Residency Program in Behavior |
| Objectives |
The overall objective is to provide the
clinical experiences and learning opportunities sufficient to enable the
resident to meet the requirements to sit the board examination of the
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) while contributing
to the clinical service and teaching programs of the Veterinary Medical
Teaching Hospital at U.C. Davis. The specific objectives are outlined
below.
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| History and Background |
| The Behavior Service has operated as an
independent service for over twenty years and has provided residency training
for veterinarians who are now diplomates in ACVB.
The U.C. Davis campus is an ideal study center for residency training
in behavior because of the intellectual resources available on campus
in the area of basic animal behavior and the long-standing reputation
of the School of Veterinary Medicine in research and teaching in clinical
animal behavior. U.C.
Davis has more animal behaviorists (located in 11 departments in three
schools and colleges) than any other campus in the world and has a world-renown
Ph.D. graduate group program in animal behavior. The Animal Behavior
Ph.D. program makes available coursework, seminars, and workshops that
are a valuable resource in the training of residents in the basic discipline
of animal behavior. The existence of a medical school makes advanced
coursework in psychopharmacology and other relevant subjects available. |
Qualifications Required of Applicants |
| The applicant must have a DVM or equivalent
degree from a veterinary educational institution approved by the American
Veterinary Medical Association and must have completed a 1-year internship
or equivalent. |
| Description of Training |
| Duration The duration of the residency is three years. Continuation into the second and third years is contingent upon satisfactory performance in the preceding year. The start time of the training is generally August 1. The resident is provided one-month of scheduled paid vacation for each year; it is required that the vacation will be taken prior to the end of the residency training program. Supervision and Assignment of Cases The resident is expected to participate daily in out-patient receiving of the Behavior Service with the exception of planned vacations, attendance at professional meetings, absence from illness and absence by special arrangement with the Chief of Service. The resident will spend approximately 75% of her or his time in the clinics. Duties will include the receiving, diagnosis, and therapy of behavior cases presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, under the supervision of, and in consultation with, the senior staff including at least one diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Initially the resident will participate in the case workup and formulation of treatment approaches along with a senior clinician. After this introductory phase (2-4 months) the resident shall have primary patient care responsibilities for about 6 new cases per week for 40 weeks a year in the Behavior Service under the supervision of senior clinicians associated with the Service that are ACVB diplomates. The resident is expected to maintain, in an orderly manner, records of the cases in VMTH files and computer database. The resident will be responsible for telephone follow-up of clients seen, although actual telephoning may be done by students rotating through the Service. The resident will review, on a weekly basis, the cases under his/her responsibility with one of the ACVB diplomates associated with the Service. Time spent in consultation with clients and in patient care (including telephone follow-up and progress checks) shall constitute approximately 75% of the resident's time. Over three years, it is expected the resident shall be responsible for about 600-700 cases. Telephone fee-for-service casework (coordinated through referring veterinarians), if utilized, shall not exceed 10% of the total caseload. Consultation with Other Services The resident will be available for consultation on cases in other VMTH Services on a daily basis. When appropriate, the resident will seek the advice of a senior behavior clinician in these consultations. Experience with Food Animal, Equine, Laboratory Animal and Exotic Animal Behavior It is necessary for the resident to obtain some background and experience in these areas, but because residents will come into the program with varying background, each resident will plan, with the ACVB diplomate mentor, a program to provide this experience. Usually this will involve auditing courses, reading assigned books and papers and spending time in seminars relevant to gaining this experience. When possible, the resident will be involved in cases dealing with food, equine, laboratory and exotic animals of other services when part of the etiology, diagnosis or treatment involves behavior. Preparation in Scientific Disciplines Relevant to Behavior The resident is expected to attend courses recommended by his/her mentor on an audit basis including courses on behavior and neurobiology offered within the School of Veterinary Medicine and across the campus. The resident is encouraged to attend seminars on animal behavior that are held on campus. A part of the educational process is to attend the AVMA Convention and possibly other national or international meetings, where clinical animal behavior material is presented. Funds for all or part of this travel may be available. The resident will be engaged in considerable self study using textbooks, review papers and original data papers as recommended by the mentor and as suggested by the reading list of ACVB. This academic preparation is expected to reflect a 50% focus on the behavioral sciences, 25% on basic sciences such as neurobiology, psychology, physiology, pharmacology and pathology related to behavior, and 25% on clinical areas of medicine and neurology related to clinical animal behavior. The topics of learning theory, ethology, psychopharmacology and endocrinology must be included in this self-study. Research Project The resident will be required to engage in clinical research as soon as feasible after starting in the program and to be responsible for at least one and preferably two projects over the three years. Modest research funds are usually available. At least one of the research projects is expected to lead to a publication of which the resident is first-author, that is accepted in a peer reviewed journal approved by the ACVB. The resident may also participate in publications of case reports and other clinically related publications. The resident is expected to present the research at House Officer Seminar Day. It is recommended that the resident notify the ACVB Executive Director that she or he is commencing a conforming residency as soon as feasible after beginning the residency program. This registration requires a modest fee. |
| The VMTH is committed to building strong
relationships with its constituents. A major part of the resident's duties,
therefore, includes timely communication with referring veterinarians
and clients.
Although this residency program is not part of the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program, selection will be in accordance with the guidelines of this program. For application procedures, salary and benefits, and other information about the residency program, please see General Information on the VMTH web site. The University of California, Davis, and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital are interested in candidates who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus climate that supports equality and diversity. ALL RESIDENTS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO OBTAIN A CALIFORNIA LICENSE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE RESIDENCY.
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