College of Veterinary Medicine annual open house set for April 14

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine will host its annual open house 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 14 in Lynn Hall.

The open house serves as a way to educate the public on the different aspects of veterinary medicine. The theme this year is “One Health. One Goal. Because Our Health Depends On Theirs.” The concept was designed to recognize how the health of people, animals and the environment are connected. Veterinarians play a critical role in the health of animals, humans and the environment.

The open house is organized by students. Event co-chair Brook Shell, a member of the class of 2019, has been involved with the event since her first year of veterinary school. 

“Each year has proven better than the last,” she said. “We have some exciting, new demonstrations. We have encouraged student clubs to work together to provide the public with more interactive exhibits, and our student leaders have far exceeded expectations. Specifically, our goal this year is to showcase the ‘One Health’ theme in a big way; a way that gets the public excited about the veterinary profession’s role in the big picture of global healthcare.”

New events this year include:

* Dr. Jeanette McGavic, the Indiana State Department of Health’s vector-borne epidemiologist for Central Indiana, will be at a display that helps visitors learn about the West Nile virus, ticks and tick-borne disease in Indiana and other topics related to public health entomology. Specimens of ticks, cockroaches, bed bugs and stinging wasps and bees will be available for examination.

* Visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about search and rescue dogs that detect human remains with Janet Winslow, a West Lafayette law enforcement officer.

This year’s open house also will feature perennial favorites including Walk Through the Heart where first year students guide children and families through the different chambers of the heart; Dress like a Surgeon and the Teddy Bear Clinic, where participants will be given the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of surgery from the third-year veterinary students and even dress up in surgeon attire; the petting zoo; and of course, tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

For more information, visit the open house website. 

Writer: Helen Thimlar, hthimlar@purdue.edu

Source: Kevin Doerr, director of public affairs and communications for the College of Veterinary Medicine, 765-494-8216, doerrkr@purdue.edu