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UF veterinary student receives Merck scholarship

UF veterinary medical student Jessica Buchy is shown last year working on a gopher tortoise during her zoo medicine rotation with Dr. Darryl Heard. (Photo by Paul Privette)

Third-year UF veterinary medical student Jessica Buchy is one of 56 students from veterinary colleges nationwide who have received Merck Animal Health Scholarships.

The scholarships, which consist of $5,000 per recipient, were provided through Merck Animal Health in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Through this program, select second- and third-year students pursuing careers in companion animal or large animal medicine were chosen to receive the awards to support their educational endeavors.

A first-generation college student, Buchy is from Arcadia, Florida, and calls her education “one of my most cherished accomplishments.”

“I have volunteered and worked with wildlife for the past 10 years and have a strong passion for wildlife medicine, conservation and zoological medicine,” Buchy said. “This summer I will be completing externships in wildlife and zoological medicine to further my veterinary experience.”

Post-graduation, she aspires to pursue internships and residency in zoological medicine with the long-term goal of making a career in this field.

“I could see myself working at a wildlife rehabilitation center, zoo, academia, government, or wherever my wild path may take me,” Buchy said. “I love educating people about wildlife medicine and the things they can do to help with conservation and/or preventing human-impacts of wildlife injury.”

She said she was interested in the care of all patients, “no matter how big or small, and the positive impact of the human-animal bond between pets, as well as the appreciation of wildlife.”