EXTERNS ON THE HILL

Submitted by Jacey Cerda, Colorado State University (AVMA Government Relations Division extern)

Multi-talented People

As we walked to an Irish pub a couple of blocks away from the U.S. Capital, Dr. Lindsey Hornickel (a veterinarian and an assistant director with the AVMA’s Government Relations Division [GRD]) talked to me about the purpose of our evening event. At least three members of Congress were likely to be present, and it was our mission to build a relationship with those members and their staff as representatives of the veterinary community. There are several bills immensely important to the veterinary field currently pending before Congress, and it is imperative for members of Congress to meet with veterinarians and veterinary students, like me, to understand our position on those issues; otherwise, our voices are lost in the cacophony of other interested parties whose positions may be detrimental to our profession.  

As we were directed to where the event was happening, I was picturing a large hall full of people speaking to each other in a strict, formal manner. I was wrong. We entered a small room bedecked in dark brown mahogany with less than 30 people present. After just a few minutes of mingling, a member of Congress thanked us all for being there, grabbed his guitar, and proceeded to sing two of his own original songs. Other representatives followed suit on the piano and bongo drums. 

After they played a few more songs, we were able to complete our mission and have positive conversations about veterinary medicine with the members of Congress and their staff. This experience provides a great example of what it is like to be a veterinary student extern with AVMA’s GRD. Veterinarians and veterinary students, like the members of Congress, are multi-talented, and they can use their skillsets to have a positive influence in so many ways. 

In only two weeks, I have met with veterinarians across the U.S. government who work on international wildlife conservation, wildlife disease health, livestock health, and on international development at the USAID. Some work for members of Congress and many have direct influence on public health policy and practice. Some veterinarians practiced for several years prior to transitioning to their government roles, others came straight through from veterinary school, and many have other degrees and skillsets that are perfect complements to the DVM and the work they do. All of these veterinarians, like the members of Congress, use skillsets unrelated to veterinary medicine to do important work. 

I’ve personally had a windy path into veterinary medicine from wildlife biologist to trial attorney to working on zoonotic parasites, and finally to veterinary school. It’s refreshing and encouraging to hear about the myriad ways you can use all of your skillsets to do crucial work, including even running for and being a member of Congress. This externship is a daily reminder to bring all of myself into veterinary medicine because sometimes playing the guitar, or the piano, or the drums, helps you to do the essential work you do in the world. So, let’s remember to bring our whole selves to this wonderful profession of veterinary medicine because we are all, multi-talented people.