Two young women from New Jersey were among the five equine veterinary students awarded this year's prestigious Merck Animal Health/American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation scholarship.
The scholarships were presented during the Dec. 7 Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture at the AAEP's 61st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Merck Animal Health/AAEP Foundation scholarship program rewards second- and third-year veterinary students dedicated to equine medicine for their academic excellence, leadership in their school and AAEP student chapter, and their long-term goals. Elisabeth Leahy, studying at Michigan State University and Sarah Colmer, the at the University of Pennsylvania, are the recipients hailing from the Garden State.
Elisabeth Leahy, was inspired to become a veterinarian by her first pony, Blaze. Leahy is now studying at Michigan State University.
Leahy grew up in East Brunswick, and started taking riding lessons at age 7. At 13, her first pony, Blaze, came into her life and fueled her passion for horse care. "Blaze passed away last year at the approximate age of 40, but he continues to inspire me every day in vet school. I would not be where I am or who I am if it weren't for him," according to Leahy.
Leahy graduated from Rutgers University, where she majored in animal science/equine science and gained valuable equine nutrition research experience under Dr. Carey Williams. "While in college, I began working at the New Jersey Equine Clinic (NJEC), Millstone, cleaning stalls and operating the hyperbaric chamber on the weekends. When I graduated from Rutgers in 2010, I transitioned to full-time veterinary assistant at NJEC. I loved my job and I set out to learn everything I could, including anesthesia," said Leahy. "It was because of this job and the mentorship of Dr. Scott Palmer and Dr. Jen Smith that I set my sights on applying to vet school." In 2012, she went to the University of Connecticut and earned her masters in animal science before applying to vet school. She is now in her second year at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine and calls it "still very surreal."
Leahy worked as a research student for Dr. Williams for each of her four years at Rutgers. "She is such a hard worker. She pitched in and helped out with everything that we needed to do, from running horses on the treadmill to processing blood samples and cleaning stalls," said Williams. "She was always excited to be at the barn to help out. By her senior year she was helping teach many of the newer students many of the tasks that needed to be done."
Williams noted that Leahy worked very closely with her graduate student , helping her organize and execute the research as well. "Lizzy was always happy and energetic at the barn and I think that rubbed off on a lot of the students," she said. Williams adds that she is very happy for Leahy, and that she really deserves the award.
Dr. Karyn Malinowski, executive director of Rutgers Equine Science Center, wasn't sure if any previous Rutgers graduate had received the AAEP scholarship, but agrees with Williams that Leahy certainly is most deserving. "During her time at Rutgers she participated in as many research and outreach projects that her time would allow. She particularly enjoyed working with Carey Williams at the Jersey Fresh 3-Day event," said Malinowski. She observes that Leahy's job at the NJEC before going to vet school was another factor that gives her a competitive edge over her peers. Malinowski calls Leahy, "A delightful young woman with high energy and passion and compassion for horses."
Her former boss, Dr. Jennifer Smith of the NJEC, also noted that Leahy deserves all the wonderful opportunities that come her way as a result of her hard work. Smith called her "an exceptional individual" who was an outstanding employee at the NJEC. "Her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and genuine interest in learning and further developing herself allowed her to advance up through the ranks of our clinical staff -- barn technician to veterinary assistant to surgical and anesthesia technician," said Smith. "She is inquisitive by nature with an endless quest for knowledge and acquisition of new skills." Smith said that Leahy shows genuine care and compassion for the horses, treating each one as if it were her own. As an avid horseperson herself, she also relates very well to owners/clients. "Her enthusiasm and passion for veterinary medicine are both refreshing and inspiring. The equine veterinary community is lucky to have her as a member and, most likely, as a future contributor and leader," said Smith.
Leahy tentatively plans on specializing in equine emergency and critical care and would love to be able to return to New Jersey to practice. "However, I have an open mind about where life and a career in equine medicine eventually take me," she said. "I do plan to donate time and veterinary services to the rehabilitation and re-homing of off-the-track thoroughbreds and standardbreds. "
In addition to her two off-the-track thoroughbreds, Leahy shares her life with four rats, two cats, and a dog.
