Experiences with a veterinary preceptorial program.

An off-campus, practitioner-supervised training (preceptorial) program for veterinary students at Michigan State University was developed and introduced in the fall of 1972. The program was designed to meet the needs of students concentrating on food animal medicine. It has enabled senior students to receive degeee credit for on-the-job experience with practitioners. Students opting for the program gain experience and knowledge in segments of clinical veterinary medicine that are most available with off-campus practitioners. Exposure of students to the clinical abilities of private practitioners, the case method of study, and diagnostics in a realistic environment are the goals of the program. The program has afforded faculty members and private practitioners meaningful insights into the changing face of veterinary education. Indeed, the consensus of the faculty in the Department of Large Animal Surgery and Medicine at Michigan State University is that an off-campus curriculum. Participating students and practitioners report that the program has been successful and is worthy of expansion and continuation. Both groups rate the program favorably and believe it has been a worthwhile teaching-learning experience.