Creature Comfort
Ohio Wesleyan Students Volunteer as Veterinary Assistants in Panama
Name: Jocelyn Inderhees '28
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, Indiana
High School: East Central High School
Majors: Zoology, Environmental Science, Pre-Medicine
Minor: Chemistry
OWU Connection Experience: Earning a University-funded grant to support an international career-education experience
Inderhees and Izzy Fry '28 of Dublin, Ohio, used an OWU Theory-to-Practice Grant to support spending three weeks in June in Bocas Del Toro, Panama, volunteering with Floating Doctors as veterinary assistants, "helping the veterinarians with the appointments and tasks for the animals."
My Experience
"Floating Doctors has a one-health approach with the indigenous Ngäbe Communities. Through the vet med side, we work to give antiparasitic to all the animals and encourage sterilization for the cats and dogs. We also made sure the animals were healthy and thriving, especially the farm animals that will be used as food to decrease the risk of illness and parasites in the houses and owners."
I am an aspiring veterinarian, and this was a once-in-a-lifetime, real-life hands-on experience with animals and immersive in a different community.
Why This Opportunity?
"I am an aspiring veterinarian, and this was a once-in-a-lifetime, real-life hands-on experience with animals and immersive in a different community. I learned a lot about how vet med differs in countries across the world as I worked with veterinarians, doctors, and volunteers from all over.
"I also had weekends free to experience life in Panama and immerse myself in the culture and see the beautiful country and do things that are not possible where I am from, such as surfing, snorkeling, and more."
My Favorite Moment
"I got to scrub into a few surgeries and even got to participate in spay and neuters in both cats and dogs. This was eye-opening and allowed me to experience this for the first time. I had to overcome the challenge of being outdoors and not having the typical medication that would be used in the U.S."
Lessons Learned
"I learned a lot about vet med and how to overcome problems of varying sorts, such as not having the proper medicine and equipment to do certain procedures and figuring out what to do for these animals. I learned a lot about the general medicine and veterinarian practice that I otherwise would not get for a few more years, such as running appointments by myself.
"I also had to communicate in Spanish, which I have not taken or spoken for a few years, so relearning the language and immersing myself helped to pull that out again and make me more confident in my communication. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that truly opened my eyes to how fortunate I am and all the ways I can help others."
My Campus Involvement
Inderhees is a member of the Delta Zeta sorority and participates in the OWU Equestrian Club and OWU Pre-Vet Club.
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
"The location and strength of the Zoology program. It is close to the Columbus Zoo and the Ohio State University."
My Plans After Graduation
"Attend vet school to get my DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine)."