I’ve just completed my two-week externship with Willow Creek Equine Veterinary Services in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, learning from a team dedicated mainly to equine and some small ruminant primary care. Because they practice in the area where I am originally from, it was a lot of fun to spend time with animal owners I used to know in the equine community while also meeting new people in the area. I especially enjoyed the hands-on learning opportunities and the ability to grow my skills and knowledge in routine veterinary care and on farm emergency procedures.

I was able to practice my dental skills while performing floats with Dr. Kira Conklin and Dr. Travis Boston. Horses have hypsodont teeth that continuously erupt, and because their upper jaw is wider than their lower jaw, they can develop sharp enamel points that may cause oral ulceration and discomfort. It was helpful to practice identifying and correcting these points with a grinding type of tool, and I also got to observe a tooth extraction in an older horse. 

I learned abaxial nerve blocks to decrease pain in the foot and allow horses to comfortably stand on blocks for me to radiograph the feet. This is especially useful in laminitis (commonly known as founder) cases. I also participated in a prepurchase examination and learned more about using flexion tests to help localize and visualize lameness in specific regions of the limb. 

I was able to tag along on a few emergency appointments, where I saw firsthand how balancing client expectations, available resources and the needs of the horse comes together in the field. These cases can be challenging, yet rewarding when you can help people and their horses through a bad day.

Throughout the externship, I had the opportunity to learn from each veterinarian’s different interests and strengths. 

Dr. Hannah Walker taught me about equine spinal manipulation and stretches to help strengthen muscles to hold the adjustments she makes. This is similar to visiting your chiropractor to help you feel better and increase mobility. 

I worked with Dr. Kendra Fake to draw blood for Coggins testing and administer vaccines. She taught me more about equine ophthalmic examinations, and I left feeling more confident in my ability to recognize abnormalities such as cataracts. 

Throughout my externship, I was also able to observe and assist with an equine castration and an enucleation (removing a nonfunctional eye), which was especially exciting given my interest in surgery. Getting to practice skills with repetition and learning new aspects of procedures help me feel more confident to enter into clinical skills labs and practice clinical decision-making as I prepare for my third year of veterinary school.

Another aspect of the practice that I appreciate is its work-life balance. Dr. Boston and Dr. Christina Vittoria, the clinic owners, both strive to balance veterinary medicine with family life while creating a practice culture that supports others in doing the same. As someone interested in potential practice ownership one day, I found it valuable to see that as a feasible model of an equine practice. 

Overall, I had a wonderful time learning from the veterinarians and their dedicated support staff. It was quite fun to ride around in the truck, visiting with horse and goat owners, and working together to come up with practical plans to keep their animals happy and healthy. 

It was especially meaningful to gain this experience in the equine community where I grew up and where my passion for horses first developed.

Dispatch 3: July 27, 2026

For the past 10 weeks, I have been involved in the Veterinary Scholars Program here at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine. I have been working in Dr. Jennifer Halleran’s laboratory on a project involving goats. I was especially excited about this work because it connected back to my own background. My family’s involvement with goats began when I brought home a free goat as a child, which sparked my interest in breeding and showing meat goats through 4-H. This contributed to my life-long interest in veterinary medicine.

My project this summer focused on reviewing previous medical records of goats with obstructive urolithiasis, a condition in which a blockage somewhere along the urinary tract prevents adequate passing of urine. These blockages are generally caused by excess minerals clumping together to form stones and are influenced by many predisposing factors, including the anatomy of the lower urinary tract, urine pH, diet, inadequate water consumption, genetics and age. 

It was fascinating to evaluate trends based on the types of stones that formed. Unlike small animals, where nutrition can often be managed through formulated pet food, large animal nutrition is much more complex. Hay, pasture, supplements and even regional soil composition all influence the minerals animals consume in addition to their preformulated grain rations, and I learned just how important those environmental differences can be when diet is a factor in this condition.

I also spent time evaluating calcium and phosphorus bloodwork trends, as diagnostic and preventative capabilities continue to evolve. Dr. Halleran was incredibly helpful in guiding me through such a large dataset and teaching me the importance of formulating a statistical analysis of data, while Dr. Michael Center, a resident and the project lead, brought his clinical knowledge. 

Sarah Toll, an NC State undergraduate, and Kayla Norris, a veterinary assistant, were instrumental in helping me collect data. Trying to translate medical records into concise, objective categories was challenging at times, and it takes a village to complete a project like this. Our lab manager, Madelyn Schwartz, was also incredibly supportive. In addition to assisting with data collection, she taught me about the anaerobic chamber used to culture bacteria for other laboratory projects, which was something I had no experience with.

Beyond my primary project, I had opportunities to contribute to other research projects and meet with industry partners, which exposed me to different areas of veterinary research.

The food animal summer research vet students and faculty met each week for journal club, where each student presented and discussed a research article. It was intimidating at first, but it quickly became one of the most valuable parts of the program. It helped me better understand how to critically evaluate scientific literature and think about what worked well — and what could be improved — as I conducted my own research. 

We also had weekly meetings with the entire team of 71 research students and a few faculty members to teach us more about the fundamentals of research. I was able to shadow Dr. Halleran and her house officers a few times in the Farm Animal Medicine Department, where it was rewarding to follow cases from intake through discharge. Following the progression of a case over time differed from my patient care specific work as a part-time student veterinary technician. 

Alongside the Veterinary Scholars Program, I continued working as a student veterinary technician in the Equine and Farm Animal Veterinary Center. I have been working there since starting as a DVM student, and it has been enjoyable to spend time focused on patient comfort and nursing care. 

