Ask the UVA to End the Use of Cats in Its Pediatrics Residency

Originally Posted: 26 November 2011

Ask the University of Virginia to End the Use of Cats in Its Pediatrics Residency

FROM Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

ACTION

Please take a minute to ask University of Virginia School of Medicine dean Steven DeKosky, M.D., to replace the use of cats in UVA’s pediatrics residency program with validated human-based training methods.

Sign an online petition:
https://secure2.convio.net/pcrm/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=463&autologin=true

And/or better yet, make direct contact:

Steven T. DeKosky, M.D.
Vice President and Dean
University of Virginia School of Medicine
PO Box 800793
Charlottesville, VA 22908
sd3zc@Virginia.EDU
phone (434) 924-5118

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Please take a minute to ask University of Virginia School of Medicine dean Steven DeKosky, M.D., to replace the use of cats in UVA’s pediatrics residency program with validated human-based training methods. We have provided text for you, but if you decide to write your own message, please be polite and encouraging.

Here are some talking points:

Please replace the use of cats in UVA’s pediatrics residency program.

Anatomical differences between cats and humans render this type of training suboptimal.

UVA is part of a shrinking minority of pediatrics residencies (6 percent) that still use live animals for training.

High-fidelity simulators such as Laerdal’s SimNewB, Gaumard’s Premie HAL and PREMIE Blue, and METI’s SimBaby accurately replicate the airway of a premature newborn, optimizing training and feedback.

UVA already has a state-of-the-art simulation center that can easily provide nonanimal training methods.

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Thank you for everything you do for animals!