To escape the stressors of veterinary medicine, there’s nothing more soothing to Samantha Heilman than catching a sunrise on an early morning drive through the Palouse.
Just like the drives she loves to embark on, Samantha, a native of Richland, Washington, said in trying times she hopes to provide a moment of calm for her clients.
“So many things are special about this career,” she said. “I get to fulfill my passion for helping animals and the bonds with the people that love them while also practicing rad medicine. I hope to be a moment of calm for owners in emergency situations as I know how emotional veterinary care can become.”
Samantha, an aspiring small animal emergency clinician, said WSU’s emphasis on client communication has put her in a position to be successful in stressful situations.
“WSU’s veterinary program has a focus on building a well-rounded doctor and individual over these four years. The focus on intentional client communication training is a great representation of what we will see in our careers and how to build better relationships with our clients and community,” Samantha said.
Samantha is an outdoor enthusiast who played soccer during her undergraduate tenure at Gonzaga University. She enjoys outdoor rock climbing, backpacking, watching her goldendoodle named Mulligan experience the beautiful planet from its hard to reach places, and, possibly most of all, her mom’s Korean fried chicken and Tteok-bokki.