It Might Get Weird: Journeys in Veterinary Medicine

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Gary (No Bianca this week) gets to know Dr. Hayley Clark during this interview.  Haley is a 2024 University of Glasgow veterinary graduate and the newest member of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors. Their conversation starts with an honest look at childhood, the role pets can play as stability, and how she created a path to eventual vet school admission with out having experience in veterinary clinics prior to obtaining an undergrad degree.

They dig into that part of her story: applying to vet school, getting turned down twice, and doing the hard recalibration. Haley walks us through how veterinary assistant work in general practice and ER, plus specialty exposure like ophthalmology and internal medicine support, helped her build skills and earn stronger letters of recommendation. If you’re navigating the vet school application process, reapplying, or mentoring someone who is, this part hits home.

Haley had never travelled internationally prior to saying "yes" to vet school abroad. She explains why the University of Glasgow made sense. A main factor being cost compared with many out-of-state US programs, plus the day-to-day realities of student life and curriculum differences in UK veterinary school. We also talk SAVMA involvement abroad. What mentorship looked like to her while far from home, and how her early connection to Banfield evolved from “a good first job” into a bigger conversation about support systems and career growth.

Thanks for listening.

Hayley Clark, BS, BVMS on Linked In

University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine 

Student AVMA (SAVMA)

Washington State Veterinary Medical Association

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Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

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Vet school does not slow down just because life gets complicated, it speeds up. We sit down for a catch-up that turns into an honest look at what it feels like to juggle stacked exams, a research project that keeps shifting, and the pressure of prepping a conference poster while planning a big trip to Japan. If you have ever stared at your to do list and thought, I am fine, while absolutely not feeling fine, you will recognize this rhythm immediately.

From there, we swap travel stories that are equal parts inspiring and humbling: Rome in brutal heat, tour days that test your patience, and the surreal weight of standing inside centuries of history. Then we head north to the Italian Dolomites for hut to hut hiking, unforgettable food, and one very practical lesson for Americans ordering coffee abroad. These moments are fun, but they also connect back to professional life in veterinary medicine: pacing matters, recovery matters, and flexibility is a skill you build the hard way.

Post vet school planning is also discussed. This includes rotating internships, the veterinary match timeline, externships, and how specialty interests can change when you connect with passionate educators. Then Gary closes with a tease about a trip to the local shelter. Is a new companion coming to the Marshall household?

Subscribe for more conversations on vet school, veterinary careers, and real life outside of the daily grind. Please share this episode with a classmate and leave us a review. What topic do you want us to tackle next?

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

This episode Highlights Ms. Cayden Smith. She is the current National SAVMA President-Elect, and a current 3rd year veterinary student at Long Island University in New York. This is a continuation of Season 3 : Episode 2 focusing on SAVMA President Spencer Stelly. Spencer hangs in there for much of this episode, but Cayden is the focus. Cayden shares her path to Vet School, and her and Bianca compare notes as they begin their 3rd years at different schools. Gary has known both Spencer and Cayden through his role as AVMA Vice President and the connections developed while working with SAVMA and attending Veterinary Leadership Experience. These episodes reveal paths to student leadership, and a little of the time and energy student leaders commit to their roles. Spoiler: they both claim that although it's a lot, they wouldn't change a thing! Enjoy getting to know Cayden during this episode. But if you haven't listened to S3 : E2 yet, please listen to that first. They are both great episodes but best listened to in order. Thanks for listening. 

SAVMA = @studentavma 

SAVMA Symposium = @savmasymposium2027

Veterinary Leadership Experience = @veterinaryleadershipinstitute

Spencer Stelly = @spencer_stelly

Louisiana State University SAVMA = @lsusavma

Cayden Smith = @caydengraace

Long Island University SAVMA = @liulcvm.savma

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

This episode Highlights Mr. Spencer Stelly. He is the current National SAVMA President, and a current 4th year veterinary student at Louisiana State University. Also joining is the National SAVMA President Elect, Ms. Cayden Smith. During the recording session for this episode, Cayden was unavoidably late. She will be highlighted in the next episode, so please come back and listen to that. Gary has known both Spencer and Cayden through his role as AVMA Vice President and the connections developed while working with SAVMA and attending Veterinary Leadership Experience. These episodes reveal paths to student leadership, and a little of the time and energy student leaders commit to their roles. Spoiler: they both claim that although it's a lot, they wouldn't change a thing! Enjoy getting to know Spencer during this episode , and stay tuned for S3 : E3 to get to know Cayden. Thanks for listening.

