One equine veterinary instructor’s commitment to Indigenous communities near Calgary is not only improving the health of horses in underserved areas, but also preparing her students to enter practice and planting in them the seeds of community service. 

Identifying an opportunity to bridge both the clinical needs of students and the need for preventive veterinary care in nearby Indigenous communities, Dr. Jean-Yin Tan, an instructor of equine clinical sciences at the University of Calgary, implemented annual clinical skills labs at the Tsuut’ina Nation in early 2018. During these labs, second-year veterinary students perform physical examinations, deworming and vaccination of horses at no cost and with vaccines donated by Boehringer Ingelheim and Zoetis.

The labs revealed a broader need for primary care services. Over 17 months, Dr. Tan worked with university officials and members of the Tsuut’ina and Siksika Nations’ equestrian communities to resolve funding, logistical and off-site communication challenges before receiving approval for a two-week rotation for fourth-year veterinary students at both Indigenous communities. 

The rotation launched in June at the Tsuut’ina Nation with four students administering veterinary care to 65 horses under the supervision of Dr. Tan and another faculty member. Students performed physical exams, deworming, dentistry, castrations and lameness workups as well as higher-level services such as a full respiratory workup with bronchoalveolar lavage. Students also received plenty of practice in the important art of owner communication and relationship building. Between the labs and rotation, students have provided nearly $50,000 worth of veterinary services to 200 horses.

“It would be one thing for me to go out there and do this myself but being able to involve the next generation of veterinarians is more fulfilling,” said Dr. Tan. “They not only learn the skills, but they also learn about the opportunities out there to do some good in our communities. That’s a lot more powerful.”

Dr. Tan, who joined the University of Calgary from private practice in 2015 for the responsibility and reward of shaping future equine veterinarians, hopes to expand the program to more than one rotation and to more students and other Indigenous communities. 

The initial rotation made quite an impression on the participants. 

“It was an amazing experience,” said fourth-year student Erica Ward. “Every day we saw a varied case load that sharpened our hands-on and diagnostic skills. Throughout school we have been taught about First Nations Communities, but it is completely different to be in the communities and have meaningful conversations. 

“To be a great community practitioner you need to serve the whole community, and First Nations Groups are an often-overlooked part of that. This was my first opportunity to use my clinical skills to serve the community and, now that I’ve experienced how fulfilling it is, I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.”