OSU launches "Grow Your Own" program: Veterinary Center announces new recruiting method

Thursday, July 26, 2007

A few years ago, the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences instituted a “Grow Your Own” Program. This month marks the second time the Veterinary Center will start to reap the benefits of this program.

The brainchild of Dr. Charles MacAllister, head of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, the program is designed to train individuals to fill specific vacancies/needs at the center’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
 
“We had a hard time finding qualified candidates to fill various positions in our program,” Dean Michael Lorenz said. “There is a huge need for clinical faculty and a large gap in the available resources to provide that training. So, we decided to offer potential candidates an opportunity to receive additional training in a specialty field in return for their services; specifically in surgery, radiology and cardiology. The program implemented by Dr. MacAllister has been a huge success, and I predict it will be copied by other veterinary colleges.”
 
Dr. Jude Bordelon was the first person to complete the program. He received his training at OSU and, following a three-year residency program, joined the faculty last year. Dr. Jason Arble received his training out of state and returned to OSU to fill a much-needed radiologist position.
 
“After practicing veterinary medicine for three years as a private practitioner, I realized I was really drawn to the specialty of radiology,” Arble said. “I was really excited about the opportunity presented by Oklahoma State. I was able to receive great training and was offered a position in academia at a top-notch institution, which was my main goal.”
 
Arble received his training at Ohio State University under the tutelage of former department head Dr. John Mattoon and Dr. Tod Drost, former OSU faculty member and now department head of radiology at Ohio.
 
“We chose Ohio State because we felt they had an excellent radiology program,” Lorenz said. “They have been very receptive to the idea and easy to work with. Dr. Arble was an excellent candidate for their residency program, so they were glad to have him for three years at no cost. And we now have a well-trained radiologist.”
 
OSU’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has one more “Grow Your Own” candidate in the system. Dr. Nicole Ponzio is currently in a cardiology program and will return to Oklahoma shortly after the first of the year.
 
The Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 27 veterinary colleges in the United States and the only one using this type of program to ensure it has the highest-quality faculty on board.