Sarah Colmer, is studying veterinary medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarah Colmer grew up in Belmar until she went to college at Drew University, then beginning vet school at Penn. "Although I lived in Belmar, I really 'grew up' in Colts Neck under the training of Helen Goddard out of Yellowbrook Farm. I did the jumpers with my mare Paola. We competed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, and even spent a winter down in Ocala, Florida in 2009," said Colmer.
However, Paola was diagnosed with navicular syndrome in the last week of the Florida circuit. "I had spent all those years with reins in my hands and my hands on the horse, but I hadn't learned much about what was going on beneath her skin, in her joints and behind those Trojan hoof walls," said Colmer.
While cleaning out Paola's stall back in New Jersey, Colmer overheard a conversation between a friend and a veterinarian doing a pre-purchase exam on a horse. She listened with interest "to the descriptions of bone alignments on radiographs and conformational questions, vaccination history and an old colic surgery scar that brought up some speculation." Afterward, Colmer had a "life-changing" conversation with the vet, Dr. Rebecca Linke, who later hired her as a technician at Colts Neck Equine.
Linke notes that Colmer's professionalism is evident to those who work with her, and to the clients with whom she interacts. "Her intelligence, attention to detail, and selfless dedication were clearly demonstrated in our daily interactions. When she was a high school student I felt more comfortable leaving her with certain tasks such as running IV fluids and holding the twitch to restrain horses during procedures than I had with many first year veterinary students when I was an intern at Chino Valley Equine Hospital in 2005-2006," said Linke. "She gave up her free time and braved the extremes of East Coast weather to spend time with me on my rounds, both in a paid and an unpaid capacity. Her dedication was demonstrated by her willingness to work all hours and any day of the week, often staying late, starting early, or returning to a farm when necessary without complaint."
Goddard, called Colmer is "a dedicated and kind horsewoman, always concerned for welfare of her horse and an fellow riders, and always a pleasure to teach."
Colmer's goals include a residency in orthopedic surgery, and to provide international relief work when she can to supplement her love for charity and travel. For the past three years, Colmer has been involved with a small, student-run veterinary relief effort in rural Haiti. "As a veterinarian, I intend to always extend myself, when possible, to international and domestic arenas where veterinary assistance is necessary, desperately needed and oftentimes not accessible," said Colmer.
The Merck Animal Health/AAEP Foundation scholarship program rewards second- and third-year veterinary students dedicated to equine medicine for their academic excellence, leadership in their school and AAEP student chapter, and their long-term goals. This scholarship program is open to AAEP student members who are active within any of the AAEP's 40 student chapters at colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S., Canada, Europe and the Caribbean.
Additional information about this program and other scholarships offered through the AAEP Foundation is available through the scholarship section of the AAEP Foundation's website at www.aaepfoundation.org
$2,500 Scholarship awarded to Cornell Student
Tate Morris, studying at Cornell University was among eight exceptional veterinary students committed to careers in equine medicine received $2,500 scholarships from the American Association of Equine Practitioners Foundation and Markel Corporation on Monday, Dec. 7 during the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture at the AAEP's 61st Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nev.
Now in its 27th year, the annual scholarship program awards financial support to fourth-year veterinary students who are proven leaders at their veterinary schools, advocates for equine welfare, and academic achievers. Since inception of the program in 1989, 194 veterinary students have received $419,000 in scholarship support.
Veterinary students are nominated for the scholarship by representatives from their colleges with supporting references from AAEP members and clinical instructors. In addition to academic excellence, nominees are evaluated by their leadership abilities and involvement with activities benefiting the health and welfare of horses. Using its own criteria for nomination, each accredited college or school of veterinary medicine may nominate one fourth-year veterinary student who intends to enter private practice.
For current equestrian news see Horse News or check out the online version of the print edition.
Horse News covers everything equestrian in the mid-Atlantic area and can be reached at horsenews@hcdemocrat.com
To subscribe to the print edition call 908-948-1309.
For advertising e-mail mchapman@njadvancemedia.com. Find Horse News on Facebook