Dr. Susan Choy is a veterinarian that specializes in the care of birds. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine. Find out about her training in avian medicine and her early experience of keeping birds in her college dorm room that later led to a profound experience in deciding to pursue avian medicine as a career. Finally, find out she why believes obtaining veterinary medicine experience before veterinary school is so important to future success in the field.
Q. What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
When I was in high school, my favorite classes were biology and physiology. My parents were not “animal people” but they let me rescue a small terrier pup from a soup pot (our neighbors were recent immigrants) and I was the one responsible for her care. Visits to the veterinarian were my first exposure to the profession.
I entered UC Davis as a zoology major. While living in the dorms, suffering from animal withdrawal, I got a pair of zebra finches to go with the lab rats I had rescued from a zoology lab. Eventually I had a little side business selling baby finches and soon cheeping sounds could be heard throughout the dorm complex. When one of the finches became egg bound and I took it the the VMTH where it was successfully treated. This positive experience introduced to me to avian medicine and I changed my major to Avian Sciences my sophomore year. During the summers I worked as an assistant breeder at Sonoma World of Birds and learned about the pet bird trade and hand rearing parrots. All this reaffirmed my desire to practice avian medicine.
While working as a licensed animal health technician after graduation (yes, the road to veterinary school was a long one and I had a gap between college and vet school) I had a blue fronted amazon that was bitten by one of my own dogs. I took the bird to my place of employment and as the doctors stood around unsure of what course of action to take the bird expired. The bird probably would have died anyway but what struck me was the lack of knowledge that these doctors demonstrated when faced with an avian emergency. I decided then that I wanted to be an avian veterinarian so other bird owners might not be faced with the same situation.
Q. What did you like about attending the University of California, Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine?
The Class of ’86 was very cohesive and it was inspiring to be with a group of people all with similar goals and backgrounds. There was a sense of ease since the hard part (getting admitted into veterinary school) was over. I allowed myself to participate in extracurricular activities like sports (our class had a volleyball team and a softball team), and camping and ski trips with the classmates. During the summers I worked in the radiology department, attending rounds and assisting in the clinic as well as helping professors with their research work. This was a great advantage, as I got to know the clinicians and how the hospital functioned before I was there as a junior. As a veterinary school, UC Davis provided an excellent foundation that prepared me well for practice.
Q. What would be an interview question you would ask an applying to veterinary school?
“What kind of veterinary experience do you have?” We had classmates that had never worked for a veterinarian and I know graduates of the program who are no longer in the field. It is a huge investment for the school and for the individual that I feel it is very important for applicants to have some idea of what veterinary medicine entails on a day to day basis.
Q. How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
I felt that having a BS degree in Avian Sciences and my other avian experience would be unique and help me to stand out. At the time there was a shortage of veterinarians with an interest in birds and exotics. I added diversity to my resume by having a research background, having participated in a study at the raptor center, a psittacine research project at the Sacramento Zoo and a veterinary project with a flock of cockatiels at the Department of Avian Sciences. I also felt that being a registered animal health technician for two years would hold some weight.
When I was in high school, my favorite classes were biology and physiology. My parents were not “animal people” but they let me rescue a small terrier pup from a soup pot (our neighbors were recent immigrants) and I was the one responsible for her care. Visits to the veterinarian were my first exposure to the profession.
I entered UC Davis as a zoology major. While living in the dorms, suffering from animal withdrawal, I got a pair of zebra finches to go with the lab rats I had rescued from a zoology lab. Eventually I had a little side business selling baby finches and soon cheeping sounds could be heard throughout the dorm complex. When one of the finches became egg bound and I took it the the VMTH where it was successfully treated. This positive experience introduced to me to avian medicine and I changed my major to Avian Sciences my sophomore year. During the summers I worked as an assistant breeder at Sonoma World of Birds and learned about the pet bird trade and hand rearing parrots. All this reaffirmed my desire to practice avian medicine.
While working as a licensed animal health technician after graduation (yes, the road to veterinary school was a long one and I had a gap between college and vet school) I had a blue fronted amazon that was bitten by one of my own dogs. I took the bird to my place of employment and as the doctors stood around unsure of what course of action to take the bird expired. The bird probably would have died anyway but what struck me was the lack of knowledge that these doctors demonstrated when faced with an avian emergency. I decided then that I wanted to be an avian veterinarian so other bird owners might not be faced with the same situation.
Q. What did you like about attending the University of California, Davis - School of Veterinary Medicine?
The Class of ’86 was very cohesive and it was inspiring to be with a group of people all with similar goals and backgrounds. There was a sense of ease since the hard part (getting admitted into veterinary school) was over. I allowed myself to participate in extracurricular activities like sports (our class had a volleyball team and a softball team), and camping and ski trips with the classmates. During the summers I worked in the radiology department, attending rounds and assisting in the clinic as well as helping professors with their research work. This was a great advantage, as I got to know the clinicians and how the hospital functioned before I was there as a junior. As a veterinary school, UC Davis provided an excellent foundation that prepared me well for practice.
Q. What would be an interview question you would ask an applying to veterinary school?
“What kind of veterinary experience do you have?” We had classmates that had never worked for a veterinarian and I know graduates of the program who are no longer in the field. It is a huge investment for the school and for the individual that I feel it is very important for applicants to have some idea of what veterinary medicine entails on a day to day basis.
Q. How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
I felt that having a BS degree in Avian Sciences and my other avian experience would be unique and help me to stand out. At the time there was a shortage of veterinarians with an interest in birds and exotics. I added diversity to my resume by having a research background, having participated in a study at the raptor center, a psittacine research project at the Sacramento Zoo and a veterinary project with a flock of cockatiels at the Department of Avian Sciences. I also felt that being a registered animal health technician for two years would hold some weight.
Q. What makes you passionate about your specialty? I feel that I provide a much needed service that is not readily available to all. There are a few other veterinarians that treat exotics in my region but we are scattered throughout our geographical area. I have owners that will drive an hour to see me. The field of avian medicine has progressed significantly since I entered the profession. I appreciate the collaborative atmosphere amongst my colleagues which is a holdover from the days when a great deal of information was based on personal experience. Today we have more science based medicine to rely on, although our personal experiences are still relevant. Practicing avian medicine can be challenging. Dog and cat medicine can get routine and I appreciate the atypical demands that avian medicine presents. There is no greater reward than a successful outcome on a difficult case. Finally, I have a passion for my patients. These are prey animals for the most part and require a different approach to most domesticated pets. It is rewarding when I can put these feathered patients at ease. |
Q. What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
I would like the attendees to have an understanding of how avian and exotic practice is different from a dog and cat practice with all of its advantages and disadvantages, so that the decision to pursue this field is made with some knowledge. I would also like to give them some guidelines on how to prepare for a career in avian medicine prior to, during and after veterinary school.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Choy in person at the conference for her presentation on Saturday, October 10. To register for the conference, please click here.
I would like the attendees to have an understanding of how avian and exotic practice is different from a dog and cat practice with all of its advantages and disadvantages, so that the decision to pursue this field is made with some knowledge. I would also like to give them some guidelines on how to prepare for a career in avian medicine prior to, during and after veterinary school.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Choy in person at the conference for her presentation on Saturday, October 10. To register for the conference, please click here.