencies.2. Possibilities for Cooperative Programs.A formal cooperative degree program is not possible since no other institution in Louisiana canprovide the requisite expertise to train veterinary clinicians with a strong background in clinicalsciences. However, collaborative arrangements with other departments in the SVM willcomplement and strengthen the clinical research training of graduate students. Existing graduatecourses will also be utilized to complement specific research training within the Department.Clinical faculty in the Department routinely collaborate on research projects with faculty at anumber of institutions both inside and outside of the state. For example, faculty are currentlycollaborating with faculty at Louisiana Agricultural Experimental Station (LAES), The AudubonCenter for Research of Endangered Species, Louisiana State University (LSU) Medical Center inNew Orleans, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and Delta Regional Primate Center.These interactions are expected to complement and enrich the quality of research trainingprovided by the proposed program.The Department also has selectively pursued faculty and physicians involved in complementaryactivities for nomination as adjunct professors. These individuals are expected to contribute tothe graduate program by presenting lectures on biomedical research to graduate students enrolledin the proposed option.Similarly, there are research disciplines on the Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana StateUniversity campuses that will complement our training programs by offering courses to facilitatetraining of residency/graduate students in specific areas of departmental research. For example,the LSU Baton Rouge campus currently has graduate programs in neurobiology, endocrinology,microbiology, veterinary microbiology and parasitology, veterinary physiology, pharmacology5

and toxicology, veterinary pathology and cell and molecular biology. Some of the coursesoffered in these programs will be useful to graduate students in the Veterinary Clinical Sciencesoption. The availability of courses and expertise in other options of the Veterinary MedicalSciences Ph.D. program allows the Department to offer a broad base to fulfill the need ofindividual programs and the existing programs support our established and developing graduatecourses.New courses will be developed and existing courses redesigned to meet the needs of graduatestudents in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences option. Existing course opportunities will beredesigned to better meet our objectives and to strengthen areas of study previouslyunderdeveloped by other graduate study options within the School of Veterinary Medicine. Thusthe addition of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences option will strengthen the already wellestablished Veterinary Medical Sciences Ph.D. program.The proposed graduate option will utilize the aforementioned resources to design programs ofstudy for individual Ph.D. candidates. The Veterinary Clinical Sciences Ph.D. option will beunique because of its clinical nature and courses of study will better serve to meet the needs ofour students than under the present system. VCS Ph.D. students will address a number of basicand applied research areas based on funded projects within the Department.6

PART IV: FACULTYA. Credentials of the Departmental Faculty. (Appendix 4)FULL MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATE FACULTY:Jill M. Blackmer, DVM., MS, Professor; Dipl. AVCIM, Dipl ABVPDaniel J. Burba, DVM, Associate Professor, Dipl. ACVSSusan C, Eades, DVM, PhD, Professor, Dipl. ACVIMBruce E. Eilts, DVM, MS, Professor, Dipl. ACTCarol S. Foil, DVM, Professor, Dipl. ACVDCheryl S. Hedlund, DVM, MS, Professor, Dipl. ACVSGiselle Hosgood, BVSc, MS, Professor, Dipl. ACVS, Fellow ACVSRustin M Moore, DVM, PhD, Professor, Dipl. ACVST. Mark Neer, DVM, Professor, Dipl. ACVIMDale L. Paccamonti, DVM, MS, Professor, Dipl ACTDavid F. Senior, BVSc, Professor, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECVIM-CAJoseph Taboada, DVM, Professor, Dipl ACVIMThomas N. Tully, DVM, MS, Professor, Dipl ABVPASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE GRADUATE FACULTY:Loretta Bubenik, DVM, MS, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVS (pending)Jacqueline R. Davidson, DVM, MS, Associate Professor, Dipl. ACVSSusan Eddlestone, DVM, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVS (pending)Adolfo Garcia, DVM, MS, PhD, Associate Professor, Dipl. LA-CVO (pending)Marjorie S. Gill, DVM, MS, Associate Professor, Dipl. ABVPAmy M. Grooters, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (pending)Jeremy D. Hubert, BVSc, MS, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVSSusanne Lauer, BVM, Dr.med.vet., Assistant Professor (pending)Glenna E. Mauldin, DVM, MS, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVIMG. Neal Mauldin, DVM, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVR (RO), Dipl. ACVIM (O,IM)(pending)Mark Mitchell, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor (pending)Rebecca S. McConnico, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVIMClaudio Natalini, DVM, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor (pending)Glenn Pettifer, DVM, DVSc, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVA (pending)Santos Ramirez, DVM, MS, Assistant Professor (pending)Keith Strickland, DVM, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVIM (C) (pending)H. Ame Walesby, DVM, MS, Assistant Professor, Dipl. ACVSSUPPORTING CLINICAL FACULTY:Ralph E. Beadle, DVM, PhD, Professor EmeritusDennis French, DVM, Professor, Dipl. ABVPAmong the VCS faculty members listed above, eight have a doctorate as their terminal8

