What brought you to UPEI? Why did you choose to study here?

I am originally from Windsor, Ontario, Canada. When I was young, my family went on a camping trip to the Maritimes. We drove all around New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. We all very much enjoyed the environment, the friendly people, and the lifestyle. When applying to universities in secondary school, I wanted to be at a university that had a veterinary college, as that was my goal—to become a veterinarian. Furthermore, when I was looking at university rankings of primary undergraduate degrees at the time, UPEI ranked well. Because we had a good experience on that trip years ago, and UPEI fit everything I was looking for in a school, it was a place I wanted to apply to, and I was lucky enough to be accepted into the biology program. 

When did you attend UPEI?

Except for about four and a half months the summer of 2025, I have been at UPEI for a little more than 17 years. I began with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in the Department of Biology (2008-2013), then continued my education by completing a Master of Science (MSc) in the Department of Biology under the supervision of Dr. Marina Silva-Opps and Dr. Sheldon Opps (2013-2018). Following my MSc, I pursued and completed a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) under the supervision of Dr. Spencer Greenwood and Dr. Gary Conboy (2018-2023). It was during the third year of my PhD that I applied and was accepted into the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the AVC, which I then completed in 2025 (2021-2025). I am now a veterinary parasitology resident and postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology at the AVC under the supervision of Dr. Nina Germitsch.

What did you find unique and interesting about your programs?

Because I have completed four programs (and am currently in my fifth) I’ll break it down into each:

Bachelor of Science in Biology: In this program, small class sizes and a wide variety of subjects being taught made for a very diverse, supportive, inclusive, and interesting program. 

Master of Science in Biology: In this program, my curiosity for parasitology was piqued, and I became very invested. The ability to cross-campus collaborate created a great learning environment and provided perspectives from a wide array of specialties. I learned that veterinary medicine does not always mean clinical practice and that veterinarians have such a wide range of specialties and employment opportunities.

Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Sciences: In this program, I learned from Dr. Gary Conboy, one of the world's most recognized morphologic parasitologists. I also learned from Dr. Spencer Greenwood, an incredible molecular parasitologist. Combined, I developed a collaborative, complementary approach to parasitology in an area with unique wildlife parasitic fauna, while furthering my academic experience and collaborative opportunities.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: In this program, I was exposed to an incredible learning environment, where the faculty and staff are genuinely invested in your success. I specifically remember in my first year, one of our professors saying to our class, “The number of students we accept into the program is the number of students we expect, and want, to graduate.” To me, this spoke volumes about the faculty and staff's engagement, willingness to help, and desire to see us all succeed. All the faculty and staff knew everyone by name and were invested in our futures. We learned about many species, careers, techniques, and skills from faculty, technicians, and staff with diverse experiences and specialties.  

Veterinary Parasitology Resident and Postdoctoral Fellow, Pathology and Microbiology: This program, by itself, is unique because it is the first ACVM (American College of Veterinary Microbiology)-approved veterinary parasitology residency program in North America, and I am honoured to be the first resident. In this program, I have already learned so much more about veterinary parasitology. As part of my postdoctoral fellowship, I can continue pursuing my research interests in parasitology.

What kinds of support did you receive during your time here from students, staff, and faculty members?

During my time at UPEI and AVC, the support I've received from fellow students, staff, and faculty members has been incredible. Faculty and staff have always been available to help with courses if needed, provide advice, or, if they were unable to help directly, find someone who could. The faculty and staff across these programs have inspired curiosity, determination, a strong work ethic, excitement for their specialty, and a desire to pursue knowledge. Student support in the programs was also wonderful; classmates were always willing to be thoughtful, kind, and help when you needed it.

"Through incredible mentorship, rigorous training, networking, and countless opportunities, I believe the skills and knowledge I have obtained (and continue to gain) through my various programs have equipped me to pursue these goals, and without them, I would not be where I am right now."

What opportunities have you experienced because you studied here, or because of the Island location?

First and foremost, following my BSc, I was able to pursue a MSc with collaborators at the AVC because my supervisor knew my goal was to become a veterinarian. During my MSc, I had an “ah-hah!” moment and realized that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The goal of being a veterinarian didn’t change, but what I wanted to do with that degree did. During my MSc, I presented my work at our regional parasitology meeting (ACAP – Atlantic Canadian Association of Parasitologists) each year, and presented at AAVP (American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists’) annual meeting in Denver, CO. I was also able to teach various labs in the Department of Biology and help with the Parasitology lab in the DVM program. Following my MSc, I had the opportunity to pursue a PhD in parasitology. During this time, I had many chances to collaborate with other faculty in the AVC, was able to continue presenting at ACAP each year, and was able to present my work at WAAVP (World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology) meeting in Madison, WI. I also published two peer-reviewed papers as the first author and was a contributing author on three others. It was during the third year of my PhD that I pursued my dream of becoming a veterinarian by being accepted into the DVM program at AVC. During my DVM program, I was surrounded by wonderful, like-minded classmates and had the opportunity to make new friends and colleagues. I then completed my PhD in the summer between the second and third years of the DVM program. In the final year of the DVM program, there are numerous opportunities for external learning through various placements and courses. Following the DVM program, I had the pleasure of working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) as a Veterinary Inspector, an experience I enjoyed and from which I learned a great deal. Now, I have been given one of the greatest opportunities and honours I have experienced: acceptance into the first ACVM (American College of Veterinary Microbiology)-approved Veterinary Parasitology residency program in North America. During this program, I have already been able to further my knowledge in veterinary parasitology, connect with colleagues from across North America, learn to become a better educator, and have recently been given the opportunity to serve as a sessional instructor in the DVM program.

What's unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?

UPEI and PEI, in general, are unique because of their people and environments. The people on PEI and at UPEI are incredibly kind, friendly, inclusive, understanding, and willing to help. Small class sizes contribute to a unique experience where your professors and support staff (e.g., technicians) get to know you by name, learn about who you are as a person, and genuinely want to help prepare you for your future and help you achieve your goals.

What would you tell a student considering UPEI?

I would strongly suggest you consider attending UPEI. If you are considering applying for a primary undergraduate degree, you can expect faculty and staff to be engaged, helpful, and willing to assist. Small class sizes, especially in the upper years, create a highly tailored, engaging, supportive, and productive learning environment. Graduate school at UPEI/AVC was a wonderful experience. Faculty and staff inspired excitement, engagement, and curiosity and demonstrated true leadership. I was provided with countless opportunities to learn, network with individuals from around the world, and present at regional and international conferences. My most recent degree was a DVM. I can say with confidence that the education you get from AVC will be thorough, and the faculty and staff are there to help you succeed every step of the way (truly). Overall, the DVM program was a wonderful experience that will challenge you and provide you with a great education to prepare you for your future career as a veterinarian.

Overall, I would encourage prospective students to seriously consider UPEI/AVC for their education because of the quality of teaching and education, wonderful learning experiences, small class sizes, and many opportunities for networking and external (collaborative) experiences. 

How do you feel UPEI has prepared you for your future, and what role has UPEI played in your current successes?

Throughout my experiences at UPEI, the faculty have supported my goals and interests. They have provided me with the excitement, drive, focus, and education I need to pursue my goals of being a board-certified veterinary parasitologist. Through incredible mentorship, rigorous training, networking, and countless opportunities, I believe the skills and knowledge I have obtained (and continue to gain) through my various programs have equipped me to pursue these goals, and without them, I would not be where I am right now.