SAVMA GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Submitted by Brianna Brown, University of Pennsylvania

Retrospective Conference Travel Grant

Through the support of Wildlife Futures Program and SAVMA retrospective travel grant, I attended the SYMCO Wildlife Conservation Conference in South Africa this past summer. The conference was run by the University of Pretoria’s veterinary school, and it was 18 days long. This trip was an incredible, eye-opening experience into the field of veterinary medicine. There were students from all over the world present at this conference and through discussions and our experiences, I got to engage in some invigorating debates about the future of wildlife medicine and the role veterinarians should play in conservation. One animal that made this experience one of my most meaningful veterinary experiences is the rhino. We worked with both black and white rhinos at both game reserves and orphanages/refuges, and I learned how incredibly resilient and beautiful these creatures are despite the horrible challenges they face. While working with these animals, I learned the current methods in place in South Africa to try and to protect the rhino from poaching. We learned about the dehorning process including the pros and cons of the procedure, and I learned how to microchip the horn of those rhinos that were dehorned. We also worked with organizations like Genesis K9 and Down2theWire who help to fight against poaching through unique ways. I also gained an important understanding of politics, and the role veterinarians should play in acting as the liaison between the animals and the people/country trying to protect them. I also gained important knowledge on how to run a refuge/orphanage through our work with elephants at Hoedspruit Elephant Development Center (HERD). There, I had some incredible interactions with elephants, and the knowledge I gained from this experience I hope to use in the future to either run my own refuge or help support an existing one through volunteerism and guidance.

 When we worked with painted dogs and lions, I learned the important role that population control can also have in conservation. On the game reserves that we visited, both the lions and the painted dogs had begun to inbreed and overhunt the land. So, we learned about reversible methods of birth control that can help control the population without preventing future fertility such as progesterone usage in lions.

From a medical standpoint, through my work with rhinos, I learned about various anesthesia protocols that can be applied to wildlife medicine in this country as well as. I also had the incredible opportunity to learn how to use a dart gun. I learned first about the mechanics behind the various dart guns available on the market as well as the types of darts. We then were allowed to practice darting on targets on the ground and then in the air while in a helicopter. This knowledge has already come in handy with my externship at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

We also worked with some incredible veterinarians during the trip, and on one of the days, the veterinarians allowed us to do work ups on a herd of sable antelope. We watched as the veterinarian darted members of the herd, and then each student was allowed to go out with the veterinarian to draw blood and do a health exam.

Throughout the trip I also got to interact with vet students from all over the world and learn about their experiences and knowledge of the field. I was able to explore a gorgeous country going shark cage diving and on a safari in addition to our veterinary work. I will never forget this experience, and I am so grateful I was able to have this life changing opportunity that will help me to be a better wildlife veterinarian in the States. 

The Human Animal Bond

Submitted by Meghan Lawlor, University of Missouri

“The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors  essential to the health and wellbeing of both. This includes, among other things, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment.” (AVMA)

No textbook definition, such as the one above, truly encapsulates the vastness and significance of such a phenomenon. Even following the semester-long psychology course I took as an undergraduate from a renowned human-animal behavior researcher, I didn’t walk away with a true understanding until years later.

The COVID-19 pandemic, soon after, brought an incredible amount of isolation, loss, suffering, and so much more to our world; however, it also brought the ultimate power of animal companions to light, as many would no longer be able to see loved ones for years on-end.

There comes the power of the human-animal bond. 

Through volunteer service at a local assisted living facility, I have come to recognize just how critical the residents’ pets have been to preserve both their physical and mental health. In a world of ever-changing circumstances, their pets have served as their one constant, providing joy and unconditional love when they needed it most. Residents often explain just how their pets seem to know exactly when they feel ill, upset, angry, or lonely – “I just wish my sweet cat could talk back to me when I chat with her every morning,” a resident once exclaimed. “He is just such great company for me,” many admit with every visit. Their pets have stuck closely by their side through illness, injury, recovery, and grief by loving their owners unconditionally and expecting nothing in return — I believe this is what makes the human-animal bond so strong. Many residents value their animals just as much, if not more, than their own family members, serving as the ultimate example of just how unbreakable the human-animal bond can grow to be even with ever-changing circumstances and time.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

Submitted by Chauntelle Dozier, Ross University

I spent 80 hours of my externship at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in the upper east side of New York City between January 1st, 2024 to January 14th, 2024. Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) is a Level 1 Veterinary Trauma center in New York City and the world’s largest non-profit animal hospital. AMC has over 20 different specialties under one roof including: neurology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, dentistry, radiology, cardiology, oncology, dermatology, ophthalmology, surgery and more.

