Putting Collaboration into Practice in Veterinary Education

Upon admission to the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), new student veterinarians may feel apprehensive about the rigours of the intensive, multi-phase program. Many wonder, “What will this program be like, and who will my classmates be? How will I make connections with my future colleagues? And who can I study or review course material with?”

To address all these questions early on, each incoming class of first year students is sorted into 12 practice groups. Veterinary medicine is a profession that relies heavily on collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and training for these competencies is built into the program’s design. Practice group members bond quickly at OVC by working together in every lab, helping each other with course material and supporting one another through academic and personal challenges.

“Having a close group of fellow students that you can rely on for support and work alongside as a team to complete labs and assignments is very helpful,” says student veterinarian Emilie Paterson, OVC Class of 2025. “It takes stress off, knowing that you have other students there to help you and that you can lean on if you have questions.”

After accepting their offer of admission to the DVM program, students complete an entrance survey as part of their orientation materials. This survey asks questions aimed at better understanding incoming students’ animal, veterinary and educational experiences, as well as their intended veterinary career path. Special care and consideration is taken by OVC’s admissions team to strategically sort students into practice groups based on their backgrounds prior to entering the program. This ensures that each practice group benefits from a diversity of backgrounds, skills and perspectives.

“Each student brings value and expertise to the group so that they can support each other in this new phase of their career,” says Elizabeth Lowenger, Manager of Student Affairs at OVC.

Every first-year practice group is also paired with two second-year student veterinarians through the P2P1 Guide Program. These mentors volunteer to answer questions about classes, textbooks, study tips, well-being programming, volunteering opportunities and extra-curricular activities, which helps incoming students adjust to life at OVC and enables them to take full advantage of the resources available to them throughout the program.

These Phase 2 guides additionally organize social activities with their practice group during Orientation Week, including a guided tour of OVC’s campus, and help to set the tone for the group going forward. There is another guide - a second-year student veterinarian who did not study at the University of Guelph before beginning the DVM program - chosen to support all those who are new to the University. This guide provides an additional tour of the main U of G campus and helps new students adjust to life in Guelph.

It is also traditional for each OVC practice group to participate in social and team building events every semester. This can include activities like a planned group brunch after the last exam of the semester or team-building activities like escape rooms. These events sometimes start as early as before Orientation week, thanks to organization and planning led by each practice group’s P2 Guides.

“Coming into a new school and program can be quite intimidating so it was very helpful to be placed in a group where we were encouraged to meet new people,” says student veterinarian Melyssa Favero, OVC Class of 2025. “One of my closest friends is from my practice group, which has not only been helpful for my day-to-day life in the DVM program, but also in my own personal life outside of school.”

Four student veterinarians from Practice Group J (OVC DVM Class of 2025) have been invited to share their stories:

Emma Gellman

Meet Emma, a member of Practice Group J and the International Peer Helper for her class, who is particularly interested in aquatic animal medicine. Prior to OVC, Emma grew up in Santa Cruz, California, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College in Massachusetts in 2019. She then travelled to the Republic of Ireland to work as an Animal Care and Education Intern at Seal Rescue Ireland, where she assisted in the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured seal pups. In 2021, Emma was accepted into the OVC DVM program and moved, again, to Ontario. As an international student, Emma shares that “my practice group members were my first friends in Canada, and they continue to be some of my closest friends in the program.” With plans to become an aquatic animal veterinarian and hopes to work at an aquarium, Emma knows that “the relationships we have as a practice group will be maintained in some form or another throughout the rest of our lives and careers.”

Emilie Paterson

A fellow member of Practice Group J is Emilie, who developed a passion for laboratory animal medicine during her time as a technician at a research facility. Emilie took on various roles across her seven years with this company where she worked with various species and assisted in studies to improve animal welfare. Emilie travelled from her hometown of Hawkesbury, Ontario, to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics (Honours) at the University of Ottawa. She then made the move to Guelph, where she began a two-year Master of Science (MSc) program in OVC’s Department of Pathobiology. Her MSc research focused on improving the welfare of long-tailed macaques in a research setting. Following her passion, Emilie hopes to become a laboratory animal veterinarian with the goal to earn board certification in laboratory animal medicine so that she can practice clinically while continuing research to improve laboratory animal welfare.

Daniel Guevara-Mann

This is Daniel Guevara-Mann, another member of Practice Group J. Growing up in Ontario, Daniel realized his love for veterinary medicine through helping to raise his family’s golden retriever named Max. This passion was solidified during his position as a veterinary assistant at the Holland Landing Animal Hospital, a small animal practice where he worked closely with a veterinary team and gained insight into day-to-day operations of a veterinary hospital. After obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Zoology from the University of Guelph, Daniel was accepted into the OVC DVM program. At the beginning of his first year, Daniel did not know any of his classmates and was worried about how he would fit in. “Our practice group has made me feel more comfortable in this program; it helps to walk into a lab or school event and see a face that I recognize,” Daniel shares. “Everyone in our practice group works hard and cares about our learning, and that has helped me whenever I have questions about course material, labs or tests.” In the future, Daniel hopes to settle down in a rural community where he can act as the main veterinarian for companion animals while also working with local farmers for the occasional visit.

Melyssa Favero

Last but certainly not least is Melyssa Favero. This member of Practice Group J is particularly interested in companion animal medicine. Growing up in Grimsby, Ontario, she was always surrounded by animals; everything from cats to skinny pigs and turtles. Melyssa chose to move to Guelph for her undergraduate degree, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph. She then spent a few years gaining additional experience in the veterinary field prior to her acceptance to OVC, as well as holding various waitressing jobs at different restaurants, which she felt helped to develop her communication skills. She looks forward to taking these skills into the veterinary medicine profession to aid in talking to clients and helping them make informed decisions regarding their pet's care. Melyssa hopes to start her career at a companion animal hospital, where she can further develop her clinical skills as a veterinarian. She dreams of one day owning and operating her own small animal hospital.