Volunteering helped Saskatchewan student see variety in veterinary profession

When Marley was in high school, his mother convinced him to make the most of his free periods in Grade 12 by volunteering at a veterinary clinic near Regina, Sask.

“From there, I chased every volunteer opportunity I could find, whether it meant driving an hour each way to Melville or spending the summer working on my family’s dairy farm in B.C.,” says Marley, who is now a first-year veterinary student at the WCVM.

“There was no obligation or requirement from me as a volunteer to be anywhere specific in a clinic, so I was always able to be involved in the coolest experiences and gain a true understanding of veterinary medicine.”

Marley grew up on an acreage near Balgonie, Sask., where he cared for a menagerie of pets that included dogs, cats, turtles, rabbits and birds. He had often envisioned a veterinary career that would enable him to make a difference for animals, and his volunteer experiences only confirmed that ambition.

Marley’s favourite moments at the Melville Veterinary Clinic involved emergency work — he often accompanied clinic owner Dr. Zachary Johnson (DVM’16), a WCVM graduate, on emergency calls. Marley recalls helping with procedures that forced him out of his comfort zone while allowing him to get hands-on experience with large animal medicine.

In addition to his volunteer work, Marley spent two summers working at the Victoria Veterinary Clinic in Regina, Sask. The experience greatly enhanced his communication skills, and he particularly enjoyed the opportunity to attend appointments with the clinicians and observe their approaches to making medical decisions.

Both Johnson and Dr. Denita Shtuka (DVM’87), owner of the Victoria Veterinary Clinic and another WCVM alumnus, became valued mentors for Marley. He appreciates that both clinicians took time out from their busy schedules to provide him with knowledge, opportunities and unconditional support.

Following high school graduation, Marley completed four years of a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Saskatchewan. For three of those years he played football with the Saskatoon Hilltops, a Canadian Junior Football League team based in Saskatoon, Sask. Marley credits his coaches for helping him develop into a player skilled enough to play at the post-secondary level.

“My favourite part of playing on the team was forming a bunch of great relationships and connections in a city where I didn’t have a huge circle [of friends],” says Marley. “One highlight was boarding a private charter to fly out to B.C. for a playoff game. It was incredible to have such a special travel experience just for us.”

Despite his busy schedule as a first-year student, Marley plans to continue playing sports — a chance for him to take a break from schoolwork while he spends time with friends and “reignites that competitive spark.”

Since Marley began classes at the WCVM in August, he’s particularly enjoying anatomy class, and he’s looking forward to learning all the applied skills in veterinary medicine. At this point, he anticipates a future career working in a mixed animal practice where he can expect to see a wide range of cases.

Marley appreciates the unconditional support of his family, and he’s particularly grateful to his mom for encouraging him to volunteer: “Everything I did was a part of the building blocks that got me in [to the WCVM], but the most valuable thing I did was volunteer.”

He vividly recalls the moment in June when he found out he’d been accepted to the WCVM.

“I remember clicking ‘show results’ and seeing ‘Congratulations!’ I immediately drove to my mom’s work and gave her a massive hug,” says Marley. “Absolutely nothing will ever beat that hug and telling my mom I got in!”