Meet Dr. Brittany Papa

Brittany Papa, Large Animal Surgery, Resident, Hospital for Large Animals
Veterinary School: Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, New York

What drew you to this position at Cummings School?
Early on in vet school, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career as a large animal surgeon. After two equine-only internships, I was excited about programs that would allow me to work with a wider variety of large animal species. 

What most drew me to Cummings School was the supportive group of house officers and the faculty who I felt would help me grow both professionally and personally during my time as a resident.

What have you been surprised to learn during your tenure here (about veterinary medicine, Cummings School, or yourself)? 
I recently discovered that I have a passion for critical care! When I came to Cummings School, I was most interested in orthopedic surgery. While I still love fractures and arthroscopies, I find myself increasingly drawn to the systemically ill, post-operative colics, or the patients with comorbidities that require alterations to our typical peri-operative plans. 

These cases challenge my clinical reasoning and force me to think outside the box at times. And it is always so rewarding when we can get those patients feeling better and home with their owners.

What are you hoping to do after you complete your time at Cummings School? 
I’ve learned so much about myself in the first eight months of my residency that I think I am still discovering what I want to do and where I want to be after my time here ends. 

Ideally, I would like to be in a position where I could continue to provide mentorship to students, interns, and/or residents, whether in private practice or at an academic institution. I think my time at Cummings School will prepare me well for whatever path I choose.

Can you share an experience from your time here at Cummings School that stands out to you – a patient, case, owner, faculty, etc.?
Two months into my residency, we had a zebra from a local animal park present on emergency for dystocia. I have minimal wildlife/exotics experience and didn’t realize that I would occasionally get to work on these species. It was cool to see the collaboration between the Large Animal Surgery, Large Animal Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, and ZCAM services, and the considerations that go into providing this level of care to an animal that has been minimally handled. And our zebra ultimately did very well and was discharged from the hospital several days later.

What brings you joy professionally?
I enjoy the problem-solving that surgery requires and how it applies to a diverse range of cases. Sometimes we are coming up with a plan to fix a complex fracture, and other times we are making careful adjustments to the treatment plan of a post-operative colic. Both scenarios push us to think critically and be innovative, but in different ways. Having new challenges every day excites me and pushes me to keep advancing in the field.

Anything else you would like to share? 
I would encourage more students to consider pursuing careers in large animal practice. It can feel intimidating if you don’t come from a large animal background, but I have found many veterinarians in this field are very welcoming and excited to share their knowledge with students. Some of the best large animal veterinarians I have met did not have experience with large animals prior to vet school. So use your time in vet school to explore all potential career paths and keep your options open!