If She Only Had a Brain

Entry, Experiences
Becky Zaremba, Ross University

During my undergraduate time at Purdue University I took a summer volunteer position at the large animal teaching hospital which allowed me to shadow clinicians as well as become familiar with basic veterinary skills. Since I was interested in pursuing a career in equine practice this is what was referred to as “a good life choice”! The poor life choice that followed was that I hadn’t invested in a Dorland’s Medical Dictionary sooner and, like most vet students, I had a hyperactive baby animal gene.

During one of my rotations, a four day old American Mini filly presented with a fist sized mass on the dorsal aspect of her skull. After further evaluation the mass was identified as a meningocele. A neurologic exam indicated that she had ataxia of all four limbs and that her vision was incomplete. Otherwise, she acted as if she was a normal healthy foal, but was not sufficiently nursing from a bottle as she was donated to the university as an orphan. A nasogastric tube was placed and a CT scan was scheduled in order to more closely examine the meningocele. The CT scan is when I truly became involved in the case as it was, hands down, the most interesting thing I had yet to encounter in veterinary medicine.

The CT scan had revealed that the meningocele contained brain tissue and fluid. The clinicians on the case had started discussing options for the filly and at that point they were unsure if there was anything that they would be able to do.

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Winner, Creative Corner
Mandy Valin, Ross

African Conservation Experience

Entry, Experiences
Julia Kochan, Ross University

This certainly was an experience – a veterinary experience? Questionable. Although I went into this trip expecting “the unexpected,” knowing full well that you cannot create medical emergencies out of thin air, I did not expect the extreme excess of down-time that we experienced through ACE. Most of our time was spent doing game capture, which was fun for maybe the first 2 hours. Overall though, we probably spent a majority of our time running curtains across a “boma” – or in lay terms, a device created to “funnel” wild antelopes into a truck. Again, seeing the animals was fun and exciting, but that wore off after about 2 or 3 hours. The veterinarian that was in charge of our trip allegedly “dropped” us, and we were left in the hands of Boondocks, the animal capture and relocation company. Countless hours were spend napping in a lodge with no electricity, and no access to anything outside of the game reserve.  I think in lieu of our expected cancellation from the veterinarian that ACE could have stepped up to the plate and taken us around to do some sightseeing or visit some local parks – we are in Africa after all.

 

After spending over $5000 US, we did deserve some activity other than playing cards in a lodge.  However, I can’t completely bash this trip, because we did do a few veterinary-related procedures.  An injured lioness was treated, under the supervision of another veterinarian with a group of Ross students, which we soon became envious of.  There was another time we tagged along with that group of students to dart and move some sable and perform an arthrotomy on a Rhino. We did some individual translocation of some large antelope on our own, and we found some time to perform necropsies on two springbok.  So the whole trip wasn’t a complete waste, we did have a few isolated veterinary experiences. However, Boondocks treated us like children, did not allow us to casually drink or do anything social, and talked down to us as if we were “beneath them” and not there to participate in a work experience that we had paid for.  I would not recommend this company to Ross students looking for a veterinary experience. Wildlife Vets and another smaller veterinary group had much more veterinary experiences, were treated well, and left wanting to go back. Unfortunately, I left with no intention of returning to Africa, which was very disappointing.

  

Thoughts on Externships

Entry, Experiences
Carla Rodrigues, Ross University

As veterinary students, we have all spent the last few years refining our skills and knowledge base as best as we can to better facilitate our introduction into the ‘real world’ as doctors.  All the sleepless nights, anxiety attacks, and true dedication, we are told, will all pay off. Although we all at one point or another are convinced we should be treated for Cushing’s disease, as our adrenal glands are on overload, we do, believe it or not, learn how to grow and transition from the student phase to the professional phase.

Whether we realize or not, a vital component of our progress through veterinary schooling, in addition to the admirable list of expectations, is our professional development.  Professionalism can encompass a wide array of meaning; but what it all comes down to is having the ability to handle a variety of situations, in a variety of different settings, with a variety of different people. This comes with time, experience and most importantly, exposure. What better way to combine variety and exposure than an externship!

This year I have set out on a few different trips seeking not only exposure, variability, and adventure, but expansion of my veterinary network and interaction with everyday veterinarians spending their days doing exactly what we have been aiming for these past few years.

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Happy as a Bird with a French Fry

Entry, Life as a Vet Student

Tia Chambers, Ross University

After living on a tiny island for nearly eight months, my time to visit home finally arrived. I spent the night before my departure checking and double checking my luggage to be sure that I had not forgotten to pack anything. The list I used to pack was one I had been working on since I first arrived on the island. Everything is expensive here in St. Kitts, whether it be buying things or shipping packages to or from the States, so this list was imperative to me.

The morning of my departure, I had a friend drive me to the airport, which is literally right across the street from my apartment. If the road I lived on was paved, I could have walked my intended checked bag, carry on and personal item all the way there while only breaking a light sweat. I arrived a whole two hours before my plane departed and checked my bag without a hitch, except having to wait in line for about forty minutes to get to the counter. Only another hour to wait after getting through security and I was home free, but I wouldn't consider it done until I had landed in Charlotte. After all, so many things could keep me from home: malfunctioning departing aircraft, overbooked flight, random unforeseen issues...they happen...

We lifted off from St. Kitts en route to Charlotte, NC as the sun began to sink into the ocean...

Yet, none of them did, and inside, I was giggling like a school girl as we made our descent to my awaiting connecting flight. The city lights of Charlotte, North Carolina sparkled down below us like the stars had fallen out of the sky. I started taking it in, as much as I could, with the lights. I stepped off the plane and felt a slight chill in the air while making my way to the terminal. I smiled instead of regretting that I had failed to wear the appropriate winter attire.

It was 10:30pm and my eyes were droopy. My clothes were wrinkled and my hair was disheveled, but I didn't care. I was in America. Only fifty-four minutes and a few sleepy head bobs later, I was reaching for my carry on in the stow compartment and making my way down to baggage claim. It may seem trivial, but I couldn't express to you how emotional it was to see Brian, my fiancé, standing at the bottom of the escalator with an Ale-8-One and a coat and scarf for me on either side of his outstretched arms.

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