Veterinary student aspires to be ‘steady advocate’ for animals

Murphy always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but her decision came into focus when she was diagnosed with scoliosis (an irregular curvature of the spine) at the age of 12.

While undergoing treatments and enduring many doctors’ visits, Murphy was greatly comforted whenever a doctor or nurse took the time to reassure her. It made her think about the plight of animals that also endure medical procedures but don’t have the ability to ask for help or even understand what’s happening to them.

“The realization hit me deeply,” says Murphy. “I wanted to be the person who not only provided medical care but also acted as an advocate for those silent patients. From then on, becoming a veterinarian wasn’t just a dream — it became my purpose.”

Murphy sought opportunities to work with all types of animals in a variety of settings. She offered her services as a pet sitter in her community and volunteered at Bandit Ranch, a raccoon rehabilitation centre in Saskatoon.

She also volunteered at Saskatoon’s City Park Veterinary Services, a small animal practice, as well as the Animal Health Clinic of Humboldt, a mixed animal practice. Murphy particularly appreciated the atmosphere of teamwork that she witnessed in these veterinary clinics.

“The way the veterinarians, technicians and support staff worked together — always putting the animals’ needs first — was inspiring,” says Murphy, who is now a first-year student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). “It gave me a vision of the kind of veterinarian I want to be — someone who is skilled but also compassionate and collaborative.”

While attending the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), Murphy joined the applied animal management volunteer program to gain practical experience working with poultry at the USask Poultry Research and Teaching Unit. All of Murphy’s volunteer experiences left her with some unforgettable memories, and her favourite experiences are the ones where she could see the direct impact of her care.

Murphy also valued her involvement in competitive dancing. For as long as she can remember, dance has been part of her identity, and she enjoys the discipline and dedication along with the creativity and freedom of expression that dancing has allowed her.

As a member of the USask Dance Team, Murphy has continued dancing at a high skill level, and she’s gained a community of teammates who share the same passion.

“Dance has also taught me resilience, the ability to accept feedback, [to] push through challenges and find joy in progress,” says Murphy who plans to continue dancing on the university team. “For me, it’s not just a hobby. It’s a grounding force that brings me joy and balance alongside my academic life.”

Now that Murphy is a veterinary student, she’s excited to be fully immersed in the veterinary community, and she looks forward to the hands-on clinical experiences, the challenging academic courses, and the opportunities to build lifelong friendships and professional relationships.

Murphy likes the variety offered by mixed veterinary practice, but she’s also intrigued by emergency medicine as well as neurosurgery. While it’s still early in her veterinary education, she’s considering the option of taking further training after completing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

Whatever her future brings, Murphy knows she can draw on the experiences of her past: hearing her grandmother’s stories about their Indigenous heritage and the deep bond between people and animals, living with scoliosis at a young age, balancing academics with volunteering, and developing creativity and discipline as a dancer.

“My dream is to carry all these pieces of myself into my career, to be a steady advocate for animals that cannot speak for themselves, to be a source of trust and comfort for their owners, and to approach each case with both scientific knowledge and human compassion,” says Murphy.

“I know this path won’t be easy, but it feels like the one I was always meant to follow, and I am honoured to take each step of that journey here.”