Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this grant was veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians with a focus on large animal or mixed animal veterinary practices; specific preference was given to those working in a rural setting or in an area with an identified need for veterinarians. The rural veterinary practitioners have little opportunity to stay current with the advances in food animal medicine, especially in diagnostic testing and regulatory requirements. A focus within that target audience was on young graduates who have been in practice for less than 5 years, especially those in solo practices. Although these young veterinarians are equipped with the basics, they need mentorship and assistance with complex or complicated investigations and have no one within easy reach to discuss diagnostic test options and the samples needed. During the grant period, we extended multiple invitations to this group, both veterinarians and vet technicians, to participate in continuing education meetings and the externship opportunities at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory as well as on Zoom. Changes/Problems:Originally, 36 months were requested to accomplish the major objectives. Years 1 and 2 were for course material development, recruitment of participants, and in-person training opportunities at the UKVDL. Year 3 was slated for continued program delivery (both on-site and distance learning), data management, analysis, and report writing (manuscripts and other publications) associated with the project. Given the unprecedented Covid pandemic limitations, there have still been many project accomplishments and opportunities to train veterinarians in diagnostic sample collection both in-person and virtually, and to provide them with comprehensive electronic materials for reference. One significant impact on the rate of expenditure was much of the proposed budget for "training" was for travel and accommodations for participants in the week-long necropsy experienceso over half of those funds (64%) remained unused at the end of the grant. In addition, since this grant began with 6 faculty co-investigators in 2019 butfinished with one faculty PI in the final year, the funds allotted for travel were far more than could be used given Covid travel restrictions so 49% of funds alloted to travel were unused. The survey on veterinary retention collected responses until the end of November 2024. Data analysis and reports associated with the survey will conclude the year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The recruitment of recognized experts to deliver lectures in his or her area of expertise, either in-person at the UKVDL or by Zoom has offered a tremendous opportunity for training and professional development for all interested veterinarians. A Zoom webinar license upgrade, funded through the grant, has facilitated this virtual type of CE because it automatically tracks participation and makes it easy to sendthe CE certificates to participants. The webinar license has also enabled livestreaming of continuing education meetings from any location with reliable internet to reach veterinarians statewide. This project provided several professional development opportunities for the PI and co-PIs. Dr. Ruby (former PI) attended the American College of Veterinary Pathologists annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts in November 2022. Co-PI Dr. Jennifer Janes attended the US Animal Health Association (USAHA) meeting in October of 2022. Co-PI Dr. Michelle Arnold (who finished the final year as PI) attended the 2023National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) meeting in New Orleans, LA, in February. In addition to recruitment for the diagnostic training at the lab, Dr. Arnold participated in the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee Sessions where the meeting purpose was to "discuss the primary animal health challenges facing the beef cattle industry" includingupdates on the national animal vaccine readiness against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Animal Disease Traceability efforts. In January 2024, Dr. Arnold attended the KY Cattlemen's Convention in Lexington, KY and participated in the discussion "FMD Preparedness" with APHIS AVIC Dr. Chris Craig. This meeting was followed by the NCBA meeting in Orlando, FL in February. Since this grant began in 2019 with 6 faculty co-investigators, the funds allotted for travel were far more than could be used given the Covid travel restrictions and with only 1 faculty member remainingon the grant beginning in 2023. Approximately 49% of funds budgeted to travel were unused. This project provided a tremendous opportunity for professional development through exploration of diagnostic test options offered at other accredited veterinary diagnostic labs. For example, Cornell offers blood culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of Salmonella dublin in live, affected dairy calves. With grant funds, I (Dr. Arnold) was able to secure the blood culture vials, and to instruct the local veterinarian what to collect and how to ship them back to Cornell. Not only did this lead to finding the right antibiotic for treatment, it also led to procurement of an autogenous vaccine for this producer. Another neglected diagnostic area is small ruminant diseasepanels. I utilized the Kansas State VDL for their small ruminant tissue abortion PCR panel and Texas A & M VDL for their ovine/caprine abortion serology panel on several abortion cases submitted to the UKVDL and received some unexpected results. Each diagnostic success not only improves our recognition of disease, it also drives usto continue looking for more answers to provide food animal veterinarians and their clients. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Veterinarians are considered the most well-respected source of information by food animal producers.The results of our efforts have reached food animal veterinarians, vet technicians, and, ultimately, their clients through the CE online lectures, the CE case modules, the Food Animal Conferences and through email, text and phone communications.The relationships made through these various methods have opened lines of communication to the diagnostic lab so veterinarians can call, email or text while on the farm to ensure they gather the correct samples and order the right diagnostic tests given the clinical signs and possible diagnoses. This is especially true in potential cases of poisoning; many veterinarians call on the expertise of the toxicologist for advice on sample collection and guidance on treatment. Further, because the Federal and State veterinarians attend almost all continuing education endeavors, practicing veterinarians are more comfortable working with the regulatory authorities when they spot unusual diseases that need to be reported and investigated. This became very important whenthe Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak began in March 2024 in dairy cattle as we served as the conduit between regulatory authorities and practicing veterinaians. In 2024, the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA) executive director began attending the Food Animal Veterinary Conferences because of our discussions regarding theveterinary shortage situation. This cooperation has been advantageous in giving food animal/mixed animal practitioners a voice in the discussion that they have not had in the past.These relationships are immeasurably important in the effort to retain veterinarians to large animal/food animal practice. The most effective method to disseminate information to communities of interest has been the construction and maintenance of an email "contact group" that is updated every few months. Every email address associated with a veterinarian or a clinic that has submitted even 1 ruminant sample to the diagnostic lab is placed in the contact group to receive allCE invitations and any pertinent news. This has been immeasurably important and effective in reaching the target audience and new veterinarians now contact me to be placed on the list as well. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: The first in person educational course was held in April2022, after significant Covid restrictions were lifted. The conference hosted 33 participants virtually on day 1 (5 CE hours) and 20 in person on day 2 (6 CE hours). There were 4 wetlab stations including parasitology, toxicology, general necropsy, and special sample collection. Each participant received their own personal necropsy kit with everything included to perform a full necropsy and collect the necessary samples for analysis. In 2023, the 2023 Winter and Summer Food Animal Veterinary conferences were held in February and August, respectively. There were 47 veterinarians in attendance at the UKVDL and 8 by Zoom at the Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) in Western KY. In August, there were 52 veterinarians in attendance at the UKVDL and 9 at the BVC. Each conference provided 8 CE hours of credit. For the 2024 Winter Conference, 52 veterinarians and 6 veterinary technicians attended at the UKVDL and 15 veterinarians at the BVC. The 2024 Summer Conference was billed as "A Day with Meredyth Jones" and there were 55 veterinarians in attendance at the UKVDL and 16 at the BVC. Each CE conference provided 8 hours of CE to the participants. In total, 2200 CE hours were awarded to veterinarians and technicians through in-person meetings held at the UKVDL.In 2024, this grant allowed exploration of diagnostic test options offered at other accredited veterinary diagnostic labs. This information was presented (Arnold) at the 44th Annual Morehead Clinic Days Veterinary Conference in June 2024 and published in their Veterinary Proceedings under the title "Broadening Diagnostic Test Options in Ruminant Abortion Cases" to provide this information to practicing veterinarians. The veterinarians were exceptionally grateful to have additional test options to offer to their clients and these can be incorporated as referral tests if veterinarians request them. Goal 2: In 2020, "Diagnostic techniques for common conditions in ruminants" program provided attendees with information on parasitology and abortions, ruminant necropsy basics, toxicology basics, bovine respiratory and gastrointestinal disease- emphasis on common findings and diagnostic choices. Each segment provided an overview of common conditions and then information on how to correctly evaluate specimens for pathologic and further testing. Delivered virtually due to COVID-19. The first of these reached 100 participants, 10 countries and 27 states were represented. The second virtual conference had 81 attendees; 75 were veterinarians and 6 veterinary technicians, 20 states were represented and 8 countries. Each program was available for 2 hours of RACE approved continuing education. Online materials generated included notes on bovine respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and parasitology that were made available to participants along with lists of appropriate samples to collect for ruminant respiratory cases, gastrointestinal cases, suspected intoxication and abortion. In April 2022, a virtual lecture entitled "2022 Necropsy and Diagnostic Testing in Ruminants" was held by Zoom on 4/15 with 5 CE hours awarded to 33 participating veterinarians. In 2023, a new evening Zoom webinar CE series entitled "Diagnostic Dilemmas" was launched to reach veterinarians during the winter months when they are likely to be at home in the early evening. Each meeting was livestreamed but also recorded and placed on a dedicated YouTube channel with restricted access given to all veterinarians who registered for the event. Dr. Mike Apley (Kansas State) delivered the first 1-hour webinar "BRD Therapeutics-Antibiotic Strategies in High-Risk Stockers" on November 28th with 62 veterinarians in attendance. Dr. Meredyth Jones (Oklahoma State) gave two 1-hour CE webinars "Finding the Answer in that Mess of Numbers-Understanding the Ruminant CBC and Chemistry Panel" on December 5 and December 12th, respectively, with 37 veterinarians in attendance for Part 1, 34 for Part 2; with 31 vets attending