Externs
Most veterinary students have the option of receiving clinical training in private practice (called an "externship") as part of the clinical year of training. We have been fortunate enough to host several veterinary student externs over the years. Students will be featured on our website throughout the year as they rotate through our practice.
At For Pet's Sake, students learn about the medical care and husbandry of exotic pets and wildlife that they may not get to work with at veterinary school.
Brooke Clement
Brooke Clement is a member of the Class of 2017 at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biology, also from LSU. Despite living in Baton Rouge for years, she is originally from Houma, a town located down in the bayous of south Louisiana. She has had an interest in animals, especially wildlife and exotic critters, for as long as she can remember. Her favorite animals are otters. After graduation from veterinary school, Brooke will practice dog, cat, and exotic animal medicine in Pensacola, Florida. Her household includes a spunky Boston terrier mix named Betsy, a friendly cat named Jack, and a bearded dragon named Lars.
Emma Rich
Emma Rich is currently a fourth year veterinary student at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine (Class of 2019). She also attended UGA for her undergrad and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences. As an undergrad, she worked as a veterinary assistant in the Exotics Ward at UGA which is where her passion for exotics and wildlife began. Her favorite animals are rabbits. She has two Lionhead rabbits named Scarlett O’ Hare and Kovu (like the lion from Lion King II). Her hobbies include playing the violin, running, and attending rock concerts.
Kelley Glikin
Kelley Glikin is in the Class of 2019 at the University of Georgia. Her road to becoming an exotic animal vet began in her undergraduate education. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Avian Biology from UGA. After graduation she completed two zoo keeper internships and began working as a veterinary technician in a small and exotic animal clinic. During vet school, she became a member of the exotics club and even had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica for a conservation medicine course. She has two pets at home; an albino ring neck dove named Angel, and a golden retriever named Honey.
Hannah Gordon
Hannah Gordon is in the Class of 2019 at the University of Georgia. She received her BS in Biology from the University of Tampa, after which she interned at Zoo Atlanta in their Outback Station. Her interest in exotics extends from her desire to work with zoo animals and wildlife conservation efforts. During vet school, she was a member, then a manager of the Wildlife Treatment Crew, who works with the vet school to care for injured wildlife.
Marissa Haglund
Marissa Haglund is a member of the Class of 2019 at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is a founding member of the Omega Tau Sigma-Rho Chapter. She also attended Kansas State University where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Animal Sciences and Industry in 2013. She has three long-haired cats (Sasha Kabuki, Mr. Mistoffelees, and Nahni), a pitbull/boxer named Dorian Gray, a yorkie named Jasmine, and a Heinz 57 named Tink. Her hobbies include hiking, running, cycling, MMA, reading, cosplaying and crafting. After graduation, she will be seeing dogs, cats and exotics at a practice in Norcross, GA.
Matt Steine
Matt Steine is a member of the Class of 2020 at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. He is originally from Marietta, GA. He earned his BS in Biology from GA State. After graduation, he worked in a wildlife hospital and rehab facility in Tel Aviv, then a small animal clinic in Marietta. He plans to go into small animal general practice after graduation, and he would like to incorporate exotics and wildlife into his practice when possible. He is the proud parent of an orange tabby and will be getting a senior dog very soon.
Rachel Harris
Rachel Harris is a member of the Class of 2020 of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri. Rachel attended Western Kentucky University where she obtained her Bachelors in Biology in 2012 after which she moved to Northern Virginia where she worked as a veterinary assistant. After working as an assistant for several years she decided to pursue her DVM in Missouri. She lives with her husband Charlie and their two pugs (Kentucky and Tallulah) as well as two guinea pigs (Burton and Basil). She volunteers with the Raptor Rehabilitation Project at Mizzou and is interested in both wildlife and exotic medicine post graduation.
Laura Rasche
Laura Rasche is a member of the Class of 2020 at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She is from Atlanta and also attended UGA for undergrad, where she earned degrees in Biology and Marine Science. She loves aquatic animals and has worked at the Georgia Aquarium in addition to attending AQUAVET, where she got to work with dolphins and perform surgery on fish. During vet school, she was the President of UGA's Aquatics Club, Vice President of the Zoo Med Club, and a member of Wildlife Treatment Crew. She has a sassy Shih Tzu named Lila. After graduation, she plans to work in private practice seeing small animals and exotics.