Dr. Rene Gandolfi is founder and chief veterinarian at Castro Valley Companion Animal Hospital. He is a board-certified specialist in Canine and Feline Animal Care and a recognized expert in exotic species, including ferrets, bats and fish. Fun facts Dr. Gandolfi graduated second in his class from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1981 and is certified in Veterinary Acupuncture. Find out more about his decision to pursue veterinary medicine and what he wants pre-vet students to know about standing out in the applicant pool.
Q. What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
I saw a career in veterinary medicine as a way to integrate many of the things that interest me. I came to veterinary school with a strong background in immunology and biochemistry and was looking for a career that involved those disciplines in addition to greatly expanding my knowledge base in biological sciences. Further I have always had a strong desire to help animals and saw this as a way to combine the two. I wanted a career that provided me with life-long learning challenges and one with a great level of independent thinking and actions.
Q. What did you like about attending UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine?
My years at UC Davis SVM were everything I had hoped for; academic challenges, opportunities to actively learn and practice skills, to get to know clinicians and faculty with diverse backgrounds. It was an exciting time of my life.
Q. What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to vet school?
I would ask two questions.
Q. How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
Have something “unique” to provide. Some interest, talent, goal, background. You need to be able to stand out among a very competitive and competent pool of applicants. Everyone has “good grades” and frankly, you aren’t going into this for a grade. I am never satisfied with a 95%, even a 99% (and those would be good grades on any simple exam). But if one of my cases out of one hundred isn’t cared for properly by me, that’s a failing grade in my opinion.
Q. What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty?
Providing care for my animal patients that always considers their absolute best interests, be it comfort, resolution of the disorder, maintenance of health and wellbeing, and even a gentle, kind, easy passing.
Q. What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
I would hope that each attendee comes away with an increased level of familiarity and greater comfort level in approaching handling, examining and treating a number of small mammal patients. That he or she will have a greater appreciation for the unique aspects of each.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Gandolfi in person at the conference for his presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.
I saw a career in veterinary medicine as a way to integrate many of the things that interest me. I came to veterinary school with a strong background in immunology and biochemistry and was looking for a career that involved those disciplines in addition to greatly expanding my knowledge base in biological sciences. Further I have always had a strong desire to help animals and saw this as a way to combine the two. I wanted a career that provided me with life-long learning challenges and one with a great level of independent thinking and actions.
Q. What did you like about attending UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine?
My years at UC Davis SVM were everything I had hoped for; academic challenges, opportunities to actively learn and practice skills, to get to know clinicians and faculty with diverse backgrounds. It was an exciting time of my life.
Q. What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to vet school?
I would ask two questions.
- “Are you committed to maintaining a rigorous program of self-appraisal and self-criticism regarding the quality of your efforts and your compassion for the welfare of your animal patients throughout your career?”
- “Are you capable of honestly recognizing your mistakes and willing to actively learn from them?”
Q. How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
Have something “unique” to provide. Some interest, talent, goal, background. You need to be able to stand out among a very competitive and competent pool of applicants. Everyone has “good grades” and frankly, you aren’t going into this for a grade. I am never satisfied with a 95%, even a 99% (and those would be good grades on any simple exam). But if one of my cases out of one hundred isn’t cared for properly by me, that’s a failing grade in my opinion.
Q. What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty?
Providing care for my animal patients that always considers their absolute best interests, be it comfort, resolution of the disorder, maintenance of health and wellbeing, and even a gentle, kind, easy passing.
Q. What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
I would hope that each attendee comes away with an increased level of familiarity and greater comfort level in approaching handling, examining and treating a number of small mammal patients. That he or she will have a greater appreciation for the unique aspects of each.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Gandolfi in person at the conference for his presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.