PATHways - American College of Veterinary Pathologists

V o l u m e 3 , I s s u e 2 P a g e 4
Focus on our Future…. Showcasing our Veterinary Schools and Pathology
Programs
Michigan State University College
of Veterinary Medicine: Student
Chapter of the ACVP
Contributed by Sara Lefman (Class of 2013)
The MSU CVM Pathology Club was founded in 1999
by Dr. Laura Kennedy (class of 2001). With the support
of faculty advisors Dr. Jon Patterson and Dr.
Julia Stickle, the student executive board has organized
multiple wet labs and brought in several speakers
from the Michigan area. The club also works extensively
with MSU’s Diagnostic Center for Population
and Animal Health (DCPAH) in planning its
events. On the weekends, students can partake in
shadowing pathologists, residents, and clerkship students
as they perform necropsies, make diagnoses
and write up reports.
Shadowing gives students the opportunity to apply
Path Club members shadowing at DCPAH
their knowledge, get their hands dirty before their
clinical years and interact one-on-one with the faculty
and residents. DCPAH also lends its facilities
to necropsy wet labs where students can work side
by side on anything from sea lions to horses. Participating
in necropsy, biopsy and clinical pathology
rounds offers a welcome break from hours of lecture
and helps to build confidence and problem
solving skills.
Other club events include the clinical pathology
blood smear wet lab where participants practice
preparing and interpreting slides, and a monthly
“What’s Your Diagnosis?” contest on the club’s
website which features a case that students must
solve. The annual path club Epicurean encourages
students to use their rusty right brains to come up
with creative food dishes that resemble the presentation
of diseases and parasites. Past winners have
included melting abscess cream pie, “blood” Jello
molds with gummy worm microfilaria, melt-inyour-mouth
myelomalacia and caseous lymphadenitis
chocolate puffs.