Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine to Empower All Incoming Students with Butterfly iQ Vet
EquiManagement Press Release, June 10, 2021
The collaboration represents the first university-wide deployment of Butterfly’s iQ Vet solution, equipping veterinary students with the world’s first and only whole-body ultrasound system for animals
Butterfly Network, Inc. (NYSE: BFLY), a leader in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), and the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine have announced an exciting opportunity that will help place students at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine. The school will be equipping incoming students with the world’s first and only single-probe, whole-body ultrasound system for all animals: Butterfly iQ Vet.
“Butterfly’s mission is to democratize healthcare by making medical imaging accessible, not only to humans around the world, but also to animals. Empowered with the valuable information and clinical insights obtained through iQ Vet, Texas Tech’s incoming class will be equipped with an advanced assessment tool to deliver more informed decision-making at the point-of-care,” said Todd Fruchterman, M.D., Ph.D., Butterfly’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As the newest veterinary school developing its curriculum, TTU represents a perfect partner for us to develop such an innovative and collaborative approach to embedding ultrasound in the veterinary curriculum and improving veterinary medicine.”
Butterfly iQ Vet is the world’s first and only single-probe, whole-body ultrasound device. By leveraging the power of a semiconductor chip (with Butterfly’s patented Ultrasound-on-Chip™ technology) and pairing this with powerful, intuitive software (accessible on a compatible mobile device), iQ Vet makes ultrasound more affordable, easier to use and far more portable — enabling the use of imaging across all types of veterinary practices once and for all.
The university purchased 55 Butterfly iQ Vet ultrasound probes and will distribute these ultrasound systems to the first class of students, pairing two students to each probe. Each faculty member will also have access to the probes. Butterfly iQ Vet will be used in a variety of courses throughout all four years of instruction, with the possibility of use in the distributed clinical year curriculum alongside the Texas Tech practice partners.
“We are thrilled that we will have the ability to introduce the use of ultrasonography as an essential tool to students from the very beginning of the curriculum,” said Clayton Cobb, DVM, MS, Assistant Professor of General Veterinary Practice at the TTU School of Veterinary Medicine. “We truly believe that this hands-on experience with Butterfly iQ from the start of their education is necessary to prepare them for real-world practice throughout their careers. We look forward to collaboration with Butterfly to help instruct students and bring POCUS to the forefront of veterinary diagnostics. The Butterfly staff will prove to be vital in this partnership and education of the faculty, staff, and students of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine.”
Why it matters
Access to handheld ultrasound will serve TTU students in two crucial ways.
First, TTU students will benefit from a multiple-modality approach to teaching: hands-on experience scanning anatomical features and physiological phenomena will help students master the material they have studied.
Second, ultrasound is a crucial tool used by veterinary clinics to provide efficient and comprehensive point-of-care diagnostics for animals — yet this is traditionally taught in a limited fashion with little to no hands-on experience. By graduating with ultrasound competence, TTU students will be equipped with the advanced assessment capabilities of ultrasound and well positioned to deliver better care.
Beginning with its inaugural class this fall, TTU is recruiting and selecting students committed to serving rural and regional communities. Its curriculum is focused on the competencies and skills necessary for success in practice types that support these communities. As an affordable, but powerful, tool that empowers smaller clinics to provide point-of-care diagnostics for animals, Butterfly iQ Vet is a natural fit for the university.
Dr. John Dascanio, Senior Associate Dean for Academic and Student Services and a Professor of Theriogenology, expressed, “we are very excited to be able to equip our students with Butterfly iQ ultrasound devices. Our program emphasizes clinical and professional skills training to provide the students the education to be confident and competent practitioners. We plan on integrating ultrasound training in each semester of our program, and the Butterfly scanner is a perfect match for portability and the ability to interface with clinical faculty throughout their training. We fully expect our students to be contributors to clinical ultrasound service in their final year.”
Veterinarians can request more information about Butterfly iQ Vet at: butterflynetwork.com/vet.
Learn more about the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine at: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/vetschool/
