Hi, my name is Nicole and I am currently a second year student in the WSU VetMed program.  I am originally from Helena, Montana.  I obtained my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology-Animal Systems from Montana State University in 2008.  I have always wanted to be a veterinarian and I am still ecstatic that I was accepted into vet school.  

In the last few years, my interest has shifted from doing a mixed equine practice to equine orthopedics.  I would like to specialize in equine support limb laminitis.  Ideally, I hope to attain an internship followed by a residency.  I love Montana, so eventually I hope to return and have a mixed equine practice and handle orthopedic equine cases on the side.

I am very pleased with WSU’s VetMed program. The professors are enthusiastic about the material and they make the lectures interesting. This is much appreciated when you have a long day of lectures!  I am one month into second year and loving my classes. We are diving much deeper into veterinary medicine, intensifying my interest in medicine even further. 

I chose to come to WSU for many reasons.  I found the people at the school, as well as the community, to be very friendly and helpful.  I also liked the fact that the teaching hospital is attached to the school and we (students) are welcome to come into the hospital at anytime to watch exams and other procedures.  Another thing I like is that we start anesthesia our second year and surgery our third year.

When I am not studying, you may find me doing a variety of things. Some are vetmed related and some are not. I am a time slip technician in the small animal ICU at the teaching hospital.  This position has been great because there is a lot of hands on learning. I perform hourly treatments on the hospital’s most critical care patients.  I also assist the fourth year students and doctors with a variety of procedures.  In addition, I work at the equine treadmill.   This past summer, I headed a research project dealing with plasma and intraerythrocytic ion changes in horses undergoing prolonged submaximal exercise.  This was an awesome experience that allowed me to get more hands on experience with thoroughbreds as well as time with the equine clinicians in the teaching hospital.  I am also writing a manuscript for a journal article that will hopefully be published in 2010. This process has opened my eyes to a whole new area of VetMed.  I love to run, snowboard, wakeboard, hike, camp, and read.   My Pullman family consists of some great friends as well as my black lab, gray tabby kitten, and quarter horse, whom I love to ride.  If you have any questions, just ask!