both parts. The series continued in 2024 with "Survival Skills: Taking Control of your Food Animal Practice" on February 13th, delivered by Dr. Mark Hilton of Midwest Beef Cattle Consultants. Thirty-eight veterinarians attended the live webinar. On March 27th, Dr. Christina Cunha (USDA) concluded the Diagnostic Dilemmas series with a fascinating lecture entitled "Important Things to Know about MCF (Malignant Catarrhal Fever)" with 24 veterinarians receiving credit for attending the webinar. Two additional Zoom CE opportunities were made available to veterinarians using grant funds. On July 30th, 2024, the UKVDL webinar license enabled 9 veterinarians to view the 2.5-hour live stream from BVC entitled "African Swine Fever: What do I look for" delivered by Dr. Andrew Bowman of The Ohio State University. The 2ndopportunity, "Managing Newly Purchased Feeder calves for Improved Immunity" delivered by John Richeson (West Texas A & M). Twenty veterinarians (5 in-person and 15 by Zoom) received 1.5 hours of CE credit. Grant funds were used to pay the new veterinary CE application fee required by the KBVE. A total of 743.5 hours of continuing education credit was awarded from online meetings. In 2023, the "Food Animal Veterinary Online Program" continuing education modules were completed and placed in the Canvas Catalog Learning Management system. A rule change in fiscal 2024 disallowed use of grant funds to pay the user fees for a veterinarian to use the platform, even for training purposes. We were unable to get any new users after the change in fee structure. However, we are continuing to pursue utilizing these finished modules if housed appropriately behind a password-protected site. Goal 3: In January 2023, we hosted the first two NIFA-USDA funded visitors in the lab, Hannah Jackson and Faith Hagelberger. They are both working as vet assistant/nurses at a bovine genetics business in Ohio. They were on the necropsy floor each day, working with the technicians on opening animals, collecting routine and toxicology samples. After one day focused mostly on orientation and technique, the rest of the week consisted of spending time with the pathologist on the ruminant cases and in small, focused sessions with different sections of the lab.Two additional visitors, Rachel Sanford (Wisconsin Vet Diagnostic Lab) and Brooke Carpenter (UK) also participated in the week-long diagnostic training lab experience. Although the week-long laboratory experience on the necropsy floor was a unique, novel portion of this project, it has proved to be too lengthy for veterinarians to be away from practice. Goal 4: The Food Animal Vet Retention survey was launched in February 2023 and finally closed in November of 2024. The survey link was sent via email to 453 email addresses, with the prompt to "please complete the survey if you have ever practiced food animal veterinary medicine during your career". The survey contained a number of questions within the categories of personal background, current position, education and competency, and agreement with factors cited as reasons for leaving food animal practice. The total number of participants was 125; of those, 71 (56.8%) are still in mixed animal/food animal practice while 54 (43.2%) have left food animal practice. There were 18 respondents who graduated in 2010 or after, referred to within the survey data as "young" veterinarians.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this grant is veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants with a focus on production animals, specific preference is given to those working in a rural setting or an area with an identified need for veterinarians. The rural veterinary practitioners have little opportunity to stay current with the advances in food animal medicine, especially in diagnostic testing and regulatory requirements. A focus within that target audience ison young graduates who have been in practice for less than 5 years, especially those in solo practices. Although these young veterinarians are equipped with the basics, they need assistance with complex or complicated investigations and have no one within easy reach to discuss diagnostic testoptions and the samples needed. During the reporting period, we extended invitations to this group to participate in two continuing education meetings and the one-week externship opportunities at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The recruitment of recognized experts to deliver lectures in his or her area of expertise, either in-person at the UKVDL or by Zoom has offered a tremendous opportunity for training and professional development for all interested veterinarians. A Zoom webinar license upgrade, funded through the grant, has facilitated this virtual type of CE because it automatically tracks participation and sends the CE certificates to participants. The webinar license has also enabled simulcasting continuing education meetings to the veterinary diagnostic lab in the western part of KY to reach veterinarians statewide. This project provided several professional development opportunities for the PI and co-PIs. Dr. Ruby (former PI) attended the American College of Veterinary Pathologists annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts in November 2022. Co-PI Dr. Jennifer Janes attended the US Animal Health Association (USAHA) meeting in October of 2022.Co-PI Dr. Michelle Arnold (now PI) attended the 2023National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) meeting in New Orleans, LA, in February. In addition to recruitment for the diagnostic training at the lab, Dr. Arnold participated in the Cattle Health and Well Being Committee Sessions where the meeting purpose was to "discuss the primary animal health challenges facing the beef cattle industry". In 2023, updates on the national animal vaccine readiness against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Animal Disease Traceability efforts were presented. