Zoe Michini, VG26

Connecticut
M.S. in Conservation Medicine ‘26
Animal Science, minor Wildlife Conservation
University of Connecticut 2024

Why did you choose to pursue this degree, and why did you choose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue this degree?
After attending the University of Connecticut’s animal science program, I found that the classes mainly focused on livestock species, but I have always had a passion for primarily working with wildlife and exotic animals. I found the wildlife conservation program during my sophomore year and became more involved in conservation-related research projects and decided to hold off on applying to veterinary school right after graduating and instead look into graduate programs that focused on wildlife to bolster my knowledge before considering vet school. When I found the MS in Conservation Medicine program, I decided it would be the best option for me because of its holistic approach to conservation, research, and veterinary medicine, which seemed to be a perfect intersection of my primary interests. Additionally, the One Health approach this program encompasses caught my attention due to my experience and interest in researching infectious and zoonotic diseases.

What are your interests and/or experience relative to conservation medicine?
As an undergraduate student, I studied abroad in South Africa at Entabeni Game Reserve, which motivated me to get more involved in wildlife research. In my senior year, I did an independent study focusing on the epidemiology and pathology of emerging diseases in African Elephants, and took a wildlife management class, which involved finding a private property with an owner willing to let students conduct field research and construct a management plan to meet the owner’s goals regarding wildlife on the property. Outside of school, I have worked as an emergency veterinary technician for the last four years in Avon, CT, and as a zookeeper at the Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center for the last three years.

What are your career goals after completing the program?
Ultimately, I want to pursue a D.V.M. and become board-certified in zoological medicine. My dream is to work as a veterinarian in a zoological facility where I can apply my knowledge of animal husbandry, conservation, and hopefully veterinary medicine in order to not only provide the best possible husbandry and medical care for exotic animals in captivity, but to apply observations and medical findings to wild populations and hopefully, contribute to conservation of species in the wild. Primarily working in general practice or with companion animals just doesn’t align with my goals. I really want to gain as much knowledge as possible from the MCM program to be able to apply it to zoological medicine one day and continue to research emerging diseases to hopefully discover new treatment and prevention methods.