Pictured left to right Brett Blum, Dr. Tony Martin, Anna Espinoza, Dr. Christina Brownlee & Zoe Mason. Weighing cattle in the chute.
So why aren’t more veterinary students taking this path? According to a 2024 AABP report, common reasons include lack of mentorship, limited training opportunities, grueling on- call schedules, and an often uninviting professional atmosphere. Rural veterinary practice is demanding. It’s not an easy job to step into, and when the learning curve is steep and support systems are lacking, many young vets understandably opt for more predictable and supported career paths. If you’ve ever had a seasoned rancher watch your every move while you work cattle in a chute you know the pressure. Confidence matters, and in rural veterinary medicine, a lack of confidence can be misread as a lack of competence, when in truth, it’s just inexperience. That’s why I took a role in academia. I believe the solution begins with exposing students to this work early and often through hands- on experience and strong mentorship.
Calf processing, each animal is individually identified, checked for health issues and then vaccinated to protect again respiratory and clostridial pathogens.
52 FALL 2025 VETMED.ARIZONA.EDU
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator