Campus Engagement
We’re here to support veterinary students from their first day of school through their first steps into practice. Through events, mentorship, and meaningful connections, we help future doctors explore their passions and build lasting careers.
Meet The Team
Dr. Jessi Farris
VP, Veterinary Career Development
Dr. Brandy Duhon
Director of Campus Relations
Djenaba Prater
Director of Campus Recruiting
Megan McGorisk
Veterinary Externship Manager
Jada Crespo
Campus Recruiter
Eric Barcelona
Campus Recruiter
Connections Beyond The Classroom
Mentorship
Personalized guidance from experienced veterinarians to help you navigate school, career choices, and life after graduation.
Externships →
Put your learning into action in a supportive, hands-on environment designed to build your skills and your confidence.
Student Ambassadors
Represent your peers, and gain leadership experience while connecting students with Heartland opportunities.
Events
From lunch & learns to campus socials, join us for engaging events that focus on learning, networking, and having fun together.
Creating connections that last
Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our campus activities.
Dr. Jessi Farris
VP, Veterinary Career Development
Dr. Farris has experience merging her passion for veterinary medicine with her interest in practice management to connect veterinarians with exciting career opportunities. Following graduation from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Farris practiced as a small animal general practitioner with clinical interests in nutrition, cardiology, and ophthalmology while concurrently completing her MBA at Saint Louis University. She is a previous National President of the Veterinary Business Management Association and currently serves on the executive board for multiple veterinary medical associations.
Megan McGorisk
Veterinary Externship Manager
Born and raised in Michigan, Megan graduated from Michigan State University with her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, with a concentration in Animal Biology and Pre-Veterinary Medicine. Megan has always had a passion for the Veterinary industry and feels more than at home within Heartland. Within her current role, she works both hand-in-hand to support our recruitment team, as well as our student externship program. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, boating, working out, cooking, surfing, and getting together with friends and family.
Jada Crespo
Campus Recruiter
Eric Barcelona
Campus Recruiter
Djenaba Prater
Director of Campus Recruiting
Djenaba has over 20 years of recruitment and management experience. Combining her passion for recruitment and love of animals, Heartland was a perfect fit. Prior to her Sr. Recruiter role at Heartland Veterinary Partners, Djenaba served as Lead Recruiter at Jackson State University, where she held the distinction as one of the top college recruiters in the history of the University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. In her spare time Djenaba loves traveling and is an avid sports fan.
Dr. Brandy Duhon
Director of Campus Relations
In her role with Heartland, Dr. Duhon helps match students with externships and jobs within general practices throughout the Midwest, South, and Southeast that provide excellent mentorship and opportunities for unique career growth. Dr. Duhon embraces her role as a teacher, mentor, and role model for students with and without disabilities. As a child, she was diagnosed with meningitis, resulting in having both her hands and a portion of her foot amputated. Yet, with tenacity and drive, Dr. Duhon pursued her dream career in veterinary medicine. She received her BS from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2005 and her DVM from the LSU SVM in 2013. Since graduating LSU, Dr. Duhon has shared her story with hundreds of future veterinarians to empower them to find their own path in veterinary medicine. In addition to her passions of mentorship and supporting veterinary students, Dr. Duhon’s clinical interests include general practice, shelter medicine, disaster response, and high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter.