Our Students

My name is Summer; I am a current third year veterinary student at Cornell. My primary interests are wildlife and conservation medicine, with a focus on the One Health initiative. This past summer, I was selected for Engaged Cornell’s Team Indonesia. I, along with Abby, a Cornell undergraduate student, were lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in this 2-month internship, traveling throughout various islands within the immaculate archipelago, learning about what conservation and veterinary medicine looks like in this region. During our time there, we were able to learn about and participate in the husbandry and veterinary care of various species, including the Bornean rhino, slow lorises, reptiles, and amphibians! It was interesting to compare and contrast the clinical practices abroad with those in America. In addition to the medical practices, we spent some time in Indonesia speaking with local community members and gained insight into what conservation looks like for them. The human-animal interface is significantly intertwined in the rural communities in Indonesia, leading to various novel challenges such as preventing animal encroachment onto farmland while ensuring the wildlife has adequate resources to thrive. My time in Indonesia was eye-opening; it gave me perspective on how conservation significantly differs in different parts of the world, and I have brought what I learned abroad with me back to the US and hope to be able to incorporate it into my future career as a wildlife/ conservation veterinarian. I am so thankful to Dr. Radcliffe and the Engaged Cornell program for making this experience possible; it was truly a summer I will never forget.