I was always told that the cost of achieving my dreams was a holy trinity: blood, sweat, and tears. However, this advertised price fails to mention that taxes are not included. My dream is to become a veterinarian and practice community, wildlife, and conservation medicine. This path required navigating numerous academic hurdles that demanded resilience, proactivity, and financial resources. I unfortunately lacked that third quality, and so I turned to student loans to give me the limited financial freedom needed to pursue my education. As I completed my bachelor’s degree at Tulane University, I lived in New Orleans, a city that served as a sort of grim mirror. I was struggling financially, and so were many of its residents. Pockets of poverty existed across the different parishes of New Orleans due to the impact of Hurricane Katrina. 11 years later, people still struggled to gain the resources they needed. I witnessed the social determinants of health in real time, as individuals struggled to access quality schools and hospitals, lacked safe communities, and faced financial barriers that limited their ability to change these conditions. And yet here I was, living in an air-conditioned student dorm with a food hall down the street. Despite the financial cost, I had the privilege of pursuing my dream. More importantly, I realized that my dream has the potential to positively impact communities like New Orleans by increasing access to veterinary care and resources for families and their pets. By providing care that is both affordable and manageable, I hope to empower clients to take an active role in their animals’ health. Knowing the true weight and cost of this privilege, I did not spend my time in New Orleans partying or losing myself in Mardi Gras, but instead focused on learning and growth. For all four years I was placed on the Dean's List and ultimately graduated with cum laude honors. Not only that, while other students double majored, I completed two degrees simultaneously. I had taken so many classes and earned so many undergrad credits that in May of 2020 I received a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian. These degrees did, however, come with the condition of $109,000 in student debt. In addition, May of 2020 was the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning I entered the workforce during a time defined by fear of illness and the isolation of lockdowns. Despite what seemed like an insurmountable obstacle blocking the path to my dream, my educational journey was just beginning. During the pandemic, while many were urged to stay indoors, I worked as a first responder for Cataldo EMS in Greater Boston. By remaining calm under pressure, listening attentively, and empathizing with patients, I was able to build trust and gain their consent to receive care. As the immediate crisis of the pandemic subsided, I transitioned from human to animal medicine. As a veterinary assistant, I witnessed the strength of the human–animal bond while supporting both patients and their owners through difficult moments. This experience helped me develop resilience and emotional strength. Each skill is powerful on its own, but together they strengthened my ability to serve others.. A year later, I took a leap of faith and worked as a field assistant in South Africa studying vervet monkeys. This international experience broadened my horizons and helped me develop a global perspective on my role in the world. Each of these incredible, life-changing experiences gave me the credentials necessary to apply to veterinary school. After what seemed like hundreds of hours of application writing and supplemental essays, I received a call from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. I was accepted to one of the most prestigious veterinary schools not only in the country, but in the world. But that’s not all. At the same time, through personal interviews I conducted with U.S. state wildlife veterinarians, I learned of a Master of Public Health program in Minnesota. Becoming a wildlife veterinarian requires not only medical expertise but also a strong foundation in epidemiology, population health, and the interdisciplinary relationships among human, animal, and environmental health, collectively known as One Health. Supplementing my clinical veterinary education at Cornell, I applied to and was accepted to the University of Minnesota’s DVM/MPH program. These dual programs required not only mental, emotional, and physical strength, but also financial discipline. While taking out an average of $65,000 in federal unsubsidized loans to cover tuition, I balanced my academic responsibilities with work as a dairy milker and skid steer operator to afford rent, while also relying on SNAP benefits for groceries. I am sometimes struck by all that I have been able to accomplish, given how physically and mentally exhausted I often feel. Spending 40 to 50 hours a week on school, while also working additional hours to pay rent, is a constant balancing act. While I am deeply passionate about the interconnected principles of One Health, I have come to recognize that my own well-being is often the first thing sacrificed to meet financial demands. This imbalance is not sustainable. In a profession already marked by high rates of burnout, I have begun to understand how easily veterinarians become exhausted. This scholarship’s impact would extend far beyond financial relief. Instead of taking on another milking shift, I could rest, allowing me to show up more fully the next day. With that support, I would also be able to invest more time in the work that fulfills me: community outreach, such as spay and neuter clinics, and wildlife conservation initiatives. These experiences are not only personally meaningful, but essential to my goal of serving others. Investing in me is investing in a community-focused veterinarian committed to expanding access to care and empowering communities to take an active role in human, animal, and environmental health.

