To honor her WICHE obligation and to provide care to the pets in her hometown, Toni Bates is returning to Las Cruces, New Mexico, after graduation to work as a small animal and exotic pet veterinarian.
“I want to be a veterinarian because I want to be able to make a difference in the lives of my patients, their families, and my community,” Toni said. “I want to uphold the human-animal bond in my community and utilize my skills and knowledge to benefit that bond between my patients and clients.”
She isn’t making the trip home alone – her partner and fellow fourth-year veterinary student, Jacob Fillman, is moving with her.
Toni largely credits WSU’s simulation program for making her the doctor that she is today.
“Having simulated clients and a safe place to practice a stressful situation where emotions are a major factor really benefited me,” she said. “The critical thinking required for medicine is important, but the ability to take a step back, include the owner, and tackle the issue together is vital to how I want to practice in the future.”
Together Toni and Jacob have seven pets: Penny, a 3-year-old German shepherd spayed by classmate Meg Knox in third-year; kittens Elanor (aka Nori), Vivenna, and Zelda; a crested gecko named Vinsomer; and two goldfish, Orpheus and Achilles (aka A-gill-es).
Fun Fact: Toni is a self-proclaimed “plant nerd.” She owns an estimated 91 plants, which doesn’t include those in her 55-gallon fish tank.