Got animal questions? Ask a Vet Med student at Stampede

Students from the University of Calgary are preparing to bring their animal expertise and passion to the city’s biggest party. 

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) booth, a staple at the Calgary Stampede, offers a chance for visitors to interact with the next generation of animal health experts.

Meagan Bradbury, a third-year veterinary medicine student, is one of those who’ll be sharing their story this week.

“I've wanted to be a vet since I was probably like three or four years old,” she says. “I'd always been really interested in animals and the idea of getting to help.”

A hands-on Stampede experience

After briefly considering medical school, Bradbury returned to her original passion. The choice to pursue that dream at UCalgary was a natural one for the born-and-raised Calgarian. 

“I did vet camps here when I was in Grade 8. So, ever since that point I was like, ‘Yep, this is where I would want to go,’” she says.

This year, Bradbury and her peers are bringing that passion to the Stampede Grounds with engaging and interactive demonstrations. 

“Our calving demos are fun. We're going to be running those every day at 1:30 p.m. in the Nutrien Building,” she says. “I think that's just a fun opportunity to see the simulators we get to use and then interact with the public, 'cause we'll probably get some kids to help us out.”

In addition to the calving simulator, the booth will feature new digital content on a large LCD screen, offering a modern and informative experience for all ages. It’s a chance for the public to ask questions and get a first-hand look at the training and tools used by UCVM students.

Advice for the next generation

For those visiting the booth with veterinary aspirations of their own, Bradbury offers encouragement and a key piece of advice: there is no single mould for a future veterinarian. 

She stresses the importance of gaining diverse experience and staying engaged. “I think the biggest thing for me was just staying involved,” Bradbury says. “Get involved with animal rescues and stuff like that, and there's always lots of opportunities out there to talk with vets.”

While the path can seem daunting, Bradbury emphasizes that it’s an achievable goal. Most importantly, she wants aspiring students to know that the profession needs people from all walks of life. 

“There's not one person that's perfect for vet med. We need people from all sorts of backgrounds that have all sorts of experience to come and join the profession,” she says. “Any experience can be valuable experience.”

This diversity is something Bradbury sees in her own UCalgary class. 

“We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, all sorts of workplaces that have come and are here and are doing great, amazing things,” she says. “Just because you might not fit what you think a vet looks like, keep going, It’s a very cool profession.”

Visit Meagan Bradbury and other UCVM students at the Calgary Stampede from July 5 to 14 in the Nutrien Western Event Centre to ask your questions and learn more about the world of veterinary medicine.