As leaders in specialty and emergency medicine, BluePearl veterinarians are committed to advancing the industry in a way that benefits all animals – not just the patients we see in our hospitals.
That’s why we were honored when the U.S. Army approached us with the idea of partnering with their heroic veterinarians who care for military working dogs.
Military and BluePearl veterinarians: Saving lives when seconds count.
We created a partnership designed to provide specialized training to U.S. Army veterinarians, equipping them with the skills necessary to treat military dogs injured in the course of their work.
The Veterinary Readiness and Operational Medicine Agility (Vet-TROMA) program is a groundbreaking initiative that aims to provide military dogs with the same innovative and life-saving care you’d expect to receive when taking your pet to a BluePearl hospital.
Why is Vet-TROMA important?
Vet-TROMA is the first veterinary military-civilian partnership of its kind. It is a collaboration between the U.S. Army and BluePearl veterinarians to provide industry-leading care to military working dogs.
Military dogs are heroes and deserve the highest level of medical care. They are invaluable assets to the U.S. military, playing crucial roles such as:
- Security in military environments
- Detection of explosives and drugs
- Search and rescue missions
- Protection of our forces in combat
- Patrol work and partnership with their handlers
Their well-being is vital to the safety and effectiveness of military operations.
“The goal of this program ultimately is to provide opportunities and broaden exposure to emergency and trauma medicine,” said Lieutenant Colonel Emilee Venn, a veterinary criticalist. “This partnership is the only centralized, standardized military-civilian partnership within the U.S. Army Medical Command and Army Medical Department that is of a veterinary focus.”
“U.S. Army veterinary teams are often faced with trauma situations in which split-second, life-or-death decisions must be made,” said Dr. Richard Stone, Chief Medical Officer at BluePearl. “The advanced training offered through Vet-TROMA helps create more skilled and confident veterinarians—qualities that are necessary to care for canines in combat. We are already seeing the program’s impact in the field, and we look forward to growing this partnership and giving more options for U.S. Army veterinarians to feel confident caring for Military Working Dogs injured in combat.”
Vet-TROMA is just one of many initiatives that opens the door for BluePearl veterinarians to share their expertise and experiences with their peers, which broadens the advancement and accessibility of quality specialty and emergency medicine.
Vet-TROMA program overview.
Vet-TROMA combines the expertise of BluePearl with the operational needs of the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. The program aims to:
- Create intimate and immersive mentorship, resulting in knowledge growth and skill building for all veterinary professionals involved.
- Deliver hands-on training from BluePearl veterinarians who treat thousands of unique and diverse emergency cases every year.
- Teach life-saving medical skills in BluePearl hospitals, which are fast-paced and dynamic medical environments where veterinarians see virtually all types of animal emergencies.
- Address the unique challenges faced by Army veterinarians, who often encounter high-stakes trauma situations that require quick, decisive actions to save canine lives.
- Empower Army veterinarians with the advanced skills necessary for managing the complex injuries that military dogs may encounter in their work.
Vet-TROMA also promotes confidence, calmness and efficiency in emergency situations – all skills that are needed to save a life when an animal is in medical distress.
Training components
The training is structured in three phases:
- Distance learning. Participants undergo 67 hours of didactic learning through BluePearl University, an online training tool, focusing on veterinary emergency medicine topics tailored to military needs.
- Clinical rotation. This phase includes an intensive three-week onsite immersion at BluePearl hospitals located near U.S. Army facilities in Lakewood, Washington, and Cary, North Carolina. Veterinarians gain hands-on experience by managing real emergency cases under the mentorship of BluePearl veterinarians.
- Field application. The final phase involves preparing detailed reports on the training outcomes and readiness levels, ensuring that the learned skills are effectively translated into the field.
Right now, Vet-TROMA trainings are happening in our BluePearl hospitals in Lakewood, WA, and Cary, NC, with plans for expansion.
Vet-TROMA in action: Two Army veterinarians advancing military emergency medicine.
