K-State partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition combines strengths to advance student learning, elevate patient care
Dreams are being realized in the Veterinary Health Center (VHC) at Kansas State University, thanks in large part to long-running support from Hill's Pet Nutrition.
“The College of Veterinary Medicine has had a partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition that has been in place since 2018,” said Elizabeth Davis, associate dean of clinical programs. “For the 2023-2024 school year, we are celebrating an improved standard of education for our students and services for our clients. Hill’s Pet Nutrition has consistently provided us with opportunities to enhance our state-of-the-art primary care for small animal patients while training extraordinary graduates. We have been thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Hill’s Pet Nutrition in this important way.”
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a global pet nutrition company located in Overland Park, Kansas, has helped to provide new resources and facilities at K-State throughout the partnership, which was designed to enhance medical and nutritional care for pets. The Veterinary Health Center serves as the teaching hospital in the College of Veterinary Medicine. A major renovation of space in 2021 was used to create the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center.
Dr. Elizabeth Davis, associate dean of clinical programs, welcomes everyone to the recently held Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Symposium, sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition.
“Beginning in the third year of instruction, students take a core class in clinical nutrition, and, in their fourth year, students take one of the core clinical-education rotations in the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center,” Dr. Davis said. “We believe Kansas State University is unique in its ability to provide this type of advanced nutrition education. Ultimately it will result in graduates who have a better scope of understanding on how to deliver dietary recommendations to their clients and provide proper nutrition guidance.”
Dr. Davis said the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center has served as a home for nutrition consultation, delivered by a designated Hill’s Primary Care Intern who is in direct consultation with board-certified veterinary nutritionists and fulfills a year-long commitment in the center. Beginning last year, the Veterinary Health Center partnered with the University of Tennessee to recruit and hire an ACVIM-clinical nutrition resident whose two-year commitment delivers an enhanced level of nutrition expertise and services.
Dr. Amanda Nascimento is the current Hill’s clinical nutrition and primary care intern and consults at least weekly with two American College of Veterinary Nutrition board-certified clinical nutritionists from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, who are also adjunct faculty in the Department of Clinical Sciences in the veterinary college. Dr. Flavia Vaduva is the current Hill’s clinical nutrition resident.
Dr. Flavia Vaduva (left) is the Hill’s clinical nutrition resident and Dr. Amanda Nascimento is the Hill’s clinical nutrition and primary care intern. They both gave presentations during the Hill's clinical nutrition symposium in December.
“We have a shared passion for ensuring nutrition is integrated into the veterinary school curriculum,” said Dr. Karen Shenoy, Chief Veterinary Officer for Hill’s Pet Nutrition US. “At Hill’s, this is especially important because of our commitment to supporting veterinary professionals. The hands-on learning helps develop students’ skills in making appropriate dietary recommendations and provides an opportunity for them to practice effective client communications, ultimately, preparing these future veterinarians to better address their clients’ and patients’ needs.
Additional benefits of this partnership include a focus on animal welfare that includes Fear-Free® design features for optimal routine pet care, young pet care for puppies and kittens, annual visits with preventative health care, senior pet care and nutrition for all ages. The Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center has provided care for 2,525 patients for FY23. The Healthy Weight Clinic sees approximately 200-300 patients annually.
Dr. Matthew Hull (left), DVM class of 2017, is digital education specialist with Hill's and served as emcess during the clinical nutrition symposium. Here he introduces guest presenter Dr. Adesola Odunayo, the Michael Schaer Distinguished Professor of emergency and critical care at the University of Florida. Dr. Odunayo gave two presentations at the clinical nutrition symposium: one on initial care for emergencies and the other on gastrointestinal emergencies.
Both Drs. Davis and Shenoy emphasized that an important long-term goal of the VHC Healthy Weight Clinic, one of the services within the center, is to help end pet obesity. Dr. Davis said the goal is to ensure that each patient is receiving a customized nutrition plan that is best suited for that individual animal to obtain optimal results.
Another aspect of the partnership includes the annual Hill’s Pet Nutrition Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Continuing Education Conference, which offers five hours of continuing education credit. This symposium features experts from the college, as well as professionals from the industry, who lecture and answer questions on veterinary critical care and small animal nutrition.
Dr. Caitlyn Getty, scientific communications specialist at Hill's Pet Nutrition, gives an update on the importance of proper nutrition support for critically ill canine and feline patients.
