Blake Nguyen '08

Growing up on my grandfather’s farm in Vermont’s Champlain Islands, I learned firsthand about managing a dairy herd on a small family farm. I also observed the work of the veterinarian who tended to our animals; not only his medical role in the life of the farm, but his connection to the small

rural communities he served. I was drawn to both the science and
sociology of his work. The work of production animal medicine is very
intellectual work that is also physically challenging; offering an alterna-
tive to the desks and computer screens that often dominate the jobs
of college graduates today. And the social aspects are especially reward-
ing because you work with clients who are grateful, friendly people in a tightly-knit community. Unfortunately, fewer young veterinarians are
entering the field of animal agriculture, even though it now plays a greater role than ever in the areas of food and fiber supply and public health.

As a physics major at Middlebury, I took pre-med classes and considered ‘people’ medicine before I decided on veterinary medicine. During an internship at Porter Hospital, I saw the kind of doctor-patient
relationships that can exist in a rural hospital, and I knew I wanted to combine those kinds of relationships with my interest in dairy farming.
So, veterinary medicine began to emerge as my career choice. Then in my junior year I ‘shadowed’ a local large-animal vet, and had a great summer internship at the Miner Agricultural Institute. It was these ‘real-world’ internship experiences that confirmed my interest in this field, and strengthened my candidacy for veterinary school. My best advice for students is to take advantage of the many experiential opportunities that are available to you at Middlebury while you’re still there. College is the best time to explore different career options and determine which one is for you.