During my time at the Animal Medical Center, I did my externship in the ER and ICU department. Over these two weeks, I was able to observe the fast-paced emergency medicine alongside being mentored by 7 criticalists, 8 ER veterinarians, ECC residents and rotating interns. Although the majority of my externship was observation due to the legality of things, I was able shadow the many different levels of veterinarians and be apart of difficult conversations and history gathering from clients, initial triage exams for critical and non-critical patients and see what stabilization looks like, observed CPR being performed, discussing differential, diagnostics and treatments for cases/illnesses, POCUS (point-of-care-ultrasound) training, listened in on ICU (Intensive Care Unit) rounds, observing emergency procedures (pericardiocentesis, thoracocentesis, abdominocentesis, unblocking a male cat, and an emergency proptosis repair: i.e placing the eye back in place and doing a temporary tarsorrhaphy), being apart of quality of life conversations, being included in neurology, surgery and cardiology consultations, and observing a wide variety of exotics in the emergency room including: Chinchillas, birds, hamsters, rabbits, and guinea pigs. On top of observing a majority of cases, I was able to perform my own physical exam, neurologic and orthopedic exams on certain patients, auscultate cases that are in respiratory distress or have cardiac disease to appreciate the degree of disease, practice using the ultrasound probe on patients doing POCUS training, performing rectal exams on patients with rectal masses present, making and interpreting blood smears, making and interpreting cytology slide exams taken from masses, being apart of interpreting blood work and radiographs, and answering and asking questions with the veterinarians that I shadowed.

With the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center being a Level 1 Veterinary Trauma Center in NYC, it serves as a referral hospital to the surrounding emergency and general practice hospitals. I was able to observe the amount of phone calls for referrals that AMC ER would get on the daily alongside the recommendations/consultations that the criticalists and the ER doctors would have with other veterinarians about referring cases.

During my two weeks at AMC, I mostly shadowed the rotating interns and I personally got to work with Dr. Lauren Saunders, DVM (ER Doctor) the most. One of the most valuable, repetitive and important conversations we discussed was whether or not to do a traditional rotating internship after vet school. I expressed that I want to do emergency medicine after my time in veterinary school is done. The conversations that I had with the interns, residents and ER doctors in pursuing a rotating internship is invaluable. The knowledge and experience gained through a rotating internship is unmatched as a majority of your time will be in emergency (~50% or more depending on the speciality you would to pursue), and the rest of your time will be spent rotating through other specialties such as oncology, medicine, radiology, neurology, ophthalmology, and cardiology.

Overall, throughout my externship experience, I learned so much just by observing. Some of the most important things I learned was what a triage exam includes and becoming more comfortable as to what a stable vs. unstable patient looks like, and becoming more comfortable with POCUS (point-of-care-ultrasound) training and acknowledging and identifying what we are looking for via ultrasound on an emergency basis and identifying organs, fluid accumulation, abnormal/suspicious areas, and mass-effects. I appreciate and I am grateful for all of the kennel workers, PCAs, technicians, interns, residents, emergency doctors and criticalists at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center for taking part in furthering my medical knowledge. I have always been interested in emergency medicine but never worked in an emergency clinic or setting prior to veterinary school and having this externship opportunity solidified my path towards emergency medicine in my future.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: SOUTH AFRICA

Submitted by J’Haira Rhodes, Ross University

"My time at Kwantu Private Game Reserve"

 

In October of 2023, I traveled to South Africa for a one-month veterinary externship at Kwantu Private Game Reserve to fulfil my requirements for my clinical year. I worked closely with a South African vet by the name of Dr. Thys, and I was the only student completing the veterinary externship.  My goal of this externship was to gain hands on experience in the conservation, health, and management of native South African species. 

