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Dean’s Circle members receive overview of college activities

Ambassadors Brittany Wittenberns and Jeanne Thompson, left and second from left, with Dr. Amy Stone and Dean Hoffsis. (Photo by Sarah Carey)

Members of the Dean’s Circle of Excellence, an elite group of donors to and supporters of the college, heard an update on college activities during a luncheon held Jan. 21 at the Marriott World Center Hotel in Orlando during the North American Veterinary Conference.

Dr. Amy Stone, chief of the UF Small Animal Hospital’s Primary Care and Dentistry Service,  talked to the group about issues currently affecting the veterinary profession, among those the decreasing number of veterinary visits, concerns about cats not receiving the level of routine care that they should be, and student debt load.

She talked about commitment on the part of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association to strengthening guidelines for preventive care and why these guidelines are so important. The goal is not only to promote disease prevention as opposed to disease treatment, but also to increase client satisfaction by making them more involved in the process and working toward a strategy to improve the overall quality of care patients receive.

Stone said a committee of the AVMA known as Partners for Healthy Pets consisted of many “partners” including Primary Care Educators, or academic veterinarians who teach Primary Care or Community Practice in the country’s veterinary colleges. She is part of that group, which is working to ensure greater consistency among curriculums in how veterinary students are educated about the key concepts promoted by Partners for Healthy Pets.

Stone discussed how the UF Primary Care and Dentistry Service focuses on the importance of communication throughout the veterinary school experience and on providing students with an understanding of how much veterinary care costs and how to triage the patient with the money the client has available.

Arnold Grevior, a Dean’s Circle member, won the Will Muschamp-signed football at Dean’s Circle luncheon, held Jan. 21 at the Marriott World Center in Orlando. (Photo by Sarah Carey)

“We are continuing to grow the dental education component, expanding our clinical techniques laboratory, solidifying a communication curriculum and promoting the concepts in the (Partners for Healthy Pets) guidelines in all levels of the student experience,” Stone said.

Dean Glen Hoffsis also updated the Dean’s Circle members on ways in which some of their contributions had been put to use, including recent upgrades to the Equine Auditorium and the new Education Center.

Dean’s Circle members Dr. John Bass and Dr. Ernie Godfrey were recognized  for their clinic’s participation in UF’s Pet Memorial program.

To learn more about attending future events with the Dean and other benefits of being a Dean’s Circle of Excellence member, contact the CVM Development office at:  352-294-4256.