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Veterinarians are considered the most well-respected source of information by food animal producers.The results of our efforts have reached food animal veterinarians, vet technicians, and, ultimately, their clients through the CE online lectures, the CE case modules, the Food Animal Conferences and through email, text and phone communications. The relationships made through these various methods have opened lines of communication to the diagnostic lab so veterinarians can call, email or text while on the farm to ensure they gather the correct samples and order the right diagnostic tests given the clinical signs and possible diagnoses. This is especially true in potential cases of poisoning; many veterinarians call on the expertise of the toxicologist for advice on sample collection and guidance on treatment. Further, because the Federal and State veterinarians attend almost all continuing education endeavors, practicing veterinarians are more comfortable working with the regulatory authorities when they spot unusual diseases that need to be reported and investigated. These relationships are immeasurably important in the effort to retain veterinarians to large animal/food animal practice. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Originally, 36 months were requested to accomplish the major objectives. Years 1 and 2 were for course material development, recruitment of participants, and in-person training opportunities at the UKVDL. Year 3 was slated for continued program delivery (both on-site and distance learning), data management, analysis, and report writing (manuscripts and other publications) associated with the project. Although there have been many project accomplishments, opportunities remain to train veterinarians in diagnostic sample collection both in-person and virtually, and to provide them with comprehensive electronic materials for reference. The projected timetable will last until August 31, 2024. Two food animal veterinary conferences will be held at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory with special focus on diagnostic sample collection and interpretation of results. We envision offering hands-on workshops in thoracic ultrasound, trans-tracheal wash techniques, and deep nasopharyngeal swab sampling of cattleat the local stockyards to allow practitioners to gain the knowledge and skills needed to perform these techniques before using them in the field. Videos and supporting documents will be made available for reference as well. Although the week-long laboratory experience on the necropsy floor was a unique, novel portion of this project, it has proved to be too lengthy for veterinarians to be away from practice. In addition, most veterinarians prefer to send the entire animal to the diagnostic laboratory for necropsy and focus their efforts on field diagnostics for sick animals. That said, a new evening continuing education series entitled "Diagnostic Conundrums" will be launched with the first installments scheduled for December 5th and 12th, 2023. Meredyth Jones, DVM from Oklahoma State will deliver both one-hour lectures on "Bovine Clinical Pathology -Finding the Answer in that Mess of Numbers". She has given her permission to record these and offer them online for those who cannot attend live sessions. Other topics on the horizon include: Fluid Therapy in the Field; Small Ruminant Diagnostic Test Options; Top Backyard Poultry Diseases for Nonchicken Vets; and Overcoming Diagnostic Testing Barriers: Knowing What to Order, What Samples to Collect, and How to Send them without Leaks (Shipping container basics, outdated media, different types of blood collection tubes, leakproof containers, shipping formalin). The survey on veterinary retention, available now, will continue to collect responses throughout the grant period. Data analysis and any reports associated with the project will conclude the year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Grant funds were used for various educational expenses at the Winter and Summer Food Animal Veterinary conferences, held in February and August, respectively. In February, grant funds were used to print speaker notes for distribution from Joe Smith's (DVM, PhD from Univ of TN) Zoom lecture, "The Small Ruminant Pharmacology Review for the Bovine Veterinarian". There were 49veterinarians in attendance at the UKVDL and 8 by Zoom at the Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) in Western KY. In August, funds were used to bring MegAnn Harrington BS, CVT, VTS (PAIM), a board-certified Veterinary Technician Specialist in production animal internal medicine that specializes in livestock consulting and production animal care. She delivered a lecture to the veterinarians about what a licensed vet technician can legally do for a food animal practice to free up valuable time for the veterinarian. Grant funds also paid for Dr. Joe Smith to present two in-person lectures "Principles of withdrawal determination and what to do if you have a residue" and "Field sedation/anesthesia in light of the Xylazine Situation". There were 55veterinarians in attendance at the UKVDL and 9 at BVC. Goal 2: The "Necropsy and Diagnostic Testing in Ruminants" online continuing education modules are in development and close to completion once the required quizzes are added for continuing education credit. Grant funds were used to hire a veterinary student to develop these modules and place them in the learning management system. As reported in last years' REEport, notes on bovine respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and parasitology were created along with lists of appropriate samples to collect for ruminant respiratory cases, gastrointestinal cases, suspected intoxication and abortion. The new UKVDL website is live and these materials will be available to download for all practitioners. Short videos of collection methods are in progress. Goal 3: In January 2023, we hosted the first two NIFA-USDA funded visitors in the lab, Hannah Jackson and Faith Hagelberger. They are both working as vet assistant/nurses at a bovine genetics business in Ohio. They were on the necropsy floor each day, working with the technicians on opening animals, collecting routine and toxicology samples. After one day focused mostly on orientation and technique, the rest of the week consisted of spending time with the pathologist on the ruminant cases and in small, focused sessions with different sections of the lab.Two additional visitors, Rachel Sanford (Wisconsin Vet Diagnostic Lab) and Brooke Carpenter (UK) also participated in the week-long diagnostic training lab experience. Dr. Arnold attended the 2023 National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) meeting in New Orleans, LA. While there, she passed out flyers and actively recruited veterinarians to apply for the diagnostic training at the UKVDL. Goal 4: The Food Animal Vet Retention survey was launched in February 2023 and has 47 participants to date.