International exchange in Chile provides veterinary students with research, clinical experience
A longstanding partnership between the Austral University of Chile and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine gives veterinary students from both institutions valuable practical and cultural experiences.
As part of this program, two fifth-year students at the Austral University of Chile spend three months developing research experience at Virginia Tech. In exchange, two fourth-year veterinary students spend three weeks in Chile completing a rotation. Both institutions work to ensure that the students’ exchange experience aligns with their career interests.
"They're going to work with farm animals, wildlife, equine reproduction,” said Fransisco Carvallo, clinical associate professor of veterinary pathology at the veterinary college and the coordinator for the program “One of our students is interested in becoming a dairy veterinarian, and so in Chile, she can go to different farms every day and to do all the veterinary work."
The collaboration between the two universities began in 1996 with a veterinary faculty exchange facilitated by former dean of the college and Professor Emeritus Gerhardt Schurig. Working with Virginia Tech Outreach and International Affairs, Schurig expanded the program universitywide, and now colleges across the university collaborate with the Chilean institution.
For the Chilean students, the program also offers a pathway to a graduate education at the veterinary college. The competitive application process selects high-achieving students.
"The idea is to identify and recognize the outstanding students in that university that would like to continue a career in research" said Carvallo.
Fifth-year Chilean student Alejandra Soto Lomboy worked with Sophie Bogers, clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery. With Bogers, she evaluated the cellular composition of two equine platelet-rich plasma preparation methods to determine the amount and type of cytokines present, which can help optimize therapeutic protocols for treating equine injuries.
“During these three months, I learned about the thought process and workflow behind a research study,” said Soto Lomboy. “I developed hypotheses and objectives, I acquired numerous laboratory skills, and I made lasting connections with wonderful people. I feel very grateful for this opportunity. I gained more confidence in my academic skills, and I was able to clarify what I want for my future, which is to continue my studies and work in research,”
While working at the Center for One Health Research under the supervision of Roger Ramirez-Barrios, clinical associate professor of veterinary parisitology, Chilean student Agustín De la Barra examined fecal samples for respiratory parasites before moving on to the Shared Laboratory, where he learned how to perform molecular tests such as DNA extraction and sequencing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction testing.
“I was able to develop both personally and professionally, and the thing I liked the most was that I had a lot of time to work on myself,” De la Barra said. “This was a great opportunity for me to grow and realize that it is not needed to speak a language perfectly to be able to communicate.”
Visa requirements prevent the Chilean students from working in a clinical capacity, but the program gives them research experience they couldn’t gain at their home university. Likewise, completing a rotation in Chile allows the American students to expand their clinical skills in unique ways.
Fourth-year veterinary student Allison Bishop worked under Migel Salgado in the Veterinary Infectious Diseases Laboratory, studying the bacteria Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in dairy calves in Chile’s Los Ríos region. The bacteria causes Johne's disease, an infection of the small intestine of ruminants. Working alongside doctoral student José Miguel Hernández Agudelo, she collected and tested samples from dairy calves, dairy cows, and environmental samples from dairy farms.
This program isn’t just an exchange of resources and knowledge, but of culture as well. Both Bishop and Ana Ryan talked about the thrill of exploring the area and eating delicious food.
“I essentially got to be a Chilean veterinary student for three weeks,” Ryan said. Overseeing a sheep herd, she worked alongside her fellow students to perform physical exams, fecal analysis, and pregnancy checks. During her first week in Chile, she traveled to a large dairy farm to take samples for Professor Pilar Sepúlveda’s research project, giving her the opportunity to experience how a large dairy operation functions and insight into the lives of the veterinarians who work there.
“Through this experience I’ve gained an international network of friends in veterinary medicine. Not only did I learn, but the students learned from me as well. I highly recommend this type of experience to all students,” said Ryan.
The partnership between the universities doesn’t just affect students — Carvallo, who is from Chile, will travel to the Austral University of Chile for two weeks this August to teach.
