Elpida Artemiou

Background: Postmortem Examination (PME), or necropsy is an important tool for diagnosing disease, determining cause of death, monitoring herd health and supporting epidemiological surveillance in cattle production systems. Despite its recognized value, PME is not routinely performed in the field. Objective: This scoping review aimed to synthesize the available evidence regarding knowledge, attitudes, barriers, and training needs related to field PMEs in cattle production systems. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and further refined by Levac et al. Reporting of the review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, supplemented by manual searches and citation tracking. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they addressed field PMEs in cattle production systems and involved veterinarians, producers, farm workers, managers, or veterinary students. Data were extracted, tabulated, and synthesized descriptively. Results: A total of 988 references were identified. After removing 328 duplicate references, 660 records underwent title and abstract screening, and 521 were excluded, leaving 139 full text references for eligibility. Title and abstract screening and full-text review were completed independently by two reviewers. Inter-reviewer agreement was fair during title and abstract screening (Cohen's κ = 0.285) and high agreement during full-text review (Cohen's κ = 0.953). Twelve (12) studies met the inclusion criteria, exploring field PME training and reporting practices while identifying gaps and barriers across veterinary stakeholders. Discussion: The limited evidence identified in this review highlights a lack of standardized procedure for field PME performance and training practices that will support evidence-based decision-making for herd health. Conclusions: The reviewed literature consistently highlighted the value of field PMEs in terms of disease diagnosis and herd health management. Reported barriers included producer reluctance, time constraints, economic considerations, carcass disposal challenges, biosecurity concerns, and lack of training in PME procedures. Several studies also identified the lack of training and continuing education opportunities for veterinarians.

Establishing defensible minimum passing scores is a critical challenge in high-stakes objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs). Direct comparisons of different standard-setting methods and the varying passing and failure rates remain limited in veterinary medical education. This observational, cross-sectional study compared minimum passing scores (MPSs) generated using the Angoff method, Hofstee method, and borderline regression method (BRM) for an integrated, summative veterinary OSCE. Eighty-one third-year veterinary students at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine completed a 13-station OSCE. Only 10 stations—3 communication and 7 clinical skills—incorporated both a checklist and a global rating scale and were included in these analyses. All stations were assessed by trained examiners. MPS values for Angoff and Hofstee judgments were provided by six external judges who received training on standard-setting methods. Passing thresholds were compared using descriptive statistics and repeated-measures ANOVA with Greenhouse–Geisser correction. Passing scores differed significantly across standard-setting methods ( p < .001). Angoff and BRM produced comparable and more stringent passing thresholds across stations, whereas Hofstee consistently generated lower cut-scores and fewer student failures. Pearson ( r = 0.60–0.86; p < .001) and Spearman correlation coefficients (ρ = 0.58–0.89; p < .001) demonstrated moderate to strong associations between checklist and global rating scores. These findings indicate that the choice of standard-setting methods substantially influences OSCE passing scores and pass–fail decisions. Careful selection and transparent application of standard-setting methods are essential to ensure fairness and defensibility in veterinary OSCEs.

Background: Direct and indirect fundoscopy are Day One skills for new veterinary graduates, yet limited evidence exists on the practice time needed to achieve competency. Our study aimed to determine the minimum deliberate practice time required to accurately identify normal and abnormal features of canine fundus simulators using both techniques. Methods: Ninety‐three students from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine volunteered to train on canine simulation models for 12, 24 and 36 minutes following deliberate practice principles. Competency in identifying normal and abnormal fundic structures was evaluated through a self‐guided objective structured clinical examination. Results: Students demonstrated significant improvement in indirect fundoscopy skills after a 24‐minute practice compared to a 12‐minute practice ( p = 0.01). In contrast, practice beyond 12 minutes did not significancy increase direct fundoscopy skills ( p > 0.1). Students self‐reported significant increases in comfort with the procedure post‐intervention across all three timepoints for both techniques ( p < 0.001). Limitations: This study assessed a limited number of time cohorts, which can be expanded in future studies. Conclusion: A minimum of 24 minutes of deliberate practice is required to develop indirect fundoscopy skills, whereas direct fundoscopy skills require less practice. Our study provides guidance to veterinary colleges on the practice time students need to develop fundoscopy skills.

Despite the rapid feminization of the profession, in some regions in the world, women remain underrepresented in veterinary leadership roles worldwide. A similar trend is observed globally within veterinary medical institutions in which women are consistently underrepresented in senior leadership positions This highlights the importance of evaluating the continued gender inequity in academic advancement. This study employed a convenience sampling approach to recruit 33 women from eight geographical regions: the United States and Canada, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Continental Europe, and the United Kingdom and Ireland. All participants held leadership roles within veterinary education. The study aimed to explore the career paths of these women and to identify common themes, challenges, and regional differences in their leadership journeys. Participants took part in structured Zoom interviews that were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Three themes were identified and were centered on leadership, opportunities, and challenges. Female veterinary leaders described being motivated by beneficence and the desire to serve, develop others, and improve veterinary medical education despite persistent challenges related to gender, culture, limited financial support, and ongoing dependent-care demands. Although similarities and differences were noted across geographical regions, participants from Africa and Latin America reported heightened challenges linked to gender bias and cultural and societal expectations. The findings underscore the resilience of female veterinary leaders and highlight the need for continued research and initiatives to foster networks, enhance sponsorship opportunities, and establish formal leadership programs that address the complexities of leadership in veterinary medical education.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes the impact of social determinants of health (SDHs) on human health and wellbeing factors. Limited research has explored how SDHs, such as the social, economic, and environmental conditions in which individuals are born, live, work, and grow older, shape exercise behaviors and chronic health conditions such as cancer in dogs. This study links SDHs identified through owner-provided continental United States zip codes with levels of physical activity. We hypothesized that owners with higher incomes, education, and access to healthcare services positively influence their dog’s health outcomes, specifically owner-reported physical activity. Our study utilized all owner-provided data, collected between 2012 and 2022, from the first seven years of owner surveys for the 3044 Golden Retrievers enrolled in the Morris Animal Foundation Lifetime Study. Sixteen GPBoost Poisson models were built to assess the impact of twenty-three social determinants in Golden Retrievers with and without a diagnosis of cancer. SHAP values were calculated for each dependent variable. Consistently, economic factors, education, ethnicity, and health care access were identified as important variables. Furthermore, our findings suggest that complex interactions between ethnicities and other SDHs should be explored in future studies.

