The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) celebrates a milestone achievement as Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) student, Miss Jung Yoon LEE, receives funding from the Morris Animal Foundation for her research project on pain assessment in cats and dogs. This marks the first time a BVM student has earned this recognition.
Jung Yoon, a fifth-year BVM student, developed a passion for animal pain management after her coursework in Veterinary Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Fluid Therapy. Her interest deepened during the Companion Animal Surgery course’s “spay day,” where she designed anesthesia and analgesic plans for feline patients. Her awarded project, "A Systematic Review of Measurement Properties of Acute Pain Scoring Instruments in Cats and Dogs," seeks to evaluate the reliability and validity of existing pain assessment tools. Accurate pain recognition is critical in ensuring animals receive timely and effective treatment.
"Recognizing pain is the first step to successfully treating pain," explained Jung Yoon. "Pain scoring instruments are used for pain assessment and generally describe changes in pain-induced behaviors and facial expressions. The final score can determine the severity of pain. Therefore, if pain is not assessed, patients who require pain relief will not be able to receive treatment. Thus, it is important to use pain scoring instruments for canine and feline pain assessment."
The Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in funding scientific studies that advance the health of animals. This funding not only recognises the potential of Jung Yoon’s project to advance veterinary pain management but also establishes her as an emerging leader in veterinary science, driving better outcomes for animals worldwide.
Congratulations to Jung Yoon on this well-deserved funding achievement – a testament to her hard work and innovative research!