Virtual Animal Anatomy

In 2018 I created Virtual Animal Anatomy to include the Virtual Canine Anatomy program initially developed by Dr. Ray Whalen and the Virtual Veterinary Education Tools team from 2000-2009, as well as the Virtual Equine Anatomy, Virtual Feline Anatomy, and Virtual Bovine Anatomy programs that I began developing in 2012. During the COVID pandemic, the VAA has provided a critical link to learning as a virtual laboratory. VAA-VR has been used to deliver teaching and outreach since 2021.

Virtual Animal Anatomy Software

VAA - Adobe Flash

Prior to 2015 the Virtual Canine Anatomy (VCA) was coded in Adobe Flash and was heavily pirated. From 2015-2018 the VCA - Adobe Flash was provided to users on a free website thanks to support from an ARDF grant. Recognizing that Flash would be obsolete in 2020 and software downloads posed little longterm risk, we submitted an invention disclosure in 2018 (INV18-084) for the Adobe Flash version and began selling it through CSUVentures to generate more than $48,000 in individual program sales from August 2018-March 2020.

VAA - LTI

VAA - Adobe Flash

Using software as a service model and a standard learning management system (LMS) external tool mechanism called an LTI, we began offering subscriptions of the VAA from CVMBS servers since mid-2019. Following the COVID transition to online learning, we were able to use this mechanism to deliver anatomy resources to more than 100 schools around the world. Many of these schools are now subscribing and we have generated more than $150,000 in total income since 2020. For our subscription information, click here.

VAA - Virtual Reality

Using stereophotogrammetry, we are taking our previous image sets and turning them in to true Virtual Reality anatomy learning tools. We are also able to capture larger specimens, such as bovine or equine thorax/abdomen/pelvis in a single VR asset. Still in the development phase, this is the only animal VR program in the Mars Petcare Future of Technology space at Mars HQ. We are working with faculty at CSU and UCDavis to develop learning tools using these VR anatomical models. The effective use of VR in education is the central focus of Dr. Jason Martin's PhD research.

VAA - Single User

In 2018 we moved the VAA from Adobe Flash to HTML5 and I wanted to launch the new feline, bovine, and equine content as part of the VAA, but also wanted to prevent piracy. The VAA-LTI effectively delivered the program to entities with a learning management system, but we did not have a mechanism for the single user that would prevent piracy. This single user subscription software mechanism (launching July 2020) represents a new partnership with the CSU TMI to expand our community partnerships for CE and alumni relations.

Virtual Veterinary Education Tools Team

Publications

Martin JF, Arnold OR, Linton A, Jones JD, Garrett AC, Mango DW, Juarez KA, Gloeckner G, Magee C. 2023 “How Virtual Animal Anatomy Facilitated a Successful Transition to Online Instruction and Supported Student Learning During the Coronavirus Pandemic" Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia. 52:36-49. doi: 10.1111/ahe.12799

Linton A, Garrett AC, Ivie KR, Jones JD, Martin JF, Delcambre JD, Magee C. 2022. Enhancing anatomical instruction: Impact of a virtual canine anatomy program on learning outcomes. Anatomical Sciences Education 15:330-340. doi: 10.1002/ase.2087. PMID: 33838080.

