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OSU Pre-Veterinary Medical Association
Are you looking for help getting experience to prepare for your career?
If you're looking for some help or guidance trying to figure out how to prepare for vet school or any animal related career, this page may be for you! The executive board members of this club have been kind enough to share their experiences in animal-related fields along with their contact information to help our members have a resource for guidance. Below are some of the experiences they have accumulated through their college careers thus far. Their emails and sites of experience are provided as well if you would like to talk with them about how they came across these opportunities, how it was helpful to them, and how you can get involved! Our executive board members are more than happy to help, so feel free to email them at their listed emails below if you have any questions!
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EXECUTIVE BOARD EXPERIENCES
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Student Dairy Assistant
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Addie Huffman
Year: Senior
Major: Animal Science
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Questions?
Email: Huffman.941@osu.edu
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Ohio State Spectrum of Care Clinic Veterinary Assistant
As a student veterinary assistant, I have gained knowledge and experience in compiling relevant medical history for patients. Here, I have had the wonderful opportunity to practice Fear Free handling and restraint techniques through my Fear Free Certification. Because the SOCC is a teaching hospital for veterinary students, I have both taught information to and learned information from current veterinary students
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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Bovine Veterinarian Shadowing
Riding along with a local veterinarian opened my eyes up to the world of large animal practice. As a 100% traveling bovine practice, I was able to experience a range of medical situations from emergency injuries and illnesses to weekly herd checks to diagnostic autopsy. Through this, I also learned about herd vaccinations, treatments for common diseases, and reproductive health.
Location: Beverly, Ohio
Type of Experience: Livestock
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Veterinary Assistant
As a veterinary assistant, I aided the veterinarians and the RVTs with any task they requested, such as restraining patients for physical exams, filling prescriptions, preparing vaccines, and more. This experience was a great way to get me exposed to the field of veterinary medicine, and helped confirm my decision to continue with the profession.
Location: Fairfield, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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Zoo Medicine & Rhino Conservation Study Abroad
Location: Midrand and Barberton, South Africa
Type of Experience:
Exotic
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I traveled to South Africa to spend three weeks learning about Zoo husbandry and management, exotic and zoo animal medicine, and the conservation and rehabilitation of rhinos. This was such an amazing experience, and I loved being able to have exposure to a different field of veterinary medicine, while also being educated about wildlife and cultures that I was previously unfamiliar with.
Adrianna Fay
Year: Junior
Major: Zoology
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Questions?
Email: Fay.116@osu.edu
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Emilie Brunka
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology
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Questions?
Email: Brunka.4@osu.edu
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Veterinary Assistant
Location: Lebanon, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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As Custis Veterinary Hospital, I learned how to run blood samples, handle a variety of animal personalities, vaccinate small animals, and observed surgeries. This experience helped me develop my animal care skills as well as my interpersonal skills. I gained confidence in diagnosing small pets and deciding the best way to treat them.
Job Shadowing
Location: Lebanon, OH
Type of Experience: Equine
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I have grown up around horses and learned lots about equine nutrition, health, and care. This summer I was able to job shadow an equine vet. I observed teeth cleanings, microchipping, vaccinations, and wound care.
Dani Latif
Year: Senior
Major: Animal Sciences
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Questions?
Email: Latif.34@osu.edu
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Powell Vet Clinic Veterinary Assistant
Location: Powell, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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At this job, I learned basic hospitality and customer service when greeting clients and checking them out after appointments. I also learned how to hold off for blood draws, catheter insertions, etc. and was exposed to client education, the purpose and dosing of certain meds, etc.
Reproductive Physiology Lab Research Assistant
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type of Experience: Research
In this position, I built on my skills of understanding and interpreting scientific literature as well as wrote my own proposal for a project. I learned how to run hormonal assays, how these assays work, and the importance of handling all materials and bio waste properly. I was able to see and understand the importance of research and was amazed by how much this can relate to everyday life.
Animal Husbandry Associate
Location: Chantilly, Virginia
Type of Experience: Avian
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At the TC Feathers Aviary internship, I learned how to properly handle birds of various types including macaws, African greys, and cockatiels to name a few. I also learned about the proper nutrition and diets of avian species as well as how to hand feed formula and wean newborns. I learned how to conduct nail trims and flight feather trims on birds. Here, I also continued to build on my customer service and hospitality skills.
Exotic Animal Welfare and Behavior Study Abroad
VETERINARY ASSISSTANT
Veterinary Medicine Study Abroad
I traveled to Australia for a study abroad, where I learned about animals endemic to Australia and more about veterinary medicine applied to these different species. During this study abroad, I widened my experience and knowledge from companion animals to exotics that I would never see in America. I also completed a lot of volunteer work while in Australia, so I could give back to the community I was working with.
Location: Australia
Type of Experience: Exotic, Companion
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4 Paws for Ability Primary Trainer
Location: Xenia, Ohio/OSU
Type of Experience: Companion
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As a primary trainer, I full-time foster service dogs in training and train them with obedience and get them good socialization for the possibility of becoming service dogs in the future. This experience has given me insight into animals that are not veterinary and helped me understand dog behavior much better.
Kayla Korn
EQUINE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP
Laci Kuhlwein
Ohio Wildlife Center Intern
Location: Dublin, Ohio
Type of Experience: Widlife
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At this internship, I learned a lot about the basic care and handling for a wide variety of animals and species, including birds, rabbits, opossums, squirrels, reptiles, and more. On the medical side, I was able to successfully tube feed opossums and rabbits, something that takes great care due to potential for aspirating. Additionally, I learned to triage and intake patients, making sure I ask the appropriate questions and advocate for all patients coming into the hospital.
