Dr. Castaneda is a laboratory veterinarian at the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases (IND) at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Castaneda completed his veterinary education at Cornell University. With an interest focused on practicing high-quality medicine and contributing to biomedical research, Dr. Castaneda is involved in a broad range of responsibilities including coordination of all animal research projects, management of a diverse technical workforce, long-range planning and development of physical plant and program changes, and advising investigators on animal models and experimental protocols.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
A: Veterinary medicine offered me the ability to use my training in basic science and my passion for working with animals and people, and this way very appealing to me. Also, I really liked the notion of learning how to nurture relationships with my human clients and animal patients. These relationships have enormously enriched my personal and professional life.
Q: What did you like about attending Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine?
A: The people! The staff and professors at Cornell want their students to succeed, and this consistently shows. They push their students to become the best clinicians possible, and they provide the training and resources necessary for this to happen.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: How do you see yourself practicing veterinary medicine 1, 5, and 10 years after graduation?
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: By just being myself! Plain and simple. There is no one out there that is just like you, and no one else can be like you even if they tried. However, definitely spend time highlighting the unique strengths and experiences that will show the admissions committee how you would positively contribute to the dynamics of your potential school and your class.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in laboratory animal medicine?
A: I'm passionate about improving the quality of biomedical research by optimizing the care of animals used in research. I believe that we can do this by continuously improving several factors such as: the environment in which these species are housed in, veterinary care, better education and training of people working with these animals, and strengthening the relationship between the institutions that use laboratory animals and the immediate community which they serve.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference in October?
A: I want them to leave with an understanding that the discipline of Laboratory Animal Medicine will continue to evolve at a fast pace for the foreseeable future, and that our field will benefit from passionate and hard working laboratory animal veterinarians that want to make a positive and lasting impact in this process.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Castaneda at the conference in person on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.
A: Veterinary medicine offered me the ability to use my training in basic science and my passion for working with animals and people, and this way very appealing to me. Also, I really liked the notion of learning how to nurture relationships with my human clients and animal patients. These relationships have enormously enriched my personal and professional life.
Q: What did you like about attending Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine?
A: The people! The staff and professors at Cornell want their students to succeed, and this consistently shows. They push their students to become the best clinicians possible, and they provide the training and resources necessary for this to happen.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: How do you see yourself practicing veterinary medicine 1, 5, and 10 years after graduation?
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: By just being myself! Plain and simple. There is no one out there that is just like you, and no one else can be like you even if they tried. However, definitely spend time highlighting the unique strengths and experiences that will show the admissions committee how you would positively contribute to the dynamics of your potential school and your class.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in laboratory animal medicine?
A: I'm passionate about improving the quality of biomedical research by optimizing the care of animals used in research. I believe that we can do this by continuously improving several factors such as: the environment in which these species are housed in, veterinary care, better education and training of people working with these animals, and strengthening the relationship between the institutions that use laboratory animals and the immediate community which they serve.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference in October?
A: I want them to leave with an understanding that the discipline of Laboratory Animal Medicine will continue to evolve at a fast pace for the foreseeable future, and that our field will benefit from passionate and hard working laboratory animal veterinarians that want to make a positive and lasting impact in this process.
Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Castaneda at the conference in person on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.