STUDENT EXPERIENCE: SLOVENIA

Submitted by Hayley DesCoteaux, Kansa State University

"Traveling and Experiencing Slovenia with IVSA"

IVSA has two international meetings every year, a symposium during the winter and a congress during the summer which in 2023 is being held in Copenhagen, Denmark.  The 71^st IVSA Symposium was held in the capital city of Slovenia: Ljubljana. With the assistance of SAVMA IVEC, I was fortunate to receive a travel scholarship to help with expenses. It was a wonderful experience of meeting amazing people and traveling to exciting places. There was never a boring moment from conference meetings, visiting museums, dinner in the town and fun after dark. This experience was more than I thought it would ever be.

My future career goals in international veterinary medicine were peaked while meeting vet students from people from countries all over the world. These students shared their thoughts and dreams and difficulties. It was surreal to realize that they were going through the same trials and tribulations that I have also faced in my personal vet med classes and experiences. These students are also dedicated to seeing vet medicine improve and animal suffering subside. There was a solid bond felt among all of us with this common goal. Relationships built here could last a lifetime.

It was a cold January 5^th morning when I emerged from the fuselage of Lufthansa LH 1458, 24+ hours after leaving my “No place like home” state of Kansas. I was excited for the next day for the start of the Symposium. Six days of global immersion into vet medicine and foreign cultures. Two of my favorite experiences. After a typical European breakfast and facility tour, the first General Assembly (GA) started. This is the main meeting where all attendees are present. EXCO and the chair led us through a litany of topics to be addressed and sometimes voted on by each country chapter. It was all very formal and so interesting. Each day of the Symposium we attended a different GA session. Other activities are mixed in throughout the whole week. 

During the time that we were not in GA meetings, the organizing committee did an amazing job of planning events and activities. On the first night, the event was called “Cultural Evening”. Each country that was represented at the symposium had their own table full of food and drink that exemplified their country.  Each student went from table to table trying food and talking with others from different countries. I enjoyed food from all over the world from Thailand to Peru. Within the group, five of seven continents were present: South America, North America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Workshops and lectures were also built into our schedule. I was able to attend both a suturing and oncology workshop and a small animal dental lecture.  There were excursions planned too.  The group visited the Slovenian Military working dog unit.  This was one of the best parts of my trip.  I underestimated the value of the excursion but it turned out to be extremely enriching when learning about how the dogs are handled and cared for.  There was ample time for sightseeing (and of course…shopping!) around the beautiful city of Ljubljana. 

After the close of the Symposium, an optional excursion was offered that provided a visit to a little ski town called Kranjska Gora. Seeing the Alps for the first time in my life was magnificent.  It is hard to describe the overwhelming beauty of the scenery we saw on this excursion. It was as if I were living inside a life-sized snow globe.  The beauty was incomparable to anything I have ever witnessed before.  On the morning we were to leave, we woke to heavy snow falling with over 7 inches accumulated on the ground… a winter wonderland. The calm and beauty of the mountains felt like nothing else existed in the outside world. 

The whole trip felt like being in the “Twilight Zone”.  Never have I felt so connected and accepted by people from so many parts of the world. The friends I made and the relationships forged at this symposium will be carried with me throughout my whole career and life. This experience has become a core memory for me that I will forever fondly look back on and be thankful for.  I will always be grateful to IVSA and SAVMA for making this possible for me and giving me the opportunity to have these amazing memories.

67th IVSA Symposium South Korea Reflection

Laci Taylor ǀ Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine ‘22

This past January I had the privilege of attending the 67^th IVSA Symposium in South Korea. I participated in a variety of lectures, wet labs and day trips along with 149 other delegates representing over 30 countries. As a first-year veterinary student, and first time Symposium attendee, I was both thrilled about the opportunity to connect with veterinary students and professionals around the world and the opportunity to learn more about the impacts of IVSA on a global scale.

Shortly after arriving at Chonbuk National University in Jeonju, South Korea, I attended the Welcome Dinner where I met my roommate, a veterinary student from Austria. By the end of the first day I met students from all over the world and even managed to run into a few familiar faces of veterinary students I had met elsewhere on trips abroad.

