Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is offering a new class for fall 2007 that examines complementary and alternative medicine. The class, “Complimentary and Alternative Veterinary Medicine,” is a one-credit elective offered over one weekend in September.
The class runs Sept. 22-23 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Bustad Hall room 145. Continental breakfast is provided as well as lunch and coffee breaks throughout the day. DVM students as well as veterinarians are eligible for admission.
Topics include information on natural nutritional supplements, acupuncture, chiropractic techniques and rehabilitation techniques for animals. Grading is by pass or fail; 70 percent or above is a passing grade.
Complimentary and alternative medicine externships will also be available through the class. The externship is in addition to the weekend class and will allow students to earn between one to four credits through hands-on experience in applying alternative medicine techniques.
The complimentary and alternative medicine course is being provided in response to feedback from veterinary graduates. Each year, the WSU veterinary college surveys veterinary graduates to determine how their education relates to their real world experience. The most recent survey of WSU graduates from 2000 to 2004 showed that the graduates felt unprepared in the area of complementary and alternative medicine. At the same time, surveys indicated that many graduates experienced a high demand from pet owners for these services to their animals.
Previously, WSU offered an elective course that provided a brief outline of alternative medicine, but no in depth class was provided.
Mushtaq Memon, a veterinarian and associate professor of reproduction at WSU’s veterinary college, was involved in revamping the WSU curriculum for the fall. Dr. Memon introduced the new course in response to the survey of veterinary graduates.
“Veterinarians face different demands than they did in the past,” he said. “People are having fewer children, and are often emotionally replacing children with pets, who become their family.”
Memon explained that as pets hold a higher stature within the family, owners are increasingly interested in applying a full spectrum of medical treatments available to humans, to their pets.
“People are also becoming more interested in alternative ways to treat their pets. People see chiropractors healing people for instance and wonder why that same treatment can’t benefit their pet.”
Memon said veterinarians need information on alternative medicine to cope with the consumer demand for alternative and complimentary information and services.
For further information on the class, contact Memon at 509-335-0711.
