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College
of Veterinary Medicine
  
Outreach
Teaching | Outreach Service | Contact
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important function of the UT College
of Veterinary Medicine is to bring the benefits of veterinary
medicine to the public through programs that promote animal health
and welfare, human health, professional continuing education, community
education and other activities. As one of only 27 veterinary schools
in the nation, UT's veterinary college has a special role in providing
public service and outreach. Faculty, staff and students contribute
countless hours to this function, sharing their knowledge and concern
for animals.
Outreach Teaching
• UT
Academy for Teachers of Science and Mathematics provides a one-day
program for participants in the university's teaching academy, a
program that involves middle and high school teachers from the U.
S. and Canada in a four-week residence experience on the Knoxville
campus. Teachers participate in laboratories and learn about the
role of animals in teaching and research and tour the veterinary
teaching hospital in small groups.
• Veterinary Summer Experience is funded through the
Tennessee Higher Education Commission. This program for African-Americans
allows selected high school students to work in private veterinary
practices in their hometowns for six weeks, then spend two weeks
on the Knoxville campus attending clinical rotations and educational
functions related to veterinary medicine.
• Kids U: A popular event for students in grades 4-10
is the UT Professional and Personal Developments'
Kids U.
The veterinary component of this program is held each summer for
one week at the college. Students in small groups learn about veterinary
medicine through demonstrations, laboratories and special learning
activities throughout the college.
• HERO of Pets (Humane Education and Responsible Ownership
of Pets) is a consortium of six area organizations, including the
College of Veterinary Medicine, which promotes responsible pet care
and education. HERO has sponsored educational programs attracting
more than 300 attendees annually. Topics have been related to animal
behavior, issues related to pet death, problems related to pet abuse
and other topics.
• Schooled for Success: The college participates in
this Knox County Schools' Program, which seeks to strengthen connections
between school and work for area eighth graders. Through a variety
of activities during four days at the veterinary college, students
explore career options in many areas of veterinary medicine and
animal care, perhaps identifying career goals for themselves. Faculty
and staff provide demonstrations and hands-on sessions for the students.
• Pet First Aid and Disaster Assistance: Veterinary
technicians volunteer to participate in a joint program between
the Tennessee Veterinary Technician Association and the American
Red Cross to provide pet first aid training for the public. The
College also coordinates the Tennessee Emergency Management Association
and with local agencies for emergencies, such as accidents with
animal transport vehicles or natural disasters requiring evacuation
or safeguards for animals.
• Producer Group and Animal Owner Seminars: Veterinary
college faculty participate in field day events, provide consultations,
and give educational presentations for producer and commodity groups.
In addition, the college presents seminars for horse owners and
others.
• Continuing Education Seminars: A major public service
role of the veterinary college is to provide continuing education
for veterinary professionals. Approximately 15 programs are offered
annually for veterinarians or veterinary technicians, attracting
nearly 1,000 people to campus throughout the year. On-line continuing
education also is in development. A visiting practitioner program
provides additional opportunities for practitioners to gain continuing
education at the UT Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
• International Programs: The college is involved in
numerous international exchanges of students and faculty. Programs
are located in several countries, including Japan, Chile and Ethiopia
and others. In addition, veterinary faculty make more the 200 international
presentations each year at professional meetings.
Outreach
Service
• Exotic, Zoo and Wildlife Animal Care: The College
of Veterinary Medicine provides veterinary care for animals at the
Knoxville Zoological Gardens and for raptors at the National Foundation
to Protect America's Eagles in nearby Pigeon Forge. Injured wildlife
are also treated by the college as part of its clinical public service
program. Faculty and staff also provide educational programs to
the community concerning wildlife.
• Human-Animal Bond In Tennessee (HABIT) is an animalassisted
therapy program which sponsors more than 30,0000 animal visitations
in nursing homes, assisted-living residences, retirement centers,
mental health centers, residences for children with special needs,
rehabilitation facilities, hospitals and other facilities. HABIT
is supported in part by the veterinary college with office space,
professional assistance and other contributions.
• The Spring Open House attracts approximately 6,000
people during a two-day event for schools and the general public.
Veterinary students organize the event to include tours, exhibits,
animals and a behind-the-scenes look at the veterinary teaching
hospital.
• Humans and Animals Learning Together (HALT) is a college-assisted
program that links dogs from local shelters with at-risk adolescents
who provide basic obedience training during a four-week program.
The activity is part of the youngster's therapeutic intervention.
They learn responsibility, patience, staying on task, communication
and commitment, while increasing the adoptability of unwanted dogs.
• Remote Area Medical Veterinary Services (RAM) is a
cooperative effort of a private volunteer medical group (Remote
Area Medical) and the College of Veterinary Medicine. RAM supplies
medical care to people and their animals in remote communities of
the world, including many in East Tennessee.
Contact
Office
of the Dean
College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Tennessee
P. O. Box 1071
Knoxville, TN 37901-1071
Phone: (865) 974-7262
Web site: http://www.vet.utk.edu
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