Some of my favorite cases are medical colics that respond quickly to treatment, where prompt intervention can make such a noticeable difference for both the horse and its owners. Another favorite case involved collaboration among three departments. It was impressive to watch different services work together, highlighting the strong relationships, mutual support and communication among these highly specialized teams to provide the best possible care for their patients. 

And, as always, a special shoutout to the incredible support staff. Their knowledge, patience and willingness to teach have helped optimize patient care while giving me the confidence to learn from, and make fewer of, my own mistakes.

Overall, balancing retrospective clinical research with witnessing those same concepts applied in the hospital has made this an incredibly rewarding summer. 

I’ve had the opportunity to strengthen my research skills and expand my understanding of how I can use or continue research in the field as a future clinician. I have just finished presenting my oral abstract and really enjoyed spending my summer learning, working and collaborating with everyone on campus.

I am on to finishing my poster presentation for the upcoming Veterinary Scholars Symposium, where more than 700 scholars across the nation will gather, and beginning my last event of the summer, an equine externship!

Dispatch 2: July 7, 2026

Over a recent weekend, I traveled to Cherokee, North Carolina, for four days to serve the community through the Christian Veterinary Mission. Alongside a team of 20 veterinarians, technicians, students and volunteers, we provided veterinary care and shared love with the Cherokee. 

I enjoyed the scenic landscape of Western North Carolina and met up with the team to learn about the history and culture of the Cherokee people by attending the outdoor production Unto These Hills. Understanding the community we were serving gave greater meaning to the work we would do over the following days.

On our clinic days, people lined up nearly two hours before we opened for vaccines and spay and neuter services. The first day, I worked in the physical exam station under the mentorship of Dr. Bethany Opperman (Michigan), Dr. Katie Shull (Indiana), Dr. Justin Jornigan (North Carolina and NC State grad!) and Dr. Briana Blackwelder (North Carolina and NC State grad!).

I practiced performing physical examinations and administering vaccinations, and I was excited to recognize more normal abdominal anatomy through palpation than I could have just a year ago. This station gave me the opportunity to open conversations with people through our shared love of animals, to learn about their families, backgrounds and perspectives, reminding me that veterinary medicine is also about the people.

The second day, I worked in the anesthesia station with Dr. Page Wages and Dr. Kristan Riley, both NC State DVM graduates, to premedicate patients, induce anesthesia, monitor vital signs and clip and prepare dogs and cats for surgery. It took me a bit to settle into the rhythm of the day, but by mid-morning our team had become a well-oiled machine.

My favorite part was solidifying my canine intubation skills and gaining confidence managing anesthetized patients. I also enjoyed observing the surgeons’ speed, efficiency and precision as I identified anatomy in real time. Learning from veterinarians with different backgrounds and experiences broadened my own approach to medicine and strengthened my clinical skills. 

I made this trip last year, too, but what stood out to me this year is that the community was further integrated into the success of the clinic. Locals worked tirelessly monitoring patients to make sure every dog and cat recovered safely, and representatives from other community members like the church, animal services and human health services all chatted with one another, strengthening community ties. A family even cooked us delicious fry bread tacos after a long day of work together.

Another highlight of the trip was working alongside fellow veterinary students Mary O’Neill, Keeley Cooper and Amanda Perkins from NC State and Trevor Richardson from Colorado State University. It reminded me that we are all learning together, and that each of us brings different strengths and perspectives to the team. 

Veterinary technician Candice was the glue that held the surgery team together, teaching me simple but effective techniques for efficient cat restraint. I was equally impressed by the nonveterinary volunteers, who quickly learned new skills and enthusiastically supported every aspect of the clinic. Watching everyone contribute in different ways was inspiring.

On Sunday, we ate breakfast watching the elk outside. Before returning home, we gathered with members of the local church for a wonderful home-cooked meal and fellowship. Sharing a meal together reminded me that our purpose was never just providing veterinary care — it also was about building relationships, learning from one another and integrating into the community.

This trip reinforced something I have been learning throughout veterinary school: Everyone has different gifts, and veterinary medicine is strongest when those gifts are brought together in service of a community. Whether through practicing medicine, teaching, organizing, sharing technical skills, cooking a meal, monitoring patients or simply showing kindness, each person played an important role. Seeing those contributions come together reminded me that the future of veterinary medicine is a team approach, smartly using a combination of these gifts.

Dispatch 1: May 26, 2026

My time at Hilltop Animal Hospital in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, was a fantastic hands-on experience in small animal medicine, and the entire team was incredibly patient and supportive as I translated my primarily equine and large animal skill set into the small animal setting. 

Throughout the externship, I was able to explore my passion for surgery, as I observed and assisted in a variety of soft tissue and orthopedic procedures and put my classroom skills into practice by cauterizing vessels and suturing skin closures. 

I especially gained an appreciation for TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) surgery, which is performed when a dog tears a ligament similar to the ACL in a person’s knee. It was fascinating to see how changing the mechanics of the knee by cutting and rotating the bone below can decrease the need for that ligament, which reduces pain and arthritis. 

I also enjoyed assisting with a c-section, because who doesn’t love adorable puppies? 

What stood out most to me during this externship was the culture of the practice. Dr. Scotty Gibbs and Dr. Allison Canter, who both received their DVMs from NC State, and Dr. Maria Bonavita all had unique but exceptional ways of practicing medicine and communicating their expert level of knowledge. The team of technicians, assistants and client services representatives were all excellent in including me in their day-to-day activities by allowing me to practice my physical exams and clinical skills. The clinic serves both suburban and rural clientele, and I appreciated learning how the team balanced a variety of needs and expectations in veterinary medicine. 

This experience reinforced for me how much I love surgery and showed the value of combining advancing technologies for diagnostics with knowledgeable veterinarian experience.