Methods and microbial risks associated with composting of animal carcasses in the United States.

Composting is an alternative method of carcass disposal in those situations when conventional methods are inadequate. With proper maintenance and monitoring, carcass composting systems can be safe and efficient with minimal environmental impacts. Importantly, proper composting eliminates many pathogens and may reduce levels of carcass contamination with spore-forming bacteria, prions, and other pathogens.

Comparison of published recommendations regarding biosecurity practices for various production animal species and classes.

Objective: To compare published recommendations regarding biosecurity practices for various production animal species and classes.

Design: Literature review.

Population: Educational materials available on the World Wide Web that provided biosecurity recommendations for dairy cattle, beef cattle, small ruminant, swine, and poultry producers.

Involving practitioners in continuing education needs assessment: use of the nominal group technique.

The nominal group technique (NGT) is described. An example of this method is provided. The goal was to identify clinical cases that could be used in a practitioner self-assessment tool.

Effects of a veterinary student leadership program on measures of stress and academic performance.

Assuming leadership roles in veterinary student governance or club activities could be considered an added stressor for students because of the impact on time available for personal and academic activities. The study reported here evaluated the effects of participation in a leadership program and leadership activity across two classes of veterinary students on measures of stress, using the Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP), and on veterinary school academic performance, measured as annual grade-point average (GPA) over a three-year period. Program participants and their classmates completed the DSP three times across the first three years of veterinary school.

Talking with veterinary clients about money.

Successfully discussing financial issues with clients is integral to delivering optimal patient and client care. Fostering patient health, promoting client satisfaction, and maximizing financial revenues are compatible and attainable goals. Enabling clients to make informed decisions and approaching financial conversations with confidence are rites of passage in the journey toward becoming a true professional.

The University of California Veterinary Student Leadership Program: comparison of a five-day with a three-day course.

Leadership skills can be learned and leadership activities can be stimulated with an effective educational program. The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine has demonstrated and previously reported on the enthusiasm for and outcomes of their five-day leadership program for incoming veterinary students. The course was altered and again offered as a five-day program to the next veterinary class but, because of timing and limited resources, was reduced to three days the following year.

What is leadership?

The demand for more effective leadership is heard throughout the health professions. Modern concepts of leadership differ from the traditional definition of a charismatic individual leader. Historically, leadership has been vested in positions, while today leadership is seen as a role one moves continuously into and out of, depending on the circumstance.

Using clinical audits to identify practitioner learning needs.

Clinical audits are used in medicine to monitor practice performance, provide practice feedback, and identify learning needs. Although relatively new to veterinary practice, they hold promise as personal learning needs assessment tools. Continuing veterinary medical education providers are in a unique position to assist practitioners in the design, implementation, and evaluation of clinical audits.

Using focus groups for continuing veterinary medical education needs assessment and program planning.

Needs assessments are essential to educational program development. Methods of needs assessment include environmental scans, surveys, and focus groups. Focus groups are valuable and acceptable tools to identify learner needs.