During my first few days on the game reserve, I had an introductory game drive from the expert game rangers. While on this drive, I learned about the differentiating physical characteristics and habits of the animals on the reserve such as the lions, rhinos, hippos, zebras, and various antelope.  I was informed of conservation efforts on the reserve, native flora, and fauna, how to track animals using their feces and prints, as well as specific anti-poaching efforts for the rhinos.  Following this, I met with the Veterinarian and received hands on training in the anatomy of the Dan- inject dart gun, the various darts used for different scenarios, and the drugs used for chemical immobilization. We discussed the importance of safety with these drugs and the regulations that surround them in the country.

Lastly, during my time at Kwantu I was also able to participate in activities with the volunteers to indirectly help the animals on the reserve and the community. A few of these activities included road maintenance, game counting, fence patrol and clearing, as well as removing alien vegetation and planting natural flora and fauna for the grazing species. Another activity that had a large impact on my time was going to the local school and serving the kids lunch that the chef from Kwantu prepared as well as snacks and fruit that we brought them. Every week it brought me nothing but joy to see the smile on the kids’ faces, while there, we would also play games with them such as soccer and tag.  

My time at Kwantu Private Game reserve will always have a special place in my heart. I was able to gain hands on experience in the veterinary health and management of a multitude of species while also learning the importance of indirect care and conservation efforts. Helping the local community and understanding the impact people have on the well-being of the native animals of South Africa is what made was trip unforgettable.

STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Submitted by Daniela Lopez Chanique, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

My name is Daniela López Chanique and I am a 4th year veterinary student from Ross University of Veterinary Medicine. Due to being a Rossie, I had the amazing opportunity to complete my clinical year at Michigan State University. On their curriculum, they give clinical students the opportunity to go to externships. Being born and raised in Puerto Rico, on July 2023 I chose the opportunity to return to my roots in order to experience veterinary medicine in my hometown. There are no words to describe the amazing experience that I had working at Centro Medico Veterinario in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico with Dr.Jose Marcos Vega. I was very eager to be able to join Dr. Marcos Vega and interact with locals, who are Spanish speakers, during my time there. Days prior to arriving to Puerto Rico, the realization hit. Due to learning and being taught in English the whole time during my veterinary school years, I realized that I do not have the same level of medical Spanish as I had when I talked to my clients in English during clinics. Due to this, I was very nervous but excited at the same time. Being able to work with Dr. Marcos Vega really helped due to being able to see his “bedside manners” with his clients. I was honestly impressed and will apply all the skills that I learned beside him whenever I have the opportunity to talk with Spanish speakers when I start working in my future job in the United States.

Setting my language adventure aside, I had an amazing time. Something that this clinic has that makes it stand out compared to other local vet clinics in Puerto Rico is that Dr.Marcos Vega has an amazing dentistry suite in his clinic. During Dr.Marcos Vega’s veterinary career, he had the opportunity to work with a Board-certified veterinary dentist which helped him develop amazing veterinary dentistry skills. As a soon-to-be graduated veterinarian, I was amazed at the surgeries that he had the skills, tools, and capabilities to perform. This came with the realization that during our didactic and clinical rotations in school, we were not taught as much about veterinary dentistry as I thought we would. Dentistry is a very important aspect of our pet’s life and I believe that vet schools should create more emphasis on how important it is. Due to not having much experience in oral surgery, I was very grateful to see Dr.Marcos Vega performing advanced oral surgeries such as repairing mucocutaneous oral fistulas, mandibulectomy, advanced stomatitis cases, and difficult oral mass removals.

Overall, I had an amazing experience during my three weeks in Centro Medico Veterinario. I was very grateful to be able to return to my hometown and being able to experience veterinary medicine in Puerto Rico. Additionally, I was able to learn and experience medical and beside manners in Spanish which really boosted my confidence whenever I need to speak any future Spanish speakers during my career. This has really sparked a curiosity in me and hopefully, I will be able to practice more veterinary medicine in Spanish in Puerto Rico or whenever I travel to other countries.