What is the MSU Community Medicine Program?
The MSU Community Medicine Program is a three-week clinical clerkship for fourth-year veterinary and clinical veterinary nursing students that delivers high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services to animal welfare organizations across Michigan at no cost.
Through a state-of-the-art mobile surgical unit, students work in real-world shelter and community settings under direct faculty supervision. The program is designed to expand access to care, reduce barriers to adoptability, and strengthen animal welfare outcomes while providing immersive, hands-on surgical training.
This model allows students to develop efficiency, sound clinical judgment, and strong anesthesia and surgical skills in a structured, faculty-guided environment.
Who can become a partner?
Eligible partners include municipal shelters, humane societies, rescue organizations, and nonprofit animal welfare groups located within approximately a two-hour radius of MSU. Partnerships are based on mission alignment, community need, and mobile unit capacity. More info.
What services are provided?
Services focus primarily on spay/neuter surgery for healthy unowned homeless animals. Rabies vaccination is offered to be administered at the time of surgery. Microchip placement and blood draws may be performed while animals are sedated. These additional services availability depends on time, staffing, patient health status, and mobile unit capacity. More info.
Is there a cost to participate?
There is no fee for approved animal welfare partners. Services are supported through program funding and sponsorship.
Partners are expected to meet certain logistical requirements to ensure safe and efficient clinic operations. These may include providing appropriate electrical access for the mobile unit, space calm recovery, and on-site support during the visit. These requirements are intended to support workflow, safety, and patient care rather than create financial burden.
Full logistical details are reviewed during the partnership onboarding process.
How many animals can be seen during a visit?
The number of animals seen during a visit varies based on staffing, travel logistics, case complexity, and patient health. Most visits operate within a surgical point system to ensure safe caseload management. Each procedure is assigned a point value based on time and complexity.
- Adult dog spay (under ~50 lbs): 5 points
- Puppy spay (under 4 months): 4 points
- Adult dog neuter: 2 points
- Puppy neuter (under 4 months): 1 point
- Adult or kitten spay: 3 point
- Adult or kitten neuter: 1 point
- Community/TNR cat: 2 points
Each visit is typically allotted approximately 40–55 total surgical points. The exact point availability may vary depending on timing within the three-week rotation, staffing structure, travel demands, and instructional priorities. The anticipated point total for a scheduled visit will be communicated in advance during the scheduling and planning process.
Visit days are capped within this range to maintain patient safety, appropriate anesthesia monitoring, and meaningful student instruction. Final case selection remains at the discretion of MSU faculty on the day of service.
Who performs the surgeries?
Fourth-year clinical veterinary students perform surgeries under the direct supervision of MSU faculty veterinarians.
Faculty are present in the surgical suite at all times. Students are required to pause at defined stages of the procedure for faculty evaluation and approval before proceeding. This structured oversight ensures patient safety, reinforces surgical standards, and maintains high-quality medical care throughout the procedure.
Anesthesia and recovery are also monitored by MSU students and faculty using full anesthesia monitoring equipment within the mobile unit.
What is required of partners?
Partners are responsible for:
- Screening and preparing animals prior to the visit
- Providing appropriate recovery monitoring and post-operative care
- Ensuring safe workspace and animal handling support
- Designating a primary point of contact
- Provide lunch for the MSU team
Detailed preparation guidelines are provided prior to the first visit day.
What areas do you serve?
The mobile unit serves animal welfare organizations within approximately a two-hour radius of Michigan State University. Specific details are here.
What happens if there is a complication after surgery?
While every effort is made to minimize surgical risk, complications can occur, particularly in high-volume settings.
All patients are closely monitored during anesthesia and the initial recovery period by MSU students and faculty. Partners are responsible for continued post-operative monitoring, exercise restriction (typically 10 days), and incision checks following the visit.
Participating organizations must have an established relationship with a local veterinarian who can assist with post-operative complications if they arise. MSU requests notification of adverse events for quality improvement and recordkeeping purposes.
How do we apply to become a partner?
Organizations interested in partnering with the MSU Community Medicine Program are encouraged to complete the Partner Interest Survey or visit the Become a Partner section of our website for additional information about eligibility and program expectations. A member of the Community Medicine team will follow up to confirm receipt and provide information regarding eligibility and partnership considerations. Submission of the form does not guarantee immediate participation, as scheduling and capacity are limited. However, all expressions of interest are valuable and help guide future planning and program expansion.