Taking care of yourself is part of becoming a great veterinarian.
Veterinary school is one of the most demanding academic journeys in professional education. This content is designed specifically for DVM students — recognizing the unique pressures of your training: the weight of patient care, compounding debt, professional identity formation, and the emotional toll of working with animals and the people who love them.
These resources are yours to use, without stigma. Using them is a sign of professional self-awareness — the same quality that makes a great clinician. Here you will find:
Crisis Resources
You do not need to decide if your situation is "bad enough." If you are struggling, these resources exist for you.
Emergency Resources
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline -- Call or text 988 -- 24/7, confidential, trained crisis counselors
- CAPS After-Hours -- (435) 797-1012 and press 0 -- Crisis counselor on call after hours and on weekends
- Emergency -- Call 911 -- For immediate danger to yourself or others; you can also call the USU Police at (435) 797-1939
If you are a clinical year student on a remote rotation and in crisis: contact OCP directly and use 988. You retain access to all USU and CVM support pathways regardless of rotation location.
Additional resources are outlined on our mental health resources page.
Injury Reporting
Any injury, exposure, unsafe condition, or near-miss during clinical training must be reported. Reporting protects you, your patients, your colleagues, and the learning environment.
- For urgent concerns: call or text an OCP team member directly. Do not wait for an online form if there is immediate risk.
- For non-urgent safety concerns: submit through CORE ELMS using the incident reporting pathway.
- Near-miss reports are equally important — close calls reveal system gaps before they become injuries.
- Good-faith reporting is protected. You will not face retaliation for raising a safety concern.
Additional Reporting Pathways
- CORE ELMS Reporting: Log in to CORE ELMS and navigate to Incident Reporting to submit a concern
- OCP Direct Contact: Available to clinical year students 24/7 for urgent concerns
- Injury to Self: For any needle stick, animal bite, chemical exposure, or physical injury, seek immediate medical attention first, then report through CORE ELMS
- Concern About Site/Preceptor: Use CORE ELMS or contact OCP directly. Reports handled with discretion.