Experiences

Submitted by Shea O'Sullivan, University of Missouri

If my name hasn’t already given it away, I am incredibly Irish. My mom’s mom is from

County Kildare, her dad was a first generation american from an Irish parent, and my dad is from

County Kerry. As such, being Irish is a big part of who I am.

My family is extremely proud of my siblings and I, as we are the first generation on both

sides of our family to be college educated. Both my dad and grandma grew up very poor;

education was unfortunately not the top priority and neither finished high school in favor of

working to support themselves and their families. My mom was only able to complete one

semester of college before she had to leave due to lack of funds.

Our family has always had a deep connection to animals due to our past; my dad quite

literally used a donkey and a cart to get around as a kid and they raised dogs to use for hunting

and racing for income. My grandma grew up in similar circumstances, and our family has had a

host of animals since I can remember. I’m not only able to make my family proud by attending

both undergrad and professional school, but I get to further that by becoming a person committed

to caring for what they value most: animals. While my family might not understand the inner

workings of college education because they were not able to experience it themselves, they can

understand animals and I get to share that with them.

When we were younger, we used to visit Ireland a lot, but due to financial hardship, none

of us had been back for over ten years. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to go back with

my sister to visit our dad’s family. Being back where he grew up reinvigorated my love and

passion for animals and reminded me of where it all started. My family grew their passion and

love for animals in Ireland and they spread it all the way to the US, and eventually, to me. I am

so fortunate that I get to spend a lifetime honoring my family and my heritage in a unique way,

by becoming a veterinarian.

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Jessica Stewart, University of Pennsylvania

Externs on the Hill

Submitted by Shannen Auffarth, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

-

When I attended the AVMA’s Legislative Fly-In in April 2023, I had no clue what

to expect. During this experience, I learned about organized veterinary medicine, met

with my legislators to advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession, and connected

with veterinarians from all over the country. I had never encountered something like this

before, but by the end of the event, I knew I wanted to continue pursuing grassroots

efforts that support the interests of a profession I care about so deeply.

After attending the fly-in, I thought more about how policy will continue to play a

role in my work as a future veterinarian. From here, I even decided to pursue a master’s

in public health in addition to my veterinary degree, thanks to my school’s dual degree

DVM/MPH program. As I continued to pursue my interests in infectious disease and

population health in school, I gained a new perspective from my experiences at the fly-

in. When the opportunity to apply for the AVMA’s Government Relations Division

externship arrived, I was ecstatic to further grow my insight and learn about the inner

workings of government, policy, and legislation.

As I reflect on the past three weeks before entering the final week of this

externship, I feel extremely grateful for the chance to see in real-time how change can

be made. Veterinarians serve a variety of crucial roles in society, but the needs of the

community are not always obvious to lawmakers. By engaging in grassroots advocacy ,

the voice of our profession and the issues we care about are amplified in Congress.

During my time with the AVMA, our focus has been on pressing and popular issues

regarding xylazine, new world screwworm, and supporting the rural veterinary

workforce. I have been able to connect with legislators and their staff in meetings both

on and off Capitol Hill, attend congressional committee hearings, learn about the

legislative process, and network with other students with similar interests. Though it was

not all work and no play, as I also got to attend the Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party and

Congressional Baseball Game for fun, too!

With my final week approaching, I am using the rest of my time to continue

exploring less traditional career paths within veterinary medicine. This externship allows

students to connect with veterinarians in various roles, from government to research,

institutional medicine, and beyond. I have met with the Maryland State Public Health

Veterinarian, USDA APHIS veterinarians, and a National Zoo veterinarian (just to name

a few). One of the most exciting parts of the veterinary career is the wide variety and

scope of our practice, further highlighting the need to advocate for a profession that can

be so pervasive. This externship has provided me with many invaluable skills and

resources that I look forward to carrying with me as I begin my fourth year of veterinary

school and my career journey.

When I attended the AVMA’s Legislative Fly-In in April 2023, I had no clue whatto expect. During this experience, I learned about organized veterinary medicine, metwith my legislators to advocate on behalf of the veterinary profession, and connectedwith veterinarians from all over the country. I had never encountered something like thisbefore, but by the end of the event, I knew I wanted to continue pursuing grassrootsefforts that support the interests of a profession I care about so deeply.After attending the fly-in, I thought more about how policy will continue to play arole in my work as a future veterinarian. From here, I even decided to pursue a master’sin public health in addition to my veterinary degree, thanks to my school’s dual degreeDVM/MPH program. As I continued to pursue my interests in infectious disease andpopulation health in school, I gained a new perspective from my experiences at the fly-in. When the opportunity to apply for the AVMA’s Government Relations Divisionexternship arrived, I was ecstatic to further grow my insight and learn about the innerworkings of government, policy, and legislation.As I reflect on the past three weeks before entering the final week of thisexternship, I feel extremely grateful for the chance to see in real-time how change canbe made. Veterinarians serve a variety of crucial roles in society, but the needs of thecommunity are not always obvious to lawmakers. By engaging in grassroots advocacy ,the voice of our profession and the issues we care about are amplified in Congress.During my time with the AVMA, our focus has been on pressing and popular issuesregarding xylazine, new world screwworm, and supporting the rural veterinaryworkforce. I have been able to connect with legislators and their staff in meetings bothon and off Capitol Hill, attend congressional committee hearings, learn about thelegislative process, and network with other students with similar interests. Though it wasnot all work and no play, as I also got to attend the Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party andCongressional Baseball Game for fun, too!With my final week approaching, I am using the rest of my time to continueexploring less traditional career paths within veterinary medicine. This externship allowsstudents to connect with veterinarians in various roles, from government to research,institutional medicine, and beyond. I have met with the Maryland State Public HealthVeterinarian, USDA APHIS veterinarians, and a National Zoo veterinarian (just to namea few). One of the most exciting parts of the veterinary career is the wide variety andscope of our practice, further highlighting the need to advocate for a profession that canbe so pervasive. This externship has provided me with many invaluable skills andresources that I look forward to carrying with me as I begin my fourth year of veterinaryschool and my career journey.

Creative Corner

Submitted by Purva Naharajan, University of Pennsylvania

Externship Experience

Submitted by Ian Alvarez, Royal Veterinary College for the SAVMA Externship Grant

During my transformative six-week externship with NASA’s Chief Veterinary Officer, I had the privilege of immersing myself in the dynamic intersection of veterinary science and space exploration. I was entrusted with contributing to essential documents, including the Mouse Health Check Form and the Mouse Anesthetic, Reversal Agent, and Analgesic Formulary VVC Guidelines, which will play a pivotal role in the astronaut’s MHU9 mission itinerary. My involvement in projects such as MHU9, RR26, and RR27 allowed me to collaborate closely with esteemed astronauts and distinguished professionals from NASA’s Office of Chief Health Medical Officer. Beyond the office, I had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers, where I gained invaluable insights into wildlife conservation efforts, space-based crop production, and the intricacies of space vehicle mock-ups. This experience not only broadened my understanding of veterinary practices in the context of space exploration but also deepened my passion for the synergy between these two fields. With this foundation, I am driven to one day work at the nexus of veterinary science and space medicine, advancing the health and well-being of both astronauts and animals in the pursuit of space exploration.