TTU SVM Clinical Year Podcast

Texas Tech’s School of Veterinary Medicine approaches the clinical year as a continuous journey of growth—one built through authentic patient care, community-based instruction, and intentional coaching.

In this episode, Dr. Don Rollins and Dr. Clinton Roof explain how the SVM’s clinical-year model places students alongside practicing veterinarians, where everyday cases become opportunities to strengthen clinical reasoning, communication, and decision-making. Because students progress through a series of four-week rotations, each clinical instructor contributes to a larger educational continuum, helping students build confidence and independence one experience at a time.

The conversation highlights the importance of timely, specific feedback tied to directly observed work. From brief case debriefs to reflective questions and mid-rotation evaluations, listeners will discover practical ways to integrate teaching into a busy practice. The episode shows how SVM clinical partners do more than supervise students—they help connect classroom knowledge to real-world care and prepare the next generation of practice-ready veterinarians.