“This will be our operating room,” said Stephanie Gilliam.

She is showing off large, but largely empty, classrooms. The rooms are being prepared for a new program that has implications for the Mexico Animal Shelter and veterinary care in general.

Beginning in August, the Mexico campus of Moberly Area Community College will host a new veterinary technician program. It will be a comprehensive two-year degree, with courses ranging from animal handling to laboratory research to surgery.

“We’re excited about it, that’s for sure,” Gilliam said. “It’s very similar to a registered nurse program.”

Gilliam spent the past 13 years as a veterinary technician specializing in neurology at the University of Missouri’s veterinary school. She will be joined by Doctor Diane McConnell, a veterinarian who will be responsible for much of the course work.

Already 18 students from around the region have enrolled in the program, which has a capacity of 32.

For Mexico, the hands-on requirement of a vet tech program has potential benefits. The school has paired with the animal shelter to provide a variety of services.

The emphasis will change by semester. In the fall, MACC vet tech students will focus on preventative care. During the spring semester, students will provide spay and neuter surgeries.

Gilliam points out that most vet tech programs around the country partner with local shelters. However, it is typical for the schools to house animals on campus.

For the MACC program, animals will be transported temporarily to school kennels.

“We can provide care for more animals that way,” she explained.

MACC has an agreement with Sydenstricker for courses on the care of cattle. Students will travel to the University of Missouri for equine study.

MU approached MACC in 2018 with the idea of a vet tech partnership program. The degree requires successful completion of 77 credit hours and summer internships. Students will do rotations in Columbia in their second year.

The college has applied with the American Veterinary Medical Association for accreditation. Gilliam says the school hopes to have this in place by the spring of 2023, which means the initial class could be at risk should the AVMA require changes before granting accreditation.

Missouri does not allow graduates of unaccredited schools to take license examinations.

Gilliam, however, doesn’t see that as an issue. She worked with the AMVA in developing the program and visited vet tech programs around the Midwest to establish the curriculum.

Should there be an issue, MACC can hold diplomas – essentially delaying graduation – until the program is approved.

“I think we’re going to be fine,” Gilliam said. “We’ve had two years to develop this.”