degree and 13 have an M.S.. The nature of specialty training in the clinical veterinary medicineis different in many respects from the training required in other LSU departments. The insightsgained by specialty training combined with an M.S. in the clinical sciences provides anadditional unique perspective to clinical research. This situation is analagous to that in the fieldof human medicine where the doctorate degree is not a necessity for effective research training.Many VCS faculty with M.S. as the terminal degree are well qualified to serve as majorprofessors in the VCS option of the Interdepartmental program.B. Calculated Student/Faculty Ratios.Clinical faculty currently teach 345-350 professional and graduate students per year.This would be expected to increase to 350-355 students per year based on interest inpursuing a PhD degree in the VCS concentration. There are currently 42 facultyemployed in VCS for an anticipated student/faculty ratio of 8.5:1.C. Faculty Additions.The proposed program will be absorbed in whole by present faculty. New faculty willnot be added to accommodate the PhD concentration in VCS. Faculty currently involvedin graduate studies in other options within Veterinary Medical Sciences will redirect theirenergies to the VCS option. VCS faculty currently involved in research will recruitstudents into the PhD program. This will not alter existing instructional responsibilitiesbecause these individuals are already teaching PhD candidates who happen to be in otherdepartments but who would transfer into the VCS concentration. Furthermore, over thelast 5 years, recruitment of faculty to replace attrition has resulted in an increase in theproportion of VCS faculty with research and graduate studies experience.GRADUATE STUDIES IN VETERINARY CLINICAL SCIENCESOBJECTIVESThe School of Veterinary Medicine offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in VeterinaryMedical Sciences. Under this umbrella, the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences offers aVeterinary Clinical Science option at both degree levels. Opportunities are available for studentsholding the D.V.M. or equivalent degree. Advanced training in Veterinary Clinical Sciences atthe Ph.D. level is designed to prepare students for advanced placement in academia, in industryand in the private sector.Clinical faculty members have abilities and interests in many facets of veterinary clinical scienceas these relate to all domestic and exotic species. Departmental facilities, faculty training andcollaboration with other departments in the School of Veterinary Medicine allow study planswith topics in most aspects of veterinary clinical science. There is also a working relationshipwith faculty in the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Louisiana AgriculturalExperiment Station. Departmental instructional responsibilities provide opportunities forresidency/graduate students to acquire teaching experience. Close alliance of VCS with other9

SVM departments provides latitude in the design of study plans or special problems that mayencompass specialties such as oncology, cardiology, radiation medicine, immunology, geneticstudies, surgery, internal medicine, radiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, theriogenology orpathology.GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM OVERVIEWAcceptance of Ph.D. students is the prerogative of the graduate faculty of the Veterinary ClinicalSciences department. Academic qualifications, availability of funds, and assignable facilitiesand the clinical faculty are factors considered when admitting students. To qualify academically,an applicant for graduate studies must have a D.V.M. or equivalent degree from an accreditedinstitution. In addition, the applicant should have attained a grade point average of 3.00 basedon a 4.00 grading system and a combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 1000 or better.Students with less than this grade point average or these GRE scores may be considered andadmitted on a probationary basis if recommended by the graduate faculty of the department.Students admitted on probation will remain in this status until completion of 9 hours of graduatelevelcourse work with at least a 3.00 grade point average. Students on probation may not holdassistantships or fellowships. All candidates must be fluent in English. International studentsmust also have a TOEFL score of at least 550.Study plans for students pursuing the Ph.D. degree option are flexible and are designed toprovide the graduate student with a broad background in the fundamental sciences of clinicalveterinary medicine. Specialization at the Ph.D. level can be achieved through a study plan thatis developed with the advice of a major professor and an advisory committee. Study plans mayinclude, but are not limited to, the following advanced courses in: statistics, surgery, internalmedicine, experimental research design, biochemistry, microscopic and macroscopic anatomy,and pathology, and pathophysiology. Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are expected to attendand participate in departmental seminars whenever these are offered.A research dissertation is required for all doctoral degree candidates. Dissertation researchwithin the department may encompass certain aspects of dermatology, ophthalmology,reproduction, endocrinology, drug metabolism and disposition, hematology, clinical toxicology,nutrition, respiratory physiology, clinical pharmacology, surgery, cardiology, internal medicine,oncology, radiation therapy and other areas. Each student will be required to submit at least onemanuscript based on research to a refereed journal before completing the program.10

