UF welcomed veterinary students to a new laboratory with open arms — or open paws.
When classes started, students began their hands-on experience in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s clinical techniques laboratory.
"The space is beautiful," said Ariel Robelen, a second-year UF student pursuing her doctoral degree in veterinary medicine. "It’s huge, it’s inviting and it can definitively serve all the purposes this course intends to give us," the 24-year-old said.
The lab allows students to use enhanced technology to study real-world techniques used in animal-patient care, said Sarah Carey, the UF College of Veterinary Medicine’s director of public relations.
"They can learn more about teamwork, and they can hone their technical skills. And that’s why we built it. We want our students to be more practice-ready," she said.
Fourth-year UF student Kristi Rhodes, who is also pursuing her doctorate in veterinary medicine, said she’s only used the previous clinical skills lab. The old lab was smaller and didn’t allow students to practice the complete medical spectrum of patient care.
Students also learn to use computer programs, manage medical records and communicate with clients, the 29-year-old said.
Rhodes said she chose UF’s veterinary school because of the variety of teaching tools.
"That’s why I picked Florida — because there’s nowhere else that has such a great diversity of things that you can study," she said. "Because we truly do have it all."
