Establishment of Veterinary Technology Track: Cultivating Pre-veterinary/veterinary Technology Professionals to Satisfy the Need of the 21st Century

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/>There is a critical shortage of adequately trained minorities (especially, African Americans) in veterinary medicine and related fields. Based on literature, while African Americans comprise 12.8 percent of the US population, they make up only 1.5 percent of the veterinary professional. This disparity will continue to negatively affect both animal and human health programs because veterinarians and veterinary technologists play key roles in maintaining the health and socioeconomic well-being of the public. The veterinary technology program at Florida A&M University (FAMU) was conceived to meet the needs of both regulatory and clinical veterinary medicine. The need for this program has long been established by the veterinary community, the federal and state regulatory agencies, and colleges of veterinary medicine. FAMU is committed to addressing
this critical shortage of adequately trained minorities in the veterinary profession. With the opening of its state-of-the-art animal science healthcare facility, FAMU is uniquely positioned to train students in veterinary technology and in the animal science/pre-vet program. The project plans to recruit and retain talented minority professionals in the field of veterinary medicine through innovative training programs that prepare students to enter the workforce and colleges of veterinary medicine. This includes hands-on activities and internship programs with local practitioners, diagnostic laboratories, quarantine facilities, local animal service centers and colleges of veterinary medicine. In addition, the project will mentor middle and high school students to create interest for and awareness of these disciplines. The goal of the project is to contribute to global food safety and
production efficiency.<p>
APPROACH:<br/>The project plans to increase the number of talented minority professionals in the field of veterinary medicine through innovative training programs that prepare students to enter the workforce and colleges of veterinary medicine. This will include internship programs with local practitioners, diagnostic laboratories, quarantine facilities, and colleges of veterinary medicine. The project will recruit and retain high achieving minorities in the field through fellowship. In addition, the project will mentor middle and high school students to create interest for and awareness of these disciplines. The project will also use a ""farmer-to-farmer"" mentoring-professional system to increase knowledge in food safety and production sustainability.</p><p>
PROGRESS:<br/>2011/09 TO 2012/08<br/>OUTPUTS: Products, services and events that are intended to lead the program; Information, skills and technology for individuals and communities; Participants reach through recruiting and retention and otherwise Knowledge (e.g. experiential and technical) PARTICIPANTS: High and middle school (pre-college) students in Tallahassee and surrounding areas; FAMU college students (pre-veterinary medicine and veterinary technology majors); farmers/producers/ranchers; FAMU and UF extension agents, specialists, and personnel; USDA agencies (e.g. APHIS, FSA, NRCS and ARS); FDACS; and other non-governmental organizations. TARGET AUDIENCES: Animal farmers/producers/rancher; pre-college students which include high and middle school students in the local and surrounding areas who are underrepresented in other similar programs; students interested in
agriculture(e.g. animal science); college students in pre-veterinary medicine and veterinary technology; minorities and at-risk students PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
<br/>PROGRESS: <br/>2010/09/01 TO 2011/08/31<br/>OUTPUTS: 1.Products, services & events that are intended to lead the program outcome. 2.Information, skills & technology for individuals, communities and programs. 3. Participants reach PARTICIPANTS: The project included a counseling service model through collaboration with the FAMU Office of Counseling Services and Psychology Department. This program targeted male under the title: Adolescent to Manhood Program of Transition (AMPT). The program (AMPT)is based on wellness counseling and focused on increasing students' life coping skills, and is designed to cultivate male role model to motivate peers to grow and develop. Ten students enrolled in the program. TARGET AUDIENCES: The program targets animal farmers/ranchers, professionals and paraprofessionals including precollege and college students: Precollege students include high &
middle student in the local and surrounding area who are underrepresented in other similar programs. Students would increase their awareness, and learn about careers in agriculture, animal science and related fields. A summer program designed for this group (AgTech Century 21) was held in two sessions in June & July 2011. Over 90 percent of the participants express that program helped them decide whether to pursue a career in animal, and their knowledge was increased by the program. One student from the program is enrolled in the pre-veterinary animal science program. College students outcomes were expressed in terms of increased minorities in veterinary profession, and changed behavior. The program has increased the number of minority in Veterinary Technology from 8 to 19. Male college students reflected changed behaves through class attendance and increased retention (reduced dropout)
potential. Nothing major is done yet through this program with animal farmers/ranchers target audience. A program called ""AgReach"" is expected to launch early next year (2012). AgReach will use farmer-to-farmer mentoring, workshops and field day mechanisms to reach farmers/ranchers/producers to increase food safety and production efficiency. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.</p>