University of Illinois veterinary students have enjoyed experiences in six continents and 16 countries through the College of Veterinary Medicine international programs.
After being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, the program blossomed again under Dr. Clarissa Souza’s initiatives. In 2022, she took on the role of coordinator of international programs — which she describes as almost being a “travel agent” — tasked with finding opportunities for students to study abroad, prioritizing their safety.
Externship in Greece
One of Dr. Souza’s first actions was to reinstate an externship opportunity in Greece, which had last occurred in 2018.
Former U of I faculty member Dr. Loukia Agapis, previous coordinator of international programs, had returned to her homeland of Greece and opened a veterinary hospital. Since then, she has hosted the U of I veterinary students at her practice and has connected them with local shelters, where they can improve their spay and neutering skills and learn about shelter medicine.
“Rhodes, an island in Greece, has a large population of stray animals,” Dr. Souza said. “Volunteers that can help these dogs and cats are sought after. In the U.S., students would have a harder time doing as many surgeries as they do there in the same amount of time.”
Last year marked the third consecutive Greece trip under Dr. Souza, who is planning the next group of U of I fourth-year veterinary students to participate in the next externship opportunity this May.
What Can Studying Abroad Offer Students?
Amanda Holmes, fourth-year veterinary student, knew she wanted to study abroad due to her love of traveling. When she discovered the Greece trip was small-animal-focused, she thought, “This would be perfect.”
“Once I heard, I was like, ‘Oh, I can get my surgical experience,’” Holmes said. “When I go into small medicine, I’m going to be doing spays and neuters every single day.”
Throughout their two-week stay, students perform surgeries and connect with the culture around them. Besides the veterinary experience, they spent hours sightseeing and learning about Greece’s history. Some hours can even be spent dancing.
“They had a festival going on when I was there, and I have two left feet; I cannot dance,” Holmes said. “I’m pretty sure I was tripping people, but everyone there was so welcoming. No one cared that (I tripped them).”
Looking to the Future
This summer, Dr. Souza is also offering a trip for veterinary students to her native Brazil. She will join this first group and is planning to make it into another regular faculty-led trip offered to future veterinary students.
According to Dr. Souza, international programs offer a chance to learn and connect with new surroundings.
“It’s a really cool opportunity for our students — some of them have never left the country before — to realize that there’s so much more out there in the world and that things don’t necessarily have to be done the way they learned,” Dr. Souza said.
Despite any preconceived notions about a study abroad trip, Holmes said anyone considering applying for the trip should try. Not only does it build clinical skills for students, but it can also change their perspective.
“The local community in Rhodes is very welcoming, and it’s a great feeling to be a part of something bigger,” Holmes said.
