Anna, a first-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, didn’t take a traditional path to veterinary school.
Prior to beginning her DVM program at the VMBS, Anna moved to Texas for a research opportunity in the Rio Grande Valley. She studied road ecology, specifically the movement of ocelots and bobcats around highways.
While completing her research, Anna spent her free time interning at a local zoo, helping with wildlife rehabilitation and caring for sick zoo animals. She also volunteered with Sea Turtle Inc. and a bird banding project.
All of these hands-on experiences led Anna to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine in Texas!
Niya, a first-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, was nervous to take a gap year. However, the experience she gained during this period has equipped her to become a better veterinarian!
Niya spent her gap year working for a medical device company, Enova Illumination, where she learned the importance of ergonomic medical equipment and how it contributes to a healthier lifestyle as a veterinarian.
During her gap year, Niya increased her professional skills and learned how to speak confidently in front of large audiences, all skills that have aided her as she has begun her career in veterinary medicine.
Katie, a third-year veterinary student and VMBS ambassador, reflects on the unique opportunities that externships provide for traveling and experiencing differences in medicine across the states!
Katie participated in two externships in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Denver, Colorado. Traveling between the two locations allowed Katie to visit 5 National Parks and 3 State Parks in a short 7 days!
In addition to the scenic views, Katie was able to network with veterinarians and learn about regional differences that impact animal health. She also got to further develop her clinical skills and practice effective communication with clients.
Grace, a second-year veterinary student, has found a passion for equine dentistry through her involvement with the Equine Practitioner club.
During an immersive three-day workshop, Grace learned about the tools and technique needed to float horses’ teeth. Horses can’t naturally file down their teeth, so floating, a specialized dental procedure, helps smooth down sharp and uneven edges.
“This training didn’t just fill my mind with information; it ignited a passion for helping horses in my community,” Grace said.
Following the training, Grace has partnered with a local stable to help float horses’ teeth and put these skills into action during an externship!
Seth, a first-year veterinary student, has enjoyed the start of his academic journey at the VMBS! He has met peers in his courses that share the same passion and love for veterinary medicine, and he is eager for what the future holds.
“Each day brings something new, engaging lectures, hands-on labs, and moments that remind me why I chose this path,” Seth said. “I’m excited to take in every experience, build lifelong friendships, and grow into the veterinarian I aspire to be.”
Allie, a first-year veterinary student, supported her peers by volunteering at the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners Equine Wet Lab.
Allie worked in the Emergency and Critical Care area, where she was able to learn about life-saving procedures in critical situations. She also attended a job fair that featured more than 50 equine practices from across the country.
Priya, a first-year veterinary student, has found that a strong community is an important foundation for transitioning into vet school.
When beginning her first year of vet school, Priya was excited yet nervous for the unknown she was facing. But she soon found a community of friends, faculty, and staff at the college who encouraged her every step of the way — both inside and outside the classroom.
“The wisdom of others is invaluable,” Priya said. “I encourage anyone who has a dream to reach out to people who have gone before them and to soak in their advice.
“These are people I know that I’ll be in touch with after we graduate, and that is something I’ll be grateful for forever.”
Kara, a sophomore animal science major and VMBS ambassador, visited the Texas Panhandle to study and learn about the dairy industry, giving her a solid foundation in her pursuit to begin a career in large animal medicine.
“I loved having the opportunity to learn under a variety of different professors from all around the U.S. who specialize in different areas of dairy herd management and medicine,” Kara said. “It truly was a one-of-a-kind experience to observe such a vital industry in our day-to-day lives.”
Reagan, a second-year veterinary student, learned the importance of veterinary role models at a young age. Oakridge Equine Hospital had been treating her horses for more than 15 years, and when she reached out to the veterinarians for mentorship and guidance, several also began mentoring her as she began working toward her veterinary dreams.
She is especially grateful for Dr. Jason Throne, whom she shadowed for more than 250 hours, and Dr. Lauren Lamb ‘07, who shared his experience attending veterinary school at the VMBS.
“If you’re interested in vet school and don’t have a veterinary mentor, start by asking local vet clinics if they allow shadowing, or possibly work as a veterinary assistant or technician at clinics,” Reagan said. “One of the best ways to learn about veterinary medicine is to get involved in a veterinary practice.”
“Wild horses at the Rachel Carson Reserve in North Carolina, where I went on vacation for my last summer.”
Transitioning from second to third year of veterinary school is a huge milestone because it means you are halfway to getting your DVM! It’s also the point when students choose a track that best matches their career goals.
“I chose to follow the small animal track, which means I take electives that will help prepare me for life as a small animal general practitioner,” said third-year veterinary student Hannah J. “These electives are designed to strengthen our abilities to write medical records, assess a patient based on their history and physical exam, and workup a plan for diagnostics and treatments. They also explore the different specialties available to pursue as a residency, such as ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, and surgery.
“Going into third year also means I just had my ‘last’ summer of vet school,” she said. “In between third and fourth year, veterinary students go straight into clinical rotations at the small and large animal hospitals. During my last summer, I made sure to gain lots of hands-on experience at externships while still taking a well-earned break by going on vacation to the North Carolina coast.”
“My group of friends and I taking group and celebratory photos in front of the vet school after finishing our second year. We were all so excited to have reached the halfway mark! My group of friends is a mixed bag as far as our planned career paths in veterinary medicine go. Some of my friends are tracking small animal like me, while others are tracking mixed animal, or equine-only focus.”
“Photo of an abdominal ultrasound of a cat, evaluating the small intestines. This was a case I saw over the summer while on an externship. We just learned about GI tract evaluation using ultrasound in our diagnostic imaging class in third year.”
“Photo of a thoracic radiograph of a dog, evaluating the lungs. This was a case I saw over the summer while on an externship. We started off the semester learning about lung patterns in our diagnostic imaging class in third year. It was fun to get to pull up examples of radiographs I had seen over the summer to incorporate into my educational experience in class.”
