“As a young child, I followed heavily in the footsteps of my older sister,” recalled OC Kirkland. “When she said she wanted to be a dolphin trainer, I, of course, also said I wanted to be a dolphin trainer.”
When her sister pivoted to wanting to be a veterinarian, Kirkland followed suit. Somehow, though, the veterinary career aspiration stuck with Kirkland even as her sister changed course a few more times.
Drawn to Public Health
As a freshman in college, Kirkland took a course in microbiology and public health. While learning about common communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and pandemics of the past (three years before COVID-19 hit), she developed “a profound interest in … how human medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment are all impacted by [antimicrobial resistance].”
“I realized veterinarians can play a very important role in One Health,” added Kirkland. “The skills and knowledge veterinarians gain through their education and clinical experience allow us to offer a unique perspective to One Health/public health conversations.”
Kirkland saw a need for the veterinary perspective to take a bigger role in this field and so set her sights on a career as a public health veterinarian.
Impact of Illinois Connections
Entering her veterinary studies, Kirkland had many questions about forging a path with a public health focus.
“If I had not made connections with professors, I wouldn’t have known about the dual degree DVM/MPH program,” she said. “Without this program, I would not have had the opportunity to build rapport with Dr. Will Sander, a professor I now consider to be a great mentor.
“Without Dr. Sander I would not have known about the Epidemiology Elective Program offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” [Kirkland was accepted into this highly competitive fellowship, spending six weeks shortly before graduation embedded with the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, where she experienced the breadth and depth of public health matters handled by the CDC.]
“And to really bring home the point of connections, if I hadn’t made connections with professors, I would not have participated in the Summer Research Training Program, which would have prevented me from meeting another amazing mentor of mine, Dr. Carol Maddox.”
Kirkland credits Dr. Maddox with providing opportunities to complete her research training project in the Maddox lab and to strengthen her skills in the laboratory and in manuscript writing.
“Building connections has built a community of support around me, allowing me to feel confident in my next steps,” said Kirkland.
Growth through Extracurricular Activities
Kirkland strategically participated in clubs and committees to round out the academic side of her years in veterinary school.
“I had the privilege of being the secretary for the Illinois student chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and the student chapter of the National Association of Black Veterinarians,” she recalled. “And I was honored to serve as vice president of the Public Health Association.”
Kirkland especially enjoyed planning events, from Vet Med Olympics to Vet Prom, the annual Road Race for the Animals fundraiser, and social events for the international SAVMA conference hosted at Illinois in spring 2023.
She also cherished becoming integrated into the local community as a coach for the Urbana high school cheerleading program.
“My time with the program was not only a fantastic outlet from vet med but also the best way for me to tap into my creative side as well as helping me refine my leadership skills,” she said.
“Coaching school-age athletes requires a bit of finesse and a lot of mutual respect, something I knew easily translated into my career goals, and something I truly enjoyed navigating.”
Next Steps
After graduation, Kirkland will stay in central Illinois to participate in a small animal ER mentorship program.
“I am eagerly waiting to put my clinical skills to work and to build a repertoire of soft and hard skills that I can carry over into any field of veterinary medicine,” she said.
“Without a doubt, Illinois Vet Med was the right choice for me.”