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this grant is veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants with a focus on production animals, specific preference is given to those working in a rural setting or an area with an identified need for veterinarians. During the reporting period we extended invitations to this group to participate in a lecture and wetlab course on Ruminant Diagnostics as well as began the application period for one week externship opportunities at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. The continuing education opportunity allowed for participation in formal instruction on day 1 and laboratory instruction on day 2. The curriculum was developed for this course by the instructors and taught in lecture and demonstration/hands on formats. Changes/Problems:No major changes are noted. The aims of this grant require in person interaction and we are now free to move forward with the pandemic restrictions lifted and the no cost extension approved. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The first in person educational course was done in May 2022 (delayed due to KY icestorm). The conference hosted partipants virtually on day 1 and in person on day 2. 4 wetlab stations included parasitology, toxicology, general necropsy, special sample collection. A second conference is being planned for winter 2022-23 with similar wetlabs and an invited speaker either on the topic of euthanasia or foreign animal disease. Notes on bovine respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and parasitology were created. Additionally a small 'flip book' of lists of appropriate samples to collect for ruminant respiratory cases, gastrointestinal cases, suspected intoxication and abortion was created. The UKVDL website is being revised and when the new website goes live these materials will be available to download for all practioners. Short videos of collection methods will also be available. The lectures from prior conferences will be transfered to a platform How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The UKVDL website is being revised and when the new website goes live these materials will be available to download for all practioners. Short videos of collection methods will also be available. The website is anticipated to be live by the end of 2022. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The upcoming reporting period is set to be the most productive as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have been lifted within most institutions. We aim to hold two more conferences with a combination of lectures and wetlabs, including invited speakers from other locations. Additionally participants will be selected for the week-long in laboratory experience. With our no-cost extension recently approved we will begin reaching out to the regional veterinary schools and technican schools for onsite demonstrations. All participants will recieve surveys regarding retention in rural/food animal practice.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1 isto provide a recurring, 2 day, on site educational course which brings participants to the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. This course will provide hands on training with a team of experienced instructors. The first in person educational course was done in May 2022 (delayed due to KY icestorm). The conference hosted partipants virtually on day 1 and in person on day 2. 4 wetlab stations included parasitology, toxicology, general necropsy, special sample collection. A second conference is being planned for winter 2022-23 with similar wetlabs and an invited speaker either on the topic of euthanasia or foreign animal disease. Goal 2 is the development of online training materials accesible to course participants and other veterinarians and technicians. These materials will emphasize necropsy techniques, collection and submission of diangostic samples. Notes on bovine respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease and parasitology were created. Additionally a small 'flip book' of lists of appropriate samples to collect for ruminant respiratory cases, gastrointestinal cases, suspected intoxication and abortion was created. The UKVDL website is being revised and when the new website goes live these materials will be available to download for all practioners. Short videos of collection methods will also be available. Goal 3 is to provide scholarship supported, week long training at the UKVDL for selected veterinarian and technicians. Applications are currently being received for this experience and we anticipate the first recipients in the fall of 2022. Goal 4 is to investigate factors associated with young veterinarians decision to choose and remain in food animal practice via a comphrehensive questionaire. We are still building out list of associated veterinarians from those that have participated to date. Due to the delays due to COVID we consider this a 'year three' aim which would not correspond with 2023.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Field necropsy sample collection sheets for:
Ruminant respiratory disease
Ruminant gastrointestinal disease
Small ruminant abortion
Small ruminant parasitology
Toxicology sample collection
Parasitology notes for multiple fecal examination techniques, with counting sheets
Notes:
Bovine pneumonia
Bovine infectious intestinal disease.
