Relationships

Winner, Life as a Vet Student category
Sharon Ostermann, UC Davis

Dating in vet school is a hot topic! Not so much because it is terribly exciting but rather because vet school seems to be overwhelmingly dominated by heterosexual women which presents a challenge for many people looking to date. Yet, gender and sexual orientation aside, forming new relationships, romantic or otherwise, revolves around the same basic principle – branching out.

Not long ago, I met up with a future vet student and she asked me, “So what’s dating like in vet school?”

Hmmm…

I wasn’t really sure what to say.
Don’t get me wrong, there are people who have started relationships in vet school, both with other vet students as well as with people outside of vet school, but, for the most part, people who came into vet school single remained single for much of first year. But that’s not to say that’s how it has to be. It is possible to date or start a relationship during vet school; it’s just slightly more difficult given time constraints and the demanding curriculum that vet school entails. That is why, in my opinion, having a friend or partner who is aware and understanding of the demands of your course load is imperative, above and beyond any other traits. I also believe that a person who can support you and keep you focused on your work as opposed to constantly distracting you from it is crucial.

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From Davis to Nicaragua: Forging Partnership in Veterinary Care

David Kim
UC Davis, '14

About a year ago, Eric Eisenman, a fellow classmate, approached a few students, including myself, about forming a student-run project to provide free veterinary care to a developing country.  We had just attended a lunch talk given by Dr. Richard Bachman, who spoke of his experience with Oregon State’s IVSA program that organized international veterinary trips.  It seemed strange that UC Davis did not have a similar program, and we were all eager at the idea of starting something new.  The amount of work for our group, which we named International Veterinary Outreach (IVO), seemed daunting as we began the long process of becoming a 501(c)(3) as well as planning inventory, permits, and fundraising, but slowly, things started to fall into place.  Through a mutual connection, we were able to make some contacts in Jiquillio, a small fishing village on the northwest coast of Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the western hemisphere. 

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The Tragic Tale of Fifi the Dog

David Kim
UC Davis

The Tragic Tale of Fifi the Dog
by Pickles da Goat

Heroes old and new have arisen
Throughout the sands of time
Achilles, Macbeth, Gizmoduck
To 2014’s Jon Levine (god he’s so FOINE~)

But all these do pale when compared
To the terrifying trifecta who dared
Wage war with the wily wretched worms
Many lives taken, over a billion deaths confirmed

So if you will so permit me to share    
My tale and melodious ode
Hear of Boyce, Conrad, and Houston
Slayers of the hated nematode!

Fifi the Pom had a problem
A coprophagic addicted to poop
Risk of disease ran high yet she still rolled the die
Until a problem arose in her crap chute

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EPDC Grant at work at UC Davis

Editor's note: The SAVMA Education and Professional Development offers a grant every spring to a veterinary school looking to fund an extracurricular activity, such as a wet lab or a lecture.  Last year's winner was UC Davis. Please read on to hear their summary of the event, and if you would like to know more information about funding an event at your own school, email the committee at savma.epdc@gmail.com

UC Davis Students at the Veterinary Pathology Club lab sponsored by SAVMA's EPDC Committee

On May 11th, 2011 the Veteinary Pathology Club at UC Davis held its first cow necropsy lab. The lab started with a small talk about safety during necropsies, common findings during necropsies and incidental lesions found during necropsies. The latter portion of the lab involved students necropsying cows with guidance from residents and a facultly member. Each cadaver was assigned an organ system to be focused on. For UC Davis Students at the cow necropsy labexample, one cow had the reproductive tract removed and the students were debriefed on normal structure, possible abnormalities seen in these organs, and possible findings you are looking for in these organs. The Veterinary Pathology Club will be using the EPDC grant from SAVMA to cover food for the pre-laboratory discussion and lab related expenses for the cow necropsy lab in this May 2012. Thank you SAVMA for your support!

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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