This summer I traveled to the beautiful country of Rwanda and spent 7 weeks working with veterinarians at the University of Rwanda and New Vision Veterinary Hospital. While I was there, I was able to assist with sample collections for part of a 3 year research project in Akagera National Park aiming to collect more data on the current levels of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife and domestic species.
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to spend three weeks in Malawi, a beautiful country in Southeast Africa. During my stay at the Lilongwe Wildlife Center, Malawi’s only wildlife sanctuary, I gained invaluable hands-on clinical experience and conducted research alongside veteran wildlife veterinarians. Each morning, I began my day by bottle-feeding orphaned servals, vervet monkeys, and duikers, before moving on to medicate resident patients. I would then go to the clinic where we performed the medical procedures scheduled for that day.
As part of my 2024 summer, I had the opportunity to spend the month of July at the Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rica. The Toucan Rescue Ranch is a wildlife rescue center committed to the rehabilitation and release of the vast species native to Costa Rica as well as non-native species that have found their way into Costa Rica. These animals are brought to the Toucan Rescue Ranch by environmental government agencies that either confiscate the animals from illegal trafficking/ownership situations or collect injured animals found and reported by locals.
As someone who is bilingual in Spanish, I have used my Spanish language almost daily when working in veterinary practices. However, like many of my bilingual colleagues, I had no training on how to communicate professionally in a veterinary setting. I knew I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity Global Programs offers to work in a clinic in a Spanish speaking country to immerse myself in the language, culture, and veterinary setting in a whole new way.
This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in a three-week externship with the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT). WFFT is dedicated to rescuing animals from unethical tourist industries and improving animal welfare throughout Thailand. This externship gave me a valuable chance to put my veterinary skills into practice while gaining insight into global animal welfare and conservation efforts.
