Meet Dr. Genesis Lopez-Bonilla

“As someone from outside the U.S., coming to a place where the language and culture are different, there is an added layer that can trigger to imposter syndrome. Many times we are our own worst critic, but because you think you’re not going to be able to do it, doesn’t mean you can’t. It’s hard to come from a different background, but it shouldn’t stop anyone from trying and giving it your best.”

–Dr. Genesis Lopez-Bonilla

During her first small animal rotating internship at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals (FHSA), Dr. Genesis Lopez-Bonilla (she/her) developed a strong connection with the Neurology Team, a connection that only deepened with her second neurology specialty internship at FHSA. Now in her first year as a neurology resident in the Department of Clinical Sciences at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Lopez-Bonilla has established herself as an integral part of the team, a devoted clinician to her patients, and a mentor to veterinary students.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Lopez-Bonilla planned on a career in healthcare. While earning her bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico, she decided to try out both human and veterinary medicine to see which was a fit, volunteering at a medical hospital and a small animal veterinary clinic. The animals tipped the scales, and she took the veterinary path. She stayed on as a veterinary assistant at the clinic for four years, helping with mass spays, neuters, and vaccinations. “I learned how to do a lot with very little. It was a good start on how to work in a team environment and with clients.”

To broaden her experience in the field, Lopez-Bonilla volunteered as a veterinary assistant with the Caribbean Primate Research Center and at the Cayo Santiago Field Station, an island where scientists study the behavior of rhesus macaques. Observing the monkeys in the wild was a uniquely fascinating experience for her. She participated in necropsies, administered vaccines, and learned protective measures to prevent disease spread.

Research piqued her interest. As an undergraduate, she studied ways to preserve coral reefs dying from rising water temperatures. Her first Neurobiology course also struck a chord. She was selected for a neurobiology research internship at San Jose State University, funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). She studied muscle spindle afferents, receptors, and cells that help with balance and perception. While she felt apprehensive about traveling so far from home and adjusting to the language and culture was challenging, she describes the internship as one of the best experiences of her life and was glad she took the leap.

As Lopez-Bonilla neared graduation, she weighed her next steps. “Growing up, I did not consider Cornell for veterinary school because I didn’t know anyone from Puerto Rico at Cornell. A classmate a year above was accepted. I thought if she did it, maybe I could.”

Though her sights were set on veterinary school, Lopez-Bonilla spent a gap year working as a kennel and veterinary assistant at a small animal clinic in South Bend, Indiana. She was struck by the difference from her experiences in the veterinary clinic in Puerto Rico, specifically the state-of-the-art equipment and resources. Still acclimating to the new language and culture, she was the only Spanish-speaking staff member and found a niche for herself, helping pet owners who didn’t speak English.

The following year, she started the D.V.M. program at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

While neurology was still top-of-mind, Lopez-Bonilla sought out a variety of experiences to solidify her choice. “I liked neurology, but I did not want to have tunnel vision. I got my feet wet in other areas and student clubs to figure out if that’s what I wanted to do.”

Through her activities at Cornell, Lopez-Bonilla found ways to give back to her community. She joined the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LMVA), mentoring minority high school students interested in veterinary medicine. As the diversity chair of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA), she organized lectures by minorities in the field.

“These talks help others open up and navigate the veterinary field as minorities,” she says. “We were targeting minorities with the lectures, but everyone was welcome. Conversations about social issues in minority groups help everyone be more open-minded and consider different points of view.”

Once she was set on specializing in neurology, Lopez-Bonilla dove into the field. She became the neurology chair of the student chapter of the American College of Veterinary Medicine (ACVM) and a graduate teaching assistant in Cornell’s Neuroanatomy course, where she discovered how much she enjoyed working with students. To help pay for school, she also worked as a night technician for small animal surgery.

Lopez-Bonilla’s journey at Cummings School began with a small animal rotating internship at FHSA. The learning curve was steep, transitioning from student to clinician and adapting to the challenges of a first-time doctor.

“Pets’ quality of life impacts the well-being of families, and you feel that pressure,” she recalls. “Foster is a busy hospital, you have to learn quickly how to be efficient and multitask. It made me a stronger doctor and got me to where I needed to go. I met so many good people who helped me.”

At FHSA, Lopez-Bonilla likes seeing such a wide variety of cases to prepare for best and worst case scenarios in her specialty. She accepted a second specialty internship in neurology at FHSA.

“I loved the Neurology Team at Tufts, so I decided to stay for the specialty internship,” she says. “One of the great things about Tufts is that interns are treated like residents. You don’t perform surgery as often as residents, but you make decisions in terms of care and diagnostics. You’re supervised by faculty, but you get to be the doctor on the case.”

Lopez-Bonilla became a fixture on the Neurology Team and transitioned smoothly into her neurology residency at FHSA last summer.

“Tufts has a good balance between holding your hand, especially in surgery, while also giving you the freedom to be the doctor. I stayed for those reasons—I love the people and the program,” she says.

In this new role, Lopez-Bonilla performs more surgeries and teaches veterinary students rotating through neurology, guiding them in patient exams and rounds and educating them on seizures and other diseases they would commonly see as a general practitioner.

“To me, the most fulfilling part of being at Tufts is working with my team and the students. When we have a group that’s connecting well, there’s a lot of laughter and conversation,” she says.

Lopez-Bonilla jumped back into research at Cummings School. During her first internship, she contributed to a case report on a cat seen at FHSA with myotonia congenita, a genetic abnormality most often seen in goats that causes muscles to become rigid. She worked with her team on the case report about the effectiveness of a medication typically used to treat seizures. The case study was published in November in the Feline Medicine and Surgery Journal.

Currently, Lopez-Bonilla is researching canine atlantoaxial subluxation (dislocation between the first and second vertebrae caused by trauma and/or congenital malformation) and how surgery can improve the quality of life for dogs and possible complications from surgery.

Eventually Lopez-Bonilla would like to go into private practice, ideally back in Puerto Rico, where there are few veterinary neurologists. Outside of the clinic, she spends time with her friends and her Toy Poodle and cat. She is also a big reader and dancer, lately salsa dancing. 

And she continues to give back to the Latinx community, translating for pet owners at FHSA. “These clients want to see you because they feel understood, seen, represented, and the message is not lost in translation. I love being able to bridge that gap. It makes me feels that what I do matters.”