Like most in the field, my childhood pet, an English bulldog named Maisy, first inspired my interest in veterinary medicine. She was absolutely perfect in my eyes, but in true English Bulldog fashion, she came with a bit of a laundry list of medical issues, especially chronic skin and ear infections. She quickly became a frequent flyer at the vet, and I spent a lot of time watching her deal with discomfort that never seemed to fully go away. At the time, many of the medications we rely on today weren’t available, and access to veterinary dermatology specialists in my hometown in Connecticut was limited. Looking back, her experience was my first real introduction to the challenges and importance of veterinary dermatology. My interest in dermatology grew even more before I started veterinary school, when I worked for a general practitioner who had a special interest in the field. I was drawn in by how each case felt like solving a puzzle. You have to get down to the root cause - whether it’s food allergies, environmental triggers, or autoimmune disease - in order to actually fix the problem instead of just treating symptoms. I also really enjoyed getting to follow these cases over time. Seeing a dog finally become comfortable in its own skin again, or watching an owner come back for a recheck visibly relieved, made the process feel worth it. Dermatology has a reputation of being frustrating and sometimes slow-moving, but that’s part of what made it so rewarding to me. While working there, I was also introduced to the flexibility that comes with private practice ownership. The veterinarian I worked for owned her clinic, and I saw how that allowed her to build real relationships with clients and approach cases more personally. She could adjust pricing when needed and work with pet owners to come up with realistic plans instead of one rigid option. As corporate ownership becomes more common and independently owned practices become less prevalent in parts of Connecticut, I hope to help preserve that model. To me, it’s not just about practicing good medicine, but about making that care accessible and tailored to each client and patient. As a student, I’ve always pushed myself academically and genuinely enjoy being challenged. That’s a big part of why I’m drawn to dermatology. It sits at the intersection of so many different areas - immunology, endocrinology, oncology, and nutrition - and no two cases are exactly the same. It requires not only a strong foundation in these subjects but also the ability to think through how different bodily systems are interacting and showing up through the skin. I’m especially interested in chronic dermatologic conditions and how much they can impact an animal’s day-to-day quality of life. Even small improvements can make a huge difference for both the patient and owner. I also like that the field is constantly evolving, with new treatments and diagnostics emerging, which means I’ll always have more to learn. Overall, my early experiences with Maisy, along with my clinical exposure and academic interests, have shaped my goal of pursuing veterinary dermatology. As I continue through veterinary school, I plan to keep exploring the field through coursework, shadowing, and externships during my clinical year. I’m excited to continue building my skills and, ultimately, to help improve the quality of life for the animals I work with.