CVM Operations Update March 28, 2020

Colleagues,

I am writing to update everyone on where we are on the ISU CVM response to COVID 19. 

We are truly experiencing something that none of us have ever experienced. I have worked through emergency tabletop exercises having to do with FMD, ASF, a train derailment next to the CVM (old job), but never a global human pandemic.  A tabletop exercise is easy as those decisions have no real consequences.  The decisions we are making every day with respect to COVID 19 situation have real consequences including the health of our students, staff, and faculty, financial considerations, and frankly our existence as an entity.  The good news is that the entire CVM community is rising to the challenge.  Everyone is stepping up to do what is necessary to meet this challenge head-on.  Thank you to everyone for doing your part to help us get through this.

A reminder, our guiding principles at this time in making decisions are 1) Safety of our students, staff, faculty and their loved ones, 2) Maintain and deliver a quality education to our students, 3) Maintain services as much as possible that meet critical animal and public health needs, and 4) Preserve critical research resources. Everything outside of these four priorities can wait.  I would encourage you to think the same. 

Again, I encourage you to stay up-to-date with what is happening at ISU by frequently visiting the COVID 19 web site.

Also, ISU CVM has a site with updates specific to CVM. 

Following is a brief synopsis of where we are at CVM as of March 27th:

YOUR HEALTH

  1. Once again, the health of our students, staff and faculty is a priority.  Doing our part to reduce risk of COVID 19 transmission is an imperative.  We need to be leaders in following the CDC recommended guidelines.  PLEASE  1) practice social distancing, 2) work and stay at home if possible and absolutely if you are sick, 3) practice good hygiene – wash your hands, and 4) use common sense
  2. Take care of yourself physically and mentally. Visit online for some great resources.
  3. Please reach out and show care and support to each other and continue to reject stigmas associated with this pandemic.

STUDENT EDUCATION

  1. VM1-3 education – All VM1-3 education is now being delivered on-line for the remainder of the semester. 
  2. VM4 clinical rotations – After broad discussion, the decision was to effectively cancel VM4 clinical rotations (3x2 week blocks) for the rest of the semester.
  3. NOTE: We are continuing to provide on-line clinical experiences to VM4s from the Caribbean schools who are on a different schedule. 
  4. Graduate student classes – All graduate student classes are now being delivered on-line for the rest of the semester.
  5. VM3 transition to VM4 – OASA and the curriculum committee are currently working on potential options.
  6. Summer Programs – all summer programs are currently being evaluated.  We hope to have final decisions on each program early in April.
  7. Commencement has been canceled.  OASA is working on a plan for an alternative ceremony.

LVMC

  1. Until further notice, the LVMC will only see patients when it is critical to the health of the animal or the economic viability of the client. The LVMC will continue to reassess the situation and make adjustments accordingly.  Updates on the LVMC operations can be found online.
  2. OF NOTE: Read how the LVMC is preparing to loan out ventilators to human hospitals if needed online.

VETERINARY FIELD SERVICES

  1. VFS continues to make client calls when it is critical to the health of the animal or the economic viability of the client.
  2. VFS operations are being evaluated daily. Updates on the VFS operations can be found online.

VDL

  1. The VDL is open and continues to provide critical services necessary to protect both animal and public health.
  2. VDL operations are being evaluated daily. Updates on the VDL operations can be found online.
  3. OF NOTE: Read about how the VDL is partnering with the Iowa State Hygienic Lab to increase human testing capacity. 

RESEARCH

  1. Guidelines from the VPR office for conducting research can be found online. We are asking all CVM research labs to follow the guidelines and plan research activities accordingly.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS UPDATES

  1. The front desk by the Deans office will remain open from 8am-4pm until further notice.
  2. A decision was made to continue with the Fish Tank Lobby project.  With classes now on-line and other events being canceled, the start date may move up. The VDL and VFS expansion continue to move forward. The classroom 2532 renovation project is currently being evaluated.
  3. A reminder on travel:
    1. All university international travel is prohibited until further notice.
    2. All university-related non-essential interstate domestic travel is prohibited until further notice, effective immediately.  
    3. Travel within the state of Iowa can continue but the university strongly recommends that, where possible and practical, decisions are made to reduce in-state travel, consistent with our goal of taking reasonable actions to reduce transmission risk.

Again thank you for the great things you are doing and PLEASE do the right things to stay safe!

Dan Grooms DVM, PhD
Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean Of Veterinary Medicine