June 29, 2020
Dear VM4 Students:
Next week, you will return to the College of Veterinary Medicine campus to continue your DVM training. The faculty and staff have been diligently working to create guidelines and protocols necessary for this to happen while reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. These protocols are based on guidelines from the CDC, Iowa Department of Public Health and ISU as well as our knowledge as medical professionals. You will learn more about these later this week.
I want to stress how important it is to follow the guidelines and protocols the college has established. While there has been only one confirmed case in the college, the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Story County and Ames has increased significantly in the past month. If cases increase in our CVM community, we will need to take actions that could further impact your clinical training. For the hospital to remain open and provide the training you need to become veterinarians, we all must stay diligent and follow the guidelines outlined.
Additionally, it is imperative that all of us, as medical professionals, follow the CDC guidelines when outside of the college. These included social distancing, a face covering when physical distancing cannot be maintained, frequent hand washing, and staying home when ill. Again, this is important to reduce risk to the CVM community, but just as importantly, to slow down transmission in our local communities. As members of a professional medical community, we should be leaders in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
Thank you for your cooperation and we are very much looking forward to your return.
Sincerely,
Dan Grooms, DVM, PhD
Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine