Hometown: Hockinson, Washington
Undergraduate Degree: Animal science (Oregon State University)
Area of Interest: Equine sports medicine
For as long as she can remember, Maddie Gray has been drawn to horses — a passion that has shaped every step of her path to veterinary medicine. She has set her sights firmly on equine sports medicine, a field where she hopes to combine her love of horses with her drive to continually learn and grow.
“Veterinary medicine is an endless pursuit of knowledge,” Maddie said. “There is always more to learn, and I genuinely love the challenge of trying to learn it all.”
When she isn’t studying, Maddie can often be found barrel racing with her 13-year-old quarter horse gelding, Journey — also known as her “very expensive dog” who has accompanied her through undergrad, veterinary school, and will soon travel with her to Texas. After graduation, she will begin an equine internship at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Salado, Texas, before returning to the Pacific Northwest to join her longtime mentor, Dr. Solomon Benarroch, in an ambulatory sports medicine practice.
At WSU, Maddie has taken full advantage of networking and leadership opportunities through the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (SCAAEP) and the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA). These connections have opened doors across the country, offering her invaluable professional experiences she never imagined before vet school.
Outside of veterinary medicine, Maddie’s adventures range from hiking and rock climbing to a past in Taekwondo, where she earned her third-degree black belt.