She’s opened a brewery. She’s worked in HR. She co-founded CodaPet, helping families with compassionate in-home euthanasia. But can Dr. Bethany Hsia survive the ultimate challenge—trivia questions about turkey sneezes, cancer-fighting cats, and flu-proof seals?

In this month’s episode of Brain Smarts with Vet Candy, hosts Caitlin and Clay Palmer put Dr. Hsia to the test in the only veterinary podcast where the science is real, the answers are ridiculous, and the scorekeeping is questionable at best.

From dramatic boy cats with weak hearts to a lightning round written entirely in limericks, Dr. Hsia proves she can handle just about anything. (Though let’s be honest—running a nationwide company might actually be easier.)

Presented by PRN Pharmacal, makers of Felycin (sirolimus delayed-release tablets).

🎧 Listen now and find out if Bethany makes it out officially “Brain Smart”… or just slightly traumatized.

On Vet Candy News, a groundbreaking new study has revealed the extent of animal use in veterinary education across the U.S. and Canada. Researchers reviewed 120 animal use protocols from 26 public vet schools and found widespread reliance on cadavers and terminal teaching exercises—despite ethical guidelines urging alternatives.

Key findings: nearly all schools used horses, cows, or small ruminants; poultry were used in the highest numbers, mainly for euthanasia training; and dogs, cats, and rodents were also included. While donation programs supply many cadavers, sourcing remains inconsistent and sometimes vague.

Most protocols admitted alternatives exist but argued they weren’t equal for teaching. Alarmingly, some schools gave no consideration to alternatives at all—despite guidelines discouraging euthanasia for training purposes.

The authors say this is likely an undercount, since cadavers used in anatomy and pathology aren’t always tracked. Overall, the study highlights a gap between ethical standards and actual practices, urging vet schools to embrace proven alternatives like simulators and clinical cases to train future veterinarians with both skill and compassion.

#veterinarynews #veterinary #vetmed #vetschool.

1. In March 2025, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) quietly rolled back a major accreditation requirement: veterinary schools are no longer required to report on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

In a letter sent to veterinary school deans, the COE said it will “not require programs to report on, or comply with, current aspects of the Standards of Accreditation that relate to DEI…in a manner that conflicts with applicable law or other institutional directives.” In effect, what was once mandatory is now optional.

The council emphasized that schools may still pursue and share DEI initiatives, but critics warn that removing accountability has serious consequences for the profession:

• Loss of Transparency: Without required reporting, schools may sideline DEI work, making it difficult to measure progress.

• Student & Faculty Impact: Data on recruitment, retention, and support of underrepresented groups could disappear, allowing disparities to persist unnoticed.

• Equity Setbacks: Mandatory reporting has been one of the few tools to push the overwhelmingly white profession toward change. Making it optional risks slowing that momentum.

Veterinary medicine already faces deep representation gaps. According to AVMA data, as of 2021 the profession was 91.9% white, with Black veterinarians making up less than 1%. Without structured reporting, inequities may remain invisible—robbing underrepresented students and faculty of the support they need.

The COE frames the change as protecting institutions from legal conflicts, but many veterinarians, students, and educators see it as a step backward. During the public comment period, dozens urged the council to preserve DEI reporting. Their concerns went unanswered.

For those who believe accountability is essential, action is still possible: contact AVMA representatives, engage with the House of Delegates, and advocate within veterinary schools. Without continued pressure, the profession risks losing one of its few mechanisms for tracking—and tackling—its diversity problem.

#veterinary #veterinarymedicine #animalhealth #deireporting #AVMA #AVMACOE

#veterinaryschool