The regulation clearly states that direct supervision by a licensed veterinarian is necessary, as is owner consent. A student will never be performing any diagnostic or procedure on a pet without first receiving the owners approval and certainly not without being supervised by a licensed professional.

I also want to assure people that we are not asking that first year students be allowed to perform surgeries. We are asking that students have expanded opportunties to practice skills and use knowledge relevent to where they are in their current level of education. In our first year of veterinary school we learn to draw blood, place IV catheters, and perform physical exams. Surgery is not performed until the third year of veterinary school, this regulation change is not going to authorize first year students to perform surgery.

I also want to share an example. I am a licensed veterinary technician - I am licensed in both MD and in VA. As an LVT it is legal for me to place IV catheters and prepare patients for general anesthesia - these are things I also learned and practiced during my first and second years of veterinary school. Currently as the laws are written it is illegal for me, despite my licensure, to perform these duties. But it is perfectly legal for students in other programs to perform these activities. What we are asking for is essentially, equal treatment for students. Please remember that veterinary students already have bachelors degrees, if not masters or doctorates - we are professional, animal loving, and responsible adults. There should be nothing wrong with a first year veterinary student performing a physical exam on a pet. This is how we learn. This is how we become the Veterinarians that are tasked with keeping your pets healthy and happy. We are asking for this change because we want to graduate being the best that we can be, because once we graduate there is no guarantee another doctor will be standing behind us to answer our questions. After we graduate there is no guarantee another doctor will be around to help us through a trying case. After we graduate we may be on our own - and we want to graduate knowing that we are confident and capable enough to take care of every pet that walks into our exam room. Our goals are entirely based in the health and welfare of each and every one of our future patients.

We appreciate the respect and trust of all of the pet owners in VA, please consider what we are asking for and rest assured that we will be doing nothing without supervision and your consent will always be requested.

Thank you.