As the Enrichment Summer Program, a three-week pre-veterinary immersion, came to an end, my peers and I were excited to see where this experience could take us and what veterinary opportunities lay ahead. On the last day, Dr. Liara Gonzales came to speak to us as an example of just that. She represented one of the many career possibilities presented to us over the course of the program.

An ESP participant in 2001, Dr. Gonzales is now a large animal surgeon and researcher focused on intestinal injury using a porcine model. She first explained that she uses a pig model to bridge the medical gap between research and discoveries that benefit both humans and animals. [1] Then, Dr. Gonzales intrigued us with the explanation of her research. It includes miniature 3D gut models, intestinal stem cells being used to repair damaged gut linings, and biomarkers that can predict the survival rate of horses with colic. She further explained how her research in pigs could be translated to benefit both equine and human medicine.

Even those of us not considering research as a potential career, myself included, were excited by her presentation. However, it was the description of her journey that truly resonated with me. Dr. Gonzales described times that she felt isolated, times that she’d failed, or when she didn’t know the answer to a research question she was trying to solve. She advised us, first and foremost, to find a support system. I’m thankful that on top of my friends and family, I had my 13 peers from ESP to add to that support system.

She suggested that we discuss our failures, rather than be ashamed of them. Dr. Gonzales explained that when she hits a wall in her research, she talks to someone else about it, and often, answers would come from unexpected sources. She also emphasized the importance of celebrating the small wins along our journeys. Perhaps the most important piece of advice that Dr. Gonzales shared was to remember that our path will not be straightforward. There’s no telling where we can end up or what opportunities might come our way as long as we are open to them.

I went into Dr. Liara Gonzales’ presentation expecting to leave with some basic knowledge of veterinary research and equine surgery; instead, I left with a new perspective on the journey into veterinary medicine and a lot of great advice. That advice will remain long after the program has ended, just as the friends I’ve made over the course of the Enrichment Summer program will.

-Loren Lassiter