Distributive clinical education is no longer an experimental approach but a well-established model that prepares graduates for contemporary veterinary practice, writes Stacy Anderson DVM, Ph.D., DACVS-LA. Addressing some of the misconceptions that persist, she says the available evidence and graduates’ success demonstrate that high-quality clinical education can occur outside the walls of a teaching hospital when supported by intentional oversight, clinical educator development, and strong partnerships with practice.
Source: Today’s Veterinary Business, July 7, 2026. Link. Anderson shares commonly cited criticisms of the distributive clinical education model, whether expressed openly or held more quietly, along with corresponding counterarguments:
- Clinicians in practice aren’t trained to teach
- Students won’t get a quality education
- Students will learn bad habits from practitioners
- Schools are passing on the cost of education to veterinary practices
- Students won’t get hands-on training
- Distributive programs have poor outcomes
The quality of clinical education has markedly improved in the last 10 years as the veterinary education community has recognized that formal training in this area leads to better student outcomes, regardless of the clinical education model.”
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