First person: Kyle Rogers, V24

Like many students, becoming a veterinarian was a dream of mine from an early age. When I was 12 my childhood dog became sick, and we went to the veterinarian. I was inspired by their intelligence and empathy, and it became a passion for me. 

My first veterinary mentor was a Tufts [Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine] graduate, Dr. Tom Burns, V00 [director, Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod]. Perhaps he did not think I was serious when I asked to shadow at his hospital at such a young age, but he agreed. It seems silly that I followed him and the other doctors around during holiday breaks, but this early exposure cultivated my interest in medicine. I continued working at that clinic through high school to undergrad, and when the time came, Dr. Burns wrote my letter of recommendation to Cummings School. 

I have learned a lot since then: signs of Cushing’s disease in dogs, what volume of IV fluids is considered a shock dose, and how to calculate resting energy. Most importantly, however, I have learned how much support you need to succeed in veterinary medicine and have found overwhelming support here.

I did not imagine that I would start my first semester during the COVID-19 pandemic. My couch may have been a much more comfortable location to watch anatomy lectures than a lecture hall, but it also made it easier to become distracted, except when certain professors tapped on their cameras to wake everyone up. Thankfully, by the second year we returned to campus where I met more members of my class and made friendships that have lasted through vet school. 

However, my favorite moment here occurred during third year at the White Coat Ceremony, where my classmates and I celebrated the end of the didactic portion of the curriculum and the beginning of the clinical portion, surrounded by our friends and family. 

Now in my final year of veterinary school, I look back on so many memories that connect me to Cummings School’s community: cornhole with the Dean of Academic Affairs, the legendary formal dance known as “Fur Ball,” our weekly running club and ultimate frisbee games, my stint leading the Student Faculty Engagement Committee, and making Quizlet flashcards which have been shared with classes below mine. 

I originally wanted to attend Tufts because I am from Massachusetts, and I knew it had an excellent curriculum, but these memories make me even more grateful for my decision. 

Following graduation, I hope to pursue a career in general practice and the education I have obtained at Cummings School makes me confident that I will make a positive impact in the veterinary community.