Harrison Farm Intern
I assisted a one-woman farm operation with daily animal care tasks and chores. My responsibilities included daily feeding, collecting eggs from the chickens and ducks, bottle-feeding baby goats, and ensuring good animal health and well-being. I also helped with hoof trims and vaccinations/treatment of diseases. Most importantly, I made a lifelong friend in Katherine Harrison, the owner of the farm, whose guidance and warmth towards me will be forever appreciated.
Location: Groveport, Ohio
Type of Experience: Livestock
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Exotic Animal Welfare and Behavior Study Abroad
VETERINARY ASSISSTANT
Pittsburgh Zoo
I've done a couple apprenticeship type experiences with the Pittsburgh Zoo! We got to go behind the scenes with keepers and veterinarians to learn a bit about the career and do some small interactions with a bunch of different species.
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Type of Experience: Exotic
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Dog Walking Volunteer
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Type of Experience: Companion
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I also volunteered walking dogs at a local shelter and even took in a foster for a short amount of time (back in Pittsburgh). I also pet sit!
Gabrielle Thompson
EQUINE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP
Theresa Octaviano
Dublin Veterinary Urgent Care Veterinary Assistant
Location: Dublin, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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There are so many things I've learned while working at the clinic. I have been able to do basic vet assistant tasks such as taking patient history, restraint, blood draw, and diagnostic testing.
Columbus Humane Society
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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I have volunteered at the Columbus Humane Society with PVMA. We worked together to clean out some crates for bunnies, dogs, and cats. In addition to that, we helped to move bags of food from outside to inside the uppermost level of the building. At the end, we were allowed to go into some of the rooms and play with the kitties!
Blood Bank Assistant
I currently work at the Blood Bank in The Ohio State Veterinary Medical Center. I work with dogs and cats who are blood donors and perform restraints to help the technician acquire blood that is used during some of the hospital's surgerys. Along with that, I will perform other tasks such as testing the blood using a SNAP test to make sure there are no vector-borne diseases.
Location: OSU Veterinary Center
Type of Experience: Companion
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Exotic Animal Welfare and Behavior Study Abroad
VETERINARY ASSISSTANT
Undergraduate Research Assista
As an assistant, I help with research under the direction of Dr. Black, Dr. Whitson, and others at COPPER Laboratory. Our lab is aiming to mitigate reperfusion injuries in the heart, lungs, and liver and to improve the quality of organs used for donations. In the lab, I oversee the animal colony and perform tasks such as genotyping, organ collection, and helping to process animal samples. This experience helped me gain insight into how research animals are taken care of and how important they are.
Location: OSU
Type of Experience: Research
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Veterinary Assistant
Location: New Richmond, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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I worked as a veterinary assistant for 3 years in a general practice clinic that saw dogs and cats. During my shifts, I did everything from answering the phones to drawing blood for tests to restraining animals for exams. I also monitored and observed surgeries, and the doctor always encouraged me to ask questions. This job helped me gain a lot of practical experience and insight into the veterinary world.
Montana Reynolds
Year: Junior
Major: Biology
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Questions?
Email: Reynolds.1218@osu.edu
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EQUINE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP
Marissa Johnston
Year: Sophomore
Major: Zoology
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Questions?
Email: Johnston.1015@osu.edu
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Ohio Wildlife Center Internship
Location: Dublin, Ohio
Type of Experience: Wildlife
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Managed facility for resident wildlife by providing animals with proper care, diets, enrichment, sanitation of enclosure, and training for community program. Animals included birds, opossums, raccoons, rats, and foxes.
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium School
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type of Experience: Zoo
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Education focused on animal biology, anatomy, taxonomy, and zoology. Completed two research theses: interaction frequencies between West Indian Manatee and Mexican Wolf activity and temperature correlation. Experience in research, data collection, and statistical analysis.
Undergraduate Research
Involved in two research labs on campus. Assist in field work on behalf of the lab and graduate students. Microchipped Mudpuppies and collaborated with SPARCnet to conduct population and adaptation research on local salamander populations. Conduct research on coral bleaching and mitigation strategies. Traveling to Hawaii in summer of 2024 to assist in field work and prototype testing.
Location: OSU
Type of Experience: Research
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Exotic Animal Welfare and Behavior Study Abroad
VETERINARY ASSISSTANT
Equine Sports Medicine & Surgery Shadow
I did this shadowing experience over winter break my sophomore year and I essentially just rode in an equine ambulance, listening to how the veterinarian and technician attacked different ailments. This experience was vital because it showed me just how vast the veterinary field is and how my career can really be whatever I want. I also assisted in client communications, helped set up dental and hoof procedures, and brought the horses to and from the doctor.
Location: Houston, Texas
Type of Experience: Livestock, Equine
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Fur, Feathers, and Friends Exotic Clinic Intern
Location: League City, Texas
Type of Experience: Exotic, Companion
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This was a high school experience for me, essentially an internship where I learned how a veterinary clinic operates. Overall, I truly gained an understanding of how a typical veterinary clinic operates, and the value of morals in the workplace (eg. Honesty).
Veterinary Assistant and Receptionist
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Type of Experience: Companion
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Chittenden Veterinary Clinic taught me how to handle clients, both over the phone and in person. After working here for a while, I became comfortable with holding animals, filling prescriptions, and even giving advice to worried clients. I continue to work, learn, and grow here!