In veterinary school, there are many opportunities to
participate in skills labs, attend conferences and lectures, and
get involved in the field prior to graduating. Rather than have the
mindset that all of my time should be spent studying, I believe I
can supplement my classroom education with out-of-school events and
should take advantage of opportunities available. I recently
registered for the Student American Veterinary Medical Association
Symposium that will be held at Louisiana State University School of
Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have never
attended a veterinary conference before, and after looking at the
schedule I couldn't be more excited. The lectures are
scheduled from 8 AM until 5 PM each day, with a break at noon for
participants to eat lunch and meet with exhibitors. Lectures
are presented over a variety of topics including large and small
animal medicine, exotics, surgery, neurology, business management,
professional development, and more. A couple of the lecture
titles that caught my attention were "Integrating Foundations of
Medicine to Multiple Species," "Animal Hoarding," and "Things That
Go Bump in the Night: Pathology of Lumps and Bumps." Given
the location, it is only appropriate that there is a lecture on the
diseases of crocodiles. While I do not anticipate having a
crocodile as a patient in practice, I doubt I will be able to pass
this up. After spending a day in lectures, there will be a
crawfish boil with a live band, a great opportunity for students to
mingle and spend time with veterinarians from around the
country.
Not only are the days filled with lectures by distinguished
veterinarians and experts in the field, but also there are skills
labs and trips planned for the days and evenings.
Participants can tour the enclosure of Mike the tiger, the LSU
mascot, and attend a lecture on tiger husbandry, learn how to trim
cattle hooves, and participate in a hands-on lab where students
will learn about disease testing in whitetailed deer. These
are only a few of the numerous skills labs available. The day
trips include a Louisiana swamp tour, a visit to the Audubon Zoo
and Aquarium, a plantation tour, and a daytrip to New Orleans,
which I will be participating in. Having lived in New Orleans for 9
years, I am delighted to return and spend time in the historic
downtown area, eating delicious food, listening to street
musicians, and taking in the sights and sounds. Café du Monde
is certainly on my list of things to do, as well as a stop in
Jackson Square and a walk along the Mississippi River. I think it
is wonderful that they are providing students with the opportunity
to explore Louisiana and make the most of the trip and the
symposium.
While I am excited about the lectures and the trip to New
Orleans, I am very much looking forward to meeting veterinary
students from around the country and learning about their
experiences, their schools, and the paths they hope to take in the
future. I am continually amazed at the many career options within
the field of veterinary medicine, and I enjoy speaking with other
students about their goals. From the variety of species
available to work with to the jobs in industry, academia,
governmental agencies, and so many others, the opportunities are
truly endless. I believe this symposium will be a fantastic
experience, and I look forward to the knowledge I'll gain, the
friends I will meet, and the memories I will make.