An innovative new program, the NAF Academy of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Science, promises to give us a new generations of veterinarians and it is all happening in Doral at JC Bermudez Senior High School. This NAF academy is one of many academies nationwide giving student hands-on experience serving to give them a competitive advantage as they enter college or the workforce.
JC Bermudez Senior High School’s Academy of Agricultural Studies and Veterinary Science is a 4-year program providing students with practical skills such as learning how to do blood testing for heartworm disease, checking for pulse and temperature, and working with both live animals, as well as a medical model dog to hone their veterinary skills. They also include field trips are to such locations as Zoo Miami, Miami-Dade Animal Services and Equestrian Dreams Ranch.
One student, Azul M., noted the program “has offered me many opportunities — from competitions to actual real-life work positions. It’s a valuable stepping stone for students wanting to pursue a career in the veterinary medicine field.”
Upon completion of the program, students are given the opportunity to take the veterinary assistant certification exam. A passing score and lots of hours of clinic time then enable these students to become certified veterinary assistants with the option to going directly into the workforce or entering a post-secondary program.
“The NAF Veterinary Science program trains our wonderful and brilliant students to be ready to work in the veterinary field and help the animals that bring so much joy into our lives,” said instructor Dr. Marcela Caminos.
NAF, a non-profit with more than 600 academies nationwide, is an inspired concept that gives students of all backgrounds a chance to participate in meaningful education. It also gives businesses the opportunity to partner with schools to shape America’s future workforce through career-relevant curricula and work-based learning experiences, including internships. During the 2022-23 school year, over 112,000 students attended 604 NAF academies across 35 states and territories. In 2022, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 88% of graduates planning to go to college.
Article Written by Gloria Burns