|
Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:In 2020-2021 We presented virtual education seminars in two settings. The first of these reached 100 participants . Participants were from 10 countries (with the United States of America and Canada being the most common). 27 states were represented. The majority of attendees were veterinarians who work with large animals or production animals and a small number of veterinary technicians attended. The second virtual conference had 81 attendees. 75 of these attendees were veterinarians and 6 veterinary technicians. 20 states were represented and 8 countries. The aim of our project is to reach veterinarians and technicians that work in a rural setting with production animals. The virtual series allowed for a broad range of attendees and had participants from diverse geographic locations. Changes/Problems:The major challenge for this project continues to be the ongoing pandemic. Many key goals in the project require hands on training and we anticipate asking for extensions to allow this project to continue for 1-2 years following the planned end date. This will allow us to provide the intended experiences and education to the number of participates we originally hoped to work with. The first conference with in person attendees is a slightly shorter version with only 20 participants. This is to allow for social distancing in the auditorium and on the necropsy floor. As I am writing this report the state of KY is posting record numbers of COVID-19 related hospitalizations and a high death rate. We recognize that there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the upcoming winter and are prepared to provide further virtual learning opportunities of in person contact is not possible. However, many skills (necropsy, fecal exam, ocular fluid collection) will be best taught in person and so we are hopeful that a smaller conference will be allowed to occur. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Virtual conferences presented on the topics of ruminant abortion, ruminant parasitology, field necropsy, toxicology, bovine diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease. All RACE accredited for free CE credits. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Conferences were promoted thru group email and social media to reach a diverse set of veterinarians in rural settings in multiple states. Over 80 people participated in each conference with greater than 20 states represented. When the online materials are ready for general viewing then similar contact points will be used to promote these options. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We are very excited for the upcoming reporting period as it appears that we will be able to institute in person teaching which is the primary aim of this project. A conference has been planned for February 2022. This will include a 4-hour afternoon session of lectures on small ruminant abortions, small ruminant parasitology, calf diarrhea and calf pneumonia. The second day will be from approximately 9am to 4pm and will include rotation through a 1) general necropsy 2) collection and usefulness of toxicology samples 3) samples for cases of abortion, personal protective equipment and knife skills 4) fecal egg count methods and interpretation. each session will be approximately 90 minutes and conference attendees will rotate through these with the assistance of 3 veterinary pathologists, a large animal veterinary internist, a boarded veterinary toxicologist and 3 full time necropsy technicians that work at the UKVDL. The day will utilize actual cases coming to the diagnostic laboratory as well as stored tissues (heads for ocular fluid collection, fetuses collected from the prior months). In order to better ensure that technicians as well as veterinarians attend we will first limit registration to 10 of each set. If spaces are not filled, we will then allow more veterinarians to register. This conference with variation in topics and number of attendees will then be repeated 2-3 times a year through the remainder of the grant. Attendees will be provided a take home necropsy kit with both tools and instructions for common necropsy collection sets. Additionally, we will begin to recruit for our week-long externship experience through local veterinary and technician's groups and then expand to a larger number of states as the COVID-19 travel concerns decrease. As these events occur attendees will receive surveys and follow up contact to investigate goal 4 of the project.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1- Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, two days of shorter education series were presented to a larger audience of participants via zoom. These gave participants instruction and insight on how to work up ruminant abortion cases, how to diagnose and evaluate small ruminants for parasite burdens, the basics of how to do a field necropsy, collect approriate toxicology samples and a specific prestation on what to collect and submit in cases of bovine diarrhea and pneumonia (two common causes of multiple animal losses in a production setting). An early fall conference (in person) was planned and then postponed due to the ongoing increase in cases of COVID -19 and university visitation/social distancing mandates. This conference is now due to occur in February 2022. Goal 2- All