SAVMA Scholarship Winner - South Africa

My experience in South Africa gave me a perspective on veterinary medicine that I could

not have gained in a traditional classroom or hospital. Over the course of the program, I learned

that wildlife conservation medicine extends far beyond treating an individual animal. Every

medical decision has the potential to affect an entire population, an ecosystem, and the future of

a species. Much of our fieldwork involved the transportation and relocation of wildlife, including

crocodiles, lions, leopards, kudu, tsessebe, wildebeest, zebra, and ostriches. These experiences

taught me how different veterinary medicine becomes when your patients weigh hundreds or

thousands of pounds and cannot simply be placed on a treatment table. Our pharmacology

lectures were directly integrated into our fieldwork, allowing us to apply what we learned about

sedation, immobilization, anesthesia, and monitoring in real situations. One of the most

memorable experiences was dehorning rhinoceros while maintaining adequate anesthesia

monitoring. It demonstrated the importance of careful planning, teamwork, and constant

attention to the patient's physiological status when practicing medicine in the field.

I also began to understand how veterinary interventions can serve broader conservation

goals. Zebra and ostriches were relocated to promote genetic diversity and reduce the risk of

inbreeding within populations. We treated a buffalo that had sustained a scrotal wound from

fighting with other bulls, allowing us to provide immediate medical care while minimizing the

time the animal was immobilized. Several large cats were being monitored and treated for snare

injuries. One leopard required amputation of several digits and surgical closure of its paw. Being

able to work so closely with these animals and learn how to safely monitor them was an

incredible experience, but it also highlighted the consequences that human activities can have on

wildlife.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons I learned was that conservation cannot be

separated from the people and communities surrounding wildlife. We learned about South

African culture and the complex socioeconomic factors contributing to poaching. With

significant unemployment in some communities, poaching is not always motivated purely by

financial greed or a desire to harm wildlife. Understanding these circumstances made me realize

that successful conservation requires more than protecting animals; it also requires understanding

and addressing the human factors that influence their survival.

South Africa ultimately changed the way I view wildlife medicine. I went expecting to

learn how to work with wild animals, but I left with a much deeper appreciation for the

veterinarian's role in conservation. From pharmacology and anesthesia to population

management, wound treatment, and human-wildlife relationships, I learned that conservation

medicine requires us to think beyond the individual patient. It challenged me to consider not only

how we can save an animal today, but how our work can help ensure that wildlife populations

remain healthy for generations to come.

My experience in South Africa gave me a perspective on veterinary medicine that I couldnot have gained in a traditional classroom or hospital. Over the course of the program, I learnedthat wildlife conservation medicine extends far beyond treating an individual animal. Everymedical decision has the potential to affect an entire population, an ecosystem, and the future ofa species. Much of our fieldwork involved the transportation and relocation of wildlife, includingcrocodiles, lions, leopards, kudu, tsessebe, wildebeest, zebra, and ostriches. These experiencestaught me how different veterinary medicine becomes when your patients weigh hundreds orthousands of pounds and cannot simply be placed on a treatment table. Our pharmacologylectures were directly integrated into our fieldwork, allowing us to apply what we learned aboutsedation, immobilization, anesthesia, and monitoring in real situations. One of the mostmemorable experiences was dehorning rhinoceros while maintaining adequate anesthesiamonitoring. It demonstrated the importance of careful planning, teamwork, and constantattention to the patient's physiological status when practicing medicine in the field.
I also began to understand how veterinary interventions can serve broader conservationgoals. Zebra and ostriches were relocated to promote genetic diversity and reduce the risk ofinbreeding within populations. We treated a buffalo that had sustained a scrotal wound fromfighting with other bulls, allowing us to provide immediate medical care while minimizing thetime the animal was immobilized. Several large cats were being monitored and treated for snareinjuries. One leopard required amputation of several digits and surgical closure of its paw. Beingable to work so closely with these animals and learn how to safely monitor them was anincredible experience, but it also highlighted the consequences that human activities can have on
wildlife.
Perhaps one of the most important lessons I learned was that conservation cannot beseparated from the people and communities surrounding wildlife. We learned about SouthAfrican culture and the complex socioeconomic factors contributing to poaching. Withsignificant unemployment in some communities, poaching is not always motivated purely byfinancial greed or a desire to harm wildlife. Understanding these circumstances made me realizethat successful conservation requires more than protecting animals; it also requires understanding
and addressing the human factors that influence their survival.
South Africa ultimately changed the way I view wildlife medicine. I went expecting tolearn how to work with wild animals, but I left with a much deeper appreciation for theveterinarian's role in conservation. From pharmacology and anesthesia to populationmanagement, wound treatment, and human-wildlife relationships, I learned that conservationmedicine requires us to think beyond the individual patient. It challenged me to consider not onlyhow we can save an animal today, but how our work can help ensure that wildlife populations
remain healthy for generations to come.

Submitted by Cara Byford, Ross University 

TVG Kitchen

Pasta Pomodoro

Submitted by Caroline O'Rourke University of Pennsylvania

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Marty Kacsh Texas A&M University

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Allena Radford University of Missouri

PHCOC 2025-2026 Underserved Areas Award Winner

Alexa Marie Torres Oliveras

As a veterinary student, it is incredibly meaningful to step outside of my studies and volunteer at

community outreach events. My participation in outreach events with Pima Animal Care Center

(PACC) has allowed me to grow not only as a future veterinarian, but also as a person. Although I

am not originally from Arizona, I have come to feel connected to the community I serve. Every

time I volunteer, I feel that I am also serving my community back home in Puerto Rico by

representing my roots and bringing pride to where I come from.

Working alongside dedicated veterinarians, veterinary staff, technicians, volunteers, and my

classmates has been a beautiful experience. These events have allowed me to assist with patient

care, gain hands-on experience, and learn from veterinarians who are committed to making

veterinary care more accessible to families who may otherwise face barriers to receiving it.

One experience that particularly stood out to me involved a Rottweiler that was presented for

evaluation. The veterinarian working that day asked for my professional opinion on what we

should do first. In that moment, I felt that I was beginning to be seen not only as a student, but as a

future colleague. It made me realize how far I had come in my veterinary education. I

recommended performing a 4DX test, considering the prevalence of vector-borne diseases in the

area. The test ultimately came back positive for Ehrlichia, and the patient was started on

appropriate treatment. I was later updated that the dog was responding well to doxycycline. Being

included in the patient's care and receiving that follow-up meant a great deal to me and reinforced

the importance of speaking up and trusting my developing clinical knowledge.

Beyond the medical experience, these outreach events have taught me the importance of

accessible veterinary care and the deep bond between people and their animals. I have met

individuals experiencing housing insecurity who continue to do everything they can to care for

their pets. Seeing the love and effort they put into their animals has reminded me that access to

veterinary care can be a critical part of supporting both pets and the people who depend on them.

These experiences have also taught me the importance of cultural humility. Many of the

community members we serve come from tribal lands or nearby Indigenous communities. I have

been fortunate enough to learn from them and appreciate traditions that are different from my

own. During one event, I asked a community member about a necklace she was wearing, and she

explained that it was made from moth cocoons and held cultural and traditional significance.

Small interactions like this have encouraged me to remain curious, respectful, and willing to learn

from every community I serve.

These experiences have reinforced my desire to incorporate community service and accessible

veterinary care into my future career. I am grateful to the veterinarians, technicians, veterinary

staff, volunteers, classmates, and community members who make these events possible. Most

importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn not only about veterinary medicine, but also

from the people and communities I hope to serve.