During my high school free period, while most students worked on homework, I chose to work with students with intellectual disabilities. I also volunteered in after school programs that supported problem-solving and social development. Learning intelligence came in different forms, I pushed myself to adapt my teaching style so it could support many different ways of learning. After high school my desire to work with those with special needs only grew. For four years I volunteered as a counselor at Camp Jabberwocky, where I helped provide daily and overnight care for campers with disabilities. The path I chose, however, is not special education, social work, or speech pathology, but veterinary medicine. While the connection may seem unexpected, veterinarians play a powerful role in strengthening the human–animal bond, ensuring that the companionship of animals remains accessible to all communities. Sharing your life with a pet, whether it be a dog, cat, hamster, or fish, is a blessing that brings warmth and companionship into your everyday life. Yet through my volunteer work, I learned that this blessing is sometimes treated as a luxury, rather than a possibility, for members of the intellectual disability community. One time in high school a classmate with special needs mentioned that they wanted a pet fish. Doubt spread across the room like a wildfire. One student murmured, “That wouldn’t be a good idea,” while another quietly said, “I feel bad for the fish.” The assumption was immediate: that someone with an intellectual disability could not responsibly care for an animal. Years later, while working as a counselor at Camp Jabberwocky, I experienced a similar moment. A camper expressed their dream of having a cat. They were responsible and capable of managing many daily tasks independently, so a pet could be a meaningful and enriching addition to their life. However, as I encouraged the idea, another counselor pulled me aside and whispered, “I don’t think you should entertain this. I mean, who would feed the cat? As a future veterinarian, you should know this.” In both situations, the hesitation was not rooted in the individuals themselves but in assumptions and bias. The possibility of animal companionship was dismissed out of fear, however, intellectual disabilities are not uniform. Just as society once unjustly assumed that individuals with disabilities could not work or live independently, similar assumptions regarding pet care exist today. As a future veterinarian, I will challenge these misconceptions and advocate to ensure anyone who is willing and capable can safely experience pet companionship while also providing that animal with a happy and healthy life. Veterinarians support the human–animal bond through providing medical care and educating clients on how to care for their pets safely and effectively at home. By teaching proper handling, medication administration, and preventative care, veterinarians make pet ownership more accessible and manageable for a wide range of individuals. As a future veterinarian, I will work closely with individuals with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers to identify their needs, limitations, and strengths, developing practical strategies that will allow them to successfully care for their animals. By meeting clients where they are and creating sustainable and supportive care plans, I will ensure that the joy of animal companionship is not treated as a privilege, but as an opportunity available to anyone who is willing and able to provide loving care. Through this work, I will challenge the biases and counter the assumptions that limit those with special needs more than their own personal intellectual disability. As a veterinarian, I will help create a world where all people and animals can enjoy each other’s companionship.

As a master of public health student and veterinary student invested in One Health, I am driven by a passion for wildlife and a commitment to building bridges between communities and their natural environments. My overarching goal is to contribute meaningfully to the conservation of wildlife, particularly at the human interfaces of agriculture or tribal lands. Recognizing the interconnections between humans and wildlife, I firmly believe in the role of human cooperation and community involvement in conservation efforts. Many instances of wildlife-human conflict stem not from malice but from underlying issues of equity and poverty, and addressing these root causes is paramount to achieving sustainable conservation outcomes. It is easy to separate health and medicine into categories like “animal,” “environment,” and “human.” However, I am fascinated by the fact that these distinctions are semipermeable, with aspects of each constantly diffusing into one another. I am equally drawn to all three areas, and by pursuing both a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Public Health, I will stand right at the center. Veterinary school will provide the medical and professional skills to understand the enduring connections between these worlds. Combining this with my masters in public health, I will use this foundation to grow in the field of One Health. I aim to debunk the misconception that people, animals, and the environment are separate, educating communities about their interdependence to shift the narrative toward a unified system. While unconventional, this path aligns with my passion to advance the One Health mission. This past summer, I served as Principal Field Investigator for the Kanchenjunga Community Livestock and Carnivore Conflict Study in Nepal’s Phungling and Pathibhara Yangwarak municipalities. I led the collection of over 200 goat and sheep blood samples for disease surveillance, coordinated logistics, handled samples, and conducted farmer interviews on vaccination and livestock–carnivore conflict in collaboration with Nepali veterinary officers under resource-limited conditions. This project aimed to integrate veterinary and public health practices into livestock management, evaluate small ruminant health risks, and foster collaboration between farmers, veterinarians, and conservationists, empowering communities to improve livestock health, human health, and carnivore conservation. Working on this project strengthened my professional development and ability to mediate human-wildlife conflicts while fostering community engagement. Conducting surveys and interviews helped me build communication and outreach skills and cultivate trust with local stakeholders. These interactions offered firsthand insight into community challenges and reinforced the importance of incorporating local perspectives into conservation strategies. Beyond technical skills, this experience challenged me personally, as immersing myself in a new culture required humility, resilience, and understanding. Human-wildlife conflict is complex and requires both scientific expertise and emotional intelligence. This experience widened my worldview and shaped me into a more effective advocate for conservation. The Kanchenjunga project has strengthened my capacity to address the interconnected challenges of One Health, human-wildlife conflict, and community engagement. It has prepared me to be a veterinarian and public health official who contributes to sustainable solutions on a global scale, improving the health of animals, people, and the environment while fostering cooperation and coexistence. This is the first of many opportunities I will have to combine veterinary medicine and public health. I aim to transform wildlife conservation into a positive force for communities, alleviating burdens of poverty while promoting coexistence. Human, animal, and environmental health are not separate entities, but rather equal parts of a world that depend, symbotically, on each other. I am committed to making a tangible and lasting impact in the realm of wildlife conservation, advancing the well-being of both communities and the natural world. https://cornell.digication.com/zachary-bisconti-1/home

