When posed with visiting Disneyland, Universal Studios or Hawaii for her 10th birthday, Maddie Hedrick had another destination in mind – Washington State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Hedrick, an aspiring veterinarian from Lake Tapps, Washington, toured the hospital for her birthday with her grandparents Bill Hedrick (‘77 Business Management) and Stephanie Hedrick (‘77 Business Management). The couple met during their studies at WSU Pullman.
The behind-the-scenes tour, led by hospital director Dr. Raelynn Farnsworth included walkthroughs of WSU’s exotics, small, and large animal sections, the hospital’s new linear accelerator used to provide targeted radiation treatments to animal cancer patients, and WSU’s radiology and surgical departments.
“I just really like animals and I wanted to come to WSU and see how the whole college works,” said Hedrick, who mentioned she plans to attend WSU for veterinary school.
With an exotic pet of her own back home – a 5-month-old lionhead dwarf rabbit named Oscar – it didn’t come as a surprise that among the 10-year-old’s favorite parts of the tour was WSU’s exotics ward, where majority of the hospital’s less traditional pets and wildlife are cared for.
In particular, Hedrick said she enjoyed playing with the hospital’s two treat-motivated blood donor ferrets Pat and Val, marking her first time holding and feeding ferrets.
In WSU’s radiology department, Hedrick looked on as radiologists performed x-rays on a variety of animals and was able to initiate an x-ray herself with guidance from the professionals. Then WSU’s radiology department gave her an animal quiz using x-rays of turtles, snakes, guinea pigs, birds and more.
As a avid horse rider and barrel racer in training, Hedrick also took to the horses in WSU’s equine section.
“I don’t have a horse, but I really like horses,” she said.
Hedrick said the birthday trip gift was promised to her by her grandparents to her when she turned 4 years old, and while the location has changed with time, WSU was always a consideration.
“My other option was Universal (Studios), but I was already thinking about WSU,” she said.
In addition to the tour, Hedrick was given a WSU swag bag with stickers, pens and other WSU stationery and gear.
While on campus, she also visited Ferdinand’s Ice Cream Shoppe for Cougar Gold cheese and one scoop of both mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. She attended WSU’s football victory over Portland State at Gesa Field the following day, where she fell in love with WSU’s unofficial anthem – “Back Home” by Andy Grammer.
“Already she understands why we consider WSU our second home,” said Bill Hedrick. “I believe she will one day establish it as her own home away from home.”
Farnsworth, who was inspired by her parents’ friend who happened to be a veterinarian and frequented his veterinary clinic in Gig Harbor, Washington during childhood, took pride in the tour, noting WSU is all about learning and introducing children to the field is a critical component of veterinary medicine that is only heightened amid a nationwide veterinary shortage.
“Teaching about the care of animals at an early age fosters empathy and responsibility, and really lays the groundwork for a future where children go on to lead careers as compassionate veterinarians,” said Farnsworth. “You need to get them excited about the profession and keep them excited. That’s what my parents’ friend did for me.”