Hometown: Eatonville, WA
Undergraduate degree: Animal Science (Washington State University)
Area of interest: Large animal medicine, especially small ruminants
Petra Cole doesn’t have to look far to find inspiration for her future in veterinary medicine. Along with her 10-year-old border collie, Kona, she has a small flock of sheep, including a favorite Targhee ewe named Tammy.
Her experiences with animals have helped shape not only her interest in veterinary medicine, but the kind of veterinarian she hopes to become.
“There are many experiences and people who have shaped why I want to be a veterinarian and what kind of veterinarian I want to be,” Petra said. “I want to be a veterinarian because it is one of the most rewarding jobs that encompasses helping humans and their animals, fostering the human-animal bond, and being a trusted resource that my community can rely on.”
Petra’s interest in large-animal medicine, particularly small ruminants, has influenced her career goals. She hopes to pursue mixed animal practice with an ambulatory component, allowing her to visit farms and care for animals in their home environments.
Her favorite thing about WSU? Easily the people.
“My classmates are all wonderful; each has their own niche and interests, which is the perfect networking system for when we are dealing with a tough case and need another perspective,” she said.
Outside the classroom, Petra enjoys watercolor painting. She began at 16 and has since painted pet portraits for classmates and professors.
Fun Fact: Petra is among the top 0.05% Elvis listeners on Spotify, and she watched all 31 of his movies in 31 days.