STUDENT EXPERIENCE: SOUTH AFRICA

Submitted by DeeAnna Berry, Texas A&M University (via IVEC)

"When I first arrived in South Africa, I was told, 'The only man I envy, is the man who has not yet been to Africa - for he has so much to look forward to.' - Richard Mullin. I did not know what to expect when our host, Dr. Gary, shared this quote. Little did I know what I had gotten myself into. From working with the strong cape buffalo to handling cheetahs, the fastest animal in the world, I know that when I share my stories with others, it may be hard for them to believe me. An experience that displayed the role of conservation medicine was the opportunity I had to work with a veterinarian on a game reserve. This property allowed guests to join the veterinarian while treating and regulating the wild animals on the reserve; this offered a great opportunity to show the community how important conservation medicine is. While we were there, we worked with a rhino, elephant, leopard, and lions. We placed tracking collars on them, attended to wounds, and applied contraceptives to avoid inbreeding within the lion population. I enjoyed these activities because they allowed me to see how these experiences moved the guests. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity now holds an essential part in my education because I gained hands-on experience working with wild species, practiced pharmacological uses in the field, educated spectators, and gained confidence in my techniques.

The most memorable experience from my trip is having the privilege of working with white rhinos. Working with this species was remarkably humbling. Each time we worked with a rhino, I was reminded of what we had to take away from them to save their lives. This is because poachers will kill rhinos for their horns and sell them on the black market. One of my journeys involved traveling to a ranch hidden multiple miles off the main road. Within this ranch were dozens of young and old rhinos living in a secluded area surrounded by mountains. Seeing this property help the species survive was truly a miracle. Our job was to immobilize rhinos and dehorn them. This task required a group of people to make it possible: a veterinarian, a helicopter pilot, the anti-poaching unit, and a state representative to regulate the collection of the horns. As we dehorned these animals, I acknowledged that we were taking a piece of their identity, a horn that makes them the beautiful animals they are in the first place. Looking back on our impact at the ranch, it was a privilege to work with the rhinos, and at the same time, a burden that we had to take something so important away from them to save their lives. Therefore, we must educate others about the importance of conservation medicine and continue finding tactics to solve this problem.

In conclusion, I express my sincere gratitude for the vital financial support you provided for my participation in the Summer 2023 African Wildlife Conservation Medicine course. This experience in Johannesburg, South Africa, has left a mark on my understanding of veterinary medicine's profound role in preserving native species and fostering community engagement. Witnessing the impact of conservation medicine on the wildlife in the Limpopo province has inspired me to make a meaningful difference in my community, where I can address the needs of exotic herds while advocating for conservation practices. The opportunity to work with extraordinary creatures has provided me with remarkable stories that I will carry with me always. Once again, I extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support, which has enriched my education and fueled my passion for conservation medicine."

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: GREECE

Submitted by Valentina Poggi, University of Illinois (via IVEC)

"My name is Valentina Poggi and I am a fourth year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. I am honored to have been chosen for an International Veterinary Experience Scholarship and would love to share with you my phenomenal experience learning veterinary medicine abroad. This past month I had the unique opportunity to attend an international externship in Rhodes, Greece for two weeks. This experience was primarily focused on shelter medicine. During the first week, I spent a majority of my time in the clinic under the supervision of Board Certified Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgeon, Dr. Clara Moran and a Board Certified Shelter Veterinarian, Dr. Loukia Agapis. My team and I were able to spay and neuter nearly 60 feral cats that were brought to us through the local capture and release program our first week in Greece. In addition to fine tuning my surgical skills I also had the opportunity to learn about the miller’s knot and I was also able to incorporate it into my routine spay procedures. In addition to the feral feline spays and neuters, I was also able to see and help with a lip commissure to eyelid transposition for repair of a feline eyelid agenesis, a canine cystotomy, a kitten evisceration repair, a chicken cloacal prolapse, and even a brachiocephalic obstructive airway surgery. The variety of surgeries I was able to witness and help with on this international experience was incredible. In addition to improving my surgical technique, I also had the opportunity to help with a suspect parvo case. This experience increased my confidence in my skills and also allowed me an opportunity to grow as a doctor. Working as the primary surgeon or clinician on my own cases allowed me to put my knowledge to the test and really allowed me to expand my knowledge. It also reminded me that asking for help and advice is something I should be prepared to do as a future practitioner. Additionally, I was forced to learn not only how to practice veterinary medicine in a different country with different expectations, language barriers, cultural customs, and different supplies. Learning about the supply constraints in Greece and working with financial constraints associated with shelter medicine was something I had not been exposed to yet. From this experience I was able to witness firsthand how the feral feline population is constantly growing in Greece. Being in Greece and helping with the capture and release program allowed me to be able to make a small dent in helping with population control and hence the welfare of these animals. 

