Abby Hayden’s passion for veterinary medicine began in high school when she shadowed a local dairy veterinarian, Dr. Jacob Steiger.
“The more time I spent on a dairy, the more I came to appreciate the importance of the relationship between producers, farmers and the veterinarian,” Abby said. “I think that’s why I love large animal medicine so much, and especially agriculture animal medicine, because often the animals we care for are connected to the community and the livelihood of people so deeply.”
Abby’s long-term goal after graduation is to return to her hometown of Lynden, Washington, in rural Whatcom County, where there is currently a shortage of food animal veterinarians. An avid horse lover, she also is drawn to equine medicine.
“When I entered vet school, I thought I wanted to do just production animal medicine, but I rediscovered my love for equine medicine over the last three years. I worked in the equine medicine/surgery department in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital during vet school, which is where I attribute a lot of that,” she said.
A member of the Honors College seven-year pre admit program, Abby is one of a handful of students in the class of 2026 to earn her undergraduate degree and DVM from WSU in just seven years.
Fun Fact: Abby’s childhood home is two miles from the Canadian border where she has a horse, two dogs, a cat, three goats, and a sheep.