VetCat Graduation Stories: Ashley Sembach
Celebrating our VetCat Journeys: Where They Are Going
With graduation approaching in August, University of Arizona VetCats are preparing for their lives after graduation. After three years of intense learning, third-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students are ready to start the next chapter and take their expertise into their communities. Ashley Sembach discovered a passion for small animal emergency medicine and urgent care during her time at Arizona, and she intends to grow her skills with a yearlong internship at Gilbert Queen Creek Emergency and Specialty Center. We got a chance to speak to her about her personal journey through veterinary school and into emergency medicine.
Post-Grad Plans
Ashley initially planned to go into equine medicine, but as she shadowed one of her professors, she discovered that emergency medicine was an excellent fit for her. Her experiences in veterinary school gave her the confidence to pursue her new goal of working in the fast-paced, team-oriented world of emergency medicine and urgent care.
What are your plans for after graduation?
AS: My plan is to work in small animal emergency for a few years but eventually transition into general practice/urgent care! I’ll complete a yearlong internship at Gilbert Queen Creek Emergency and Specialty Center in Phoenix.
How did your educational experiences influence your career path?
AS: Coming into my first year, I was fairly certain that I’d continue working towards my passion for equine theriogenology, but after getting the opportunity to shadow one of our professors, I fell in love with small animal emergency medicine. I love the fast-paced environment and how it always keeps me on my toes. Oftentimes, we see patients and their owners on the worst day of their lives, but I find it incredibly fulfilling to be the person who is there supporting them during such a difficult time. Helping people is just as important to me as helping their pets, and you truly can’t have one relationship without the other. The focus that our school puts on being a day-one-ready veterinarian really helped me to believe in myself and my abilities, which ultimately led me to pursue ER medicine. Through the hands-on experience we get from week one to the client encounters we complete through the end of year two, I truly believe in my ability to be the best person I can be not only for myself and my team but also for my future patients and their owners.
What aspect of your future opportunities excites you the most?
AS: I’m most excited for the relationships I’ll build. Not only with the veterinary team but also with the clients. We truly help owners just as much as we do their pets and I find that to be an incredibly rewarding experience.
What inspired your choice to stay in Arizona?
AS: I’m originally from the Midwest and really wasn’t expecting to fall in love with the desert like I did! I love the warm weather, and being able to stay active year round is a huge plus for me, but the biggest draw has been all the opportunities I’ve had.
Clinical Year Experiences
In students' third year of veterinary school, also known as their clinical year, they complete required and optional rotations at various veterinary clinics. This hands-on clinical experience allows students to develop vital skills they will use daily in their careers. Ashley completed a clinical rotation at Gilbert Queen Creek and discovered it was the perfect fit for her goals. She was offered an internship in which she will grow as an emergency veterinarian.
Can you share how your clinical year experiences have equipped you for your veterinary career?
AS: Clinical year taught me more about myself than I could have ever expected. This year really pushes you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new and sets the foundation for the doctor you will be in the future. I’ve been able to not only practice my clinical skills but have also been able to improve upon my communication both with clients but also with the veterinary team as a whole. It has not always been easy, but I know it will be worth it in the end.
How did your clinical experience at Gilbert Queen Creek prepare you to work there?
AS: I’ll be completing a yearlong internship at Gilbert Queen Creek Emergency and Specialty Center, which is a CORE rotation for us. My time at GQ was nothing short of amazing. The facility is top-notch, and the staff is absolutely incredible. Having so many doctors to bounce ideas off of or even just discuss cases is incredibly valuable as a soon-to-be new grad. From day one, I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of the clinic, and I really appreciate their passion for teaching the next generation of doctors. I am really looking forward to seeing how much I grow in the next year!
Advice from Ashley
After three years in veterinary school, Ashley has developed some VetCat wisdom. Here's her best advice.
What advice would you give to a first-year student?
AS: The best advice I can give to a first-year student is don’t blink; three years go by quicker than you think. Embrace every second, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You’ll meet some of the most amazing people who will become such an invaluable part of your life. It’s going to be hard; you’ll question yourself more often than you’d like to admit, but at the end of the day, you deserve to be here. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and above all else, enjoy the ride because it’ll be over before you know it.