2019 SAVMA Symposium Experience

Victoria Villafane, Ross University 

Amidst the hectic life of a veterinarian student, I hesitated before making the decision to travel mid- semester back to the states for SAVMA symposium. Most schools were on spring break but for Ross students, travel consisted of lugging our laptops, notebooks, and all study materials with us and studying throughout the day any break we got. The question came up more than once, of why we would put ourselves through that just for a convention. Since I have never been before, I did not know the answer until I took the chance and packed my bags, heading off to Athens, Georgia. I felt a mix of nerves, excitement, and stress as I settled in on the plane hoping it was all going to be worth it.

Stepping into symposium, I knew I made the right choice. I looked around at the many vet students from all across the country, glanced at the lengthy list of veterinarian names there to give us lectures and guide us through wet labs and I smiled. This wasn’t something I would ever be able to experience during any other part of vet school. I knew I had the opportunity to network with others in my field, listen to lectures expanding my knowledge on what we learn in school, and to strengthen skills during wet labs.

I took a turn into the big exhibit hall full of vendors, promotors, recruiters and was pleasantly overwhelmed with an influx of information. I stopped at the Hills table and was fascinated as they discussed the release of liquid diets for sick animals. My mind flashed back to countless hours of mashing up food and blending it with water into a soupy consistency and hand feeding sick patients and thought of how helpful and amazing this would be to have in hospitals. They also allowed us to practice placing a nasogastric tube on a model which was really neat as I had never done it before. I continued walking around learning about joint supplements, working with exotics opportunities, veterinarians in the army and about AVMA PLIT. As we stopped at the Zoetis booth, I stood in awe as they had a huge board announcing scholarship recipients and there under the RUSVM column was my name. I had no idea they announced the winners at symposium, so it was incredible and special to have been there when I won the scholarship.

I was also able to attend lectures given by veterinarians and it was an inspiring experience as for the first time in my vet journey, I was able to follow along with cases and examples and actually understand the information coming across. It was very encouraging to see the progress I am making as well as expanding my current knowledge base. One example was an oncology lecture given where the presenter discussed cases on osteosarcoma and hemangiosarcoma. Being able to follow along the cases from presenting complaint to treatments to consequences, it gave me the motivation and encouragement to keep working hard being able to experience how it is paying off. I was able to pull my clinical pathology knowledge out and answer questions about what we would expect to see in patients with these conditions and it was satisfying to feel like I can begin to think and communicate like a veterinarian.

Another day, I attended a dental wet lab. I was interested to learn more about topics that we do not go very in depth in at school, so I chose dentistry, not knowing what I was getting into it. At first, it was extremely intimidating and scary to watch the doctors show us what we have to do. I felt like we were on a construction site instead of in a lab with all of the drilling and hammering. I could never have imagined how hard it actually is pulling teeth, but although it was a challenge and I have never felt my arms so sore, I was still ecstatic that I chose this lab and got to practice extracting a whole set of teeth. It is not something I would have gotten to do at school. Not only did I walk out of that lab with a new appreciation for dentistry, but I definitely increased my muscle mass.

Aside from the wealth of veterinary knowledge I left with, I also learned a very valuable lesson; our education is not limited to the classroom and it’s our responsibility to take advantage of opportunities presented to us. Experiences are just as important as our studies. I am so happy I decided to take the trip to SAVMA symposium and I am grateful for the immense impact it has had on my journey as a DVM candidate.