Lauren Adolph, originally from Gig Harbor, Washington, is a sophomore majoring in animal sciences. With a strong academic record and clear goals, she only applied to WSU. “I knew that this was where I wanted to go,” she said.
Adolph’s commitment to veterinary medicine began early. Since childhood, she aspired to become a veterinarian, even attempting to spell “veterinarian” in a grade-school scrapbook. In ninth grade, she aligned with mentors and began seeking internships and other programs to help her prepare for veterinary school. After seeing a beloved pet suffer from heart disease, she developed a strong interest in cardiology.
She is actively pursuing her goals through hands-on internships. Last summer, she completed a cardiology internship at a veterinary clinic in the Tacoma area, focusing on cardiac ultrasound. She shadowed a veterinary cardiologist and saw firsthand how a specialty clinic operates every day. In addition to technical skills, she improved her client communication skills and learned effective practice management. She continues to build on these experiences by shadowing veterinary cardiologists at the WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Outside of class, Adolph remains engaged with the interests that inspired her to pursue animal sciences. She participates in Prendergast Pups at WSU, raising and training a service dog through Canine Companions. Over the next year, she aims to teach the dog basic obedience and socialization before the dog transitions to a professional trainer for advanced skills, such as diabetic alert training.
“This program is a great opportunity to get involved on campus,” she said. “I’ve been training dogs for years, and this is something that makes me feel more at home. It is also a good way to give back to the community while also building some volunteer hours.”
Looking ahead, Adolph has a busy summer planned. She hopes to work at an emergency clinic in her hometown, take summer classes, and study abroad in Costa Rica. With each new experience, whether she is learning in a specialty practice, training a service dog, or exploring veterinary work in a new place, she is building skills and perspective to bring back to WSU as she prepares for veterinary school.