Brianna Whatley
Photo courtesy of NewStyle Digital
Brianna Whatley hails from Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC), Canada, and completed her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of the Fraser Valley in BC. She then attended the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, where she spent her final year of veterinary school rotating through the school’s clinic hospital, focusing on equine rotations.
What is your favorite part of working at PBEC?
My favorite part of working at PBEC so far has been learning from a variety of different doctors and seeing how everyone manages cases.
Have you always known you wanted to be an equine veterinarian? What has your journey been like to get to this point?
I fell in love with horses after becoming involved in the hunter/jumper community. Throughout high school, I realized I was deeply interested in science, particularly biology. Through shadowing veterinarians in high school and during undergrad, I decided that equine medicine would be a great career that would allow me to pursue both of my interests.
What’s something you hope to learn or accomplish by the end of your internship?
During my internship, I hope to build my confidence in applying the knowledge I learned in my studies to clinical cases. I also hope to gain experience in surgical cases and management, as I plan to pursue a surgical residency in the future.
What do you find most rewarding about working as an equine veterinarian?
I find it most rewarding when we discharge patients that have come to the hospital for serious illnesses or injuries. Often, we get to know these horses quite well during their time in the hospital, and it’s rewarding to watch their progress.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I enjoy reading, running, and spending time with my family, friends, and my mini Australian shepherd, Bluey.
