AMES, Iowa -- More than 400 students from across the nation will gather this weekend at Iowa State University for the 2005 American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association National Symposium. Hosted by Iowa State's Pre-Vet Club, the event begins at noon March 18 and runs through 10 a.m. March 20 in the Scheman Building.
The annual symposium gives students a preview of veterinary medicine school and an opportunity to interact with other pre-veterinary medicine students, said Raye Taylor-Vokes, an ISU senior in microbiology from Alexis, Ill., and symposium planning chair.
"This is the 21st symposium, and we're striving to make it one of the best yet. We're offering a wide variety of topics and hands-on experiences to introduce students to the opportunities in veterinary medicine," Taylor-Vokes said.
Through labs, lectures, roundtables, panel discussions, tours and demonstrations, participants will be introduced to production animal medicine, small animal medicine, equine medicine and zoo/exotic/wildlife medicine. Topics include hydrotherapy, acupuncture, small animal massage, feline obedience, service dogs-search and rescue, emergency treatments and care, reproduction, racing medicine and equine surgery. Speakers include ISU veterinary medicine faculty and veterinarians from Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida and California.
Participants also will hear from veterinary medicine student panels, and learn about the economics of veterinary school.
On Friday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in 2226 Veterinary Medicine Building, ISU will host high school students interested in learning about careers and opportunities in veterinary medicine. Speakers from the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Liberal Arts and Sciences will discuss the steps necessary to navigate "The Road from High School to Vet School."
Vokes-Taylor said the 180 members of the ISU Pre-Vet Club have been preparing for the symposium since October 2003 when the bidding process began.
"Chairing the planning committee has been an enormous challenge and a wonderful learning experience," she said.
The American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association (APVMA) is a college-level national chapter organization dedicated to promoting and stimulating interest in the field of veterinary medicine and providing member clubs with sources of information regarding sister clubs and the field of veterinary medicine.
"The Pre-Vet Club at ISU is a support network for us," Vokes-Taylor said. "Although we compete with each other to get into vet school, we act cohesively as colleagues through the club to support one another in our aspirations."