DOCTOR of PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMThe Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Ph.D. program will be administered under theVeterinary Medical Sciences umbrella program of the School of Veterinary Medicine. Theguidelines and standards for this program will at least meet the minimum requirements described inthe Graduate School catalog. The VCS Ph.D. program description will indicate where there aredifferent (higher standards) requirements.Program of Study: A program of study must be submitted to the VCS Graduate AffairsCommittee, VCS Department Head and the Graduate School during the student=s secondsemester in residence following selection of a major professor. The program of study details thecourse work the GAC recommends the graduate school requires of the student. No student willbe permitted to register for a third semester without having submitted a departmental approvedprogram of study to the Graduate School.Course requirements: The Graduate School has no specific course work requirements for the Ph.D.degree. However, sufficient course work, equivalent to at least three years full-time study at the courselevel of 4000 or above, is expected. The course work, in conjunction with research training, will providethe student with the skills needed for continuing research independent of the major professor. The VCScourse work requirements are as follows:Requirementsat least 14 credits of VCS coursesat least two statistic courses (minimum of 6 credits)at least 3 credits of VCS 7001 (max of 4)at least 3 credits VCS 7010 (max of 4)a maximum of 6 hours VCS 7003VMED 7004 (2 credits)a minimum of 12 hours research (VMED 8900, 9000) with a maximum of 24 hoursIf a minor is selected, the course work must meet the minor requirements of that department.14 credits VCS Graduate Courses 7000 or above (e.g. 4@VCS 7010, 4@VCS7001, 6@VCS7003)2 credits VMED 70048 credits Statistics courses (2 courses B credits range 6-8)12 credits Elective courses24 credits Research (VMED 8900/9000)-----------60 credits Total11

VCS Departmental Graduate Courses (each student must take a minimum of 14 credit hours):COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEVCS 7001 1 (max. of 4 cr.) F,S Seminar: Veterinary Clinical SciencesVCS 7003 1-4 (max. of 6 cr.) F,S,Su Special Topics in Clinical Veterinary MedicineVCS 7201 2 V (S) Veterinary GastroenterologyVCS 7202 1 F,S Veterinary Surgical TechniquesVCS 7204 2 V(F) Advanced Veterinary OrthopedicsVCS 7205 2 V(F) Advanced Veterinary Clinical NeurologyVCS 7206 2 V (S) Advanced Veterinary Urogenital DiseasesVCS 7208 2 V(F) Advanced Veterinary Cardiovascular DiseasesVCS 7209 2 V (S) Advanced Veterinary Respiratory DiseasesVCS 7210 1 (max 4) F,S,Su Veterinary Scientific Journal ReviewVCS 7003 2 Su Veterinary Scientific WritingVCS 7003 2 F Advanced Principles of SurgeryVCS 72xx Proposed Course Advanced Bioscience Research TechniquesVCS 72xx Proposed Course Advanced Large Animal AnesthesiaVCS 72xx Proposed Course Advanced Small Animal AnesthesiaVCS 72xx Proposed Course Advanced Exotic Animal AnesthesiaVCS 72xx Proposed Course Veterinary Clinical Experimental DesignVCS 72xx Proposed Course Veterinary Clinical EpidemiologyVCS Graduate Seminar Series (each student must take a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 4seminar courses):COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEVCS 7001 1 (max. of 4 cr.) F,S Seminar: Veterinary Clinical SciencesVCS Graduate Special Topic Courses (max of 6 credit hours can count toward VCS courses):COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEVCS 7003 1-4 (max. of 8 cr.) F,S,Su Special Topics in Clinical Veterinary MedicineDissertation Research (each student must take a minimum of 12 credit hours):COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEVMED 8900 Variable F, S, Su Predissertation ResearchVMED 9000 Variable F, S, Su Dissertation ResearchStatistical Analyses (each student must take a minimum of two courses/6-8 credit hours):COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEEXST 7003 4 F, S Statistical InferenceEXST 7004 4 F, S Experimental Statistics IEXST 7005 4 F, S Statistical Techniques IEXST 7012 3 Fundamental Sampling TechniquesEXST 7013 4 Statistical Inferences II12

