A REUNION took place at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine on April 17. Members of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital reunited with clients and former patients of the small animal emergency and critical care service to share experiences, recall successes and note discoveries in veterinary medicine that animal patients can inspire.
The informal event featured food, stories of close calls and the beginning of relationships shared between clients and staff under difficult circumstances. Faculty recognized the professionalism of veterinary technicians, who often work one-on-one to monitor and care for animal patients.
Animals even enjoyed pet-friendly "cake" and "ice cream" especially formulated with pet-food ingredients. At least 125 guests attended the event. Veterinary technician and event organizer Melody Duncan stated the reunion's purpose simply: "This event is an opportunity to meet again in happier times."
One client, whose dog spent 36 days on a ventilator while recovering from a broken neck, presented a plaque that paraphrased the ICU's unofficial motto, "We are in the business of not giving up."
The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine conducts statewide teaching, research and service activities to benefit animal, human and environmental health. The Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital faculty treats about 30,000 animal patients a year while teaching essential clinical skills to veterinary students and specialty residents, including residents in emergency and critical care.
The school's mission is to educate veterinary medical students and post-graduate veterinarians in state-of-the-art clinical veterinary medicine; to discover, apply and disseminate new knowledge to promote animal health and advance the diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention of animal diseases; and to provide high quality veterinary medical care and client services for the citizens of California.
Find out more on their website at: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
