Dog Doctors Outreach

What better way to get kids interested in veterinary medicine than with puppies? The Dog Doctors outreach program goes from school to school in northeast Georgia, spreading their love of animals and science to instill a spark for veterinary medicine. Stemming from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Paige Carmichael and her team of dedicated students use their passion and knowledge for their field to create an environment that is interactive, entertaining, and educational.

As they would like to maximize the amount of elementary schools they are able to visit, the Dog Doctors team came to us to develop a virtual format of their programs, prioritizing easy access and high engagement. We’ve worked to structure a “synchronous-remote” session – where a live Zoom call is facilitated by the team, supported by video clips that help introduce the content. Not only does this allow them to expand their outreach to schools beyond Athens, but it also ensures accessibility to underserved communities. We have intentionally designed the website to be accessible through commonly available devices, such as a single computer and a screen projection system, regardless of the funding level of education systems.

A central aspect of Dr. Carmichael’s program branding revolves around the Bernese mountain dog. We want to bring attention to this, and we decided to create animations of characters that can create a narrative for the program. Adobe Character Animator has been a vital tool in the execution of this. Users of the software have the ability to create characters through real-time motion-tracking of facial expressions and gestures. The ability to iterate between character mock-ups and implement dynamic flow has allowed us to streamline the video production process in a feasible manner. Having a Bernese mountain dog be a central character in these clips ensures that the younger children will not forget their Dog Doctors visit!