WSU CVM Diagnostic Challenge

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WSU CVM Diagnostic Challenge

The Diagnostic Challenges are multidisciplinary, case-based exercises that began at WSU in 1991 to help students learn in a simulated "real world" setting.

The College of Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Challenges are multidisciplinary, case-based exercises that were initiated at Washington State University (WSU) in 1991. The exercises are now conducted collaboratively by instructors in Pathology, Clinical Pathology, Bacteriology/Mycology, Virology, Immunology and Toxicology. Visiting veterinarians, mostly WSU CVM alumni, play an increasingly important role as case facilitators. In addition, important contributions are made by faculty and staff in Radiology, Large and Small Animal Medicine, WSU's Animal Health Library, The CVM Office of Student Services and BCU.

10/07/2026

❤️🐾 Words of Encouragement for Our Second-Year Students

DC1 starts next week! 🩺

As our second-year veterinary students get ready to take on their first Diagnostic Challenge of the year, we’d love to send them into the week with a little encouragement from the DC community.

Former DC students, facilitators, faculty, staff, and friends of DC: What advice, encouragement, or words of wisdom would you share with this year’s students?

Maybe it’s something you wish you had known before your own DC—or simply a reminder to trust the process, lean on your team, and enjoy the experience.

👇 Leave your words of encouragement in the comments! We’ll share some of them with our students as they get ready for DC1. ❤️

10/05/2026

⏰🐾 ONE WEEK TO GO!

We’re officially just 7 DAYS away from DC1! 🎉

Next week, our second-year veterinary students will step into their Diagnostic Challenge clinics and put their knowledge to work - asking questions, making decisions, communicating with clients, working as a team, and navigating all the twists and turns their cases have in store. 🩺

Behind the scenes, the cases are ready, our facilitators and simulated clients are preparing, and the excitement is building!

7 days to go… are you ready, Class of 2029? ❤️🐾

10/02/2026

🚨 Dr. Abbott Needs Your Help… AGAIN! 🚨

DC1 is getting closer, which means it’s time to help Dr. Abbott tackle one of the most important questions of the year:

What is the ONE must-have item for every DC survival kit? 🤔

☕ Coffee
🥪 Snacks
🥼 White coat
🍪 Cookies

Dr. Abbott can only choose one… Which one gets your vote? 👇

And yes, we know some of you will say the cookies are non-negotiable. 😂🍪

09/25/2026

🐾🩺 DC Myth vs. Reality

❌ MYTH: If we make the wrong decision, we’ve failed.

One of the great things about the Diagnostic Challenge is that it gives students a safe place to try, make mistakes, and learn from them.

Not every decision will lead where you expected, and that’s okay. A wrong turn creates an opportunity to stop, ask why, reflect on what happened, reconsider the information, and decide what to do next.

That cycle of trying, reflecting, adjusting, and learning doesn’t end with DC. It’s part of lifelong learning and something veterinarians continue to do throughout their careers. ❤️

So, second-years, don’t be afraid to try. Sometimes the moments that don’t go as planned lead to some of the best learning.

09/18/2026

🐾🩺 DC Myth vs. Reality

With DC1 getting closer, here’s an important reminder for our second-year students: you don’t have to know the diagnosis right away.

In DC, the answer is only one part of the experience. What matters is how you work your way there, asking questions, gathering information, developing differentials, deciding what to do next, explaining your thinking, and adjusting when new information changes the picture.

You might take a wrong turn. You might change your mind. You might not agree with your teammates at first. That’s all part of clinical reasoning.

So when DC begins, don’t rush to find the answer. Trust the process, make your thinking visible, and learn from the journey. ❤️

09/16/2026

🐾🩺 Same start. Different journey.

One of the things that makes the Diagnostic Challenge so much fun to watch is that no two clinics work through a case exactly the same way.

Two teams may start with the same patient and the same information, but from there, their questions and decisions can take them in very different directions. Each choice shapes what happens next—and creates a learning experience unique to that team.

That’s part of the beauty of DC. The cases may be carefully written and ready to go, but our students will determine the journey.

We can’t wait to see where this year’s second-years take them! 👀🐾

09/14/2026

🐾🩺 The Countdown to DC1 Begins!

We are officially 28 DAYS away from the first Diagnostic Challenge of the fall! 🎉

On October 12, our second-year veterinary students will step out of the traditional classroom and into their DC clinics, where they’ll work together to navigate a realistic veterinary case.

They’ll gather histories, communicate with clients, make diagnostic and treatment decisions, adjust their thinking as new information emerges, and put everything they’ve been learning into practice.

Behind the scenes, our case developers, advisors, facilitators, simulated clients, consultants, and DC team have been busy getting everything ready.

28 days to go… DC1, here we come! ❤️🐾

09/11/2026

🎉🩺 They’re Ready!

All summer, our student case developers and advisors have been hard at work researching, writing, reviewing, revising, and building this year’s newest Diagnostic Challenge cases.

And now… every summer case is complete and ready for DC! ✔️

We’ve shared a few behind-the-scenes glimpses along the way, but there are still some things we’ve been keeping under wraps. 🤫 After all, we can’t make it too easy for our second-year students.

What we can tell you is that a lot of thought, creativity, clinical expertise, and teamwork went into creating the cases they’ll encounter this fall.

👏 A huge thank you to all of our student case developers and advisors for an incredible summer of case development!

The cases are ready. Are our second-years? 👀

09/07/2026

🐾 Happy Labor Day from the Diagnostic Challenge!

Today, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of those who make a difference every day - including the veterinarians, veterinary technicians, educators, staff, students, and countless others who care for animals and support the veterinary profession.

We’re especially grateful for our incredible DC community and all the time, talent, and energy you share to help prepare the next generation of veterinarians. ❤️

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing Labor Day!

09/04/2026

🏇🐾 Did You Know? DC isn’t a competition!

There’s no prize for being the first team to reach the diagnosis, and another team taking a different path doesn’t mean one approach is better than the other.

The Diagnostic Challenge is about the process: asking thoughtful questions, working as a team, communicating with clients, making clinical decisions, and adjusting your thinking as new information becomes available.

Sometimes the best learning happens along the way, not at the finish line. 🩺

Address

Pullman, WA
99164

Website

https://hub.wsu.edu/dc/, https://linktr.ee/wsucvmdc

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