WHAT: Students will get hands-on experience with animals and medical equipment at a national conference on the health professions that will draw more than 8,000 to UC Davis on Oct. 10 and 11.

The 13th annual UC Davis Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professions National Conference -- the largest conference of its kind in the country -- includes programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing and seven other health fields.

It will feature interactive workshops and hundreds of others with an emphasis on helping those from historically underrepresented communities see themselves in the professions and overcome obstacles to succeed in the fields of their choosing.

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10 and 11

WHERE: UC Davis campus in Davis

VISUALS: A 40-second video provides a sampling of the workshops: https://youtu.be/7UeSM4XfBxs

* Health Professions Fair -- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, UC Davis Quad

Thousands of students will visit the fair to network with representatives of more than 500 health professional schools and preparatory programs.

* Specialty Rotations -- Saturday afternoon, upper level of the UC Davis Pavilion

Two-hour "rotations" give students the opportunity to rotate to talk with doctors from about 20 specialties. Medical specialties will be offered from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and surgical specialties, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

* Mock interview -- 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Bainer Hall 1128

Students will participate in mock interviews with pharmacy school representatives. Leaders: Richard Barajas of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy; Susan Gardner of University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, and Karen Kopacek of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy.

* Bleeding control, joint and long bone immobilization -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Social Sciences and Humanities Building 80

Students will use first-aid materials to practice using pressure and tourniquets to control bleeding and to immobilize suspected fractures and joint injuries. Leader: Tommy Thach of Onsite Medical Service. 

* Emergency childbirth -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Social Sciences and Humanities Building 70

Students will use childbirth manikins and obstetrics kits to learn about assisting in the delivery of a baby outside of the hospital setting. Leader: Emily Droesch, general manager of OnSite Medical Service. 

* Spinal immobilization -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Social Sciences and Humanities Building 90

Students will learn how to perform a spinal assessment and prepare a patient for transport on a long spine board. Leader: Todd Bourgeois of OnSite Medical Service. 

* Osteopathic manipulative medicine -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Olson Hall 151

Using volunteers, about 10 Touro University students will demonstrate how this type of medicine employs the hands and stretching, gentle pressure and resistance to diagnose, treat and prevent illness or injury. Leader: Dr. Victor Nuno, assistant professor of osteopathic manipulative medicine at Touro University.

* Beef cattle chute and sorting  -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, call for location

Students will tour facilities and hear a short lecture on large animal behavior and issues associated with outdoor pens and other facilities. Students will have a chance to practice handling beef cattle using chutes and sort cattle into different corrals. Leader: Dr. Bret McNabb, chief of the livestock herd health and reproduction service at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

* Basic horse handling -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, call for location

This workshop will provide students the basic handling skills when dealing with a horse in a clinical setting. It will focus on general handling, equine behavior, and equine husbandry. Students will learn about common diseases and illnesses, and the importance of working in a team setting. Leader: Dr. Claudia Sonder, director of the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

* Small animal medicine -- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, call for location

Using animal models and gelatin phantoms, students will practice tasks that many small animal clinicians perform on a daily basis including suturing, ultrasound, CPR and bandaging. Leader: Dr. Matt Mellema, associate professor of surgical and radiological sciences in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

* Body language -- 11 a.m. Sunday, Gladys Valley Hall 1030

A hospice veterinarian will actively engage students in a demonstration of the importance of body language in working with clients -- especially when decisions are being made regarding a patient's treatment. Leader: Dr. Dani McVety, co-founder and veterinarian with Lap of Love Veterinarian Hospice.

* Ultrasound -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Surge III 1309

Participants will use the ultrasound machines on volunteer human subjects under the supervision of physicians. Leader: Dr. Kenneth Kelley, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the UC Davis Health System.

* Airway management -- 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Wellman Hall 25

Students will learn the basics of airway management using dummy airway management stations and the equipment used to create and maintain an open airway. Leader: Dr. R. Tracy Farrer-O'Bryant, assistant clinical professor of anesthesiology at the UC Davis Health System.

* REACH air medicine -- 2 p.m. Sunday, Surge III 1283 and Hutchison Field

In conjunction with a presentation about Reach Air Medical Services, a helicopter will land on Hutchison Field. A team from REACH will demonstrate the helicopter and equipment. Leaders: pilot Mike Norris, paramedic Megan Cannon and nurse Greg Jehan.

BACKGROUND: The event is organized by the UC Davis Pre-Health Student Alliance, a partnership of pre-medical and pre-health student organizations, fraternities and sororities at UC Davis and other colleges in Sacramento.

Registration, which is required, is still available.

See the full release at http://news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=11305