SAVMA Travel Grant Winner

Shannon McCook, Tufts University

This is a scholarship awarded by SAVMA's Education and Professional Development Committee.  If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, check out the details here

The 2012 SAVMA Travel Grant really helped to ease the financial burden of my trip to the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin in August of 2012.  I have always planned to become a pathologist.  Having developed a keen interest in ophthalmology during my third year vet school course work, this externship experience was a natural fit for me.  August was a fantastic time to be in Madison - the weather was perfect and the people were warm and welcoming.  I stayed with the director of the COPLOW, Dr. Dick Dubielzig, and his wife, Doris.  During my stay at the COPLOW, I participated in daily resident histopathology training rounds and attended afternoon necropsy rounds.  I participated in mock exam sessions for the American College of Veterinary Pathology Board examination, which were incredibly helpful in planning for my future as a pathology resident.  I had the opportunity to view ocular histology sections from many different species of animals from invertebrates to primates, including a jumping spider, May fly, Cock-eyed squid, wasp, ostrich, western lowland gorilla, hippopotamus, Russian tortoise and a white rhinoceros.  To round out my comparative ocular pathology experience, I was able to attend weekly Ophthalmology rounds at the UW Medical School and sit in while they read out human biopsy cases.  All in all, it was a truly fantastic experience.  Many thanks to SAVMA for making it possible!