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Carla S Sommardahl, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

Clinical Professor & Head | Large Animal

Specialization: Equine Internal Medicine

Overview

Dr. Sommardahl became a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1995. She received an NIH training grant and completed her PhD in 1999 in the Comparative Experimental Medicine program at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She continued her research in polycystic kidney disease as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathobiology until she joined the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in 2001 as a full-time faculty member in Large Animal Medicine. Dr. Sommardahl was section head of the Equine Medicine Service from 2011 to 2020. She became Department Head of the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department in October of 2021 after serving as Interim Department Head for one year.

Research Focus

Genetic Diseases;Renal Disease;Equine Medicine

Clinical Focus

Equine & Food animal infectious disease, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Renal Disease

Teaching Focus

Clinical Teaching;Large Animal Technology Labs;Large Animal Ultrasound elective to Third Year Students;Urinary System course; Equine Special Topics elective to Third Year Students;...

Outreach Focus

AVMA;ACVIM;AAEP

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 613 - Journal Club in Large Animal Clinical Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

Readings and discussions based on current literature.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.

Other Instructors: Graves, Meggan | Mulon, Pierre-Yves | Dhar, Madhu S | Gerhold Jr, Richard William | Anderson, David Edgar | Prado, Tulio M. | Smith, Joe

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
VMP 826 - Physical Diagnosis II
0.5 credit hour(s)

Basic care, feeding, restraint, and handling of domestic animals. Introduction to physical examination and diagnostic techniques used by veterinarians. A continuation of VMP 816.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Spring
VMP 829 - Clinical Applications and Integrations II
1 - 2 credit hours

Integration and application of theoretical material using case- or problem-based approaches toward creating knowledge frameworks for patient care, including the human-animal bond. Emphasis on physical examination and diagnostic techniques in equine and farm animal patients, communicating with diverse audiences, student-centered learning, and self-discovery of new information. Includes simulated clinical skills.

Grading Restriction(s): Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Repeatability: Not repeatable. May be taken once for 1–2 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Spring
VMP 851 - Urinary System
2 credit hour(s)

Pathophysiology, special pathology, medicine and surgery of diseases of urinary system. Urinary system in health and disease.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Fall
VMP 870 - Special Studies in Veterinary Medicine
1 - 8 credit hours

Specially-designed studies for students in novel special-interest topics and/or for students participating in self-directed learning environments. Topics are unique and not associated with standard core rotations or elective topics within the veterinary or MPH curriculum.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 16 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only. Upon approval of the associate dean.

Other Instructors: Long, Jeremy | Millis, Darryl L | Drum, Dr. Marti | Rollins, Angela | Craig, Linden E | Cushing, Andrew | Albright, Julia | Lothamer, Charles William | Souza, Marcy Jan | Tobias, Karen M | Lux, Cassie | Hampton, Chiara | Sheldon, Julie Deanne

Semesters Offered: Fall
VMP 883 - Large Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound
1 credit hour(s)

Basic techniques of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in large animal veterinary medicine. Elective covers abdominal, thoracic, and tendon ultrasound techniques, along with ultrasound of swellings, masses, etc. Students will learn the basics of the ultrasound machine and how to use different types of machines.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Fall
Picture of Carla S Sommardahl, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

865-974-5701

csommard@tennessee.edu

C222 Veterinary Medical Center
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4545
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Molecular Genetics, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 1999
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Medicine, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, 1989
  • BS, (Animal Science), University of Arkansas , 1985

Carla S Sommardahl, DVM, PhD, DACVIM

Clinical Professor & Head | Large Animal
Picture of Carla S Sommardahl, DVM, PhD, DACVIM image

865-974-5701

csommard@tennessee.edu

C222 Veterinary Medical Center
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4545
Education and Training
  • Doctorate, Molecular Genetics, Univ of Tennessee Knoxville*, 1999
  • Doctorate, Veterinary Medicine, LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, 1989
  • BS, (Animal Science), University of Arkansas , 1985
Overview

Dr. Sommardahl became a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1995. She received an NIH training grant and completed her PhD in 1999 in the Comparative Experimental Medicine program at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. She continued her research in polycystic kidney disease as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathobiology until she joined the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in 2001 as a full-time faculty member in Large Animal Medicine. Dr. Sommardahl was section head of the Equine Medicine Service from 2011 to 2020. She became Department Head of the Large Animal Clinical Sciences Department in October of 2021 after serving as Interim Department Head for one year.

Research Focus

Genetic Diseases;Renal Disease;Equine Medicine

Clinical Focus

Equine & Food animal infectious disease, Neurology, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, and Renal Disease

Teaching Focus

Clinical Teaching;Large Animal Technology Labs;Large Animal Ultrasound elective to Third Year Students;Urinary System course; Equine Special Topics elective to Third Year Students;...

Outreach Focus

AVMA;ACVIM;AAEP

Courses
Below are courses taught during the current or past three academic years. Consult Timetable for the most current listing of courses and instructor(s).
CEM 613 - Journal Club in Large Animal Clinical Sciences
1 credit hour(s)

Readings and discussions based on current literature.

Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Minimum student level – graduate.

Other Instructors: Graves, Meggan | Mulon, Pierre-Yves | Dhar, Madhu S | Gerhold Jr, Richard William | Anderson, David Edgar | Prado, Tulio M. | Smith, Joe

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
VMP 826 - Physical Diagnosis II
0.5 credit hour(s)

Basic care, feeding, restraint, and handling of domestic animals. Introduction to physical examination and diagnostic techniques used by veterinarians. A continuation of VMP 816.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Spring
VMP 829 - Clinical Applications and Integrations II
1 - 2 credit hours

Integration and application of theoretical material using case- or problem-based approaches toward creating knowledge frameworks for patient care, including the human-animal bond. Emphasis on physical examination and diagnostic techniques in equine and farm animal patients, communicating with diverse audiences, student-centered learning, and self-discovery of new information. Includes simulated clinical skills.

Grading Restriction(s): Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Repeatability: Not repeatable. May be taken once for 1–2 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Spring
VMP 851 - Urinary System
2 credit hour(s)

Pathophysiology, special pathology, medicine and surgery of diseases of urinary system. Urinary system in health and disease.

Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Fall
VMP 870 - Special Studies in Veterinary Medicine
1 - 8 credit hours

Specially-designed studies for students in novel special-interest topics and/or for students participating in self-directed learning environments. Topics are unique and not associated with standard core rotations or elective topics within the veterinary or MPH curriculum.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 16 hours.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only. Upon approval of the associate dean.

Other Instructors: Long, Jeremy | Millis, Darryl L | Drum, Dr. Marti | Rollins, Angela | Craig, Linden E | Cushing, Andrew | Albright, Julia | Lothamer, Charles William | Souza, Marcy Jan | Tobias, Karen M | Lux, Cassie | Hampton, Chiara | Sheldon, Julie Deanne

Semesters Offered: Fall
VMP 883 - Large Animal Diagnostic Ultrasound
1 credit hour(s)

Basic techniques of ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in large animal veterinary medicine. Elective covers abdominal, thoracic, and tendon ultrasound techniques, along with ultrasound of swellings, masses, etc. Students will learn the basics of the ultrasound machine and how to use different types of machines.

Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit grading only.
Registration Restriction(s): Veterinary Medicine Students only.

Semesters Offered: Fall