Calf disbudding is a routine practice in the dairy industry to prevent horn growth and reduce the risk of injury to animals and handlers. However, growing public concern about animal welfare has raised questions about the acceptability of common disbudding methods. This study explored public perceptions of caustic paste and hot-iron disbudding using a mixed methods approach. Quantitative survey analyses captured measurable trends while iterative qualitative analysis explored the underlying reasons behind participant’s attitudes. A convenience sample with a total of 511 Texas resident participants completed a 44-item online survey that included demographic questions, the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS-10), and image-based evaluations of the two techniques. Quantitative analysis using factor analysis and multiple regression revealed that concern for animal welfare and justification for animal use were the most significant predictors (p < 0.001) of method acceptability, with caustic paste generally viewed as more humane. Qualitative responses reinforced these results, identifying themes of animal suffering, ethical concerns, and a widespread lack of public knowledge. While caustic paste was preferred, skepticism toward hot-iron disbudding was more pronounced among low-income participants. Nonetheless, when properly performed with pain control, hot-iron disbudding is often considered a more controlled and welfare-conscious method due to faster healing times and reduced risk of injury to other animals from paste exposure. These findings underscore the need for consumer education and transparent communication from the dairy industry.

This study is a qualitative exploration of the student experience of stress at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Ten third-year students from the class of 2019 participated in a semi-structured interview designed to explore the student experience surrounding stress, resiliency, and their perception of mental health awareness initiatives. Transcripts were de-identified and analyzed using thematic analysis. Two central themes of academic encumbrances and academic tenacity were identified, and each theme was further delineated into three main sub-themes associated with the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) assessment. Students described the clinical skills course OSCEs as a primary source of stress and fear. Academic encumbrances were delineated through the sub-themes of academic load, fear of failure, and low academic self-efficacy. Students navigated these encumbrances through their academic tenacity, rooted in their sense of belonging among peers, family, and friends, a growth mindset, and self-care practices. Study results exemplify the importance of attending to student needs beyond acquiring clinical knowledge and skills. As we continue to redefine veterinary curricula and assessment, our work highlights the need for curricular streamlining, attending to student well-being, and fostering an academically balanced lifestyle. Lastly, the findings will help inform student services about the mental health needs of the students specific to academic achievement.

Introduction: The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical education and healthcare has grown steadily over these past couple of years, though its application in veterinary education and practice remains relatively underexplored. This study is among the first to introduce veterinary students to AI-generated cases (AI-cases) and AI-standardized clients (AI-SCs) for teaching and learning communication skills. The study aimed to evaluate students' beliefs and perceptions surrounding the use of AI in veterinary education, with specific focus on communication skills training.Methods: Conducted at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTU SVM) during the Spring 2024 semester, the study included pre-clinical veterinary students (n = 237), who participated in a 90-min communication skills laboratory activity. Each class was introduced to two AI-cases and two AI-SCs, developed using OpenAI's ChatGPT-3.5. The Calgary Cambridge Guide (CCG) served as the framework for practicing communication skills.Results: Results showed that although students recognized the widespread use of AI in everyday life, their familiarity, comfort and application of AI in veterinary education were limited. Notably, upper-year students were more hesitant to adopt AI-based tools, particularly in communication skills training.Discussion: The findings suggest that veterinary institutions should prioritize AI-literacy and further explore how AI can enhance and complement communication training, veterinary education and practice.

This study investigates public perceptions in Texas regarding two common calf disbudding methods used in dairy farming: caustic paste and hot iron. With growing consumer interest in humane animal treatment, understanding the preferences for these methods provides insights into public expectations of welfare in agricultural practices. The study utilized an online survey distributed to Texas residents via the Centiment research platform, assessing preferences, demographic influences, and the impact of scientific information on perceptions. Results, from 511 participants, indicated a stronger preference for caustic paste, especially among women and participants with higher education levels, while hot iron was favored more by men. Dietary habits, such as seafood and cheese consumption, also influenced preferences, with higher consumption linked to a preference for caustic paste. Viewing images of the disbudding techniques affected the willingness to purchase, consume, and serve beef, with hot iron prompting a greater negative response. The findings suggest that public knowledge and awareness can significantly impact perceptions surrounding animal welfare practices and that education could play a critical role in aligning consumer preferences with humane agricultural practices. These insights are valuable for the dairy industry, informing practices that are more aligned with public expectations and supporting the promotion of welfare-oriented disbudding methods.