In America, most animals that veterinary medicine students operate on are companion animals, like dogs and cats. Regina Turning and other graduate students on the International Veterinary Medicine Experience in Thailand study abroad program get to work with Asian elephants, Bengal tigers, snakes and more, giving them a unique cultural and academic experience.
“I want to have a global career. The veterinary community is surprisingly small and so expanding the breadth of my experiences and making connections outside the United States is a great step in that direction,” said Turning. “The kindness and generosity of the Thai people cannot be overstated. I hope that one day, down the road, I will be able to repay their generosity through collaboration and maybe even hosting Thai veterinary students for a similar international experience in the U.S.!”
Over the course of the program, students visit and learn from expert veterinarians at the Thai Red Cross Snake Farm & Hospital, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, Tiger Kingdom and the Chiang Mai Night Safari and work closely with professors from Chiang Mai University.
“Whether I was learning from expert veterinarians and witnessing their passion for medicine and teaching firsthand or bonding with my peers while we were gallivanting across Thailand. Throughout the trip, I realized that the most meaningful moments weren't when I was working with animals. They were when I was connecting with people,” said Turning.
Turning first learned about the program from faculty and Thailand native Dr. Nongnuch Inpanbutr, who also leads the program, during her Ohio State admission interview. To finally take part was a rewarding experience, noted Turning.
“Traveling and working with diverse species has always been a dream of mine. Being lucky enough to go abroad, learn about veterinary medicine in another country, and experience her culture too, was incredibly special and has brought my journey full circle.
A particularly memorable moment for Turning was implementing traditional Chinese medicine to assist with acupuncture on several canine patients, a first for the second-year graduate student.
“I was administering a post acupuncture massage to a French Bulldog named Boop Bee. He has chronic back problems and after his treatment, I spent some time with him and his owner. He got super sleepy after his treatment, which was adorable. However, what was most impactful was hearing from his owner about how much his quality of life has improved since starting routine acupuncture. It truly reinforced for me the amazing things that can happen when you blend western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine!”