Any undergraduate who has dreamed of becoming a veterinarian knows that the journey to applying and being accepted into a veterinary school is an arduous journey. At UC Davis, undergrads have an opportunity to prepare for that journey with the help of the Vet Aide Club—a student-run club with a long history of preparing its members to be competitive in animal care fields through hands-on experience, mentorship, and guidance.
Established in 1970 originally as “Vet Maids” by a group of women who partnered with the Teaching Hospital to offer volunteer shifts, it transitioned to “Vet Aides” in 1974 with the purpose of allowing students interested in the veterinary field to gain exposure to different specialties through opportunities to shadow and assist veterinarians.
Today the club offers several different ways for members to learn about and gain skills for careers in animal care and veterinary medicine. For example, the club partners with the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to connect their students with internships in a variety of fields that provide hands-on experience and observation into the diverse array of opportunities in veterinary medicine. Members can fill out an application stating their interest in certain veterinary medical specialties as well as their current skill sets, and be matched with an internship that best suits their goals.
“I shadow 4th year veterinary students in patient consultations and help by holding patients, preparing syringes or by prepping and cleaning rooms,” said third year student Sofia Lomeli of her internship in Community Medicine. “I have learned a lot of exciting and new things such as how to properly hold/restrain a patient, prepare vaccines, the process of a consultation and how to administer vaccines.”
The Vet Aide club launched a new program in September of 2023 that allows members to take a glimpse into the life of a vet student through a valuable mentorship opportunity. “In the Life of a Vet Student” pairs undergraduates with vet students for shadowing in classes and activities. Students can get their questions answered about vet school and the application process along the way, as well as form a valuable connection for guidance in their career pathway to veterinary medicine.
One student spoke of their experience in the program: “I followed my designated vet student mentor through her morning lectures. They were starting a new block about the GI tract as they had just finished a block on neurology. We listened to a short introduction for the block and my mentor and I chatted, then the lecture speaker came in to present until 11. My vet student mentor helped answer a lot of my questions about specializing in zoo and wildlife, her undergraduate experiences, resources to help find research experiences with more exotic animals such as through graduate students and the wildlife department, and her current extracurriculars as a vet student. It was a great experience and it helped me get a lot of my questions answered, as well as gave me insight into what a typical day of classes and extracurriculars could look like as a vet student.”
The Vet Aide club also provides workshops in partnership with the vet school’s surgery club that have been instrumental in helping students to gain an understanding of surgical practice, which is a crucial part of veterinary medical training- through suture clinics and surgery practicals. Members have learned the valuable skills of scrubbing into surgery, sterilization, and suturing.
“Imagine going to a veterinarian that you’re shadowing and you can say, ‘I know this type of suture technique’ or ‘I can scrub in for surgery, because I already learned it from the pre-vet club,’” said Club President Orli Algranatti. “We value mentorship opportunities, so we always have some time off during sessions so they can talk to the vet students about what vet school is really like.”
The Vet Aide club is committed to building a more inclusive and equitable community and supporting its members who come from backgrounds that are traditionally underrepresented in veterinary medicine and animal care. In addition to connecting students with internships and mentorship opportunities, it provides the support members may need to navigate college and the application processto vet school.
For many students entering college, aspects of career planning like resume building can be daunting and foreign. The club helps bridge the gap between students and resources by partnering with the Internship and Career Center to provide resume building assistance.
“Vet Aide has been able to break down requirements for vet school, provided opportunities for experience to put on my resume, and helped me solidify my pathway choice,” said undergraduate Madilyn Kelly. “Being able to hear guest speakers, shadow students, and come to events has shown me what I need to do in order to reach vet school smoothly and thrive in my undergraduate path in search of veterinary experience. I am a first-generation college student and have no familial background to help me navigate through the hardships of college, prerequisites, or recommendations for vet school applications. Vet Aide has been able to provide me with experience and insight to all things related to a future career as a veterinarian. I feel extremely grateful to have a community to lean on in my path through undergraduate.”