Through my long journey of pursuing my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), one experience has shaped me more than any other. I have participated in big game captures in South Africa, rehabilitated wildlife at the New England Wildlife Center, and even worked as an Emergency Medical Technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet among these experiences, I look most fondly upon my time during clinical rotations performing dog and cat nail trims. Most students dreaded these appointments, as they were viewed as tedious and something that a pet groomer, not a veterinary student, should do. At the time, I shared the same belief and assumption that veterinary students shouldn’t have to spend time performing nail trims and should instead focus on complex diagnostics and life-saving interventions. So why would I hold these moments in as high regard as my time in South Africa or EMS? Is this because I had an epiphany and found my true life purpose was to be hyperfocused on nail health? No, but because these appointments created the perfect opportunity to sow seeds of empowerment. It was during these moments that I realized being a veterinarian meant more than just prescribing medications. Being a veterinarian meant that I could focus on strengthening the human-animal bond that exists within families in my community. Due to their fears of making a mistake and causing harm, parents usually ask for their pet’s nails to be trimmed. However, instead of doing this for them, I enjoyed walking parents through this process, allowing them to perform the trims themselves. During each teaching session, the climactic moment was always when the parent had the clipper in hand, hovering around the nail, but was hesitant to follow through due to fear. In each appointment, I would stand by that parent's side, encouraging both them and their pet that things will be okay. With one fateful moment of extreme courage, most parents overcame this mental hurdle and successfully trimmed their first nail! Nail trimming was no life-saving skill, yet there was no greater experience than seeing fear and doubt melt from a parent’s face and be replaced with newfound confidence in their role in their pet's health. This experience, while at first a tiny seed, has grown into my full-fledged mission to show individuals and entire communities alike the potential and role they have in caring for the animals and the world around them. I have found the most fulfillment in veterinary medicine because I am not only able to treat diseased and painful animals, but also strengthen the human–animal bond. Pets bring joy and companionship to the lives they touch, and I look forward to fostering and protecting that connection within my community. As a veterinarian, I will partner with and educate pet owners so they feel confident and empowered to participate in their animal’s care. It will be through this outreach and community building that I will help animals live healthier, more comfortable lives while supporting the families who love them.

My path to veterinary medicine was not shaped by a single eureka moment, but by the culmination of my life experiences. I participated in field work in South Africa, rehabilitated wildlife at the New England Wildlife Center, and worked as an Emergency Medical Technician during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet among these, I look most fondly upon my time as a small animal veterinary technician performing nail trims. Many technicians dreaded these appointments, so why would I hold them in as high a regard as my time in South Africa or EMS? Is it because I am hyperfocused on nail health? No, but because these appointments created the perfect opportunity to sow seeds of empowerment. Due to their fears of making a mistake, parents usually asked for their pet’s nails to be trimmed. Instead of doing this for them, I enjoyed walking them through the process. The climactic moment was always when the parent had the clipper in hand, hovering hesitantly. I would stand by their side encouraging them, and with one moment of courage most overcame the hurdle and successfully trimmed their first nail. Nail trimming was no life-saving skill, yet there was no greater experience than seeing fear and doubt melt from a parent’s face and be replaced with confidence in their role in their pet's health. What began as a tiny seed has grown into my mission to show individuals and communities the role they have in caring for the animals and the world around them. Before veterinary school, I never thought twice about dermatology. I was a wildlife student through and through, dreaming of conservation work. Then I took a dermatology course and felt an internal spark ignite that I did not realize was there. I was particularly struck while learning about classic feline reaction patterns such as miliary dermatitis and the Eosinophilic Granuloma Complex. In class, I was immediately brought back to memories of my own struggles with sensitive skin and painful conditions growing up. The itchiness and discomfort were at times unbearable, interfering with sleep, school, and daily activities. There were days the pain was overwhelming, and even now I still shudder at the thought of it returning. What struck me most, was that these animals cannot cry out. I understood these pets’ suffering on a personal level, which has pushed me to become a voice and source of relief for animals that suffer silently. While grateful for the knowledge I have gained in veterinary school, I recognize it only goes so far. Just as it was with my own dermatologic conditions, animal dermatology cases are rarely simple and require persistence, pattern recognition, and extensive medical knowledge. General practice can only manage so much, and specialization will provide the foundation to address even the most complex cases. The depth of knowledge required for this discipline is precisely what drew me to specialization. Through specialization I would not only provide comfort to my patients, but also gain the independence and credentials necessary to start my own practice. I attend veterinary school in New York State, and outside the New York City area there are few dermatology specialists in upstate New York. Establishing a practice there would help expand access to specialized dermatologic care. By improving accessibility, I will not only relieve suffering in animals in underserved areas, but also empower communities with the knowledge and resources to best care for their pets. Just as I once helped owners gain confidence in caring for their pets through nail trim appointments, dermatology often requires empowering families to manage chronic conditions alongside their veterinarian. I will be that veterinarian.