DVM Candidate | B.S. Biology

While the classroom teaches you most information you need to know to be a veterinarian, I've found that outside experience gives me the tools on how and why to be a veterinarian. From student organizations, to conferences, and working with professional organizations, participating in these activities has been not only educational, but often times just plain fun.

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Some great ways to not only gain experience in relevant fields, but also form connections and especially make a difference are to volunteer in and shadow at hospitals. ​During veterinary school, I've had the amazing opportunity to shadow at the Birmingham Zoo in Alabama, volunteer at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Mississippi, and attend AQUAVET I in Rhode Island. Not only have I been able to help out in running cytologies for spider monkeys and learning phlebotomy on cold-stunned sea turtles, these opportunities have let me learn how day-to-day operations function in captive and wildlife rescue hospitals. I have also been able to observe conversations that happen regarding animal care, and how much coordination it takes to ensure the highest quality of life for these patients. Having these experiences not only opens my eyes to the wonders of zoological medicine, but also prepares me for the next steps in my career path.

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Conferences can be one of the best ways to meet people currently in the field, and sharpen skills; both related to and outside of your expertise. They can also be helpful in keeping up to date on the newest tools and techniques in veterinary medicine. Having gone to college in Orlando, Florida, I had the amazing opportunity to attend the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX) multiple times before and during veterinary school. This is one of the largest veterinary conferences in the United States, which afforded many opportunities to learn about aquatic and zoological medicine from experts in their fields.  From 'Anesthesia of Megafauna' to 'Turtle Shell Trauma' and even 'How to Train Your (Bearded) Dragon', these lectures provide new insight on my education and allow extrapolation of class material about the "core four" species. I also appreciate the ability to talk with people that have the same passions and drive that I do to work with exotics; it is always a nice way to replenish your interest during harder moments in school.

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The experiences offered through student organizations are incredible opportunities to reinforce information and build new skills, as well as get advice from industry professionals. I am proud to say that I have attended over 70 club meetings during my first year of veterinary school, and I have no plans to slow down. From learning about the complexities of treating service dogs to ophthalmological differences in zoo animals and even learning about surgical techniques for different aquarium fish, there's always something new to learn because of the student organizations in veterinary school; I'm excited for what the next year will bring!

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Lastly, the resources that national and international professional organizations offer is not something to overlook; I've really enjoyed the opportunities offered through them, whether it being Continuing Education opportunities, networking hours, or newsletters that help keep up to date on happenings in the field. I've also particularly appreciated the listservs and other mailing lists; it is helpful to know the types of cases that field professionals deal with on a regular basis, and comforting to know there are always people willing to help when faced with a difficult presentation. The leadership of these organizations is something to admire, and I love that these people are so passionate about certain subjects and wanting to support others in their respective fields. Because of this, I have volunteered my time for the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians as the Social Media Assistant, helping make informative posts and stories to encourage discussion and interaction for members and others interested in caring for these underrepresented animals. I am also the Vice Chair for the Education and Students Committee for the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, helping guide the creation of new WAVMA student chapters. These positions help me learn the functional aspects of organizations that I hope to be a part of for a long time, and I've greatly enjoyed my experiences so far.