Before DC
Expectations
We expect that you will have to think, read the literature, and make the kind of decisions that veterinarians face every day. As a result we hope that you will learn the basic principles of pathophysiology, clinical pathology, infectious disease, public health and toxicology by having to apply those principles.
It will definitely be a more active (and potentially more stressful) method of learning instead of just sitting in a lecture.
The Diagnostic Challenge is NOT a competition or a race!
Obtaining a final diagnosis is only ONE goal and sometimes it may not be the primary goal. Diagnostic medicine is dynamic and there are often multiple goals. Continually redefining these goals within the context of a changing scenario my help decrease the anxiety associated with only focusing on one goal, such as obtaining a diagnosis or response to treatment.
We hope, in the second year of the curriculum to create a taste of what it feels like to work up a challenging case in private practice. So, remember, this is what you wanted to do when you applied to veterinary school! Have some fun and be creative! You’ve finally been released from just sitting in a dark lecture room – at least for a few days!
The short-term GOAL of a DC case is to use a logical, systematic approach, as well as your understanding of diseases to arrive at a clinical diagnosis.
- Approach your case in any way you think best. You do not need to use lab tests if you are confident of your diagnosis without additional tests.
- You are not necessarily expected to bring your DC case to a complete resolution. We do expect, however, that arriving at a diagnosis will allow you to make predictions about the outcome of your case based on what has previously been published.
- Learn and apply basic principles of pathophysiology, infectious disease, laboratory diagnosis and public health as you work through your DC cases.
- Identify the “Learning Issues” that are a part of each DC case and interactions.
Your success in meeting these expectations will be evaluated at the end of the exercise
Logistics
The DC is a complex program and, as a second-year vet student, you are an integral piece of a very intricate puzzle. Therefore, to ensure a smooth process, it is necessary that you familiarize yourself with the organizational tools and structure provided here, which have been specifically designed to assist you during the DC week.
“It forces you to learn, but it’s a fun way of learning because even though it’s all “pretending,” it is a much more “real life” way of thinking about the topics than just studying from a book.”
Former DC student participant