CARLY RAPHAN
I'm Carly Raphan! Currently enrolled in Ross University's School of Veterinary Medicine, aspiring to begin my career as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine! While living in St. Kitts, I've had the opportunity to work with and appreciate the island’s horses and donkeys, solidifying my passion for equine medicine.
I love hiking with my cattle dog, Layla, learning about nature, and astronomy. I am also passionate about dogs, cows, and wildlife conservation.
Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Since I began at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2024, I’ve had the opportunities to gain incredible hands-on experience, further strengthening my passion for veterinary science! Through clinical and surgical experiences, I have assisted with donkey and horse catheter placement, sedation, induction, intubation, anesthesia monitoring, and post-operative care. I've also volunteered in clinical-based research, studying the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of yohimbine in donkeys, deepening my appreciation for research and evidence-based medicine.
Outside of the classroom, I have loved being involved in SCAAEP, Donkey Club, Pathology Club, VIDA, VBMA, and Integrative Medicine Club. Through these experiences, I have performed dental floats and radiographs, assisted with farrier work and freeze branding, participated in necropsies and histology reviews, performed fine needle aspirates on canine lymph nodes, and was involved in VIDA's community outreach efforts. In addition to the practical skills I’ve learned, I participated in other valuable extracurricular learning opportunities, such as educational lectures and clinical discussions.
Over the past six semesters, I have learned so much both clinically and personally, and I cannot wait to continue growing throughout my veterinary career!
Stay up to date with some of my experiences below!
CREAM Dairy Farm
During the Summer of 2022, I had the opportunity to work on UVM's Dairy Farm with CREAM. The connection I built with our cows and the wonderful people I’ve met made this experience something I will never forget! I couldn't have asked for a better way to start my journey in the animal science field!
Besides personal-skill building, learning to milk, and work on a dairy farm of 100 Holsteins, I was able to soak in so much medical information from our advisor, Dr. Stephen Wadsworth, DVM. Several times a week we had the luxury to participate in his lectures and team meetings focused on bovine medicine and our herd’s health. Topics learned and applied were: physical exams, artificial insemination, reproductive cycles, calf care, nutrition, common dairy herd pathologies, biosecurity, and so much more!
In addition to our farm work, I was thrilled to join the UVM Show Team to walk one of our calves, Addison, in a 4-H livestock event at the Addison County Fair & Field Days in Vermont! Weeks of preparation included grooming, lead-training, and a focused diet for our showing cows. It was so enjoyable to work with other animal lovers and watch everyone perform after weeks of hard work. This fair exposed me to the dedicated community of Vermont farmers. It was truly riveting to see some of their lives' work come to fruition.
Check out some photos from my experience!
From 2022-2024, I worked overnight as an ER+ICU Veterinarian Assistant at Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists (BEVS). Kicking off my clinical experience at an emergency animal hospital has been nothing short of transformative.
Working in a fast-paced environment became my training ground, expanding my knowledge and developing new skills. Each shift brought on new challenges, that not only strengthened my critical thinking and decision making, but also fueled my passion for providing the best possible care for animals and their families.
I am immensely proud of the skills I acquired and the resilient compassion I learned during moments of crisis. Skills built and refined include: client communication, triage, ER/ICU/isolation patient diagnostics, husbandry, and treatments, surgical preparation, scrubbed-in assistance, and post-op care, CPR and after-life care. Beyond technical skills, I really value the art of effective communication with both clients and coworkers that BEVS has taught me. I couldn't be any more thankful for my mentors and for being a part of both a supportive and inspiring work culture.
Enjoy these photos of some peaceful moments!
