67th IVSA Symposium South Korea Reflection

Laci Taylor ǀ Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine ‘22

This past January I had the privilege of attending the 67^th IVSA Symposium in South Korea. I participated in a variety of lectures, wet labs and day trips along with 149 other delegates representing over 30 countries. As a first-year veterinary student, and first time Symposium attendee, I was both thrilled about the opportunity to connect with veterinary students and professionals around the world and the opportunity to learn more about the impacts of IVSA on a global scale.

Shortly after arriving at Chonbuk National University in Jeonju, South Korea, I attended the Welcome Dinner where I met my roommate, a veterinary student from Austria. By the end of the first day I met students from all over the world and even managed to run into a few familiar faces of veterinary students I had met elsewhere on trips abroad.

The following day began the business portion of Symposium where I participated in my first of six General Assemblies. During assemblies we discussed past business regarding the 67^th IVSA Congress in Kraków, chose the location of the 69^th IVSA Symposium (Greece), made bylaw amendments and elected a new President. I also assisted IVSA SAVMA in voting in favor for the addition of new member organizations to IVSA Global. General Assembly is where I learned about the structure of IVSA Global including its Standing Committees and Working Groups.

One of the Standing Committees that really caught my attention was SCOH, the Standing Committee on One Health. I was amazed at the topics that they were tackling within the fields of both veterinary and human medicine. Of note was their collaboration with Mission Rabies, on their “Zero by 30” Campaign which aims to eliminate human incidences of rabies by the year 2030. The interdisciplinary approach that SCOH utilizes is paramount to finding solutions to many of the pertinent issues facing veterinary public health today. The Working Group on Alumni was another group that caught my attention. I was able to attend IVSA Symposium with both students and current veterinary professionals that were previously student members of IVSA. This gave me the opportunity to understand the present state of the veterinary field internationally. It also sparked my desire to contribute to a functional alumni database to facilitate collaboration between students and current veterinary professionals.

Between General Assemblies, IVSA Symposium functions to immerse and educate its members on the veterinary medical history, culture and traditions of its host country. The organizing committee did an excellent job organizing activities that allowed us to explore South Korea. The first few activities that I participated in were in Seoul. We traveled to the Korea Horse Racing Authority and the War Memorial of Korea. At the Korea Horse Racing Authority, our knowledge of horses was tested with trivia before we explored the horse racing park and learned about treatment of diseases common in racehorses. At the War Memorial of Korea, we were greeted by the General before exploring the six indoor exhibition halls that housed a diverse array of artifacts ranging from military vessels and weaponry to sculptures and relief works.

Next on the agenda were lectures and activities. Lecture topics covered oncology, career exploration, emergency medicine and oriental medicine. I really enjoyed the oriental medicine lecture which focused on acupuncture point. Following the lecture, I got the chance to test out my acupuncture technique in a practical skills lab. After the conclusion of lectures, I participated in Temple Stay, a cultural program that allowed me to experience the life of Buddhist practitioners, mediate and have conversation over tea. We also traveled to Gyeongbokgung Palace where we witnessed the changing over of the guards, a colorful and lively ceremony. While each activity provided a unique opportunity for cultural immersion, my favorite activity was exploring Hanok Village. There, a big group of us got dressed up in traditional Korean wear, called a Hanbok, and tasted different Korean street food and purchased handmade souvenirs from the shops.

In addition to the day trips we took, there was a loaded schedule of social events in the evening so that the delegates could unwind and get to know each other better. Of these events were both a silent and live auction with items donated by attending delegates that helped raise funds for IVSA. There was also Cultural Night where delegates set up booths with food, drinks and traditional wear representing their respective countries. One of my favorite experiences was participating in a cooking event where I made Duk Boki which is a spicy Korean rice cake dish.

The 67^th IVSA Symposium created an environment where a diverse range of perspectives and ideas were encouraged, exchanged, and celebrated. As the veterinary profession becomes more and more diverse, the environment created by IVSA Symposium is integral to the health and well-being of humans, animals and the environment. As I reflect upon my time in South Korea and the many international friends I have made, I feel a strong sense of gratitude. My experience abroad with IVSA in Korea is one that I will not soon forget.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

Thank you to Rachel Hilliard from Cornell University for these great photography submissions!

Pyramid Dogs OnePyramid Dogs Two

The Queen

Pet Portraits

These very realistic sketches were done by Christina Chang from UC Davis!

On The Human Animal Bond

This op-ed piece was submitted by Kristy Herman from Michigan State University!

Within the last few years there has been a push to emphasize wellness in the veterinary profession, and for good reason. Current data suggests that veterinarians are over 3% more likely to consider suicide compared to the general population. Why is it that our profession, such a noble and respected calling, has such an emotionally overburdening connotation? Yes, dealing with debt, life and death decisions on a daily basis, and navigating our way through oftentimes difficult client interactions can weigh heavily on one’s emotional wellbeing. Is there hope for our profession?

Personally, my path to veterinary medicine has been serpentine, akin to climbing a spiral staircase with some obstacles to overcome with my ascension. Some of my earliest memories circle around fear and uncertainty. I was a shy, serious child who took education seriously, and while I was loved by family, I still felt that there was something missing. When I was paired up with my first cat, I felt like that “something” was finally found; I had a friend who could comfort me when I was upset and listen without judging. During middle school my physical and mental health started slipping downhill and my cat was always there, helping to take some of the pain away. My family and friends helped support me during that time but, as humans, we all have our own share of personal struggles and it can be difficult to fully reach out to others without giving too much of yourself away. I recognize that the human animal bond can have a profound influence on the health of both the human and the animal- I truly believe that my health would have deteriorated more quickly and significantly if I couldn’t spend quality time with my cat.

During high school I still struggled with physical and emotional wellbeing due to academic and extracurricular demands. Veterinarians are self-selecting with a tendency to lean towards perfectionism and overachieving. Getting good grades wasn’t good enough- I remember thinking less than 100% was not acceptable and there was no celebration in straight A’s- that was expected. Missing the mark was devastating. Thankfully, I have now learned to celebrate the passing of exams with lower expectations and more self-congratulating. I think that’s a large part of the reason why I have seen such a shift towards feeling better inside and out. There is a physical lightness in peace with oneself that is vastly more pleasant than the “heaviness” of disappointment. This lightness allows me to be more receptive of the love from others and open to forming relationships which makes client interaction more enjoyable and appreciable.

While I am still an introvert at heart, I have learned to be more charismatic thanks to working with animals at a local veterinary clinic. 13 years have passed since I started as a volunteer and the passion for promoting animal health has only strengthened. Long hours at the clinic, toxic coworkers, and tragic patient outcomes can be physically and emotionally taxing but the core passion has never faltered. Finding acceptance that doing the best I can and understanding that I cannot change anyone other than myself aid me in my quest to be the best advocate for patient health. I want to be able to put my best foot forward for the sake of the patient, the client, and myself. While I still have two years to go before I am a fully licensed veterinarian, I aim to promote wellness for myself and my peers in order for us to all respect the power of the human-animal bond.

Noche, the best cuddle cat since 1998

Progress

Sarah Greenway from Kansas State University submitted these unbearably cute progress photos of her kitten, Perry!

5 Days Old

5 Weeks Old

5 Months Old