SAVMA = @studentavma

Veterinary Leadership Experience = @veterinaryleadershipinstitute

Spencer Stelly = @spencer_stelly

Cayden Smith = @caydengraace

Brandy Duhon, DVM = @nohandedbandit

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

I hope everyone had a great summer. I hope everyone is caught up listening to Season 1 and Season 2, because here we are kicking off Season 3!

We have a new Co-Host - Bianca Plowman. She's been on the pod before (S2 : E9 & S2 : E18). We hope Sara will pop in a lot this season. She's just so busy!! 

In this episode, we mainly get caught up with what we did this summer, and talk about what's coming up with Year Three of vet school at WSU. 

We have a great interview coming up with SAVMA President Spencer Stelly, and SAVMA Vice President Cayden Smith.  Stay tuned for that one as Season 3 Episode 2. 

Enjoy. And if you do enjoy it, please take a second to give a rating and write a review on your favorite podcast app. If you didn't enjoy it, please disregard that request. 

*our apologies for the audio quality of this episode. most of the reasons were out of our control. please know we are making strides to insure it's the best quality possible going forward. thanks for understanding

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

This is the last episode of season 2! Gary and Sara finally found time in their schedules to actually record another episode together. It should be no surprise to anyone that it leans heavy on the topic of Shelter Medicine and Access to Care. But don't worry, there are plenty of detours to interest those not focused as much on those topics. Thanks so much for following along. We'll be taking another break for summer. See you back again in August. 

D.C. = Diagnostic Challenge, the case based communications intensive week at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine

Doney-Coe Pet Clinic

RAVS = Rural Area Veterinary Services

Hiraya Animal Shelter in the Philippines

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

Thanks for coming back for Part 2 with Vet Student Emily Collins. In this episode we dive deep into Emily's gap year. So many aspiring vet students have setbacks with their plans. Emily, like Gary did not get accepted during her first application cycle. As you'll learn through Emily's story, her gap year turned out to be a big blessing and it seems to have set her up well for future opportunities she never would have imagined if she were accepted that first time around. Enjoy this episode, and thanks for listening. 

Emily Collins on LinkedIn

Emily Collins on Instagram

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

We are so excited to introduce Emily Collins to all of you. At the time of this interview, Emily was finishing her first year as a Texas A&M Veterinary Student at their VERO campus in Canyon, Texas. 

Gary met Emily while at SAVMA Symposium in Raleigh, NC this spring and was fascinated and impressed with her drive and passion for political advocacy in veterinary medicine at such an early part of her career. In part 1, we get to know her path to vet school, and how a detour along that path sparked her interest in advocacy. I'm confident you will enjoy getting to know her and will also want to come back next week for Part 2 (S2 : E22). Thanks for listening. 

Emily Collins on LinkedIn

Emily Collins on Instagram

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

If you haven't listened to S2 : E19, which is the Sydney Paris interview Part 1, go there now it's great, and it's not too long. You can listen to both. As good as that was, I think this episode is even more special. In this episode, we learn a bit more of what motivated Sydney to do all the things she does. I even learned amazing new things! Sydney has started her own affinity group! Listen, Learn, Enjoy. We're glad you stopped by. 

Sydney on Instagram

DVMC - Developing Vet Med Careers

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

SAVMA - Student American Veterinary Medical Association

American Pre-Vet Medical Association

Ithaca Street Dog Coalition

First Generation Low Income Group at Cornell on Instagram

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/

Click here to text us your questions & comments.

We are excited for you to listen to this episode with Class of '27 Cornell Vet Student Sydney Paris. As usual, this conversation went long so it will be a two parter. You really will want to listen to this before season 2 episode 20. It really sets the stage for that part of the conversation. Please explore Sydney's LinkedIn when you get a chance. We could only touch on all the places she's been and experiences she's had. Thanks so much for listening. Please tell your friends about this. 

Sydney's LinkedIn

Your ratings, reviews and feedback are always appreciated. Please share us with your friends 

Gary Marshall, DVM = @it.might.get.weird
Bianca Plowman = @bianca_plowman   &   Sara Rae = @its_sara1231

https://itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com/