Biography
Manassas, Virginia
B.S. in Biotechnology, James Madison University in 2019
Why did you choose to pursue this degree, and why did you choose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue this degree?
I have been working in wildlife rehabilitation for the past year, which has provided me with the opportunity to see anthropogenic impacts on wildlife. I wanted to expand my knowledge about what solutions were available to mitigate these impacts. Additionally, I like that the Tufts’ program emphasizes a One Health approach in exploring the connection between human, animal and environmental health.
What are your interests and/or experience relative to your program?
Since completing my undergraduate degree, I have received a substantial amount of clinical experience through my work as a veterinary assistant at a small animal hospital. Following this, I completed two wildlife rehabilitation internships where I was able to learn basic husbandry skills while engaging with the public about the importance of protecting wildlife. While my passion lies in wildlife medicine, I also have an interest in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, and the implications they have on public health.
What are your career goals after completing the program?
Definitely veterinary school! Ideally, I’d like to focus on a career as a wildlife veterinarian with an emphasis on pathology. I think it’s important to study these mass mortality events we’re finding in wildlife populations and recognize their connection to our own health.