by Jack Kelly
The excitement was palpable amid the intermittent beeping of medical equipment and hushed conversations of two dozen students, clinicians, and instructional specialists. So were the nerves. It was junior surgery day — a major milestone for third-year students at the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM).
Working in teams of four — two as anesthetists, two as surgeons — the students care for a feline patient through the entire surgery process, under the guidance of faculty and teaching staff. Upon arrival, they perform physical exams and monitor for any existing ailments. On surgery day, they give the cat premeds, induce anesthesia, transport them to the operating room, prepare for surgery, and perform a spay procedure. Finally, they closely monitor the patient through recovery and discharge, producing detailed medical records throughout the whole process.
Taking the reins
“For a lot of students, this is a big milestone — something they’ve been working towards for years,” says Maria Verbrugge (MS’97 DVM’03; Department of Medical Sciences), clinical instructor of primary care at the SVM. “Sometimes there are some growing pains for students in taking on the responsibilities of the course, but in general, it’s an exciting time of a lot of firsts.” The students enrolled in the course feel the same way. “Junior surgery is one of the big things that you work toward,” says Kamber Cofta (’23 DVMx’27). “It’s also one of the most high-pressure things we do,” her classmate, Emily Napiwocki (’22 DVMx’27), is quick to add. That makes the surgery course an inflection point in their veterinary medical education, the students say.
“This is where you see all that you’ve learned come together,” says Grace Linscott (DVMx’27), who worked on the surgery team with Cofta and Napiwocki. “Up until now, for the most part, it’s been individual classes. And now, it’s anesthesia, surgery fundamentals, pharmacology, physical anatomy — everything’s coming together for this procedure.” It’s also the first chance for students to fully have a sense of ownership of a patient’s case, says Spencer Krug (DVMx’27). “This is the logical next step,” he says. “We’re ready for it.”
Balancing stress and support
“Surgery day is a long day,” Verbrugge says. “It’s a lot to remember and a lot of things that the students haven’t done before. We do quite a few prep labs, skills check-ins, and orientations to get them prepared, but that also can contribute to a bit of emotional wind up in anticipation.”
The school’s faculty members and instructional specialists work hard to ensure the students feel prepared for surgery day, Verbrugge adds. “The level of dedication of the teaching team, both the doctors and the instructional specialists, is incredible.”
“We try to strike a balance between making sure they understand the importance of being prepared to do a big, difficult thing, while also trying to make sure they feel as calm and well-supported as possible,” she says.
Supporting shelters, educating students
The course also underscores the SVM’s commitment to serving the community: The feline patients come from partner animal shelters.
The SVM’s partnership with the Iowa County Humane Society has bolstered the shelter’s ability to care for animals, says Hannah Guenther, the organization’s kennel manager. Through the junior surgery program, the shelter is able to provide free spays and vaccinations for both adoptable house cats and trap, neuter, release cats.
It’s been particularly important for the shelter’s trap, neuter, release program, Guenther says. “Cats get through surgery faster, which means they can be adopted or released sooner, which opens up space for more animals to get the care they need.”
“All around,” she adds, “it’s been a win-win: our animals get the care they deserve, and students get real-world experience that sticks with them.”
“We’re so grateful to the rescue groups that entrust us with patients,” Verbrugge says. “We couldn’t provide this learning experience without them.”
Wrapping up surgery week, the students said goodbye to their patients, each of whom had undergone a successful spay procedure and were recovering well.
“It was nice to have the responsibility and feel confident in my abilities,” Krug says. “There is so much to learn and to do, but taking a moment to realize that I have the knowledge to successfully complete a surgery feels meaningful.”
For Linscott, the high stakes and stress were worth it. “This is a pivotal moment,” she says. “This experience helped me realize that I am capable of managing real clinical situations, and that shift in mindset has made me feel more prepared for the responsibilities that lie ahead.”