Welcome to the VMRCVM Class of 2014 Website
This website is maintained by the students of the VMRCVM Class of 2014. Please keep checking back for the latest news and events.
About Us
The Class of 2014 is comprised of a diverse group of 99 students from a variety of different backgrounds. Many of us were born and raised in Virginia and Maryland and many of us have moved to Blacksburg from across North America.
We all share a common bond: our love of animals has driven us to pursue the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. We also share many common values some of which are:
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To treat injury, pain and disease in animals
To maintain a continuous expertise and awareness of the ever-changing animal-related issues that shape our society
To provide guidance and leadership to our community
To exude professionalism and empathy, and to respect the concerns, dignity, and welfare of our community, clients, and the animals we treat
What are the Roles of a Veterinarian?
Historically, the veterinarian was the "animal doctor" that visited farms to treat sick and injured animals. However, the role of the veterinarian has expanded with our continuously changing society. Never in history has the role of the veterinarian served so many aspects of our lifestyle, culture, and moral compass. With the explosive growth of the human population in the United States and the advancement of medical technology, new legislation, and venues of communication, veterinarians provide services that pervade all aspects of our lives.
All students in our class have individual personal goals that will determine what role they will play in society. Recognition of this diversity could not be expressed more elegantly than in the VMRCVM student tracking program (introduced in 1998). Every student will select from one of the following tracks:
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Small Animal Medicine
Mixed Animal Medicine
Food Animal Medicine
Equine Medicine
Public/Corporate Animal Medicine
All graduates are fully trained as veterinarians that can serve the needs of all of the above tracks; however the tracking system provides each student an opportunity to receive additional instruction in their specific areas of interest via track and elective courses.
Where are we Going?
In the near future, you will see us:
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at private veterinary practices to providing care to companion animals
at farms to ensuring the health and prosperity of our vital agriculture industry
treating our beloved horses
in specializations performing complex surgical procedures; treating wildlife, marine, and zoo animals; providing assistance to animal shelters; and many more
serving as public and corporate liasons to help our lawmakers and corporations make educated decisions on animal-related policies and procedures
as educators with the goal of mentoring and instructing future veterinarians
providing behaviorial and psychological counseling therby strengthening the human-animal bond
engaging in cutting-edge research to improve clinical techniques, develop new medicines, fight the spread of disease, and work in unison with the medical community to provide insight into fighting disease in humans, and vice versa.
A Community Focus
No one veterinary student can succeed alone: we rely on teamwork and support from within our class and the guidance and training from a world-class team of professors, educators, and administrators. But perhaps the most important aspect is you, the community. Without the continued support and recognition from our community, we could not succeed. In great appreciation of the incredible support that our community provides, we pledge as students and as professionals to give back to our fullest extent.