Presentations and Invited Talks* since 2014

2022. Martin JF, Arnold O, Linton A, Garret A, Magee C. WHO let the dogs out: How Virtual Animal Anatomy Facilitated a Successful Transition to Online Instruction and Supported Student Learning During the Coronavirus Pandemic. 2022 CVMBS Research Day. Student Poster.
2021. Martin JF, Linton A, Magee C. Evaluating Learning Resources Developed as a Result of the 2020 COVID-19 100% Online Transition in the 2021 Hybrid Learning Environment. Western Consortium Regional Teaching Academy Biennial Meeting. Scholarship Platform Session. Online, July 2021.
*2021. “Evidence-based strategies for scaffolding anatomy learning.” Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine Seminar Series, Virtual Presentation.
2020. "Using Virtual Animal Anatomy to bridge the COVID-19 gap in cadaveric access and laboratory learning." World Association Veterinary Anatomists 1st Online Meeting (presentation at 56:18) Meeting abstract received highest score, resulting in the only abstract invited for platform presentation. Co-authors were the Spring 2020 VVET and Animal Anatomy teaching team: A Linton, A Garrett, K Juarez, and D Mango. Meeting abstracts published in Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia.
*2020. "Development of 3D VR assets and Evaluation of VR in DVM teaching." Invited talk and VR demonstration at the UCDavis School of Veterinary Medicine. Davis, CA.
2020. "Best practices for using Virtual Animal Animal Anatomy in the virtual environment." Recurring webinar and Q&A offered in July-August 2020 to facilitate adoption of VAA for new users and instructors. Unlisted Youtube link with more than 1,000 views.
*2019. “Virtual Animal Anatomy in DVM Education.” E-Health Summer University. Invited talk and VR demonstration. Castres, France
*2019. “Anatomical Education using Case Based Inquiry and Virtual Reality.” Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) ThinkWorks Conference. Invited talk & VAA VR demonstrations. San Francisco, CA
2019. “Virtual Animal Anatomy – VR Education.” Veterinary Innovation Summit. Selected start-up for VR demonstrations. College Station, TX
2018. "Virtual Animal Anatomy: From Research to Market." Presenter at Department of Biomedical Sciences Annual Retreat. Colorado State University, Estes Park, CO
*2018. "Virtual Animal Anatomy - Japanese Translation." Invited talk at University of Hokkaido Veterinary School. Sapporo, Japan
*2017. "Scaffolding Learning in Anatomy: The Pelvic Limb." Invited Talk at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Grafton, MA
*2017. "Virtual Animal Anatomy: User Experiences and Future Directions." Invited Talks at Daktari Animal Hospital, Tokyo and University of Hokkaido Veterinary School. Sapporo, Japan
2017. "Virtual Animal Anatomy: User Experiences and Future Directions." Special Seminar, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Fort Collins, CO

Grants, Collaborations, Engangement

2020-2022 “Virtual Bovine Anatomy: Pelvic Limb” $150,000 USDA-NIFA Higher Education Challenge grant. Primary Objectives: 1) development of a 3D VBA Pelvic Limb module for DVM education; 2) the creation of an undergraduate (UG) Applied Food Animal Anatomy curricula; 3) engagement of UG and DVM students in learning, teaching, and outreach activities. Progress Report submitted in 2021 outlining launch of BMS380 (Aim 2) and work towards Aims 1 and 3 within the scope of the COVID pandemic
2020, UCDavis School of Veterinary Medicine, Development of 3D VR assets and evaluation of VR in DVM teaching, invited talk at UCDavis January 2020
2019, William Pérez, PhD, Professor of Anatomy at Universidad de la República de Uruguay and President of the World Association of Veterinary Anatomists. As of February 2020 the Spanish translation of the program was completed and we are in the process of coding this translated version for launch Summer 2020.
2017, Faculty at the University of Hokkaido in Japan. As of March 2020, they have completed the translation of the program text to Japanese. We are in the process of coding this translated version to launch October 2020.

Additional Demonstrations of VAA-VR program

National Western Stock Show - VAA-VR is a centerpiece of the new Vida building at CSU Spur (January 2022)
InterNICHE - Leicester, England. Nick Jukes, Coordinator – Documentary Interviews (2 days, 2019) Goal of Documentary: Highlight educational practices that reduce or replace cadaver instruction.
University of Hokkaido, Anatomy Faculty visit, Fort Collins, CO (2019)
CSU VTH Open House, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2019)
CSU DVM Alumni Weekend, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2019)
Veterinary Information Network, Founder Dr. Paul Pion, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2019)
Theriogenology Student Conference, Savannah, GA (1 day, 2019)
CSU BMS MSB Alumni Weekend, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2019)
Colorado Veterinary Medical Association Annual Meeting, Keystone, CO (3 days, 2019)
Veterinary Innovation Summit, Translational Medical Institute, Fort Collins, CO (3 days, 2019)
Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, Fort Collins, CO (2 hours, 2019)
UCDavis DVM Program, Fort Collins, CO (5 hours, 2019)
Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA (1 day, 2019)
CSU Vice President for Research Demo Day, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2018-19)
Zoobiquity Conference, Fort Collins, CO (1 day, 2019)

Virtual Animal Anatomy

VAA in the spotlight...