New Case Development
Develop a New Case:
- Did you enjoy your Diagnostic Challenge experience?
- Have you ever wondered how your DC case was developed?
- Do you want to be a part of developing cases that have the potential to be used for future years?
- Would you like the opportunity to work alongside faculty members to develop a new DC case?
- Do you want to further develop your knowledge base?
- Do you need to earn some extra cash for the summer?
If you answered “yes” to many of these questions, then the DC Case Development Summer Program is something that you should consider.
This is the program by which new DC cases are created each summer. It is conducted as an independent study (VM503 – see WSU catalog) through which each student is paired with a faculty advisor. Working together, the student and advisor develop a new teaching case that will be used in the Diagnostic Challenge exercises next fall. If successful, the case will likely be used again in subsequent years. For a more detailed description click on the link below.
Overview
When? First and middle parts of the summer. Case will need to be completed before the Fall semester starts.
Who? The program is available to any WSU CVM student that has gone through the DC experience. Most years about 5-8 students participate in the summer program, but the number does vary. Participating students are assigned a faculty advisor depending on their interests and needs.
Where? Students can participate from any location, as long as they have a zoom link and set regularly scheduled meetings with their advisor(s).
Program
Summer case development is an independent study wherein students work closely with a faculty advisor to put together a new DC case that will be used in the coming fall.
Participating students are NOT expected to come up with the idea for the case, but you may very well have some ideas. Your advisor will also be able to help you decide what makes for a good DC case and how it can best be brought together.
At the onset, you will be sworn to secrecy regarding your case and other new DC cases, so that the diagnosis doesn’t slip out to second year students prior to the exercise.
Schedule
You will usually meet with your assigned advisor weekly or semi-weekly during the summer to get ideas and update them on your progress.
The ultimate goal is to get the case completed before the end of summer.
Whoever is facilitating the case in the fall (usually your facilitator plus one other veterinarian) should be able to pick up your case, open the thumb drive, and be prepared to run the case from beginning to end. All the pieces need to be in place
There are only 3 group meetings for case development.
- Typically the group meets near the end of the spring semester to discuss expectations, collect starting materials and receive some examples.
- The second meeting is an informal gathering of students and advisors in mid-June-early July. There, students lay out the case at its current stage for group input. You and your advisor may also have some specific questions to pose to the rest of the group. Lots of good ideas and helpful feedback usually come out of this meeting.
- The final, more formal meeting is in late July or early August. Here students present their case to the entire group. This is a PowerPoint presentation along the lines of DC Grand rounds and is followed by a final discussion. There may still be a few pieces that need to be added to the case, but it should be mostly done at this time.
Taking Part
If you are interested and/or would like more information on the New DC Case Development Program (VM 503), please contact Dr. Jeff Abbott and Dr. Rachel Halsey.
- Informational Session: Is held during the spring semester for anyone interested in the program for current second year vet students. Everyone is to learn more, ask questions, and speak with former Vpa501 students about their experiences.
- There is a short application process, please watch for emails for more details.
- If selected for the summer program you’ll register for the class VM 503 in the fall (so you won’t have to pay for the credit) and also get a $600 stipend upon completion of the case.
In the past, students have really enjoyed the experience, thought they learned something, and liked seeing the class behind them work through their case.