Hometown: Hall, Montana
Undergraduate Degree: Animal Science (Washington State University)
Area of Interest: Small and Large Animal Medicine, Rural Medicine
Growing up in Hall, Montana — a tight-knit town of just 200 people — with a graduating class of 14, Susanna Kielley always knew she wanted a career where she could serve both people and animals. After earning her undergraduate degree in animal science at Washington State University, she continued her journey at the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where her passion for the human-animal bond and rural veterinary practice continues to thrive.
Drawn to the variety and challenge of mixed practice, Susanna envisions a future working in a rural hospital in the Northwest, serving both large and small animals, with hopes of volunteering her skills in wildlife medicine along the way. Her love for nature extends well beyond her career goals — she has hiked more than 500 miles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and enjoys camping, skiing, rafting, paddleboarding, and just about any adventure the outdoors offers.
Sustainability is another passion she carries into her profession. Her senior paper, which she presented earlier this semester, explores ways veterinary medicine can adopt more eco-friendly and efficient practices. For her, this work is part of veterinarians’ responsibility under the principles of One Health — protecting not only animals and people, but also the environment they share. You can learn more about sustainability options for veterinarians by visiting Susanna’s website.
At home, Susanna shares life with her chocolate lab/pit bull mix, Bug; two horses, Star and Caliber; and her childhood cat, Mittens.