Dr. Aziz is a shelter veterinarian currently completing her residency with the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program. She went to Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine to obtain her DVM degree where she participated in multiple international dog welfare and population control projects in Nepal and Bhutan. Leadership is an important part of her role as a shelter veterinarian and she truly believes that having the qualities of a good leader are essential for all veterinarians. Click to read more about Dr. Aziz.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
A: I was afraid of animals as a child - I grew up in a culture where most families did not have pets and when I was a teenager, we haphazardly acquired a pet. It was a life changing experience for myself and my family and spurred my veterinary interest, and, specifically, my interest in international, humane dog population work and shelter medicine.
Q: What did you like about attending Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine?
A: I wanted to go to Tufts because I had read they were animal welfare-oriented. They were the first school to phase out terminal surgery as a requirement in their curriculum. That was important to me, and I felt that Tufts would provide me a supportive atmosphere to pursue my interests. One summer I went to Nepal and worked with the local animal shelter in Kathmandu and the local veterinary school on a humane dog population control project. The next summer of vet school I went to Bhutan and got to work with Humane Society International (HSI) on another humane dog population control project out there.
A: I was afraid of animals as a child - I grew up in a culture where most families did not have pets and when I was a teenager, we haphazardly acquired a pet. It was a life changing experience for myself and my family and spurred my veterinary interest, and, specifically, my interest in international, humane dog population work and shelter medicine.
Q: What did you like about attending Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine?
A: I wanted to go to Tufts because I had read they were animal welfare-oriented. They were the first school to phase out terminal surgery as a requirement in their curriculum. That was important to me, and I felt that Tufts would provide me a supportive atmosphere to pursue my interests. One summer I went to Nepal and worked with the local animal shelter in Kathmandu and the local veterinary school on a humane dog population control project. The next summer of vet school I went to Bhutan and got to work with Humane Society International (HSI) on another humane dog population control project out there.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: What are the most important skills that a good leader should have and how do you plan on acquiring and refining those skills as a veterinary student and as a veterinarian?
I believe that every veterinarian has the potential, intelligence and skill set to be a great leader. We’re all skilled at being good critical thinkers and that makes us good leaders. I want to see more veterinarians in leadership roles, whether it be as practice owners or as heads of nonprofit organizations, such as a shelter or animal welfare organizations.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: I was very honest and up-front with my goals. I wanted to go to Tufts, because I felt it was the most appropriate school for me and would foster my interests the best. I was honest about my goals in my application and stated that I wanted to do welfare and shelter work. Otherwise, we’re all similar applicants - good grades, we do well on the GRE, and we all have some clinical experience. What I think is important for setting yourself apart is having the foresight, dedication, and commitment to say “this is why I want to become a veterinarian.” It’s not just “I want to become a vet because I like animals.” You could become a dog trainer, a veterinary technician or a groomer because you like animals. So, as yourself, why do you need to (and want to) obtain this particular veterinary skill set to achieve your life goals?
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty?
A: The specialty I work in is new and somewhat unconventional. We all have a goal of reducing pet euthanasia in America and throughout the world. That is always my big picture goal but what’s really in the foreground of my mind all the time is: how do I empower shelter staff - veterinarians, managers, and kennel technicians - to save more animals and to want to save more animals? We, in academia, have to support those people who are out there working in the field and are striving to save animals everyday.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I want them to understand a general overview of shelter medicine and why shelter medicine is an important field in veterinary medicine. My specific talk will be about the rise of pet retention programs and why it is important to help keep pets in their homes. By preventing pets from entering the shelter in the first place, we can decrease pet euthanasia. I want to relay to the audience with a sense of why it’s so important for us to provide accessible and affordable veterinary care and why that impacts shelter medicine at the end of the day.
You can learn more about the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program by following this link. Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Aziz in person at the conference for her presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.
A: What are the most important skills that a good leader should have and how do you plan on acquiring and refining those skills as a veterinary student and as a veterinarian?
I believe that every veterinarian has the potential, intelligence and skill set to be a great leader. We’re all skilled at being good critical thinkers and that makes us good leaders. I want to see more veterinarians in leadership roles, whether it be as practice owners or as heads of nonprofit organizations, such as a shelter or animal welfare organizations.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: I was very honest and up-front with my goals. I wanted to go to Tufts, because I felt it was the most appropriate school for me and would foster my interests the best. I was honest about my goals in my application and stated that I wanted to do welfare and shelter work. Otherwise, we’re all similar applicants - good grades, we do well on the GRE, and we all have some clinical experience. What I think is important for setting yourself apart is having the foresight, dedication, and commitment to say “this is why I want to become a veterinarian.” It’s not just “I want to become a vet because I like animals.” You could become a dog trainer, a veterinary technician or a groomer because you like animals. So, as yourself, why do you need to (and want to) obtain this particular veterinary skill set to achieve your life goals?
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty?
A: The specialty I work in is new and somewhat unconventional. We all have a goal of reducing pet euthanasia in America and throughout the world. That is always my big picture goal but what’s really in the foreground of my mind all the time is: how do I empower shelter staff - veterinarians, managers, and kennel technicians - to save more animals and to want to save more animals? We, in academia, have to support those people who are out there working in the field and are striving to save animals everyday.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I want them to understand a general overview of shelter medicine and why shelter medicine is an important field in veterinary medicine. My specific talk will be about the rise of pet retention programs and why it is important to help keep pets in their homes. By preventing pets from entering the shelter in the first place, we can decrease pet euthanasia. I want to relay to the audience with a sense of why it’s so important for us to provide accessible and affordable veterinary care and why that impacts shelter medicine at the end of the day.
You can learn more about the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program by following this link. Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Aziz in person at the conference for her presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.