IVEC Scholarship Winners

SAVMA International Veterinary Experience Committee (IVEC) would like to congratulate and highlight two students who were awarded the 2021 IVEC Scholarship (Cycle 2). 

Patrick Campell is a third-year veterinary student at University of Minnesota who participated in the Vets Go Wild Program in South Africa:

“I am very grateful for the IVEC Scholarship as it afforded me the opportunity to travel to South Africa in order to complete the Vets Go Wild course under Dr. William Fowlds. This scholarship allows students like myself to travel internationally in order to learn new perspectives and cultures by helping to eliminate the cost barrier… My view on conservation was altered, as someone who lives in the United States, which is very far from the current conservation problems in South Africa. As Americans, I think we have a blinded and false sense of what conservation looks like outside our own country. What it means is fighting for conservation at the local and national governments within these countries. The scope of conservation goes beyond the American idea of research, breeding programs, and anti-poaching. Frankly, these animals are being lost at such an exponential rate that we need to start on the ground and working with the private sector of animal conservationists in South Africa.”

 

Joie Lin is fourth-year veterinary student at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Last summer, Joie externed in British Columbia, learning from experts in aquatic medicine and marine mammal pathology:

“As someone passionate about wildlife pathology and ocean conservation, this was a dream come true, as numerous endangered marine mammals, including the Southern Resident killer whales, live in British Columbia waters. By monitoring anesthesia for various pinniped procedures, I learned how to approach the dive response, a pinniped-specific anesthetic complication that can involve apnea and bradycardia. In addition, by conducting diagnostics like imaging and bloodwork, I became familiar with the unique anatomy of marine mammals and fish (along with the challenges of working with slippery, stress-prone species). I also solidified my understanding of common aquatic diseases through assessing and treating collection animals afflicted with gas bubble disease and monogeneans. Overall, this externship gave me valuable insight about aquatic medicine, furthering my interest in the field.”