Challenges from the International Arena: Running a Clinic in Nicaragua

By: Laura Niman

Oregon State University, Class of 2014

Four years ago the Oregon State University’s IVSA chapter was invited by community leaders to the Nicaraguan community of Merida to develop an annual veterinary service trip. Merida is located on the island of Ometepe, which is home to an estimated 10,000 families and countless dogs, cats, pigs, cows, horses and chickens.  As the people of Ometepe rely on their animals for food, transportation, and work, the suboptimal condition of these animals directly impacts the people and their livelihood.  Companion animals also suffer from malnourishment and diseases, many of which are transmissible to their human families.  From a single veterinarian and 8 students who participated in the first clinic in 2007, the project has grown substantially to include 8 veterinarians, 24 veterinary students, and 2 pre-veterinary students in 2010.

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A Penny for an Idea

By: Alicia Agnew

Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of 2013

A penny for my thoughts you say,

I think they’re worth much more.

For ideas have been the start of wars,

The middle of nations, and often,

The end of someone’s existence.

Ideas are powerful, Ideas are bright,

And some have led souls to the light.

Ideas follow no laws of mankind

But instead jump around inside of our minds.

What are they made of? Can they be seen?

Or are they some sort of fancy solar beam?

They come and they go and they flit around

But like to stay just out of grasp

When you’re fumbling for an answer fast.

They morph with the times or hide in old books,

And some die young while still unheard.

They’re stuffed into our mind’s crannies and nooks

As we file away the new ones we’ve learned.

So if you need my idea, you’ll pay quite a lot

For they’re worth millions, and dollars at that.

The Rotten Egg

By: Kendra Bauer

University of Wisconsin, Class of 2013

During my summer working as a Merck-Merial summer scholar at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wisconsin, I had the opportunity to participate in a lot of clinical procedures in addition to working on my research project. The following is an excerpt from my daily log of my experiences that summer:

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I'm Going to the Vet!

That's so Punny!

By: Stephanie Silberstang

Cornell University, Class of 2013

And now, for an immunology joke:

What does a pathogen do when it meets another pathogen?

It takes off its PAMPs!