THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015 85

Globally, veterinary clinical teaching has changed

dramatically over the last few years. Increasing

student numbers, limited availability of teaching

animals and concern for animal welfare have led

to the development of veterinary simulators and

models to teach students clinical skills.

This enables students to get the necessary hands-on clinical skills training, while satisfying any animal welfare concerns. Students will be better prepared in basic and more advanced technical and clinical skills, and will enter the workforce with more confidence and the ability to work more independently.

Innovating at UPAs part of its continuing efforts to ensure that veterinary science students are properly taught to do clinical procedures, the University of Pretoria (UP) has established a skills laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Science. It forms part of the faculty’s strategy to adapt to an increase in student numbers. The laboratory was officially opened on 16 April 2015, but had already proved to be a huge asset to the faculty with the first student practical that took place on 19 January.

The skills laboratory team is headed by Drs Annett Annandale and Elrien Scheepers. Over the last few months, they have been setting

by Chris van blerkveTcolumn

KEEPING UP WITH

INNovaTIoN

Liezl Kok, artist in the skills lab (left) and Dr Annett Annandale, head of the skills lab.

PRODUCTION

86 THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015

up stations, ordering equipment and simulators, writing instruction manuals, modifying soft-toy dogs and creating models with the help of an artist, Liezl Kok. Some of the simulators that have already arrived are: • the Breed’n Betsies, simulators for bovine rectal

examinations and artificial insemination • a colic horse • a dystocia calf • Goldie, a heart and lung sound model • Emily, a radiographic positioning model• a thoracocentesis model • Critical Care Fluffy • intubation and intravenous access models • equine anatomical specimens.

The team has developed suture pads, a spay model, a fine-needle aspiration model and a cystocentesis model.

A laboratory corner has been set up for procedures such as blood smears, urinalysis, and haematocrit and semen evaluation. At first, the skills laboratory will enable students to practise more than 50 skills. However, it will be expanded to its full potential within the next two years.

The skills lab also provides sufficient opportunities to expand the faculty's research focus in veterinary education. As part of the laboratory’s awareness campaign, a Skills Laboratory Open Day was held on 17 April, which allowed staff and students to visit the laboratory and view the models on display.

Chris van blerk completed two honours degrees at the North West University – one in communication and one in international politics. Currently he is the head of communications and media at the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria at the Onderstepoort Campus. He is responsible for the final production and supervising processes of all publications, strategic communication

plans and advertisements, as well as contributions to all UP publications. He has won numerous awards in corporate communication and is the editor of the official newsletter of the Faculty, OP News. E-mail him at Chris.VanBlerk@up.ac.za. TDM

1a

1b

1c

2 1. Some of the simulators in the new skills laboratory. 2. Dystocia cow simulator for obstetrical manipulations.

PRODUCTION

THE DAIRY MAIL • NOVEMBER 2015 87

Dr Elrien Scheepers demonstrates the new simulator models to students at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Veterinary Science.