presetations made were recorded via zoom and can be made available for further continuing education. Currently these files are being converted to a viewing platform which is used with another NIFA grant. Sets of questions are being created by presenters and vertified by the remaining veterinarians on the project. Once prepared RACE approval will be requested and these will be available for continued education credits. Multiple videos of necropsies of common and uncommon conditions of ruminants have been taken on the necropsy floor and will be edited and narrated for further education purposes. Goal 3- Postponed due to a no visitation policy during COVID-19. Currently plan to post this opportunity in fall 2021. Goal 4- Postponed due to postponement of in person conferences. Plan to begin survey when onsite conference occurs.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:During this target period we have developed training videos, documents and lectures for veterinarians and veterinary technicians to learn how to perform diagnostic and necropsy techniques. Due to the social distancing required during the COVID pandemic in person instruction was suspended in the spring of 2020 and the conference which was scheduled for that time not held. We are awaiting further developments to determine if an in person conference will be possible in Fall of 2020 or if the course will need to be held virtually. Plans for in person learning in the spring of 2021 are underway. Changes/Problems:The current pandemic created an unprecedented challenge in hosting in person learning events in 2020. Therefore the major changes in approach have been the inability to host visitors or conferences since March 2020. Due to the imporance of hands on learning for many techniques we opted to delay the conferences rather than immediatly adopt an online approach.We are hopeful that this will simply result in a year delay of providing the original aims and approach of the grant. However, we are prepared to offer a combination of distance learning and increase the frequency to decrease the number of participants per conference if needed. We currently plan to offer a mini 4 hour seminar over four 1 hour time slots on the topics of toxicology, necropsy technique, sampling and abortions. This will be RACE accredited and open to veterinarians and technicians at no cost to them. This will also create a network of contacts from which to solicit participants for further conferences and our week long training program. We currently plan to offer the first conference in the spring of 2021 and will then pursue either twice yearly or quarterly as to be determined by the number of peopl allowed on site at any time under University of Kentucky guidelines. If the current pandemic results in loss of in person learning we will commincate this directly with NIFA-USDA and seek to change our intent to online modules and smaller in person learning opportunites. It is anticipated that on-site visit policies will be in place to allow our selected week-long participants by late winter 2020-spring 2021. We do not anticipate significant changes to personel or funding use at this time and are very excited to be able to continue moving forward with this project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Barrell spent approximatly 40 hours working with the clinical pathology and parasitology laboratory at the University of Minnesota to create the fecal examination and cytology portion of the upcoming training days. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In essence, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the in person portions of this grant by a year. While we have developed the materials needed to move ahead with this course, current social distancing as well as University policy prohibits our hosting of such an event. It is possible an event may be able to be hosted in the fall, if not then a short 4 hour series of webinars will be made available, free of charge and the remaining grant aims will be fulfilled beginning early spring of 2021. We may have to increase the number of conferences and decrease number of attendees to accomplish this as our primary goal is the provision of hands on education to our rural veterinarians and technicians.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: The organization for this course and lecture styles have been decided and prepared. Due to the priority of hands-on techniques the course has been delayed until the University of Kentuck is accepting on site visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of 4 1 hour lectures will be offered virutally this fall if an in person conference can not be held. Goal 2: Multiple videos and images have been produced which show necropsy techniques in calves, small ruminants, common pig diseases, ocular fluid collection. Hand outs for brain sampling, ocular fluid collection, toxicology sampling have been produced. Goal 3: Due to a restriction in visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, in person training has not yet occured. However a large group of approximatly 100 veterinary technicians working locally has been identified as a possible applicant pool and will be solicited for applications for spring of 2021. Goal 4: This goal is based on attendee survey and will begin to be fulfilled with an in depth survey following the first course.
Publications
|
|