News & Media

A Passion Born in a Saddle When she was 6 years old, Gina Kowalewicz rode a horse for the first time. Her family owned horses, and as Kowalewicz grew up, the horses grew alongside her….
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Theodore Berlanga worked at an emergency clinic for four years before entering veterinary school. They had been interested in veterinary medicine since middle school and felt drawn to emergency medicine with its environment ripe for…
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Many future veterinarians embrace their calling at a young age, and Melanie Narvaez was definitely one of them. However, it wasn’t until she worked at a veterinary clinic as an undergraduate that she knew she…
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After high school, Kristine Witte wanted to continue her education but wasn’t sure what field was right for her. So, she decided to attend cosmetology school. While working as a professional hairstylist, she began volunteering…
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It Runs in the Family Hannah Streams grew up on a small hobby farm in New Mexico surrounded by animals. Propped on a hill, Streams would watch as her dad pulled up the driveway. She…
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From the Classroom to the Aquarium As she prepares to graduate, Dorothy Echols sees her years as a University of Illinois veterinary student as a time when she grew her passion for caring for a…
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When Brianna Huff was younger, she had a pet chinchilla, Cuddles, that faced numerous health issues. While accompanying Cuddles to a series of veterinarians for help, Huff developed an interest in non-traditional species that has…
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While Emily Verwers always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian, deciding to do so at her dad’s alma mater and attend the University of Illinois shaped her experiences and future career. From Childhood Interest…
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Growing up on a farm provided Alaina Lamp with experiences that sparked her interest in veterinary medicine. On many occasions, she saw goats and horses die because a medical professional could not make it to…
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