The second week of my externship I spent at the Rhodes Animal Welfare Municipal Shelter. Greece in addition to having a large stray feline population the country also has a large stay dog population. To give you an idea of the extent, the shelter I visited was originally created to house 70 dogs but currently the shelter has nearly 300 dogs. This shelter is attempting to accommodate as many dogs as they possibly can to help alleviate any potential animal suffering. At the shelter I was able to learn from a board certified shelter veterinarian, Dr. Loukia Agapis, the importance of shelter rounds and how to appropriately screen both the dogs and their environment both effectively and efficiently. As veterinarians we take an oath – “Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.” This international experience reminded me of the oath I will shortly be taking this coming May. It reminded me that regardless of what country we as veterinarians practice in we all must live this oath. During shelter rounds, I was able to assess the animal health and welfare of nearly every kennel in the shelter. In addition to the animal health and welfare I assessed things like the cleanliness, drainage, as well as the safety of the animal’s enclosure. Thinking in this mindset reminded me the importance of assessing more than just the physical health of an animal. I also was able to practice my ability to triage patients in order to determine what order we should see each patient during our week at the shelter. Having this experience opened my eyes that there is more than one way to practice veterinary medicine and reminded me how important giving back to the local community is."

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: NICARAGUA

Submitted by Kathleen Kuhl, Long Island University (IVEC scholarship recipient)

"I recently returned from volunteering for Aprovet, a non-profit veterinary medicine organization located in Granada, Nicaragua, and I cannot say enough about how incredible my experience was. As an incoming second year veterinary student, I was eager to join a trip where I could gain more opportunities to practice my clinical skills in the veterinary field, and my experience with Aprovet exceeded my expectations. Our week-long trip included three surgery days at the Aprovet clinic and a community outreach day, where we traveled to a local neighborhood and provided wellness care for people’s pets. Not only was I able to perform surgeries myself, as well as monitor and provide care for patients, I gained a unique perspective on the veterinary needs of other communities outside of the United States. I learned to be extremely grateful for the resources we have in the United States to care for animals, whereas other countries are not as fortunate. However, despite lack of resources, Aprovet’s Dr. Lester and his staff demonstrated such compassion and kindness to all of the animals we treated during the trip and provided us with advice and new treatment techniques to add to our veterinary repertoire for the future. This trip made me realize the need for veterinary care around the world and how these kinds of trips are something I want to be a part of throughout my future career.

I also had the opportunity to meet some amazing people in the veterinary field from other areas of the United States and Nicaragua itself. I am incredibly grateful for the encouragement and positivity I received from the people around me during this trip because it made learning exciting and a lot less stressful. Additionally, my friend and I rescued two puppies from Nicaragua, who we brought back to the United States to give them a chance at a new lifestyle! We got both of the puppies new homes, which was an extremely rewarding feeling after seeing the lifestyle of so many of the dogs on the streets of Nicaragua. Overall, I had the best time in Nicaragua, and I cannot wait to go back and continue to provide veterinary care to all the animals in need!"

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: AUSTRALIA

Submitted by Vivian Lee, Cornell University

Vivian Lee (she/her) is a third-year veterinary student at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine interested in conservation medicine and aquatics!

"Imagine getting to work with stingrays up to 300 kg, dozens of penguins, and one of the rarest sea turtle species in the world. I am extremely grateful to say I was able to do that this winter break while doing an externship with The Aquarium Vet in Melbourne, Australia. The Aquarium Vet is an Australian-based company that is dedicated to advancing the health and welfare of aquatic animals in aquariums and zoos globally. They offer aquatic veterinary consultation services and are the creators of several online E-quarist courses and the E-lasmo virtual conference, in addition to a few other services offered.

I applied to this externship back in January 2021 when I was a first-year veterinary student during the COVID-19 pandemic and reserved my placement for January 2023, with high hopes that Australia’s borders would soon open again for international travel. The Aquarium Vet’s team is led by Dr. Rob Jones, a well-known shark expert, and has several other contracting veterinarians including Dr. Brett De Poister, who regularly provides veterinary services for SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and whom I primarily worked with during my rotation. 

This was my first time traveling to Australia and first international veterinary experience, and I’m happy to say it was an unforgettable experience that I will cherish for years to come. While my rotation was only two weeks, every day was filled with exciting procedures and new things to learn. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is home to Shipwreck Explorer, a 2.2 million litre oceanarium that has a wide array of sharks, stingrays, groupers, and more. As this exhibit is undergoing constribution in a few months, all of the animals currently in the exhibit will be transported to nearby aquariums and facilities. One of my primary tasks during the rotation was to assist with barb trimming procedures of the stingrays, some which were southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) that weighed up to 300 kg. I was mainly in charge of anesthestic monitoring, but also had the chance to draw blood from a spotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) and work on my blood smear technique. 

