By Kayla Greiner
The Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club hosted for a second time the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium last weekend (March 21 to 23) at the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Quality Inn and Suites Starlite Village Conference Center.
 |
| Symposium co-chairs, from left, Kimberly Strait, Kesley Aarsvold and Miranda Buseman. |
The chapter first hosted the event 10 years ago. The three-day national meeting, that drew about 500 students, is hosted annually by veterinary schools. It gives pre-veterinary medicine students opportunities to see advancements in veterinary medicine and gain hands-on experience.
“The symposium provides opportunities to students that are invaluable. They can talk to representatives from veterinary schools, plus practice and gain skills. There is so much to offer, that’s why I love it,” said Miranda Buseman, senior in animal science, one of the planning co-chairs.
The chapter’s members have been working with the Conference Planning and Management at the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau to plan the symposium. Kesley Aarsvold, senior in animal science and microbiology, and Kimberly Strait, sophomore in dairy science are the co-chairs with Buseman. Their host committee and volunteers include about 76 students. The group has three advisers, Matthew Ellinwood, associate professor in animal science; Eric Rowe, associate professor in biomedical sciences; and Joan Howard, clinician at veterinary medical center.
“Our planning committee worked very hard to organize a great symposium, and we are very proud to have worked with so many great people to make this possible,” Strait said.
The symposium includes lectures, labs, networking with veterinary medicine schools, entertainment, banquets and more. Students will get to attend four lectures and two labs. One of their opportunities is visiting an alpaca farm, where students will administer dewormer shots to the animals. Students will listen to professors speak on comparative animal nutrition.
To find out more information about the symposium, check the website. For pictures during the event, like the 2014 APVMA Symposium Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/APVMANationalSymposium2014