Laura White came to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017 as a clinical instructor but enjoyed showing students how important pathology is to the day-to-day clinical practice of veterinary medicine so much she stayed on as faculty. Dr. White teaches Systemic Pathology to second-year veterinary students and the diagnostics rotation for WSU veterinary students in their clinical year inside the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory where she combines her two passions: teaching and diagnostics. The rotation trains future veterinarians to incorporate pathology into their daily practice and properly utilize veterinary diagnostic laboratories.
What has been your academic/career path leading up to WSU?
I spent several years in clinical practice, but always had a plan of going into anatomic pathology. After completing a residency at North Carolina State University, I came to WSU as a clinical instructor and stayed on as faculty.
What drew you to WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine?
I love having both the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the veterinary school right here. I get to do my two passions – diagnostics and teaching! I can see the direct and immediate impact I have on animal welfare while seeing cases through the diagnostic lab, while also helping to train future veterinarians.
What is your favorite part about being an educator?
I love sharing knowledge. I get really excited about veterinary medicine (pathology in particular, of course!) and it’s really fun to pass that passion on to others. I love it when I can see that spark light in a student’s eyes when they start to understand a difficult concept and see how it fits into the bigger picture of veterinary medical care.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
During COVID, my husband and I purchased a used shuttle bus and converted it into an RV. I insisted on installing a single slab, live edge black walnut countertop, which my husband thought was ridiculous. It looks amazing! We have driven the “party bus” all over eastern Washington and Idaho.