EXST 7014 4 Experimental Statistics IIEXST 7015 4 Statistical Techniques IIEXST 7031 3 S Experimental DesignEXST 7034 3 Regression AnalysisEXST 7036 3 Categorical Data AnalysisEXST 7037 3 Multivariate StatisticsSuggested Graduate Elective Courses:COURSE # CREDITS OFFERED TITLEVMED 7004 2 F Introduction to ResearchVMED 8900 Variable F, S, Su Predissertation ResearchVMED 9000 Variable F, S, Su Dissertation ResearchPBS 7423 3 Cellular and Molecular ImmunologyPBS 7432 3 Cell and Organ Culture Techniques in BioresearchPBS 7411 3 Molecular Mechanisms of Viral PathogenesisPBS 7417 3 Immune Response to Infect/Parasitic AgentsPBS 7404 3 Pathogenic Mechanisms of BacteriaPBS 7312 2 Epidemiological Study DesignPBS 7525 2-4 Veterinary Clinical HematologyPBS 7526 2-4 Veterinary Clinical ChemistryPBS 7527 2-4 Veterinary Clinical CytologyCBS 7105 3 Ultrastructural CytologyCBS 7106 3 Electron Microscopy: Vet Med ApplicationCBS 7109 1-3 Advanced Macroscopic AnatomyCBS 7112 1-3 Advanced Microscopic AnatomyCBS 7122 3 Veterinary NeuroscienceCBS 7607 3 Advanced Respiratory PhysiologyCBS 7605 3 Circulatory Transport and ControlCBS 7615 3 Pulmonary PharmacologyCBS 7617 3 Autonomic Nervous SystemCBS 7628 3 Veterinary Physiology ICBS 7629 3 Veterinary Physiology IICBS 7630 3 Veterinary PharmacologyCBS 7631 3 Veterinary NeuroscienceQBCH 4087 4 Basic BiochemistryBCH 4093 3 General Biochemistry IBCH 4094 3 General Biochemistry IISeminar Requirements: Ph.D. students are required to present at least three announced, scheduledseminars during their tenure. One of these seminars must formally present the student=s researchproposal and one would be for presentation of the results of the dissertation research as part of thefinal examination. The other seminar may be on a topic approved by the student=s GAC. Ph.D.students are required to register for VCS Seminar (VCS 7001), when offered, and a roll will be takenfor attendance. Students may also be asked to prepare and present articles in a journal club formatand will be graded on their skills and level of participation in such presentations.13

Research Proposal: It is recommended that candidates write a research proposal which clearlyoutlines their program of study and the specific experiments to be performed. This should beprepared as early as possible so that the GAC may review the proposal in order to contribute to thequality of the student=s training.The General Examination: The general examination is administered by the GAC and a member(s)appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School. The exam is conducted in accordance withrequirements of the Graduate School and may consist of written and oral components or may besolely oral. The department requires that the student be examined orally whereas the major professoris responsible for notifying the student as to whether a written examination will also be required. It isthe sole option of the major professor to require a written exam and the student must be formallynotified of this requirement in the first semester of study. Format of written examinations isdetermined by the major advisor. The subject areas covered on the latter exam may include all thoseof concern to the examining committee members.The Dissertation and Final Examination: The dissertation and final examination must demonstratea mastery of research techniques and the ability to conduct original and independent research thatleads to a significant, publishable contribution to the field. The final examination committee usuallyconsists of the GAC and a designated graduate faculty representative chosen by the Dean of theGraduate School. This committee is usually the same one that participates in the generalexamination.The final examination consists of three components: (1) a critical evaluation of the Dissertation asprovided for in the Graduate School catalog; (2) an oral presentation of the results of the candidatesoriginal research in a seminar advertised within the School of Veterinary Medicine as well as an oralexamination of the candidate by the candidate=s GAC and graduate faculty appointed by the Dean ofthe Graduate School. The subject areas covered on the latter exam may include all those of concernto the examining committee members.The format of the dissertation will be decided by the major professor and GAC following guidelinesoutlined in the Graduate School catalog.Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC)The doctoral Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC) mustinclude a minimum of 4 members of the graduate faculty, including the major professor, who acts aschair. At least two members of the GAC must be from VCS. One VCS faculty member will serve asmajor professor and chair. In accordance with LSU Graduate School guidelines, the major professormust be a full member of the graduate faculty with the highest degree appropriate to the field orunquestionable evidence of comparable achievement in the field. An associate member can serve asa major professor if the committee includes at least one full member of the graduate faculty fromVCS (LSU Graduate Bulletin 2002-2003, page 129). Associate and full graduate faculty members inVCS can apply to the VCS Graduate Faculty to serve as sole chair (major professor) of a doctoraladvisory committee after they have first served on or witnessed 2 doctoral examinations. Criteria forapproval as sole advisors by the VCS Graduate Faculty will include scientific credentials such aspublications, quality of research program, success in grant acquisition and academic recognition.14

Indicate if federal or other sources of funds are available. Are there prospects for increasedincome from students recruited specifically to the program who otherwise would not haveenrolled?The proposed program will not require additional allocations. Graduate students will besupported by funds already used by the department and student applicants are eligible to competefor financial support awarded by the School of Veterinary Medicine and Louisiana StateUniversity. Tuition will be generated from students who will be attracted to the newlydeveloped program.A:\dfs25\acad\PhDLetterof Intent.wpd16