1—Don’t Panic One of my classmate’s scrub cap had the words “Don’t Panic” stitched on the front. I thought that was amazing and so fitting. This is the biggest piece of advice I can give anyone starting a surgery course. Just DON’T PANIC. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that everything is going to […]
Transitioning from Second-Year to Third-Year
Each semester of veterinary school is different, but I can honestly attest to the fact that each year gets better. I remember hearing from upperclassman that the worst year of vet school is second-year. I thought it was 10x better than first-year and then third-year was better than second-year. With each semester that passes, you […]
Preparing for the NAVLE
It’s hard to put into words how I’m feeling about my current stage of life. I’ve just ended my third-year which finally marks the end of my didactic courses. I’m about to start clinics in just a few short weeks and then before I know it, I’ll be taking the biggest exam of my life: […]
Curious About the egg, our Universe, and Your Purpose as a Future Veterinarian? Read This.
All great scientists can pinpoint a small, significant moment in their life that piqued their curiosity in the seemingly unexplainable. This moment challenged their internal structure and revealed to them their life mission, their ultimate purpose, their true potential. When she was just a little girl, she would sit for hours watching her hens, considering […]
Wait, How Did I Get Here?
I recently ran into a friend I hadn’t seen since high school. When I told her I was preparing to start veterinary school, she smirked as she told me she couldn’t see me doing anything else. “I remember you making us sleep with your giant golden retriever whenever I slept over!” she said. I guess […]
Dear First-Year Self (5 Things I Wish I Could Go Back and Tell Myself)
Dear First-Year Self, I know you are excited and nervous, scared and have a full to-do list before embarking on this new adventure that you have worked your entire life for and I know you want everything to be perfect your first year, but the first thing I want to say is: 1. Don’t stress […]
Bittersweet Endings
Today feels bittersweet. I’m sitting in my usual study spot, at my favorite cafe, composing my final post for Merck Manuals Vet Student Stories as a student veterinarian. I’m in shock that these years have flown by so quickly. I reminisce back to my first year as a veterinary student. I remember having my first […]
My Parting Words to the Class of 2019
As I graduated from veterinary school, I was given the incredible opportunity by classmates to give the student address at our commencement ceremony. Words cannot begin to describe this honor. In front of the faculty, staff, friends, family, supporters, and fellow graduates, here were my remarks. * * * Doctor sure has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? […]
Hydrate Those Kitties
Most commercial diets for our feline friends come in dry and wet forms. From experience and personal cat ownership, I’d say that dry food is the most common feeding strategy. It is convenient, less expensive, has a longer shelf life, is more calorically dense, and smells significantly better. I have three cats, so feeding kibble […]
Finding the Value
General practice has always been one of my favorite parts of veterinary medicine. My first job in the veterinary field was in a small animal clinic, and the passion for our job that I developed in that clinic still remains with me today. I recently explained this to a friend and emphasized that I find […]
