2009-2010 Externship Recipients
Past Externship Recipients
2013-2014 | 2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011 | 2009-2010
Kansas State University
MAAF Externship Fund:
Amy Hanson is this year’s recipient of the externship award. Amy volunteered to help check in animals at
the Mid America Alpaca show in the fall of 2008. It
was this introduction that started her interest in alpacas. Amy will spend her externship working in Colorado with Dr. Toni Cotton.
MOPACA Scholarship:
Andrew Crisler was awarded the MOPCA scholarship
for 2009. Andrew is president of the small ruminant
club on campus. After spending time working on an alpaca farm his interest in camelid medicine expanded.
University Of Missouri
MAAF Externship Fund:
The externship fund was utilized by three students to attend Dr. Toni Cotton’s Neonatal seminar held at the MOPACA show.
Jessica Byrd has purchased a mixed animal practice in Eminence, Missouri and will start at the practice in June of 2009. The nearest vet is fifty miles away. “I am very excited to be working with llama, alpacas, equine, bovine and small animals.
Ashley Vincent grew up in Delaware and did her undergraduate work in Pennsylvania. Upon graduation she would like to focus on internal medicine. Ashley is a member on a number of clubs on campus, Phi Beta Veterinary Society and Veterinary Research Scholar’s Program.
Laura McKee was raised on a small farm just east of Kansas City in Orrick, Missouri. After graduation she will be working at a mixed animal practice, Renfro veterinary Services in Richmond, Missouri. "I am interested in bringing more camelid medicine into the practice".
3rd Annual Combined Camelid Health and Management Conference:
Four veterinary students from the University attended the conference . Fees for the conference were covered by the Externship Fund. A total of six students have been able to access fund s for off campus camelid education.
MOPACA Scholarship:
Joshua Schaeffer is a member of the Class of 2010 at the College of
Veterinary Medicine-University of Missouri. Josh grew up in Oregon, MO,
where he attended South Holt R-1. While in high school, he was involved
with the National FFA Organization. Working with his family on his
grandparents' farm, Josh established a strong interest in veterinary
medicine. After graduating high school in 2002, Josh attended Truman State
University in Kirksville, MO. While at Truman State, he lived and worked at
the University Farm. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Science with a
Pre-Veterinary Medicine emphasis in 2006. During veterinary school, Josh has
continued to pursue an interest in production animal medicine. Through
these experiences, he has developed an interest in camelid medicine. After
receiving his D.V.M, Josh plans to practice to veterinary medicine in rural
Missouri for a few years. He then hopes to obtain a residency in large
animal internal medicine, and eventually enter academia.
Oklahoma State University
MAAF Externship Fund:
I am currently a second year veterinary student. I have a Bachelors in Animal Science from Brigham Young University. I am from Akron, Ohio. Upon graduation I will do camelid medicine in a small ruminant or mixed animal practice. I was introduced to alpacas when I was 14 while volunteering at the Akron Zoo. I spent my undergraduate time working on growth metabolism research and genetics research in llamas and alpacas. I enjoyed my experience immensely and realized that these animals needed veterinarians who understood their unique needs. With these funds, I am now able to attend internships in Ohio and Colorado that will allow me to get further training that is outside the veterinary curriculum.
Laurel Tegland-Tree
Class of 2011, Oklahoma State University
AASRP President
MOPACA Scholarship:
I am currently a second year veterinary student at Oklahoma State University. I earned a BS degree in Animal Science from Montana State University in 2005. I am originally from Anaconda, Montana. It is a town of about 9,000 people in southwestern Montana. After graduation I would like to work in a rural mixed practice that is predominately food animal; including cattle, horses, small ruminants and camelids.
I enjoy spending time working and riding horses on my family's ranch in MT. Also, I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and reading.
Nicholas J. Johnson
Class of 2011, Oklahoma State University
I was introduced to alpacas and llamas when I began volunteering at the Akron Zoological Park when I was 14. I was assigned to their care, and to train them to be led in an upcoming parade and for zoo visitors to be able to pet them. I continued at the zoo until I graduated from high school, increasing in my responsibilities and won an award based on my volunteerism. I next encountered camelids my first day of college. I asked the Brigham Young University veterinarian to allow me to shadow her. She took me to visit a research trial of anesthesia on alpacas and llamas. I demonstrated my ability to handle the animals and by the end of the day I was hired as a research assistant.
In Bolivia, I mentored a Bolivian undergraduate student in llama nutrition research in Viacha. I learned there how necessary llamas and alpacas are to the native Aymara people of the Altiplano. It was after this amazing experience I knew I wanted to specialize in camelid medicine during veterinary school. After Bolivia, I moved to BYU’s Applied Animal Molecular Genetics lab and began work on characterizing the Melanocortin 1 receptor in alpacas and llamas. During my year in the Genetics lab, I applied to veterinary school. I was accepted to Ohio State University as a member of the Class of 2011. I worked with a resident in camelid medicine and did a retrospective study of Caesarean sections and their affect on future breedings, conception or dystocias. I presented my research at the International Camelid Health Conference at Ohio State. This work demonstrated that camelid Caesarean sections may have no effect on future pregnancies, and set the foundation for a prospective study. I spent one year at Ohio State, before I transferred to Oklahoma State University where the experience is superior.
Last February, I worked with Dr. Lionel Dawson and a few other students to start a student chapter of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP) at Oklahoma State University. As President of AASRP, we have organized a variety of speakers and hands-on labs. These have included llama handling lab and alpaca castration labs.
Last summer I spent a week with Dr. Pam Walker of Alpaca Jack’s Suri Alpaca Farm in Ohio. I enjoyed the experience immensely as I was able to learn by hands-on doing. I also attended Midwest Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association’s Winter Seminar with lectures by Dr. Ahmed Tibrary. This coming fall, I have been accepted to participate in Oregon State’s Llama Medicine and Surgery Course. It consists of hands on-training during the two week course. I am also planning on spending 2 weeks with Dr. David Anderson at Kansas State University and another 2 weeks with Dr. Pam Walker of Alpaca Jack’s Suri Alpaca Farm.
Upon graduation, I believe that my experience will make me a good member of a mixed animal practice with an emphasis on camelids and small ruminants. I also plan to return to academia to pursue a residency and doctoral degree in camelid medicine. From my experience in Bolivia, I know there is more we can do for alpaca and llama production medicine. My goal is to give that knowledge to Americans and Bolivians for their benefit.
Thank you for the gift of your scholarship,
Laurel Tegland Tree
Class of 2011
Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences
I became interested in alpacas through the chapter of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners at Oklahoma State University. Early in 2011, I will travel to the La Raya Research Center in Cusco, Peru – an institute devoted to alpaca and llama research and production- and work with Dr. Walter Bravo – one of the preeminent camelid veterinarians in the world. This is the peak of the alpaca birthing season in Peru, and I will gain hands on experience with everything from breeding soundness exams to parturition and cria medicine.
I would like to thank the Mid America Alpaca Foundation for helping to make this externship possible through its scholarship program. This experience will allow me to enter the veterinary profession more prepared to care for my alpaca patients. After graduation, I intend to become a large animal practitioner in a rural area…hopefully either in Oklahoma or Missouri. I am eager to begin working with alpaca owners to help provide excellent veterinary care for their animals.
Dana Lagaly
Class of 2011
Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences