Fourth-year student Alex Goskowicz (left) reviews an ultrasound image with Molly Racette (MS’14; Dept. of Medical Sciences) in UW Veterinary Care’s emergency department.
By Maggie Baum
By prioritizing early clinical experiences across all four years of study and aligning teaching practices to current evaluation standards, the UW School of Veterinary Medicine’s (SVM) new OnWard curriculum ensures students transition seamlessly and productively from the classroom to clinical practice.
“Our investment in education underlies everything else we do,” says Dean Jon Levine. “That’s not just a statement, but an action plan that we foster and support with intention and resources. Our commitment to developing students’ skills and talents in tangible ways is a cornerstone of the UW Vet Med mission to train the next generation of veterinarians and scientists.”
Last year, Liddy Alvarez (Dept. of Medical Sciences) stepped into the newly created role of director of early clinical experiences, serving as a link between SVM students and veterinary partners across the region and the country. Alvarez is primarily responsible for coordinating community-based education opportunities that give students exposure to the kinds of real-world clinical settings they’re likely to practice in after graduation. These experiences also teach students the scope and importance of primary care, including the veterinarian’s role as a first-line, whole‑health provider, while also deepening their understanding of continuity of care and the impact of pet health on families.
Early clinical experiences reflect several key pillars of the school’s new curriculum. They are designed to enhance learning by reinforcing what students are studying in the classroom and via self-directed lessons with tangible cases in a clinical setting.
Also, these opportunities are key to helping SVM students sharpen their professional skills: how to communicate effectively with coworkers and clients, lead and work with teams, and understand and navigate the ethics of the profession. Real-world opportunities in a range of clinical settings allow veterinary medical students to see how these skills are utilized by clinicians every day.
“The sooner our students can apply foundational concepts in actual clinical situations, the more we see — in measurable ways — deeper learning, stronger understanding, and longer retention of knowledge,” Alvarez says. “And when it comes to professional skills such as communication and team management, there is no substitute for observing and practicing in real-world settings.”
To prepare for these experiences, first- and second-year students spend clinical time in UW Veterinary Care’s (UWVC) teaching hospital and at WisCARES, the SVM’s community veterinary clinic that serves community members experiencing financial hardship or homelessness.
As OnWard continues its phased roll out, the goal by August 2027 is for all third-year veterinary students to rotate through several varied, semi-structured weeklong experiences in clinical settings outside of UWVC. Fourth-year students will continue their usual clinical rotations in the teaching hospital, though the length of the clinical year will be extended.
“In addition to nurturing more partnership with private and corporate veterinary practices and other relevant organizations, this greater emphasis on early clinical experiences means that all of us in the UW Vet Med community become more aligned and more connected to the benefit of our students and our clinical teams,” Alvarez says.
Ensuring early clinical experiences help students meet programmatic goals and accreditation requirements also contributes to a seamless transition from classroom to clinical practice. In that respect, the work Alvarez is doing builds on that of Jessica Pritchard (Dept. of Medical Sciences), who began serving as the school’s director of clinical assessment in spring 2023. Pritchard focuses on aligning assessment in clinical rotations with competencies set by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. She also spearheads the development and implementation of a standardized, competency-based rubric for student evaluations.
“We’re incredibly proud of the structure we’ve built here and how we are fostering meaningful professional development opportunities for our students,” Pritchard says. “It’s crucial that, at the same time, we ensure our students can meet and exceed the benchmarks and competency requirements of their chosen professions. It’s a comprehensive and holistic approach with student success at the center.”
Regardless of where students are on their educational journey, from just starting their first year to graduation, exposing them to as many experiences and opportunities as possible is a top priority, Levine says.
“The work faculty members are doing, including Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Pritchard, centers on ensuring that everyone learning here has meaningful and relevant educational experiences and opportunities on all fronts and at all levels, starting with their first year of veterinary medical school,” Levine says.
“OnWard aims to train veterinarians who are clinically prepared, adaptable, and equipped with essential professional skills immediately upon graduation. By aligning educational structure with the realities of veterinary practice and emphasizing applied learning from the start, the program prepares students for success in our complex and evolving field. Our top-notch leadership in academic affairs, along with faculty, curriculum and instructional specialists, and support teams, are doing an incredible job managing our legacy curriculum while continuing the phased roll out of OnWard.”
– Dean Jon Levine
Learn more about OnWard