Clinical Experience

Vanguard University School of Medicine (VUSOM) provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in hands-on clinical training from their first year, with extensive clinical experiences in the third year. Throughout the program, students receive a comprehensive list of essential medical skills to master at each stage of their education. VUSOM ensures students develop these competencies through a diverse range of clinical experiences, preparing them for success in patient care and medical practice.

Reverence-For-Life Philosophy

At Vanguard University School of Medicine (VUSOM), we uphold the highest ethical standards in medical education. No live subjects are harmed for training purposes. Students learn anesthesia and surgical techniques through advanced simulations, inanimate and dynamic models, and guided apprenticeships.
Under the supervision of experienced clinical faculty, students practice and demonstrate mastery of essential clinical skills before applying them in real-world medical settings. Once proficiency is achieved, students gain extensive hands-on experience working with patients who have real medical conditions, ensuring they are fully prepared for clinical practice.

Clinical Experiences: Years 1 & 2

As a first- and second-year student at Vanguard University School of Medicine (VUSOM), you will gain hands-on experience in our clinical training facilities, where you will practice routine physical examinations, preventive care, patient communication, and medical record-keeping under the supervision of attending clinicians. As you progress, you will transition from basic procedures to more advanced clinical skills.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to participate in our Mobile Medical Community Outreach Program, a fully equipped clinic-on-wheels that brings healthcare services to underserved communities. Under faculty supervision, you will gain valuable experience providing physical examinations, vaccinations, minor medical procedures, and essential treatments at community health events.
Beyond these experiences, students will engage in hands-on training at specialized medical facilities, multidisciplinary laboratories, and affiliated healthcare centers, ensuring comprehensive exposure to a wide range of clinical scenarios.

Clinical Courses: Year 3

In your third year at Vanguard University School of Medicine (VUSOM), you will rotate through various clinical settings, guided by structured learning objectives and detailed skills checklists.
Your training will encompass primary, advanced, and specialized patient care, along with essential skills in patient communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and medical practice management. You will continue applying problem-based learning to analyze and discuss real clinical cases encountered during your rotations.
Every eight weeks, you will return to campus for assessments and enrichment activities, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience. As you progress through your third year, you will refine your clinical expertise and be well-prepared to select fourth-year rotations aligned with your career goals and interests.

Clinical Rotations: Year 4

Your fourth year is designed to make you a “practice-ready” entry-level veterinarian. In this final year, you focus on your career by working individually in eight, four-week clinical rotations.
As in the previous three years, learning objectives and skills checklists continue to guide your education. You may select rotations in a variety of veterinary settings including clinical practices, laboratories, consultancies, government, etc. Your rotations may be local, regional, national, or even international.