Road to Graduation | Danasia Perry-Kaliati

As part of our Road to Graduation series, we’re celebrating the journeys of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2025. Today, we’re highlighting Danasia Perry-Kaliati, whose passion for small animal medicine has led her from working as a veterinary technician to becoming an associate veterinarian.

What are your career plans after graduation?

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“After graduation, I will be working as a small animal general practitioner. I will be an Associate Veterinarian at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital, which is located in Georgetown, TX. I previously worked there as a technician, and I am excited to be stepping into this new role!”

How did your educational experiences influence your career path?

“Prior to vet school, I worked in small animal general practice, and I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed seeing a variety of cases—each day was never the same—and I got to build relationships with clients and pets.

During vet school, I considered specializing in cardiology because it was my favorite class, and the organ system that made the most sense to me. I even pursued an externship with a cardiologist to explore whether I wanted to pursue an internship and residency.

However, during my cardiology rotation, I realized I couldn’t spend the rest of my career solely in one area. While I love cardiology, I also enjoy other specialties, emergencies, and preventative medicine. I love feeling like I’m learning something new every day, and general practice gives me that opportunity! I’m glad my clinical year gave me the confidence to choose this path.”

What excites you most about your future opportunities?

“I’m most excited about building relationships with clients! I hope to become a doctor that my clients and patients can rely on during every stage of their lives.”

How did your clinical experiences prepare you for your career in veterinary medicine?

“Throughout clinical year, I prioritized doing a variety of specialty rotations. While I know I want to become a general practitioner, I wanted to gain the skills to confidently handle challenging cases without feeling the need to refer everything out. I completed rotations in cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, surgery, and emergency medicine.

These experiences helped me become a well-rounded doctor and better prepared me to support clients who can’t always afford to see a specialist. I made it a point to communicate my goals before each block, ask how I could learn more, and take initiative every day. My on-site veterinarians always cared about my growth and invested in my education.

For future students: Advocate for yourself! Tell your OSVs, ‘I’m here to learn,’ ask for recommended resources, jump in on cases, and show up ready to work. If you do that, you’ll leave every block more knowledgeable than when you started.”

What advice do you have for future veterinary students?

“To the Class of 2028 and beyond: Do not be scared! Vet school is hard—not everyone can do it—but YOU CAN. That’s why you’re here. You belong here, no matter the road you took to get here.

Make vet school your own! Don’t be afraid to join clubs or apply for leadership positions—they’ll only make you a better doctor. Go to conferences; they’ll open doors you didn’t know existed. And don’t fear clinical year. You won’t really know what it’s like until you get there, but face everything head-on. Every block, every interaction—good or bad—is an opportunity to grow. Best of luck!”

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our Road to Graduation series as we celebrate the determination, resilience, and passion of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2025.