How Passion Creates Persistence in Veterinary Medicine

For University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine student Justin Smith, the journey to becoming a veterinarian is rooted in a lifelong passion for equine medicine. His love of horses has guided pivotal moments in his life, even in instances when the path ahead seemed uncertain. Like many students, Smith experienced intense clarity about his future career in working with animals but also dealt with stretches of uncertainty and second-guessing when the path forward became difficult or uncomfortable. The key, Smith found, was continually returning to the ambitions and passions closest to his heart. 

An early exposure to animal care combined with family experience in the human medical field began Smith's journey toward veterinary medicine and ultimately, his passion for equine medicine. Having grown up on a ranch in the Tucson area, Smith became intimately familiar with animals and their care at an early age. “My family always had horses, cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and cats, so I always felt at home around animals,” Smith shared. This sense of ‘home’ eventually allowed Smith to develop a strong emotional connection with horses and a keen instinct for their behavior and needs. Although he enjoyed horseback riding throughout childhood, the possibility of pairing his passion for horses with a career in veterinary medicine did not come to mind. It was not until attending the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Arizona that Smith discovered the equine studies undergraduate program and began pursuing the veterinary track. His love for horses guided him forward in this significant educational decision and would continue to ground him as he navigated higher education.  

Energized by the idea of merging his passion with a future career, Smith shadowed a Tucson-area equine veterinarian on the weekends and over his summer breaks. He traveled with the veterinarian to various farms and connected with the people and horses at each location. Of this experience, Smith said, “It was incredible. I got to see new people and new places constantly throughout the day. Being outside and able to constantly move around, not stuck in an office or small space, was very appealing to me.” Getting up close and personal with equine veterinary medicine provided a tangible opportunity to experience a true passion for one’s work. Motivated by this discovery, Smith weighed other avenues of practicing equine medicine and acknowledged his desire for veterinary work in Olympic dressage events. While working on his undergraduate degree, Smith searched for equine-centered employment in the area but found that opportunities were limited. He temporarily laid his equine medicine ambitions aside when faced with the practical need for immediate employment. 

 Undeterred by his career setback, Smith began working in a small animal specialty hospital in the emergency and critical care department to gain experience. During his time, he developed technical capabilities he applies now as a veterinary student. He learned invaluable skills such as anesthesia and diagnostic imaging, became trained as an ICU nurse and cared for countless critical care veterinary patients. His desire to move forward motivated him to learn the most he could because he knew that every essential skill he learned would come up again in veterinary school. He said,  

“I would not be where I am today without those experiences. They advanced my clinical skills and my medical knowledge more than if I would have stayed in just equine. I learned something new every day, and the constant learning and constant growth were very appealing for me as a person.” 

Following his graduation, Smith began the arduous process of applying to DVM programs. Veterinary school is notably difficult to get into simply due to the limited number of colleges and available seats. After being denied acceptance during his first and second application cycles, Smith began questioning whether veterinary medicine was for him. In the meantime, Smith seized an opportunity to manage a multispecialty hospital in Wisconsin where he was able to gain medical and administrative experience, but still felt something was missing. Recalling his love for horses, Smith soon returned to horseback riding while in Wisconsin. “I just realized how much more relaxed and at home I was [with horses]. The things that weren’t working, weren’t working because I was focusing on the small animal side, but where I found home was in the equine side. Riding again kind of brought that passion back to life.”  

After reconnecting with his foundational inspiration, Smith’s spark for veterinary medicine was reignited and he applied for a job as an exercise rider at a show jumping barn. This step eventually led to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at a large equine hospital in New Jersey. When Smith learned the hospital provided the Olympic team veterinary care for dressage events since the 1970s, he was in disbelief. Choosing to pursue his passion for equine medicine presented him with the job he’d dreamed about years before, and he accepted with no hesitation. “It was by far one of the best decisions I ever made in my life,” Smith said. Smith began his work alongside the primary veterinarian serving the US Para-Olympic Dressage Team. He shared, 

“I kind of realized, ‘Oh, this is my big dream, to be working with these horses.’ Every rider I had ever watched at the Olympics on TV and looked up to, I was now working with. It solidified what exactly I wanted to do. I wanted to be an equine vet. I loved that aspect of maintaining these animals and making them the best athletes they can be.” 

Smith’s actualized dream convinced him to apply for a third time to veterinary school and he was accepted into the second class of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine.  

He now serves as a student ambassador, aiming to connect with others who have felt similarly to him.  

“While some people go directly to veterinary school, it doesn’t matter when you get in if this is truly what you want to do. I relate to those different paths. The one thing I wish someone would have told me while I was applying to vet schools is that you may be worried that you need to say what you think the schools want to hear. Tell your own story because it’s unlike anyone else’s. We all have our own story and our own path here.” 

Passion is an essential part of establishing endurance and resilience in a field that can be difficult to navigate emotionally and mentally at times. Smith never lost sight of his passions and resolved to bring himself closer and closer to his dreams, even when the path seemed unclear. Though he may not have seen each next step right away, he allowed his goals and his heart to drive his choices. This introduced him to opportunities he never would have known possible otherwise. As he looks to his future, Smith plans to allow his passion for equine medicine to guide him as he obtains an internship and a sports medicine and rehab residency, and eventually becomes an Olympic and International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) veterinarian. With this Wildcat determination, Smith’s outlook is bright.