| CMP > Overview |
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The University of Missouri Comparative Medicine Program (CMP) is post Doctor of Veterinary Medicine training that combines graduate residency training, course work and research. Trainees with relevant experience in laboratory animal medicine or comparative pathology may pursue research training without residency training. In the residency year of training, two rotations are performed: diagnostic laboratory animal pathology in the Research Animal Diagnostic Laboratory (RADIL); clinical medicine and animal resource management in the Office of Animal Resources (OAR). The remaining two to four years focus on research training under an established investigator. After three years, trainees successfully fulfilling program requirements receive a certificate of residency training. MS students complete their program while PhD students continue to pursue research training (click here for an example of a typical program).
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Coursework |
| Admission Requirements: Candidates
must have a DVM or VMD degree (or equivalent) and meet admission requirements of the MU
Graduate School. Admission materials must include a curriculum
vitae, a statement of career goals and interests, complete transcripts,
Graduate Record Examination Scores (if available), and the names and
addresses of three persons to be contacted for letters of evaluation must
also be submitted.
Course work: The minimum number of semester credit hours
required of trainees is 72 for a PhD degree and 30 for a MS degree. Typically, course
credit hours are high early in training and decline in subsequent years to promote
emphasis on hands-on research activities. Course work includes the laboratory animal
medicine core courses along with additional graduate elective courses that compliment the
individual trainee's research interest. Advisement: Each trainee has a program advisor who is a member of the
CMP faculty. The program advisor is responsible for selection and scheduling of initial
course work, facilitating selection of a research mentor, serving on the trainee's
graduate committee, and keeping the core faculty apprised of trainee progress in the
approved program of study. In addition, each trainee, selects a
research mentor
who supervises research training. A broad range of research opportunities are available
(see Research). Sources of Support: There are a variety of sources used
to support trainee stipends. Trainees entering the program may be supported by a College
of Veterinary Medicine residency fund, The JE Wagner endowment, University of Missouri
Mission Enhancement support, or private funding. After successfully completing the first
year of training, trainees become eligible to compete for vacant NIH Training Grant
positions. Trainees are also encouraged to apply for individual NIH postdoctoral
fellowships. Academic Degree: Trainees may
pursue either a MS in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences with an area of specialization in
Laboratory Animal Medicine or a PhD in a variety of departments/areas such as Area Pathobiology.
Non-degree training is generally discouraged but can be tailored to the needs of trainees
who already have a relevant graduate degree. Expectations of Trainees: Guidelines
which reflect what residents can reasonably expect from MU and the CMP are provided here, along with what is expected of the residents. Number of Trainees:
There are generally 10-12
trainees at various stages in the program at any one time. This relatively large number of trainees is
a major asset to this training program because it provides opportunities for networking and sharing of
experiences among trainees. History:
The MU CMP has been in existence since 1967. This program has an outstanding record of
faculty and trainee research productivity throughout its history. Graduates
of MU CMP (over 70)
hold important positions and continue to make significant research contributions to
comparative medicine. Columbia:
Columbia, Missouri is located in the center of the state about halfway between Kansas City
and St. Louis. National magazines, such as Money, frequently rate Columbia as one of the
best places in the United States to live. |