Fourth-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student Amanda Rowe is gaining distinctive knowledge and skills in aquatic research at Mississippi 大象APP, specifically through her involvement with the university-based Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security.
Though based at MSU, the center has global impact. An , gave Rowe the chance to travel to Zambia in fall 2021 along with the fish lab鈥檚 Deputy Director Dr. Stephen Reichley.
The Florida native who earned a bachelor鈥檚 in equine therapy at Midway University in Kentucky and completed a pre-health post baccalaureate program at University of California Berkeley, worked alongside Reichley and Zambian researchers to understand diseases impacting the country鈥檚 tilapia and help develop a vaccine to address them. Reichley also is an assistant clinical professor in MSU鈥檚 College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine.
鈥淪tudents who participate in international experiences provided by the Fish Innovation Lab grow professionally and personally from these trips. In addition to that growth, the students are able to gain valuable research experience and lifelong skills,鈥 Reichley said.
Spending four weeks in Zambia, Rowe was able to gain academic credit through an International Aquatics Advanced Clinical Rotation, available to MSU veterinary students. Visits to different farms provided various opportunities for her to learn about and analyze tilapia aquaculture in Zambia.
鈥淎t the different farms, we collected information about aquaculture operations and also collected samples,鈥 she said. 鈥淔or example, we collected fish eggs, fry and fingerling鈥攐r small fish鈥攕amples from a farm that was having a problem with fingerlings displaying odd behaviors and then dying.鈥
The second half of her trip was spent in the lab, where she developed her skills further by processing samples and running analyses.
鈥淚 was able to work with every aspect of my project from the ground up,鈥 Rowe said. 鈥淚 also spent time in the lab conversing with my lab mates, who ranged from students to faculty members. I learned so much from each one of them. They all took the time to ensure I understood every step of sample processing and why it was important,鈥 she said.
Her time in Zambia also provided cultural immersion.
鈥淚 grew on a personal level during this trip,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t expanded my worldview and exposed me to a dramatically different culture than my own. Everyone I dealt with was kind, warm and welcoming. I would love to return to Zambia one day and continue work on this project.鈥
Rowe said MSU鈥檚 DVM program is preparing her to practice veterinary medicine with a well-rounded view of animal health. In addition to her Zambia experience, she recalls a lot of other chances to learn and make lasting memories. One example is when she helped with intake and assessment of cold-stunned sea turtles on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and even was allowed to name one of the turtles, later released with a tracking devise, in honor of her late mother.
She also fondly remembers helping with sea turtle and dolphin examinations at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies during her population medicine rotation. She said the breadth of experiences available to MSU DVM students is a clear advantage.
鈥淏eing in clinics for two years allows us time to hone our analytical and technical skills as we examine, diagnose and treat a wide variety of patients.鈥
听