Montana Strikes Gold with Graduation of Inaugural Class of Veterinarians

For Immediate Release

PULLMAN, WASH. Move over gold, silver, copper, palladium, and coal. The state of Montana can also mine resources of the human kind, as the 11 Montana members of the inaugural class of veterinary medicine students were among 131 graduates who received their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees on Saturday, May 5, at Washington State University in Pullman.

Montana's new veterinary medicine program has proved to be a resounding success. Each of the 11 students selected for the first class of Montana veterinarians has now graduated and each has also passed during the last year the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), a required national exam of 360 multiple-choice questions of clinically-relevant animal health problems.

In August 2014, the 11 students began their veterinary medicine educations with their first year of study at Montana State University, Bozeman. As part of WIMU (Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Utah) regional program in veterinary medicine, the Montana students completed years two through four at Washington State University in Pullman.

Montana's participation in WIMU was approved in 2013 by the Montana legislature to provide affordable access to Montana students for veterinary medicine education. Reports at the time indicated that almost half of Montana's practicing livestock veterinarians were older than age 55. Prior to 2014, there were no veterinarian education programs in Montana to rebuild and maintain the number of veterinarians needed, especially in underserved rural areas of the state.

As requested by leaders in the Montana veterinarian industry, each of the 11 graduates had strong ties to the state of Montana. During their educations, the students also had opportunities to work in veterinary practices in Montana during the summers or as clinical rotations during the school year.

Dr. Justine Lee, a veterinarian from Minnesota, gave the commencement address. Dr. Lee is a world-renown speaker, scientist, blogger, and author. She is board certified in emergency and critical care, and toxicology. She is the CEO and founder of VETgirl, which offers online continuing education for veterinarians.

Dr. Lee gave practical advice to the Class of 2018 in the form of 10 tips on topics she would have liked to receive when she graduated in 19983 from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Tip number 1 was "You got this."; 2: "Realize you aren't superwoman or superman."; 3. "Know you will make mistakes."; 4. "Learn to turn off."; 5. "Don't undervalue yourself."; 6. "Make money."; 7. "Learn that there is never going to be a good time."; 8. "Be on the guard for burnout and compassion fatigue."; 9. "Know you will succeed."; 10. "Treat each patient the way you would if it was your own pet."

During the awarding of degrees, the professor selected by each graduate placed the academic regalia hood over the graduate's head as a special symbol of the successful completion of the doctor of veterinary medicine program. The graduates and veterinarians in the audience then recited the veterinarian's oath.

These new doctors are ready to begin their practices. They embraced the intent of the Montana legislature: they had deep roots in Montana; they enjoyed the small class size and excelled in their first year at Montana State University; and gained experience and skills by interning or working for veterinarians throughout Montana. Below are highlights of these accomplished veterinarians.

Dr. Lane Schmitt, Chinook

- 2011 graduate of Chinook High School, Chinook, MT

- B.S., Animal Science, 2014, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

- DVM, 2018, Washington State University, Pullman, WA

- Practice interests: large animal

- Future plans: Chinook Veterinary Clinic, Chinook, MT

- WIMU likes: "Small class size, another year in Bozeman, great friends, great faculty."

- Thank you: "My wife, my family, friends, and Professors for their support throughout veterinary school."