Meet your new SAVMA International Exchange Officer

Julie Stafford
Home State: Alaska

Description of duties: There are really two big jobs that I
have as IEO. First I facilitate exchanges into and out of the SAVMA
schools for veterinary students. This means if you are interested in
going to a veterinary clinic or school abroad you should let me know
and I will help you set it up. Or if you have worked/externed with a
clinic in the US that you think was particularly awesome and would be
willing to host an international student let me know! Second I get to
travel to the IVSA meetings which happen twice a year. There I
represent SAVMA just as at our bi-annual SAVMA meetings I represent
IVSA. The IVSA meetings (Summer=IVSA congress and winter=IVSA
Symposium) happen anywhere in the world, this year they will be in
Norway and then South Africa, and they are super fun!

Goals for this term:

1. Communication with my IEO-elect so that you guys have twice the
representation and twice the exchange placement power!

2. Promotion of IVSA within SAVMA, so that everyone can be aware of the
opportunities available to veterinary students across the globe.

3 Updating the SAVMA international opportunities section of SAVMA's
website. I am aware that a lot of the info is out of date and very
little opportunities are listed on there. I would like to change that!

Contact: SAVMAIEO [at] gmail [dot] com

Meet your new SAVMA President-Elect

Elise Ackley
Hometown: Shreveport, Louisiana

Position: President-elect

Description of duties: To become familiar with all duties and responsibilities of the office of the SAVMA President.

Goals for this term: Basically learn everything I can from Bridget in the next year!

Fun Fact: I was a competitive fencer back in the day

Contact info: elise [dot] ackley [at] gmail [dot] com

Future Plans

Becky Lee
UC Davis
Life as a Vet Student, Future Plans

For a long time, I’ve known that I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian. The secret that none of my classmates know is that I was supposed to be a painter. Not a painter of fine art. No, a house painter. As a high school senior, I remember taking a career placement test to see how a series of multiple choice questions would determine my fate. Not to mention that it was a chance to be excused from P.E.
I stared at the computer screen and read the first question: ‘Do you like the outdoors?’ ‘Yes, definitely’, I thought to myself as I clicked the electronic bubble. ‘Do you find satisfaction in completing detailed tasks?’ Sure, I guess so. Fifty questions later, it was determined that my life calling was that of a house painter. Interesting. Very interesting. I’ve never painted a house in my life, I melt if I’m in the hot sun for more than an hour, and if you ask my friends to describe me, physical endurance is unlikely to be mentioned at the top of their lists.

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Laica

Alexander Robb, V’13
Tufts University
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Experiences

I never would have guessed that scrambling eggs would be an important moment in the course my veterinary education.  This summer, such a seemingly mundane act took on a much larger significance.  For a week in July, I traveled to San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua with WorldVets to participate in a small animal spay/neuter campaign.  San Juan del Sur is a beautiful coastal town with many nice shops and restaurants lining the beach,remarkably friendly people, and an unfortunately limited supply of regular veterinary care.  Our group of veterinarians, veterinary students, technicians, and volunteers spent a week in town, with three days totally dedicated to clinical procedures.  We spayed, neutered, enucleated, drained abscesses, repaired wounds, did healthy consultations, and administered medication for over 400 animals in that short period of time.  For some in our group, the highlight of the trip was their first spay, for others it was treating a crocodile with a wound or a monkey with a urinary tract infection.  For me, it was one dog in particular. Laica in her body suit Her name is Laica, and the fact that I can still use “is” to describe her, is amazing.

Laica came into our clinic on the second day for a routine spay.  I wasn’t involved in her surgery, but there weren’t any complications that we were aware of while she was under our supervision and care.  Once ready to go home, she was discharged to her owners with instructions to keep her inside for the next day and keep a close eye on her as she recovered.

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Meet your new SAVMA Secretary!

Chad Clancy

Iowa State

Hometown: Spencer, Iowa

Postion: SAVMA Secretary

Duties: The keeper of the minutes, policies and procedures... and candies

Goals for this term: Know every SAVMA delegate's name by AVMA Convention

Email: csclancy at iastate dot edu

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