National Geographic Wild TV celebrity veterinarian Dr. Vernard Hodges of Critter Fixers: Country Vets fame made a surprise visit to UMES pre-vet students and the UMES campus farm on September 28 thanks to dedicated faculty member and UMES alumna Dr. Kimberly Braxton. Braxton made the connection at the American Veterinary Medical Association convention in Philadelphia this past summer and invited Hodges to take a look at UMES’ program.
“I’ve been to 30-40 schools this year and there were some young ladies and gentlemen who really stood out in my mind,” Hodges said after attending an evening UMES Pre-Vet Club meeting. “We had a great dialog. The students were very engaged and asked a lot of questions, which was great. This is what it’s all about—we have to make the next generation of vets.”
The following day, Hodges met UMES President Heidi Anderson outside of Trigg Hall, where he was to visit Braxton’s senior and freshman animal science classes. After a photo op, the two discussed the importance of HBCUs and the pipeline for underrepresented students in veterinary medicine and STEM fields. Hodges earned his doctor of veterinary medicine at Tuskegee University, the only HBCU with a veterinary medical school out of 32 colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S. Anderson shared that UMES has plans to move forward with a full veterinary medical professional program.
On a lighter note, Anderson posed the question, “What is the most exotic animal you have ever treated?,” to which, Hodges replied, “A moray eel!” Anderson, who holds a doctorate in pharmacy administration, commented on the challenges of being a vet, “Vets have to learn every species, while medical doctors only have to learn the human body.”
Once inside, the hands shot up when Hodges asked the class who wanted to be veterinarians, vet techs or related careers. As for the specialties, he got the full gamut of answers.
“I want to have my own practice,” Shamia Onley piped up. “I think a mixed practice with domestic and exotic animals, because no one treats them.”
“A travel vet is what I want to be,” said Mariam Yagboyaju.
Emma Jones, a senior from Prince George’s County, answered, “Animal research scientist. I want to work in poultry science.” Hodges then told an amusing story of why his business partner and lifelong friend, Dr. Ferguson, has a fear of chickens after a rooster attacked him during a vet visit to a farm.
Ciera Gardner, a junior from Baltimore, responded, “Large animals is what I want to work with, maybe be a USDA worker to manage farms.” That is an area in great demand, Hodges explained. “It takes a special person to go out and see a cow rather than be in an air-conditioned building.”
Zoo animals was Alexandria James’s response. The senior from Harford County was treated to a joking round of “Lions and Tigers and Bears” from her peers.
“A vet tech or working in research, particularly the naturalist side of medicine like acupuncture,” was Zoe McIntosh’s reply.
Diversity of the areas within the field is one of the perks of the profession, Hodges, who likes “doing it all”, everything from domestic animals in the clinic to a visit to see a python at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or a camel at a zoo, said.
Tips of the trade Hodges shared were getting hands-on and observing.
“If you work in a vet clinic, you have to put your hands on an animal to know what feels right. Watching the animal’s behavior is also a clue, for example head behavior, to know what is going on and figure out what the problem is.”
As for pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, Hodges told the pre-vets to get experience through summer internships and mentorship. “Find someone who believes in you and won’t let you not succeed,” he offered. “You already have a supporter in Dr. Braxton.”
“It’s a tough field and not the most diverse in terms of ethnicity,” Hodges added. “Everything in life is a challenge. You might as well wake up and love what you do.”
Note: You can find the latest, Season 4, of Critter Fixers: Country Vets on National Geographic Wild HERE!
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu.
