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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Mentors

Chase Crawford
Texas A&M University
Life As A Vet Student – Mentors

To me, a mentor is someone in your life who freely shares their experiences with you for no other reason than to help you realize your full potential. When we begin veterinary school (or life even), many of us are assigned arbitrary mentors who may or may not fit the above description. I have had several people in my life who would call themselves my mentors and then several people who deserve such a designation. I do not believe it is an effective use of time or words to describe what makes a mentor insufficient. Instead, one could measure themselves against the standard of a worthwhile mentor and make their own assessment.

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Meet your new SAVMA President!

Bridget Heilsberg

Colorado State

Hometown: Ravena, NY

Position: President (aka Boss Lady)

Description of duties:  I represent over 12,000 veterinary students in the US, Canada, Scotland, and the Caribbean to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).  I am a voting member of the AVMA House of Delegates, and participate in the Allied Caucus, the District IX Caucus, and Reference Committee #3.  I am also an invited participant to the AVMA Executive Board, and participate in both open and closed-door meetings and conference calls.  I schedule and direct the bi-annual SAVMA House of Delegates meetings, where representatives of the veterinary schools help shape the future of veterinary medical education.
 
Goals for this term:  Increase SAVMA's public face and general involvement; support and empower the SCAVMA Chapters at individual schools; build SAVMA Liaison relationships; Work towards increasing diversity in veterinary medical education

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