Biography
Virginia
M.S. in Infectious Diseases and Global Health’24
BS Biology
Merrimack College, 2021
Why did you choose to pursue this degree, and why did you choose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to pursue this degree?
I graduated from Merrimack College this May, earning my bachelor’s degree in biology. During my time at Merrimack, I played on the women’s volleyball team and played baritone in the athletics band. I transferred to Merrimack in 2021 from the College of Southern Idaho, where I earned an associate degree in biology. Southern Idaho is a junior college, which means I was only eligible as a varsity athlete for two years before a transfer was required.
During summer breaks I work as a technician at local veterinary clinics; this past summer I worked at Riverside Veterinary Clinic in Haverhill Massachusetts. I have worked at a few clinics in different locations since I have moved around so often during my undergraduate education. My hometown is Richmond Virginia, so when I go home on breaks, I also work at a clinic near home, which has provided great experience with different cultures in pet medicine.
The reason I decided to join the MS-IDGH program is I have always enjoyed learning about microbiology and working in the lab, and value my experiences in clinic work. I’m particularly excited for the opportunity to study disease in vivo, and to gain experience in the lab.
I chose Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine because I was originally interested in applying to Veterinary school, but after I had made my decision to apply, I realized there would be a gap year between my undergraduate and postgraduate education. Since I was already interested in Tufts for Vet school, I found the MS-IDGH program and thought it would be a great fit for my interests and needs.
My experience outside the classroom with infectious disease has been through working in clinics or treating patients in isolation. When I went to school in Idaho, I was fortunate enough to learn introductory laboratory techniques (mainly microbiology) with fantastic professors and technology. Though I never had the chance to work with lab animals during my undergraduate education, it sounds very interesting, and I would love to learn more about the practice. I am super excited to learn more about how these diseases work, and how many more are out there!
My extracurricular interests include sports, music, and art. I was an athlete my entire life, so I am now welcoming more time in my life for other things I enjoy. However, my absolute favorite activity is trying brand new things and learning new skills that are completely outside of my comfort zone. If an activity exists that I have not yet tried, I must give it a shot!
I have a white cat named Korin (like the character from DBZ), and he is the sweetest cat I’ve ever met. I never considered myself a cat person until I had him! I also have a crested gecko that I raised from the time he was in an egg.
What are your career goals after completing the program?
After this program I plan on going to veterinary school, but deep down I know there’s a chance that I might absolutely love this field and may want to pursue a career in it. Either way, I would be happy since my true goal is to contribute to the scientific community and make discoveries.