VET_MED-547-cassondra.yarlott-2026-03-02-04-57-57

Link to Course Syllabus: 

 

WSU Veterinary Diagnostic Challenge

VET_MED-547.01

Semester and Year: Fall 2026

Number of Credit Hours 1

Prerequisites [Completion of the year 1 veterinary medicine curriculum at WSU CVM]

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: Dr. Jeffrey Abbott, DVM, PhD, DACVP

Instructor Contact Information:

Instructor Office Hours: By appointment

 

Course Description

VM547 Diagnostic Challenge is a series of experiential exercises culminating in 2 weeklong simulation exercises in the fall of year 2 of the professional curriculum in week 8 and week 12 or 13. The course has 3 progressive experiential exercises.

  1. Create-a-case – Students are assigned one Gastrointestinal and one Hepatobiliary disease.
    1. The students create a Prototypical Case complete with clinical signs, laboratory data, and history.
    2. The students prepare a detailed Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of the disease.
    3. The students prepare a Clinical Case Presentation to be presented in Systemic Pathology Laboratory.
  2. Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)
    1. Students choose from a list of prepared cases, one Gastrointestinal and one Hepatobiliary, to compose 2 medical records (Academic SOAPs).
  3. DC1 and DC2 weeks
    1. During each week of the Diagnostic Challenge, classes are canceled, and the students spend the week in clinic teams of 4 to 6.
    2. Pre-DC1 is a half day exercise to learn about working in teams, get to know their team, and create goals with their DC1 team.
    3. Pre-DC2 is a full day exercise discussing feedback and communication tools in addition to getting to know their team and creating personal and team goals for the week.
    4. From Tuesday to Thursday, the students work with a client and veterinary facilitator to work through a clinical case, typically meeting with the client 2 times per day, ordering appropriate tests, analyzing clinical data, and meeting as needed with the veterinary facilitator.
    5. Friday, each clinic team will present their case progression, diagnosis with pathophysiology, and learning opportunities to some of their classmates. Each group should see a presentation representing each of the clinical cases that were done during the week.

Course Materials 

All course materials will be provided

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) [add more lines if necessary]

Course Learning Outcomes

(students will be able to:)

 Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes Assessment of the Learning Outcomes

Use critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based medicine to explore and better understand the diagnostic process through a simulated clinical case.
  • Create-a-case
  • Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)
  • DC1
  • DC2
 Course survey for both students and volunteers

Become familiar and practice writing medical records.
  • Create-a-case
  • Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)
  • DC1
  • DC2
 Course survey for both students and volunteers

Develop a deeper understanding of the roles that client communication, critical thinking, cognitive biases, regulatory officials, veterinary specialists (referral), diagnostic images/procedures, diagnostic labs, and/or the media play in veterinary practice.

 

  • Create-a-case
  • Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)
  • DC1
  • DC2
 Course survey for both students and volunteers

Course Schedule

[Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]
Dates Lesson Topic Assignment Assessment

Weeks 1-5
[dates]

Create-a-case

   
  • A species survey and assignment are given to the students by August 1.
  • Case presentations will occur during Systemic Pathology Laboratories on weeks 2 (acute GI), 3 (chronic GI), and 5 (Hepatobiliary).
  These assignments will be evaluated by a faculty facilitator and group peers.
Weeks 4-6
[dates]		   

Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)

   
  • These assignments are due on weeks 4 and 6 of the semester with feedback given within10 days.
  Each Medical Record Assignment will be evaluated by a Year 3 Veterinary Student with written comments.
Week 8
[dates]		   DC 1
  •   This exercise will extend from Monday -Friday and require on site attendance.
   Grades will be determined by a collection of assessments from team peers, clients, and veterinary facilitators.
Week 12
[dates]
   DC 2    
  •   This exercise will extend from Monday -Friday and require on site attendance.
   Grades will be determined by a collection of assessments from team peers, clients, and veterinary facilitators.

 

Dates

Topic

Description

Assignment/Material

August 1

Create-a-Case assignment

Receive assignment

Instructions and learning modules are provided for completion of the assignment

Weeks

2, 3, & 5

Case presentations in Systemic Pathology Laboratory

Four or Five students will present in each laboratory.

 

Each student will present one of their cases to a group of 9-10 other students and a faculty group leader.

Case presentation with accompanying pathogenesis and pathophysiology to share and teach to other students in group.

Weeks

4 & 6

Problem Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs) due.

Each student will choose 2 cases (1 GI and 1 Liver) and create a medical record.

An electronic copy will be posted in canvas for review

Week 8

DC1

Participation in the diagnostic challenge week including Pre and Post DC exercises and Grand Rounds.

PowerPoint Presentation (Grand Rounds)

Week

11 or 12

DC2

Participation in the diagnostic challenge week including Pre and Post DC exercises and Grand Rounds.

PowerPoint Presentation (Grand Rounds)

Expectations for Student Effort 

  • Create-a-case
    • This assignment is largely self-directed.
    • Students are recommended to spend between 5 and 10 hours for this assignment.
  • Problem-Oriented Medical Records (SOAPs)
    • Students are recommended to spend between 5 and 10 hours for this assignment.
  • DC1 and DC2 weeks
    • Each DC week requires participation only during these weeks. However, the days tend to be from 8am to 11 pm Tuesday and Wednesday. The other days tend to be more 8am-5pm.

Attendance and Participation:

  • Completion of the Create-a-Case, Case Presentation, and medical record (SOAP) assignments.
  • Attendance during the DC Weeks
    • Be on time, put forth a reasonable effort, participate in clinic team, and contribute to the Grand Rounds Presentation.
    • The DC Weeks are required attendance and not eligible for student absences.

 

Grading 

  • The course is graded S, M, F consistent with other courses in the core DVM curriculum at WSU.
  • To receive a SATISFACTORY grade (S), students must have completed all assignments and attended both DC weeks, arrived prepared, and effectively presented their case (as determined by their facilitator).
  • A MARGINAL grade (M) will be awarded if a student completes all assignments but with minimal of substandard effort or teamwork is significantly lacking as per peer evaluations.
  • There are NO exams in this independent study course.
  • Students will receive a marginal (F) grade if the client, facilitator, and student team report a lack of effort or excessive absences.

Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

If a student misses a significant portion or all of the DC week, a make-up assignment will be administered to best simulate the missed experience. This could include some or all of the following:

    • A writing assignment
    • Working through a paper case similar to the CPE.
    • Working with a clinician and taking notes during a case.

 

Academic Integrity Statement

You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards

-Have the right to appeal my decision

-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.