Equine Enthusiast
Cummings School Program: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: B.S. in biology, College of William & Mary
Favorite Courses: Immunology and Equine and Camelid Medicine & Surgery
Externships: Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in NJ, Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in VA, Littleton Equine Medical Center in CO, Pioneer Equine Hospital in CA, and B.W. Furlong & Associates in NJ.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Since she was a young girl, Lexi Fielding has had a strong feeling about her career path. “I’m a horse girl through and through,” she explains. “I grew up riding horses and I did Tufts Adventures in Veterinary Medicine (AVM) High School Program when I was in high school. I later worked as a technician at an equine clinic when I was in college.”
A native of Southbury, Connecticut, Lexi earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from William & Mary and knew she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. While deciding which school to attend, Lexi shared that Tufts felt like home to her because she knew some professors from the AVM program, she felt comfortable on campus and “liked the smaller, tighter knit community.”
For her, Cummings School has provided a well-rounded education and an experience filled with student engagement and leadership opportunities. “I’ve worked on the student technician team in the Hospital for Large Animals and served as a coordinator there for a year,” Lexi shares, mentioning her service as co-president of the Student Veterinary Surgical Society and student co-chair of the Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity, as well as co-president of the student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Surgery Club.
“Although I’m very interested in equine surgery, I got involved in many different aspects of veterinary work because we don’t track [focus on one specialty] here,” she asserts. “I got a very well-rounded education.”
Lexi applauds the instruction and mentorship she has received from her professors, specifically Drs. Thomas Jenei, V02; Kirstin Bubeck and Amanda Prisk.
“I’m grateful for Dr. Jenei’s knowledge, experience, and support,” she acknowledges. “He got me involved with cases, even when I was not a clinical student.
“Dr. Bubeck is a sports medicine surgeon who has been very helpful and has continued to inspire me. And, Dr. Prisk was a large animal surgery resident when I started vet school here and is now one of the School’s emergency clinicians. She’s an idol to me as a woman in large animal surgery, which is rare but it’s becoming more common. I’m so impressed by the way she approaches cases and how she teaches students.”
Some of Lexi’s most memorable Cummings School encounters occurred during her recent Tufts at Tech rotation, where she worked at the School’s community clinic at Worcester Technical High School, providing care to pet owners from underserved communities.
“Although you still run everything by your attending veterinarian, you work on your own as the doctor, making decisions and communicating with the clients,” Lexi remarks. “The clients told me how much they appreciated my help, that I reached out and followed up after appointments. Their gratitude made me want to keep working and helping whoever I can.”
Lexi will have that opportunity soon after she graduates. “I am starting my rotating internship in June at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in New Jersey.” She hopes to pursue a large animal surgical residency but could see herself in either a private practice or teaching and working with students.
“I like working with students who haven't been around horses a lot or don’t have much equine experience,” Lexi proclaims. “It’s a great field, and I'd love to inspire students to join the equine profession.”
For anyone considering veterinary medicine, Lexi has two recommendations. “First, try everything,” she advises, recalling the wide variety of experiences she’s had at Cummings School because she explored options. “You can discover new interests that you didn’t know you had,” she confesses.
“And second, don’t be afraid to be wrong,” Lexi claims. “When I came into this program, I was really worried about not knowing the answers. But I’ve learned that clinicians appreciate you actively thinking and even if you’re wrong, they’ll help point you in the right direction.”
Lexi was also profiled by Tufts University as part of their Profiles in Inspiration series spotlighting 2022 graduates.
“Tufts Now invited all the university’s schools to share the names of members of the Class of 2022, so that we can convey to our readers the creativity, intelligence, and drive of some of Tufts' newest (soon-to-be) alumni. We hope you enjoy meeting some of this year’s graduates. Prepare to be surprised, delighted... and inspired.”