Manitoba veterinary student eager to ‘show up for animals and their people’
Caelin Ciastko developed an affinity with animals at a young age, and by the time she was five years old, everyone around her knew that she wanted to be a veterinarian.
By Lynne Gunville“Veterinary medicine truly is a profession I was born to do,” says Ciastko, a first-year veterinary student at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). “I realized that veterinary medicine perfectly aligns with my curiosity, compassion and drive to make a meaningful impact.”
Ciastko grew up in Lorette West, a predominately French-speaking town near Winnipeg, Man. While completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Manitoba (UM), she was active in the UM Pre-Vet Club. She also volunteered at various veterinary clinics — such as Central Veterinary Services and Elder’s Equine Veterinary Service — as well as the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre and other organizations to gain experience.
Another volunteer highlight was helping the veterinary team at Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Zoo care for different animal species such as polar bears, muskoxen and kangaroos.
“I loved assisting zookeepers with feeding, medicating and caring for exotic animals,” says Ciastko. “Each species required a different approach, especially considering that the majority are considered wild.”
Ciastko assisted a UM graduate student with research that used trail camera data to analyze the reproductive behaviour of Cape ground squirrels (found primarily in southern Africa). She later travelled to South Africa and participated in a field study that observed and collected data on Cape ground squirrels as well as other wildlife.
In a summer job at UM’s Glenlea Research Station, Ciastko helped with milking, feeding, treating and caring for the cattle, and she assisted with research trials involving cows and calves — an opportunity to become more familiar with production animals while learning about the impact of research on animal welfare.
For several years while attending university, Ciastko worked at Winrose Animal Hospital in Winnipeg. She greatly appreciates the mentorship and support that she received from the small animal clinic’s veterinarians and staff.
“The best parts were the hands-on moments and the people,” says Ciastko. “I loved scrubbing in and being part of procedures alongside vets, watching surgeries and getting to ask questions as things were happening. Those moments made the science click and gave me a real sense of what clinical decision making looks like.”
Ciastko is grateful for every opportunity that brought her to the WCVM. She’s also thankful for her close relationship with her family and her best friend Manny (a French bulldog) along with her interests in nature, country music, reading and soccer that have helped her to stay balanced and grounded.
When Ciastko considers her future career, she likes the idea of joining a private practice in mixed animal medicine but is also interested in becoming a board-certified surgeon. For now, she’s open to any opportunities that arise.
“I want to show up for animals and their people, to teach where I can and to keep learning,” says Ciastko. “I’ve seen the small wins and the heartbreaking losses and both have showed me why this work matters. Those lessons are the reason I feel ready and excited about vet school.”