Vet-TROMA has already made a big impact on veterinary medicine in military environments. Two U.S. Army veterinarians – Captain Abbey Calvo and Captain Emily Greget – share their experiences participating in the program.
Captain Abbey Calvo, DVM
Captain Abbey Calvo, formally a veterinary team leader from the 218th Medical Detachment (Veterinary Service Support), was the first Veterinary Corps Officer to complete a clinical rotation with BluePearl as part of the Vet-TROMA program.
During her three-week onsite immersion, she collaborated with BluePearl veterinarians on 105 emergency cases, including:
- A gunshot wound to the chest
- Emergency-level toxicities
- Blood transfusions
These cases are similar to the medical emergencies military dogs may experience while working.
“Military Working Dogs are an irreplaceable asset to our military and loyally work to protect our service members, so I need to be prepared to save them if they get injured or become ill on the battlefield,” explained Captain Calvo. “The training I received from BluePearl through the Vet-TROMA program was life-changing for me and the dogs I serve, giving me additional tools I need to ensure I am ready to assist our canine counterparts when they need me most.”
Captain Emily Greget, DVM
Captain Emily Greget expanded her veterinary knowledge in the Vet-TROMA program. She appreciated the one-on-one training with BluePearl ER veterinarians, which allowed her to:
- Employ new resources shared by her BluePearl mentors
- Have in-depth conversations about their emergency cases
- Take lots of notes on how to handle certain emergencies
She also had the opportunity to collaborate with other BluePearl team members, including:
- Experienced emergency technicians, who have strong instincts and efficient processes.
- Veterinary specialists, like a neurologist who helped consult on a case with a dog experiencing cluster seizures.
Vet-TROMA was an extension of training that she received in veterinary school and on military bases.
“Of course, we practice medicine on all of our bases. That’s our starting point for training, which is a great experience,” said Captain Greget. “But I feel like here we get all sorts of things 24 hours a day. You can see trauma and all sorts of neurologic cases. You get exposed to so many things that it helps you build on your skills.
Captain Greget concluded her training with a new sense of confidence. She feels more prepared to act calmly and efficiently during a medical emergency.
“It’s been a really invaluable program for me. It enabled me to immerse myself into emergency medicine,” said Dr. Greget. “On deployment, a lot of military working dogs are basically at the frontline. In front of everyone else is that handler and that dog. To take care of their bond but to take care of the health of that animal is so important. They can do their detection and patrol duties to the best of their abilities. They are sacrificing their lives for us.”
How Vet-TROMA impacts the pet community.
Vet-TROMA training happens inside BluePearl hospitals, where the teams are equipped to manage and treat the most severe and complex cases. U.S. Army veterinarians in the program work with real patients who need quick and confident medical thinking and action when seconds count.
When you take your pet to a BluePearl hospital, you’re receiving care from experienced emergency veterinarians who are uniquely qualified to train military veterinarians responsible for the health and safety of military dogs.
You can take comfort in knowing your pet’s care is in the hands of veterinarians who:
- Receive the trust of the U.S. Army to provide life-saving medical guidance that benefits military dogs and raises the bar on their access to innovative emergency care.
- Support the heroic Army veterinarians through immersive training, knowledge sharing and mentorship.
- Lead the industry as experienced emergency clinicians who know exactly how to help your pet when seconds count.
Plus, Vet-TROMA promotes the health and well-being of military dogs, which helps them continue to protect and serve our country to the best of their ability.
The future of Vet-TROMA.
Vet-TROMA was first launched in March 2024 and is poised to expand to additional BluePearl hospitals. The goal is to broaden the scope and accessibility of this vital training for more U.S. Army veterinary personnel.
Vet-TROMA aims to expand and train more military veterinarians every year. Each veterinarian who enters into the program is now better equipped to save the lives of our military dogs when they need emergency care.
“We invest a lot of time and energy in training and advancement of medical quality. To have that training extend overseas into environments that many of us don’t encounter ourselves and to empower others to deliver that quality of care to the military working dogs — that’s amazing,” said Dr. Richard Stone.
