Samantha Schuchman, V26

M.S. in Conservation Medicine ‘26
New Jersey
Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, concentration in Wildlife Health 
University of California-Davis 2025

Why did you choose to pursue this degree, and why did you choose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue this degree?
I chose to pursue an MS in Conservation Medicine degree because this program combines both my love for wildlife conservation as well as my passion for veterinary medicine. I have met multiple amazing vets who attended Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and I actually attended the Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Program while I was in high school. So, when I found out that there was a master’s program that combines my interests at one of the vet schools that I know well, I knew this was the right path for me. I know that the MCM program will help me achieve my future career goals.

What are your interests and/or experience relative to conservation medicine?
I have been involved in conservation, veterinary medicine, and wildlife rehab since high school. While I started volunteering in a wildlife rehab clinic and simultaneously working as a vet assistant during high school, I have since gone on to work at a variety of summer internships pertaining to wildlife medicine and conservation around the world. I have worked at wildlife clinics in Costa Rica, spent a summer interning at New England Wildlife Center, and most recently worked at Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy to learn about Aviculture for conservation purposes. In addition, I have continued to work as a vet tech in various small animal clinics. During all four years of undergrad, I also conducted research on vector-borne and tick-borne zoonotic diseases in the animal population. While I have worked with a lot of different species, birds are ultimately where my passion lies and are what I plan to center my conservation journey around.

What are your career goals after completing the program?
After completing the MCM program, I intend to either attend vet school to become a free-ranging wildlife health veterinarian or get my Ph.D. in an area related to avian conservation and health. My goal is to try to help the species that are suffering from infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases or other health-related concerns that are impacting their conservation status in the wild.