"At the end of my program, I will proudly say I am a graduate of the Atlantic Veterinary College."
What brought you to the AVC? Why did you choose to study here?
My parents moved from Japan in 2004, and I have been living in PEI ever since. As an Islander, I've known about AVC since elementary school. I felt so fortunate to live in the same province as the only veterinary school in the Maritimes, and one of only a few in Canada. I did my undergraduate at UPEI in the pre-veterinary biology stream for two years in 2020. It was always my goal to be accepted into the DVM program, and my mind was made up since childhood.
What do you find unique and interesting about the DVM program?
So far, I have felt that the AVC’s DVM program offers a strong support system that helps mentor you through the heavy course load. I feel that the professors and staff at AVC are happy to see you succeed, and provide great mentorship when you feel like you are struggling. The ability to work closely with live animals and in a variety of labs really has helped me advance my confidence levels. The hands-on experience offered throughout the DVM program is a completely different experience than my course load in my undergraduate years.
What kinds of support have you received during your time here from students, staff, and faculty members?
I have found a great support system in my classmates, and the staff at AVC. Everyone on the faculty is also just a single email away, and always happy to provide clarifications and assistance whenever possible. I remember one time, I was struggling with some personal life challenges, and I was able to confide in, and gain support from the AVC community.
"The AVC is truly a wonderful place, with wonderful people working hard to impart their knowledge onto new veterinarians. The professors are genuine in their eagerness to be mentors, and to help you learn and succeed."
What opportunities have you experienced because you're studying at the AVC, or because of the Island location?
The teaching hospital is such an incredible thing to me. There are so many specialty veterinarians to look to for mentorship, and knowledge. Personally, I have been able to become a research student of Dr. Karen L. Overall (a veterinary behaviourist specialist) thanks to her presence at the AVC. There are moments where it hits me that my career path, and future plans would have been drastically different had I not been exposed to the unique opportunities provided to me by my enrolment at the AVC.
What's unique about UPEI, and Prince Edward Island, in your experience?
What I love about PEI has got to be the food! Especially during the warmer months where all the tourism locations open up, there are all kinds of food festivals and outdoor markets. Everyone has got to try some poutine, and the seafood here! PEI is also home to many small business owners, who I love to support at these local markets that happen all year round! What is unique to me about UPEI, are the recent big pushes towards expanding EDI efforts throughout the university. I have seen the positive impacts that UPEI and AVC’s openness to discussing EDI topics has been having recently. I feel that UPEI is moving forward in a great direction!
What would you tell a student considering the AVC and the DVM program?
I would tell this student to be brave and take chances. Take opportunities as they come even if they seem daunting or unfamiliar and new. The AVC is truly a wonderful place, with wonderful people working hard to impart their knowledge onto new veterinarians. The professors are genuine in their eagerness to be mentors, and to help you learn and succeed. While I cannot say that I know what being a vet student in any other university or program would be like, I can confidently say that I have never regretted my choice in coming to AVC, and that at the end of my program, I will proudly say I am a graduate of AVC.
What are your general plans after graduation?
My plans after graduation are to pursue a small animal internship for a year, and work my way to applying for a residency program in veterinary behaviour medicine. I also plan to take a little vacation after my fourth year to celebrate, of course!
Big futures start here!
Read more about the UPEI students and amazing alumni featured in our 2026–2027 Viewbook!
Interested in UPEI? Contact our student advisement team today at apply@upei.ca.
Meet Temiloluwa “Rosetta” Shokunbi, UPEI Sustainable Design Engineering student (Class of 2026).
Meet Tsukasa Iwamoto, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student (Class of 2026).
Meet Hexi Wang, second-year student in the Master of Arts in Island Studies program.
Meet Dr. Dan Fredholm, clinical veterinarian with Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment and AVC DVM graduate.
