Article by Phoenix writer Michelle Paszek ’24:
On Wednesday, October 6th, the second STEM talk of the year was held in honor of Biology Week. From 3:30 to 4:15 in the Collab Lab, Veterinarian Brittany Perfetto spoke to students who are thinking about going into veterinary medicine or who have a general interest in the subject. She spoke about what it’s like to be a vet and discussed her experiences in the field. She also shared helpful tips for anyone interested in pursuing a career as a veterinarian. “I’ve always wanted to be a vet since I was little”, Sophomore Isabella Parra said. “So when I heard there was going to be a vet at the school who would give a talk, I thought it would be a good idea to go talk to her to see if it was something I would be interested in.”
Dr. Perfetto also aspired to be a veterinarian when she was young. Having graduated from St. George’s University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine last year, she currently works at a general practice clinic in Valley Stream. “Despite the long hours, it’s something I love and I wouldn’t change my career for anything”, Perfetto shared.
With only 28 total veterinary schools in the United States, acceptance to one of them is bound to get competitive. Dr. Perfetto shared her own experience – the first time she applied to St. George’s, she was not accepted due to a lack of experience in the field. However, she didn’t give up and gained experience, leading to her acceptance, graduation, and current successful career as a vet. “Don’t get discouraged if that’s what you really want to do,” Perfetto told the students. “You don’t need perfect grades to be a great doctor.”