Student Stories is a collaboration between The Merck Manuals and real veterinary students. Our team of bloggers offers insights, tips, and a glimpse into what it’s like to experience veterinary school today. Meet our current contributors below. If you are a current pre-vet, first, second, or third-year veterinary student and are interested in becoming one of our bloggers, please visit our Blog For Us page to learn more.
Maria Estefania
Maria Estefania is Small Animal Veterinarian and graduated from Tuskegee University. She was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. From a young age, her family fostered a genuine interest in animal welfare, and Maria Estefania became dedicated to taking care of injured stray cats in her neighborhood. She will be working in shelter medicine and she is currently the client education coordinator of the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association where she will be creating Spanish handouts and resources for pet owners. In her free time, she loves reading, writing, and creating digital content. She also aspires to become a role model for low-income students to inspire them through sharing her personal journey.
92 Articles
Andrew
Andrew is a Tufts graduate and currently a rotating intern at Bluepearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa, FL. His interest in ecology and conservation has taken him to places like the Amazon, the Galapagos, Belize, and Honduras where he experienced, firsthand, the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment. Combining his love for nature and medicine, he founded the nonprofit organization Animal Awareness Abroad that aims to provide veterinary care to underserved communities around the world and promote One Health. A huge proponent of work-life balance he enjoys cooking, reading, and rock-climbing.
54 Articles
Lauren
I am a third year veterinary student at Iowa State studying small animal medicine. After I graduate, I plan to pursue a small animal rotating internship with hopes to then do a residency in emergency and critical care. Emergency medicine is my favorite medicine; I feel I make good decisions under pressure and I make people feel comforted in scary times for their pets. I am especially excited about cardiac and trauma cases. Outside the ER, geriatric pets and specialized medicine for keeping our older fluffy friends happy and healthy is something I am passionate about. When I am not studying, I love to hike, run, ski, play soccer, and do yoga, especially among the mountains of sunny Arizona, which is where I grew up and the name sake of my spoiled 2-year-old golden retriever named Sunny.
23 Articles
