Four Veterinary Colleges and a Common Vision: Ecosystem Health in Canadian Veterinary Colleges

Beginning in 1993, an elective rotation in ecosystem health was implemented for final-year students in the veterinary curriculum in Canada. The four veterinary colleges collaborated on the delivery of the course, which rotated to a different region of the country each year. The course has been primarily case-based and problem-driven. The first 4 years involved a wide range of pedagogical experiments and field problems, and the next 7 years have been ones of consolidation and integration. This article reviews the 11 years of course delivery, and draws lessons for pedagogy of this complex subject to health professionals. Within the past year, the veterinary collaboration has extended to a medical school, and a full syllabus is being developed.