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Midwestern hosted the Phoenix Zoo Teens program on June 9 for an interactive tour of the Companion Animal Clinic and Large Animal Center. Carla Gartrell, D.V.M., J.D., Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine-Arizona welcomed students to campus and gave an overview and advice about veterinary careers.

Educational Discoveries

Anderson da Cunha, D.V.M., M.S., CADVAA, Director of the Companion Animal Clinic, led the guided tour through the Clinic, including exam and x-ray rooms, surgery, and the PT treatment area. “It was so exciting to watch a dog working with a vet technician in physical therapy,” one high school student remarked. 

In the Large Animal Center, Laura Waitt-Wolker, D.V.M., DACVIM, Clinical Associate Professor, showed students what a career in equine and bovine sciences could look like. With the help of Zee, a teaching horse on campus, students were able to listen to a horse’s heartbeat through a stethoscope and view an equine ultrasound. 

“The horse ultrasound was my absolute favorite part,” said LillyMae Foli, a recent graduate of Paradise Honors High School. “I had no idea how much goes into caring for animals. It was incredible!”

Translating Interests into a Career

Throughout the visit, the faculty emphasized the variety of career paths open for students with a passion for helping animals.     

Maddi Ritchie, a recently graduate of Casteel High School, commented, "I love getting to learn more about the people and facilities that take care of all the animals in our lives. It was really special to see another window into the world of animal care that I’ll work in one day!"

Ryan Jones, Program Coordinator for Phoenix Zoo Teens, said “experiences like this help teens connect what they learn in school to the real world. Getting to tour Midwestern and meet faculty gave the students a clearer picture of what a career path may look like for them. Through connecting with veterinarians, they learn how to translate a love of animals into an actual career. Their dream job suddenly starts feeling like something they can genuinely work toward.”

The students were able to have honest conversations with Dr. da Cunha and Dr. Waitt-Wolker about the day-to-day responsibilities of advocating for patients who cannot speak for themselves. “Working with animals is incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with emotional challenges, and the students need to understand both sides of the profession,” said Mr. Jones.

Whether in the small or large animal clinic, with companion animals or exotic species, the opportunities to care for animals are numerous. After the visit, Mr. Jones added, “Many of our teens left feeling that, not only could they pursue a career in veterinary medicine, but that they truly belonged in those spaces.”