Putting Passion to Practice
An Externship Success Story
For Katie Davidson, LSU Class of 2027, a moment of compassion from her family veterinarian inspired her own dream to become one. During her externship, she took another step toward that dream alongside a supportive practice team.
“That veterinarian is now my mentor,” said Katie. “I wanted to be able to help other people through one of the hardest times in their lives – saying goodbye to their best friends. Animals make the world a better place and are vital to the human experience, so it only felt right to give them back a fraction of what they give to us.”
Her desire to make a difference has only grown stronger throughout veterinary school. Today, Katie is especially passionate about ophthalmology and is fascinated by eyes of every kind – from horses and cows to snakes and dogs.
As she continues through her clinical education, Katie has made it a priority to experience a variety of practice settings, searching for a place that would help shape the kind of veterinarian she hopes to become.
“I wanted to experience a practice that was corporate but more veterinarian-led than corporation-led,” she said.
From the moment she arrived, Katie found a culture that challenged many of the assumptions people often have about corporate veterinary medicine.
“It felt a lot more like a private practice that had more financial flexibility,” she said. “Sometimes corporate practices can feel super regulated and streamlined, but Stonebridge seemed to have a lot of autonomy.”
For Katie, however, what made the externship truly memorable was the people.
That support extended throughout the entire practice.
“The whole team was very positive and patient,” Katie said. “The environment made me feel comfortable to jump in and work on my clinical skills without fear of judgment as I learned new things.”
That sense of psychological safety gave Katie the confidence to strengthen her in-practice abilities, including gaining valuable experience with dental radiography – one of the skills she had specifically hoped to improve.
Beyond the technical skills, the experience gave her something even more valuable: a clearer picture of the kind of mentorship she wants after graduation.
“I was able to gauge what kind of support and mentorship I want when I graduate,” she said. “I want to have the same kind of support behind me that Dr. Smith has.”
Katie also cited Heartland’s support of students beyond the practice walls as a contributing factor when selecting her externship destination.
Looking back, Katie’s externship reinforced exactly why she chose this profession in the first place. It wasn’t simply about learning new procedures or gaining clinical experience. It was about seeing firsthand what compassionate mentorship, supportive teammates, and veterinarian-led medicine can look like – and knowing that’s the kind of environment where she wants to begin her career.
Experience that shapes your future.
From hands-on learning to meaningful mentorship, our customized externships are designed to help you prepare for life after veterinary school. If you’re ready to learn alongside an experienced team in a supportive practice, we’d love to help you find the right opportunity.