Photo courtesy of NewStyle Digital.
Meet PBEC Veterinary Intern Dr. Claire McDonald
Dr. Claire McDonald grew up in the town of Jefferson City, Missouri. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian. Dr. McDonald completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri where she had excellent mentorship from the university equine veterinarian, sparking her interest in equine practice. Dr. McDonald went on to complete her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at the University of Missouri with Magna Cum Laude honors. Dr. McDonald began her internship at Palm Beach Equine Clinic shortly after graduation. Dr. McDonald loves the variety of caseload here at PBEC and learning about all aspects of equine practice.
Where are you from?
I am from Jefferson City, MO, which is located between St. Louis and Kansas City. You get the best sunsets here, plus all four seasons in their truest form.
Where did you go to school?
I grew up in the hunter/jumper industry, primarily showing ponies, and that’s where I discovered my passion for sports medicine. I attended an agricultural high school in Connecticut, where I was able to major in equine sciences. That experience drove me to study at Auburn University for my undergrad, majoring in animal science on the pre-veterinary track. I graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2021, and, from there, moved to London for school at the Royal Veterinary College. Being from Connecticut, and then moving down to Alabama, I got to see the differences in the horse industry throughout the country, and I wanted to take it to an international level.
From there, I attended the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, where I was fortunate to have two full years of clinical rotations rather than the standard one year at most schools. This allowed me to rotate through the small animal, farm animal, and equine areas of the hospital and broaden my knowledge.
Have you always known you wanted to be an equine veterinarian? What has your journey been like getting to this point?
From my undergraduate days to my time in veterinary school, I knew equine medicine was something I had to include in my veterinary career. I absolutely love working with these amazing creatures, spending most of the day working outside, and developing lifelong friendships with my clients. Also, there is a severe shortage of equine veterinarians in this country, and I want to help fill that need! As a horse owner, I know how incredibly valuable it is to have access to an equine veterinarian.
What does a typical day as an intern look like?
It depends on the rotation! We all rotate through medicine, surgery, ambulatory, anesthesia, and overnight. My current rotation is medicine, so my typical day starts by getting up a few hours early (sometimes as early as 5 a.m.) and checking on my patient notes from the overnight shift. From there, I go to the clinic between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. to begin physical examinations and report my findings to the head clinician on the case.
During 8:30 a.m. rounds, we all update each other on our cases and treatment plans for the day. I then perform any necessary treatments throughout the day and update the medical record. At 5 p.m., we all round again to review the day’s activities on our cases, and we round with the overnight intern on what each patient needs overnight.
What’s your favorite part of working at PBEC?
My favorite part of working at PBEC is being able to work alongside so many other veterinarians and specialists. It allows you to get an opinion on any case you have from somebody right down the hall. Although this job can be tough at times, I definitely feel myself growing in my knowledge and confidence every day!
What’s something you hope to learn or accomplish by the end of your internship?
By the end of my internship, I hope to be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to be a strong general equine practitioner, wherever I end up. I want to be a helpful resource in more rural areas where veterinary care is difficult to find. I also plan to stay in touch with the team at Palm Beach Equine Clinic, and I can reach out anytime I have a question.
What do you find most rewarding about working as an equine vet?
What I find most rewarding is the gratitude from clients when you show up to help their horse. There is also nothing more gratifying than seeing a horse go from being sick and in pain to happily eating and walking out of the hospital healthy. Even though this area of veterinary medicine can be physically demanding and require long hours, it is definitely worth it to me, knowing that I’m making a difference for both the horse and the owner.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I love to explore, whether that involves going to the beach, visiting Disney World or the Keys, or trying out new restaurants with my intern-mates. I also enjoy running and listening to music to clear my mind.
