Dr. Daly Russ is a professor and extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University and serves as a State Public Health Veterinarian. Dr. Russ attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and his professional interests include epidemiology of food-animal infectious diseases, zoonotic disease and public health. Click to read more about Dr. Daly Russ.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
A: I grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota around animals, but never entertained veterinary medicine until I was a year into my undergraduate studies. I was not satisfied with the career path I had chosen at the time (engineering) and had my mind open to other possibilities. One day while reading the campus newspaper in my dorm room, I came across an article about a local large animal veterinarian and the light bulb went off! I had come across a career path that would be intellectually stimulating, would allow me to keep a close connection to people involved in animal agriculture, and would allow me to work in a rural or small town setting. I was fortunate to be attending an undergraduate university (South Dakota State) that had a very good pre-veterinary program. All I had to do was to schedule an appointment with a pre-veterinary advisor to get the information I needed, and then I was off!
Q: What did you like about attending Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine?
A: Iowa State was located in a part of the country that was very similar to where I grew up and eventually wanted to work. It was close to home and I knew some of my classmates before beginning the program. I shared interests with a lot of my fellow classmates, many of whom grew up in situations similar to mine.
Iowa State also had a very active student population, and offered many different opportunities to become involved in activities outside the classroom, including student government and specialty organizations. These were great stepping-stones to developing leadership skills I would later use in practice and as a community member.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: What do you hope to get out of your veterinary education? To expand upon that question:
Do you expect to have a level of skill consistent with a capable entry-level veterinarian, or do you expect to have a skill set that exceeds that of the average graduate? If you desire exceptional skills, how will you go about obtaining them in the context of a rigid veterinary school curriculum?
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: I tried my best to highlight the student activities and leadership opportunities I was a part of during my years in high school and undergraduate college. I also wanted to communicate the fact that I was familiar with veterinary medicine and knew what I was getting into.
A: I grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota around animals, but never entertained veterinary medicine until I was a year into my undergraduate studies. I was not satisfied with the career path I had chosen at the time (engineering) and had my mind open to other possibilities. One day while reading the campus newspaper in my dorm room, I came across an article about a local large animal veterinarian and the light bulb went off! I had come across a career path that would be intellectually stimulating, would allow me to keep a close connection to people involved in animal agriculture, and would allow me to work in a rural or small town setting. I was fortunate to be attending an undergraduate university (South Dakota State) that had a very good pre-veterinary program. All I had to do was to schedule an appointment with a pre-veterinary advisor to get the information I needed, and then I was off!
Q: What did you like about attending Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine?
A: Iowa State was located in a part of the country that was very similar to where I grew up and eventually wanted to work. It was close to home and I knew some of my classmates before beginning the program. I shared interests with a lot of my fellow classmates, many of whom grew up in situations similar to mine.
Iowa State also had a very active student population, and offered many different opportunities to become involved in activities outside the classroom, including student government and specialty organizations. These were great stepping-stones to developing leadership skills I would later use in practice and as a community member.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school?
A: What do you hope to get out of your veterinary education? To expand upon that question:
Do you expect to have a level of skill consistent with a capable entry-level veterinarian, or do you expect to have a skill set that exceeds that of the average graduate? If you desire exceptional skills, how will you go about obtaining them in the context of a rigid veterinary school curriculum?
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: I tried my best to highlight the student activities and leadership opportunities I was a part of during my years in high school and undergraduate college. I also wanted to communicate the fact that I was familiar with veterinary medicine and knew what I was getting into.
Q: What would be an interview question you would ask an applicant applying to veterinary school? A: What do you hope to get out of your veterinary education? To expand upon that question: Do you expect to have a level of skill consistent with a capable entry-level veterinarian, or do you expect to have a skill set that exceeds that of the average graduate? If you desire exceptional skills, how will you go about obtaining them in the context of a rigid veterinary school curriculum? Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school? A: I tried my best to highlight the student activities and leadership opportunities I was a part of during my years in high school and undergraduate college. I also wanted to communicate the fact that I was familiar with veterinary medicine and knew what I was getting into. |
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty?
A: Veterinary public health is the true manifestation of the connection between animals and people. We derive so many benefits from animals (and they from us) that it’s critical to keep those connections strong. When zoonotic diseases or other issues crop up that could threaten those connections, it’s critical that we address those issues carefully so that those two-way benefits can continue.
Additionally, in veterinary public health, as well as all parts of the profession, there is so much we don’t know! There are always questions to answer, and those answers usually lead to more questions. In many cases, we need to practice and make recommendations on the basis of limited information. Knowing these limitations (what we know and what we only think we know) is important!
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I hope attendees will realize that there is an emerging world of thought that recognizes that we’re all in this together – animals, people, and their environment. One does not have to be strictly employed as a “public health veterinarian” to foster these connections – most veterinarians serve the public interest every day, in ways even they might not always realize!
You can learn more about Dr. Daly Russ by following this link. Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Russ in person at the conference for his presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.
A: Veterinary public health is the true manifestation of the connection between animals and people. We derive so many benefits from animals (and they from us) that it’s critical to keep those connections strong. When zoonotic diseases or other issues crop up that could threaten those connections, it’s critical that we address those issues carefully so that those two-way benefits can continue.
Additionally, in veterinary public health, as well as all parts of the profession, there is so much we don’t know! There are always questions to answer, and those answers usually lead to more questions. In many cases, we need to practice and make recommendations on the basis of limited information. Knowing these limitations (what we know and what we only think we know) is important!
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I hope attendees will realize that there is an emerging world of thought that recognizes that we’re all in this together – animals, people, and their environment. One does not have to be strictly employed as a “public health veterinarian” to foster these connections – most veterinarians serve the public interest every day, in ways even they might not always realize!
You can learn more about Dr. Daly Russ by following this link. Don't miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Russ in person at the conference for his presentation on Sunday, October 11. To register for the conference, please click here.