{"id":6534,"date":"2022-10-25T16:02:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T20:02:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/?p=6534"},"modified":"2024-05-20T13:11:01","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T17:11:01","slug":"umes-pre-vet-students-benefit-from-surprise-visit-by-critter-fixers-country-vets-celebrity-vet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/sans-monthly-digest\/october-2022-sans-monthly-digest\/umes-pre-vet-students-benefit-from-surprise-visit-by-critter-fixers-country-vets-celebrity-vet\/","title":{"rendered":"UMES pre-vet students benefit from surprise visit by Critter Fixers: Country Vets celebrity vet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dr. Vernard Hodge<\/strong>s of Nat Geo Wild’s Critter Fixers: Country Vets walks and talks with UMES pre-vet student Donovan Grady<\/strong> on the UMES campus farm.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

National Geographic Wild TV<\/a> celebrity veterinarian Dr. Vernard Hodges<\/strong> 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\u2019 program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been to 30-40 schools this year and there were some young ladies and gentlemen who really stood out in my mind,\u201d Hodges said after attending an evening UMES Pre-Vet Club meeting.  \u201cWe had a great dialog.  The students were very engaged and asked a lot of questions, which was great.  This is what it\u2019s all about\u2014we have to make the next generation of vets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Kimberly Braxto<\/strong>n (left), UMES campus vet, assistant professor and pre-vet advisor, and Dr. Heidi M. Anderson (right), UMES President, welcome Dr. Vernard Hodges<\/strong> to campus<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The following day, Hodges met UMES President Heidi Anderson outside of Trigg Hall, where he was to visit Braxton\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a lighter note, Anderson posed the question, \u201cWhat is the most exotic animal you have ever treated?,\u201d  to which, Hodges replied, \u201cA moray eel!\u201d  Anderson, who holds a doctorate in pharmacy administration, commented on the challenges of being a vet, \u201cVets have to learn every species, while medical doctors only have to learn the human body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to have my own practice,\u201d Shamia Onley piped up.  \u201cI think a mixed practice with domestic and exotic animals, because no one treats them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cA travel vet is what I want to be,\u201d said Mariam Yagboyaju.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Jones, a senior from Prince George\u2019s County, answered, \u201cAnimal research scientist.  I want to work in poultry science.\u201d  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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ciera Gardner, a junior from Baltimore, responded, \u201cLarge animals is what I want to work with, maybe be a USDA worker to manage farms.\u201d  That is an area in great demand, Hodges explained.  \u201cIt takes a special person to go out and see a cow rather than be in an air-conditioned building.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Zoo animals was Alexandria James\u2019s response.  The senior from Harford County was treated to a joking round of \u201cLions and Tigers and Bears\u201d from her peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA vet tech or working in research, particularly the naturalist side of medicine like acupuncture,\u201d was Zoe McIntosh\u2019s reply.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dr. Vernard Hodges<\/strong> (center), celebrity veterinarian on National Geographic Wild TV’s Critter Fixers: Country Vets, ends his visit to Dr. Kimberly Braxton<\/strong>‘s (standing, second from right) senior pre-vet class with a photo op with the UMES students. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Diversity of the areas within the field is one of the perks of the profession, Hodges, who likes \u201cdoing it all\u201d, everything from domestic animals in the clinic to a visit to see a python at Disney\u2019s Animal Kingdom or a camel at a zoo, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Tips of the trade Hodges shared were getting hands-on and observing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you work in a vet clinic, you have to put your hands on an animal to know what feels right.  Watching the animal\u2019s behavior is also a clue, for example head behavior, to know what is going on and figure out what the problem is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, Hodges told the pre-vets to get experience through summer internships and mentorship.  \u201cFind someone who believes in you and won\u2019t let you not succeed,\u201d he offered.  \u201cYou already have a supporter in Dr. Braxton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tough field and not the most diverse in terms of ethnicity,\u201d Hodges added.  \u201cEverything in life is a challenge.  You might as well wake up and love what you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note:<\/strong> You can find the latest, Season 4, of Critter Fixers: Country Vets on National Geographic Wild HERE! <\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, <\/em>gcstephens@umes.edu<\/u><\/em>, 410-621-3850.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, tdudek@umes.edu<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n