Veterinarian student Alexandra Ponkey was in the operating room, navigating the camera and surgical tools during a laparoscopic surgery on a 2-year-old German Shepherd named Jackie. It was her last day as a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. As part of her laparoscopic procedural class, Ponkey took on the role of primary surgeon to spay the dog and remove its ovaries. However, before she could graduate and become a licensed veterinarian, she had to assist another student as they took on the role of primary surgeon. At 34, Ponkey had left her career in teaching horse riding and care to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian. The hands-on classes at Western University represented the first step towards achieving that dream, and now her new skills were in high demand.
The shortage of veterinary professionals in California and across the nation was a growing concern, with high turnover rates, rising student debt, and an increase in pet ownership due to the pandemic. According to John Tegzes, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Western University, the demand for veterinary services was on the rise, leading to a lack of medical care available for pet owners. This lack of care resulted in overcrowded shelters, a rise in pet illnesses, and an increasing rate of euthanized animals. The pandemic had accelerated a crisis that had been brewing for decades, with the demand for veterinary services increasing exponentially in Southern California.
As Ponkey prepared to enter the field as a licensed veterinarian, she was aware of the challenges that awaited her. The high suicide rate among veterinarians was a concern, with veterinarians being up to four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The balance of care that veterinarians must shoulder, not only for the pets but also for the owners and themselves, contributed to the high rate of suicide in the field. Despite the challenges, Ponkey remained determined to specialize in surgery after completing veterinary school. She planned to work as an intern in a hospital, knowing that the salary of a hospital intern was much less than that of a full-fledged veterinarian. However, she had already paid off her undergraduate tuition with money earned as a professional equestrian, giving her a unique perspective on her career path.
