VetCat Graduation Stories: Jeremy Bessett

Our University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine VetCats are ready to embark on their professional paths upon graduation in August. Third-year students are eager to tackle new jobs, internships, and residencies. As their clinical year comes to a close, students like Jeremy Bessett are accepting exciting opportunities to advance in their professional aspirations.

Jeremy has accepted a residency in Clinical Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Veterinary Medicine and his time at Arizona helped him solidify his career ambitions and determine his next steps.

Ready for Residency

We spoke with Jeremy about his interests in pathology and what made him decide to enter this fascinating field.

What are your next steps?

JB: I will be starting a residency in clinical pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Veterinary Medicine. I am excited and proud to be the first student from our university who was accepted to a residency program!

Tell me about your experiences at Arizona that led to your decision to specialize in Clinical Pathology.

JB: For the most part, I knew that I had an interest in pathology, but I liked seeing patients, so before vet school, I was not committed to [pathology]. However, once I got into veterinary school I met and got to work with my current mentors, who helped me realize that I did want to commit to this specialty. I have always found both clinical and anatomic pathology interesting. I like solving the mystery and being able to be the one who often gets the final say in a diagnosis. It was also in veterinary school that I realized that I also really enjoyed teaching and education and that in the future, I wanted to teach the next generation of veterinary students. 

From Aspirations to Achievements

Jeremy reflected on the actions that took him from veterinary student to residency, highlighting the value in establishing strong connections with mentors. Finding a mentor can help a student gain insight into the options available to them.

What advice can you share with students considering pursuing a residency?

JB: I would say that my advice would be to find and establish a strong relationship with a mentor or several mentors in the specialty you are interested in. A strong and positive letter of recommendation means far more than grades do. Doing well in your coursework is important but making good connections and developing strong relationships is going to be critical in obtaining a residency.