History
The Ohio Dairy Health Management Certificate Program (ODHMCP) began in December of 2004. The 12-module program was led by Dr. Bill Epperson, who was the Dairy Extension Veterinarian at the time. The initial planning committee consisted of Drs. Bill Epperson, Kent Hoblet, Grant Frazer, Rich Meiring, and Jeff Workman.
This program, the first of its kind in Ohio, was modeled after successful programs conducted by other universities. It consisted of an educational series designed to develop applied skills in dairy health management and decision making. The objective was to enable participants to develop quantitative and personal skills that can be used to promote production medicine services. This program encouraged participants to apply principles directly to their dairy clients. As an example, following the first class, participants selected a client farm, interviewed the producer to evaluate farm goals, and assessed present farm productivity. Several participants noted their client farms had long calving intervals. A written plan of action was produced to address the reproductive problems in that herd, and specific goals were set for the next year.
The 2004-07 Cohort had an impact on veterinary servicing of approximately 130,000 dairy cows in 975 herds. Participants from Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York were enrolled in the program.
The Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program (ODHMCP) began as a new series in February of 2009 under the direction of Dr. Gustavo Schuenemann, Dairy Extension Veterinarian. The planning committee consisted of Drs. Gustavo Schuenemann and Jeff Workman. This second edition of the Ohio program included 11 modules plus an optional international trip to Argentina. The international trip was designed to gain awareness and a competitive advantage on how dairy production is accomplished in other regions of the world. In addition to the individual and practice plans, this program added a specific-module plan in which a veterinary practitioner can attend one or more modules without being enrolled in the full program.
The 2009-11 Cohort had an impact on veterinary servicing of approximately 186,150 dairy cows in 469 herds. Participants included 16 veterinary practitioners from 11 veterinary practices located in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Mexico. This was the first cohort to offer the Specific-Module Plan in which 5 more veterinarians participated in one or more modules.
The 2014-17 Cohort began in May of 2014 and concluded in August of 2017. Full program participants included 19 veterinarians from 10 organizations located in Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin. There was an additional 10 veterinarians who participated in at least one module through the Specific-Module Plan.