One of the other cases I worked on was a king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) that had a history of seizures and torticollosis that was previously being managed well. Due to a possible environmental trigger, the torticollosis returned and so I was able to observed how this was managed and help with re-check examinations. Certainly one of the greatest experiences I had was with one of their flatback sea turtles (Natator depressus), who needed an endoscopy procedure and my role involved intubating and monitoring anesthesia during this procedure. Other tasks involved doing necropsies on several fish and acclimating fish into a newly renovated exhibit.

As you can see, these two weeks were filled with many incredible clinical experiences! One of the main surprises I learned while living here was the work-life balance in Australia, which is much better than the United States. Every workday we had a mandatory coffee break, and all the employees were out of the aquarium by 3:45pm unless there was an emergency. It was really eye-opening to see how it impacted the quality of life for employees, and how much closer co-workers were to each other because of these simple lifestyle changes.

I was personally very happy with this balance, because I was able to go sightseeing on my days off. I went on two group tours, one of them being the Great Ocean Road Tour, where I witnessed Australia’s breathtaking coastline with pristine beaches, rainforests, and the 12 Apostles. On my last day off I did a two-island tour, first visiting French Island National Park, a hidden treasure of wilderness that has one of the largest populations of wild koalas. Afterwards, we headed to Phillip Island, where we spotted many wild wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas, and of course, the iconic little blue penguins. Witnessing the daily Penguin Parade was one of the most incredible experiences, and I am so grateful that I was able to admire the native wildlife that Australia has to offer. 

Overall, this experience was extremely eye-opening and I learned a ton about international aquatic veterinary medicine. I would definitely go back to Australia in the future if I could, and highly recommend all veterinary students to take on an international experience if they can! I’d like to thank The Aquarium Vet for hosting me, especially Dr. Brett De Poister, and SAVMA’s International Veterinary Experience Committee (IVEC) who provided me substantial funding for this trip through their International Veterinary Experience Scholarship."

STUDENT EXPERIENCE: BELIZE

Submitted by Atalani Jackson, Tuskegee University

"In the spring of 2023, I got to fulfill my long-time goal of externing at the Belize Wildlife and Referral Center (BWRC). I had been following this wildlife center since 2015 and had always been inspired by its mission and work. Upon my arrival to a quiet and tropical town located outside the city of San Ignacio, I received a warm welcome from the staff. I would be working in a modest building with an enormous impact. This is the only wildlife clinic in the country- run by the only wildlife veterinarian in the country. The clinic saw both domestic animals and wildlife and it housed one of the only veterinary radiography machines in the city. 

Every day I would wake up to a choir of parakeets right outside my kitchen and had the opportunity to view a number of native parrots and toucans on my daily walk to the center. We would begin the day with feedings and treatments. And during my time there our patients included a variety of aquatic turtles, green iguanas, and a native opossum, falcon and fawn that all required care. In the afternoon we would carry out various husbandry activities and perform any lab work that needed to be completed.  We would commonly perform blood draws and manual white blood cell counts on hospitalized animals. This provided me with an opportunity to observe species differences in red and white blood cell morphology. In the late afternoon, we would perform procedures and see domestic animal referrals- which typically came in to receive radiographs. We would end the day with evening treatments and feedings.  

Working under Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand, I learned about native wildlife and the many issues they face, including illegal wildlife trafficking, poaching, human-wildlife conflict, habitat destruction, and the seasonal wildfires that plague the countryside. The center was very involved in the community through its various programs including its wildlife ambassador program. I was honored to be able to participate in their ambassador program and it was inspiring to see so many community members express interest in wildlife welfare and one-health issues. They also partnered with several local conservation nonprofits including a nearby green iguana conservation center that focused on the captive rearing of green iguanas with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. A few iguanas from the conservation center, as well as wild iguanas, were being treated at BWRC for abscesses and wounds they developed from fighting during mating season. And one of the most memorable moments during my time there was learning about and performing anesthesia on a green iguana during a successful abscess removal. In addition to this, I also had the opportunity to practice various methods of venipuncture in turtles and iguanas and bottle feed an orphaned red brocket fawn. 

Outside of community educational activities and clinical work, anytime there was downtime I was able to perform necropsies. I have a strong interest in pathology, and it was exciting to be able to fine-tune my necropsy technique while simultaneously learning about the various infectious diseases that were common in Belize wildlife. In addition to necropsies, I was also able to practice loading and shooting a blow dart. This method of chemical immobilization is commonly used to remove animals from unsafe environments or to safely capture injured wildlife that is difficult to capture otherwise. The clinic typically used it for the chemical immobilization of monkeys which are difficult to reach in trees. And finally, to top off my time there we were able to release a number of the clinic’s aquatic turtle patients back into the wild.

Overall, I am so glad I got to spend time at BWRC and immerse myself in the culture and history of the country. I was able to better understand the difficulties and joys that come with running an international non-profit focused on conservation medicine. It left me inspired and more determined than ever to pursue a career in this field."