The following day began the business portion of Symposium where I participated in my first of six General Assemblies. During assemblies we discussed past business regarding the 67^th IVSA Congress in Kraków, chose the location of the 69^th IVSA Symposium (Greece), made bylaw amendments and elected a new President. I also assisted IVSA SAVMA in voting in favor for the addition of new member organizations to IVSA Global. General Assembly is where I learned about the structure of IVSA Global including its Standing Committees and Working Groups.

One of the Standing Committees that really caught my attention was SCOH, the Standing Committee on One Health. I was amazed at the topics that they were tackling within the fields of both veterinary and human medicine. Of note was their collaboration with Mission Rabies, on their “Zero by 30” Campaign which aims to eliminate human incidences of rabies by the year 2030. The interdisciplinary approach that SCOH utilizes is paramount to finding solutions to many of the pertinent issues facing veterinary public health today. The Working Group on Alumni was another group that caught my attention. I was able to attend IVSA Symposium with both students and current veterinary professionals that were previously student members of IVSA. This gave me the opportunity to understand the present state of the veterinary field internationally. It also sparked my desire to contribute to a functional alumni database to facilitate collaboration between students and current veterinary professionals.

Between General Assemblies, IVSA Symposium functions to immerse and educate its members on the veterinary medical history, culture and traditions of its host country. The organizing committee did an excellent job organizing activities that allowed us to explore South Korea. The first few activities that I participated in were in Seoul. We traveled to the Korea Horse Racing Authority and the War Memorial of Korea. At the Korea Horse Racing Authority, our knowledge of horses was tested with trivia before we explored the horse racing park and learned about treatment of diseases common in racehorses. At the War Memorial of Korea, we were greeted by the General before exploring the six indoor exhibition halls that housed a diverse array of artifacts ranging from military vessels and weaponry to sculptures and relief works.

Next on the agenda were lectures and activities. Lecture topics covered oncology, career exploration, emergency medicine and oriental medicine. I really enjoyed the oriental medicine lecture which focused on acupuncture point. Following the lecture, I got the chance to test out my acupuncture technique in a practical skills lab. After the conclusion of lectures, I participated in Temple Stay, a cultural program that allowed me to experience the life of Buddhist practitioners, mediate and have conversation over tea. We also traveled to Gyeongbokgung Palace where we witnessed the changing over of the guards, a colorful and lively ceremony. While each activity provided a unique opportunity for cultural immersion, my favorite activity was exploring Hanok Village. There, a big group of us got dressed up in traditional Korean wear, called a Hanbok, and tasted different Korean street food and purchased handmade souvenirs from the shops.

In addition to the day trips we took, there was a loaded schedule of social events in the evening so that the delegates could unwind and get to know each other better. Of these events were both a silent and live auction with items donated by attending delegates that helped raise funds for IVSA. There was also Cultural Night where delegates set up booths with food, drinks and traditional wear representing their respective countries. One of my favorite experiences was participating in a cooking event where I made Duk Boki which is a spicy Korean rice cake dish.

The 67^th IVSA Symposium created an environment where a diverse range of perspectives and ideas were encouraged, exchanged, and celebrated. As the veterinary profession becomes more and more diverse, the environment created by IVSA Symposium is integral to the health and well-being of humans, animals and the environment. As I reflect upon my time in South Korea and the many international friends I have made, I feel a strong sense of gratitude. My experience abroad with IVSA in Korea is one that I will not soon forget.

A South Africa Experience

“My IVSA Symposium in South Africa Experience”

by Erin Beasley

North Carolina State University, CVM

This past December, I attended my first International Veterinary Students’ Association (IVSA) Symposium in South Africa.  I was excited to learn about the impacts of IVSA on a global level, as my past involvement has only been on the local chapter level.  Also, I had never been to Africa before, so I was excited to experience the culture and see the landscapes and animals.

After a long plane ride, I arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa.  By the end of the first day, I had already met many veterinary students from around the world.  Over 30 countries were represented at the symposium, and there were nearly 150 veterinary students attending.  I was proud to be a part of the SAVMA delegate group.  I enjoyed collaborating with other students from across the USA while also learning about other veterinary schools from students across the globe.

