In addition to competence in their field, veterinary professionals must strive to retain those humanistic qualities--integrity, respect and compassion--that constitute the essence of professionalism. Through this orientation experience, a Success in Veterinary Medicine Course and on-going leadership training, we seek to weave this crucial thread of professionalism into DVM training. We decided to follow this course when a vast number of research studies indicated that graduate veterinarians need this whole constellation of skill-sets, not just medical and technical competence, to succeed in the current professional environment. WSU is taking the lead in the development and integration of these professional skills into the DVM curriculum and we strongly believe our program will make the four years in Veterinary School a more rewarding and enriching time of training.

Much of the focus for COLE is to encourage the development of skills, ideas and attitudes that will assist students in making the transition to this next level of training. Most veterinary students have probably arrived at this point in life through an innate drive to always “strive for the top”, and at COLE we ask them to modify this attribute. We certainly still want individuals to strive for excellence, but we urge students to begin to see peers as colleagues, not competitors. All students are working toward the common purpose of becoming the compassionate professionals this vocation demands and deserves. It is imperative that we begin our journey together with a common understanding of these goals. We ask students to give some time and thought to what type of a class they and their fellow students will create together.

Additionally, at the COLE we want to have fun and to get to know one another. We have discovered that the opportunity to come together in a beautiful setting to relax, challenge ourselves, and to have a good time is the best way to forge a community before the rigors of class begin. Most past participants have said they cannot imagine having to start school without all of the benefits provided by the orientation experience. In addition to meeting classmates, members of the faculty and the second and third year classes also participate in camp events so that students have a chance to talk with them informally about life in Pullman and at the veterinary school. All of these opportunities have been designed to help students prosper in the first year of veterinary school.