Title: Associate Veterinarian
Employer: Crossroads Veterinary Hospital
Previous Roles: Management Assistant, Henry M. Jackson Foundation; QC Technician, Abbott Laboratories

After starting her career in biotech and industry, working at Abbott and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, Rachel decided she wanted to become a veterinarian after volunteering with a local humane society.

“When I decided I wanted to become a veterinarian 4 years after graduating, my degree gave me all the necessary pre-requisites to apply without having to take any additional classes.”

Rachel is currently an Associate Veterinarian at Crossroads Veterinary Hospital, where she sees patients, does surgeries and dental procedures. She also works part time at the Cat Hospital doing dental procedures.

What does her typical day look like? “In general practice, there is not often a "typical" day. In general practice, veterinarians treat patients from puppy and kittenhood through the senior years and help with end-of-life decisions, including euthanasia. A day can consist of a mixture of wellness exams, acute and/or chronic sick cases with occasional emergencies. Veterinarians often split their day between office visits and surgery/dental procedures. Practices vary quite a bit in size and level of specialty. There are one-doctor or multi-doctor private practices, corporate-owned practices, mobile practices, feline-only practices, and specialty practices (including emergency and exotics). Some vets see primarily dogs and cats, while others see both small and large animals and/or exotics.”

“While medical skills are vital to the profession, communication skills are equally as important, as you deal with both your patient and the owner in a visit.”

At Henry M. Jackson Foundation, a non-profit created to assist research programs in the military, Rachel worked as a management assistant, primarily helping with a phase II clinical trial of multiple post-exposure HIV vaccines.

“My degree gave me a good grounding in biology and the ability to do research and think critically.”

If you are considering veterinary school, or want to know more about working in biotech or industry, Rachel is a great person to talk with. Contact Christina Swanson at alumnimentor@sib.illinois.edu if you would like to connect with Rachel.