We woke up extremely early on the second day to visit Adventures With Elephants.  Besides tourism, the organization also educates people and contributes to research with elephants, such as scent tracking.  We met the seven resident elephants and even got to pet them.  Later that day, we arrived at Sondela Nature Reserve & Spa, where we stayed for a few days.  We went on some game drives and viewed the animals, including warthogs, giraffes, ostrich, and wildebeest.  Our tent-making skills were tested, as we camped in tents for two nights there.  The next day, we listened to lectures about wildlife health from professors of the University of Pretoria, Rhino Connect, and Sondela staff.  That afternoon, we toured the wildlife rehabilitation centre at Sondela.  I found it valuable to hear different perspectives about managing wildlife and to learn about South Africa’s current efforts in preventing poaching.  After leaving Sondela, we visited Dinokeng Game Reserve.  This game reserve had more land space, and we saw many antelope species, warthogs, giraffes, and rhinos.

Finally, we arrived at the University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort campus, where the Faculty of Veterinary Science is located.  The business portion of the IVSA Symposium began with the opening ceremony and the first general assembly.  It was good to practice Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.  Even within this first general assembly, I learned a lot about the structure of IVSA Global, including the Executive Committee, Standing Committees, and collaboration with international organizations, such as the OIE.  In other general assemblies, we discussed position statements and policy papers, covering topics such as shelter medicine, hunting, and aggressive dogs.  Additionally, I helped our SAVMA group vote for amendments to the by-laws, pass endorsements, nominate the new president-elect of IVSA Global, and vote for the future location of an IVSA Congress.  I was impressed by the variety of issues discussed in general assemblies and the quality of debate.  It was fun to be a delegate contributing to the actions of IVSA Global.  Throughout the general assemblies, I gained perspective on the roles of IVSA on a global level.  The collegiality between delegates was also encouraging for the outlook of our profession.

Between our eight general assemblies, we had other activities.  One day, we toured the Onderstepoort campus and learned about their veterinary medicine curriculum and teaching hospital.  Later that day, we completed a scavenger hunt around campus called the “Amazing Race.”  My team ended up winning the competition!  There were also international stands, where I learned about each country and exchange programs they offer.  We also got a taste of different countries’ cultures during the culture evening.  There were workshops on campus, where we practiced blood smears, performed ultrasound on a horse’s limb, and practiced bandaging, intubating, suturing, and rectal palpation on models.  The school’s simulation lab was big and had a lot of fancy models for student practice.  For dinner one night, our teams made potjie, which is made in a pot over charcoal fire.  An auction was also held to help raise funds for IVSA.  Our formal dinner took place at a horse stud farm, and we watched some demonstrations of the horses.

Besides the general assemblies and other activities, we also attended lectures and committee workshops.  I listened to the production animal lectures, which included talks about rhino poaching, brucellosis in antelope, cattle health in South Africa, and elephant and rhino conservation.  I also participated in the Standing Committee on One Health’s workshop, where we discussed risk communication and different disease outbreak scenarios.

For my optional activity day, I chose to go on the heritage tour in Pretoria.  We visited the Voortrekker Monument, an old Pretoria fort, and the Union Buildings.  I enjoyed seeing the architecture of the buildings and hearing about the stories of Pretoria’s history.

On the last day of the official IVSA Symposium, we served in community veterinary clinics.  I was in the production animal group.  We traveled to a local farm and dewormed about 500 cattle and about 30 sheep and goats.  I liked serving the local farmers and gaining a better perspective of rural veterinary medicine in South Africa.

As the IVSA Symposium came to a close, it was sad to say goodbye to international friends.  We still keep in touch via social media.  After the official symposium, 30 of us continued on to the Post-Symposium.  We stopped by the Amarula Lapa for lunch and made our way to the Blyde River Canyon.  We stayed here for a few days.  I hiked a short trail by a small waterfall and then we went to the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels viewpoint.  The landscape and scenery were amazing.  After a pancake lunch, we saw Lisbon Falls, which were much larger waterfalls amongst the mountain range.  Our next adventure was visiting Kruger National Park.  We did several game drives here, even a night game drive.  I was surprised to see hundreds and hundreds of animals so easily.  We also saw many young animals of different species.  All of us were ecstatic to see three leopards during our visit.  Furthermore, I saw all of the “Big Five”:  leopards, lions, elephants, water buffalo, and rhinos.  Other species seen included hippos, baboons, vervet monkeys, crocodiles, zebras, impala, kudu, bushbuck, duiker, steenbok, and vultures.  We were surprised to also see over 20 African Wild Dogs and a serval.  We stayed at a campsite in Kruger National Park, and it was fun to have a braai (basically a barbecue in Afrikaans) for dinner.

 

After traveling back to Johannesburg, a small group of us visited the Apartheid Museum.  I thought it was important to learn about the history of apartheid and learn about the achievements of Nelson Mandela.  I flew back to the USA later that day.

This experience was definitely invaluable!  I will treasure the friendships, and I look forward to working with IVSA members in the future when we are all practicing veterinarians!  The symposium showed me the current work improving animal health in South Africa, and as a future public health veterinarian, I was impressed by the powerful international collaboration.  Thank you to the International Veterinary Experience Committee of SAVMA for awarding me the IVSA Symposium Scholarship!  The funding support greatly helped me be able to complete this experience.  In all, I was honored to be a delegate in the 66^th IVSA Symposium in South Africa and to experience the unique culture and wildlife of South Africa.

IVSA Symposium in Slovenia

By Taylor Simon

Louisiana State University

Class of 2013

Each spring the International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA) gathers for a Symposium to bring veterinary students and delegates from all over the globe together to learn, plan, and share. This past January the 59th Symposium was held in Slovenia and the United States had the pleasure of sending eight delegates.

Taylor Simon, senior delegate from Louisiana State University and co-chair of the SAVMA International Veterinary Exchange Committee was one of the attendees and he details his experience below.

The IVSA Symposium in Slovenia was an amazing experience.  The U.S. delegates attending were Deirdre Murdy, Serrin Rayne Johnson, Brooke Wilson-Zaja, Steven Fernandez, Emily Mehlman, Amanda Marino, Lisbeth Ambrosius, and myself, Taylor Simon.  As delegates, we participated in the IVSA general assemblies.  We discussed past business, awards being given, the state of the development fund (which helps schools in developing nations), chose the location of the 2012 Symposium (Serbia) and the 2012 Congress (Norway), the building of a new user friendly website, and the changes being made to the constitution to make it a more lasting document. 

The IVSA Slovenia chapter members were great hosts and put on a very exciting Symposium.  They lined up tours of ancient castles, beautiful caves, and the wonderfully interesting city of Ljubljana with informative guides to tell us all about the country’s history.  The capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana is located in a basin between the Alps and the Adriatic Sea.  According to Greek mythology and local legend the founder of the city was Jason, who traveled there with the Argonauts after stealing the golden fleece.  The city still carries the dragon Jason slew there as a symbol on its coat of arms.  The country of Slovenia has a wonderful mix of cultural influences going back to Roman occupation, beautiful Baroque architecture, and more modern Italian and Slavic touches.

As for more veterinary related activities we were able to choose from several interesting wetlabs and educational day trips as part of the program.  The wetlabs included workshops involving health care of pigs, domestic ruminants, reproduction, horses, poultry, pathology, exotics, and small animal surgery.  I participated in the domestic ruminant workshop in which we went to a local dairy and dehorned cattle.  We attended lectures on diseases in mussels and oysters, beekeeping, vets in pharmaceuticals, immunology, and food animal medicine.  As group, we toured places like a military dog training facility where we had a demonstration of their skills, a pharmaceutical company, Lipizzaner stables in Lipica (the home of the breed), an open water fish farm, and the veterinary teaching hospital.

There was also a fantastic schedule of social events in the evening for us to get to know our fellow delegates from around the world, let loose, and have a little fun.  Cultural night, where we set up booths and shared food and drinks from our homes, was an especially interesting night.  Another night, the members in charge of Development Fund put on both a silent and live auction, with items donated by the attending delegates, to raise money for veterinary teaching facilities in developing nations.  Our hosts also introduced us to some traditional Slovenian food at a quaint family run restaurant.  We enjoyed a formal dinner and dance the last night as a close to the amazing week of IVSA Symposium, Slovenia.

It was a trip that I will never forget and a once in a lifetime opportunity to make connections with extraordinary people from across the globe.  As we move into the future, the importance of uniting our profession across borders and the globe will become more and more vital to the health and well being of both animals and humans alike.  I am looking forward to opportunities to utilize the connections I have formed with international students to help fellow students here in the States and the veterinary profession as a whole.