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[Sarah Wright at an aquarium]

Block Z: My Journey’s Unexpected End

May 14, 2020 / Student Blogs

‘Thank you for the learning, friendship’ When we’re young we learn the alphabet. I remember dressing up as the letter “Z” for the alphabet parade in kindergarten, parading around my elementary school with zippers glued to my t-shirt. For senior veterinary students, the alphabet takes on a different meaning. There are 26 letters in the...

Student performing x-ray on educational skull

Hands-On Experience Stands Out for Second-Year Student

Feb 28, 2020 / Student Blogs

After a much-needed winter break filled with home-cooked meals, catching up on sleep, and spending time with family and friends, the Class of 2022 returned to campus for our second 8-week series of clinical rotations. Entering clinics as a second-year student has been substantially different (and in my opinion, better) than our first-year rotations. A...

[entrance to US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease]

Externship United Student’s Interests in Research, Veterinary Medicine

Dec 18, 2019 / Student Blogs

‘an incredible team of … veterinarians’ In the spring of 2017 I attended my second Gordon Research Conference on Chemical and Biological Terrorism Defense in California. Toward the beginning of the meeting, I made my way to dinner, where a co-attendee asked if he could join me at my table, and we began chatting. As...

[Courtney and Michael with clinician in Brazilian veterinary hospital]

Two Students, Three Weeks in Brazil

Oct 7, 2019 / Student Blogs

Editor’s note: Courtney Dixon (at left above, with fellow student and a Brazilian clinician) and Michael Greener traveled to Curitiba, Brazil, for an extended externship experience last summer. They each submitted a blog about the trip. Learn more about international veterinary medicine programs.

[Taylor Willis, at right, with colleagues at Kruger National Park]

Student Spends Two-Weeks at Kruger National Park

Sep 8, 2019 / Student Blogs

‘I hope to return one day’ I think I truly understand now why Toto had to create a whole song about Africa. It is a continent full of mystique and wonder that leaves you mesmerized wherever you look. It is a hot bed of history, culture, food, and most importantly to me … an area...

[Illinois student group at Currumbin]

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary Visit Delights Students

May 20, 2019 / Student Blogs

Koalas and echidnas and bats, oh my! Over spring break this year, five Illinois veterinary students and instructor Dr. Sarah Reich, medical director of the college’s Wildlife Medical Clinic, visited the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia. They participated in many activities in its wildlife hospital. Following are highlights from the students about their week...

[students in the Class of 2020]

Student Enters Clinical Rotations, Final Year of Veterinary School

May 6, 2019 / Student Blogs

We, the Class of 2020, are officially one month into our clinical rotations! The transition from classroom to the clinic floor has been a whirlwind of challenges and learning, but it has also been very rewarding. At this point, we have all participated in three two-week blocks of clinical rotations. I spent my first two...

[Sarah Wright, Class of 2020, at white coat ceremony]

White Coat Ceremony: Celebrating the Transition to Clinics

Mar 21, 2019 / Student Blogs

White Coat moment: ‘I felt great pride’ On a sunny Sunday in March, we, the Class of 2020, had our long-awaited White Coat Ceremony! The ceremony signified our transition from the classroom to the clinic floor. The afternoon ceremony opened with a warm welcome from Dr. Jonathan Foreman, associate dean for academic and student affairs....

[Judson and Megan in surgery in Costa Rica]

Costa Rica Experience Includes Animals, Food, Friendships

Jan 29, 2019 / Student Blogs

‘lifelong friends’ / ‘felt like … a real veterinarian’ During the final week of winter break this month, two Illinois veterinary students journeyed together to Costa Rica to volunteer for the VIDA IVTC Program. As Megan notes, “Of course, I wish I had had more days for surgery and time after the program to explore...