Introduction
In the fall of 2025, future veterinarians beginning the DVM program at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine will be entering a recently revised, student-centered curriculum designed to foster critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and lifelong learning skills. The revision process involved gathering data from practitioners, engaging experts in teaching and learning, and seeking extensive input from educators within our school. The first phase of the curriculum was approved by an overwhelmingly positive faculty vote in April 2024.
Much of the content from the current curriculum will carry over, but there are significant changes to how content is delivered and the activities and assessments in which students participate. The revised curriculum will be systems based and integrate basic science and clinical concepts, with enhanced opportunities for self-directed learning and relevant problem-solving.
In the foundational Phase 1, one of the biggest changes will be a reduction in the amount of time students spend in classroom-based lecture. Traditional lectures will be augmented by a flipped classroom or blended learning model in which students engage with core content independently before coming to class. Class time will be dedicated to application activities and clinically relevant problem-solving exercises facilitated by faculty. Disciplines traditionally taught in isolation, such as anatomy and physiology, will now be integrated and delivered around body system modules.
In addition, the new curriculum incorporates a 4-hour block each week for hands-on, in-clinic training. This dedicated time will equip students with fundamental, transferable skills applicable to both medical and surgical aspects of veterinary medicine. Along with that, a recent significant building and expansion project offers more study and collaboration space as well as leading-edge equipment and technology that enhances the overall learning experience within our hospital.
Professional skills training, encompassing communication, teamwork, leadership, ethics, financial literacy, and practice management, will occur in a standalone course and in concepts integrated throughout the curriculum. This training will utilize a blended learning approach, with 1 to 2 hours each week dedicated to a combination of online modules and interactive face-to-face sessions focused on the contextualized application of these skills that are critical to personal well-being and professional success.
Phase 2 of the program will introduce the concepts of animal disease and dysfunction while continuing to employ the flipped classroom model. Disciplines such as pathology, infectious diseases, pharmacology, and toxicology will be integrated and organized around body systems, building upon the foundational knowledge of the normal, healthy animal established in year 1. This scaffolded approach aims to equip students with a solid understanding of the mechanisms of common diseases across various animal species, preparing them for the complexities to come in their third year.
Phase 3 focuses on complex and comorbid diseases, facilitating the transition of students into clinical practice. Content will be organized around clinical presentations rather than body systems, providing a more efficient framework for students to apply their knowledge to new and challenging situations. Finally, Phase 4 encompasses hands-on clinical training through rotations, which will be expanded to include an additional 8 weeks focused on primary care medicine and surgery experiences starting in the middle of the spring semester of the third year.
In short, with its progressive approach to learning, this revision aims to ensure our DVM students are equipped to excel as practitioners immediately upon graduation and also have the tools to flourish in a complex and changing world. The process of designing the new curriculum was intentional, strategic, and highly collaborative, yet we know the professional and educational landscape will continue to evolve. As we plan for and begin implementation, we remain committed to ensuring the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine continues to build on its reputation of leadership and excellence.
