Do One, Teach One

September 12, 2012

Alicia Ashley , AVC 2013, travelled to Nain as one of the student participants on the Chinook Project. As part of the experience, the students craft various pieces of writing.

"Do one teach one." If I had a dime for every time I heard this during vet school I wouldn't be losing sleep over my student loans. For veterinary students however, the saying can become "I've done ten but can you teach me again?" I have acquired an immense amount of knowledge and new skills during my vet school career, but the learning never stops, and everyday brings a hoard of new challenges. Thankfully my memory bank has held on to more than it has discarded. This became evident during one of the last clinic days of the Chinook project when I had my first real and meaningful teaching moment with a man named Paul.

Paul and Alicia

Paul was our on the ground Chinook project coordinator.  He was an incredibly hard working and fascinating resident of Nain, who happened to care for over 20 adopted working dogs. During his many hours spent keeping our clinic running smoothly, Paul observed a lot of surgeries. On the second last clinic day, I was feeling pretty good about my surgical skills and was flying solo for a routine neuter that just happened to be on one of Paul’s dogs. Paul jumped at the offer to assist in his own dog’s surgery.. Step by step, from anesthesia, to the sterile scrub, to the scalpel’s slice, I guided Paul through the procedure and we completed the surgery together.  This picture perfectly captured the student and teacher absorbed in the task at hand.