Photo courtesy of NewStyle Digital.
Meet PBEC Veterinary Intern, Dr. Emma Newell, Palm Beach Equine Clinic’s New Internal Medicine Specialist
Dr. Newell earned her veterinary degree from the Royal Veterinary College in 2025 after completing her Animal Science (Pre-Vet) studies at Auburn University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2021. Growing up in the hunter/jumper community in Connecticut inspired her lifelong passion for equine health and her interest in sports medicine. She is dedicated to advancing her clinical skills and providing high-quality care to equine patients.
Outside of work, Dr. Newell enjoys staying active and returning to Connecticut whenever possible to spend time with her horse.
What has been your journey to becoming an equine veterinarian?
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.
What was it like adjusting to life in the United Kingdom, and what differences did you notice in veterinary medicine there versus the United States?
I had experienced London in earlier stages of my life, so the transition wasn’t hard for me. I loved the lifestyle and living over there. The horse care and equestrian community in the U.K. are both so strong that attending that school was a great decision for me.
I think some of our methods of treating sport horses are very different, like how we view the use of antimicrobials and medications. Having that perspective when treating sport horses here in the U.S. is important because it provides insight into the veterinary care they received overseas before being imported.
Photo courtesy of Emma Newell.
What interests you most about sports medicine?
I love performing lameness exams, and I love providing care to equine athletes. When I was showing, I was very driven, so bringing that mindset to veterinary medicine and seeing patients able to perform at the top level really motivates me.
What was the process for applying to become a PBEC intern?
The process includes completing an externship at PBEC, submitting your paperwork — which consists of your CV and letters of reference — and then participating in the interview phase.
What responsibilities does an intern have at PBEC?
As an intern, you do two-week rotations throughout the hospital. Rotations include anesthesia, surgery, ambulatory, and overnights, giving you experience working in all different environments, from surgical cases to in-depth internal medicine cases. During the anesthesia rotation, you are solely in charge of providing anesthesia to patients, whether that’s standing or general anesthesia for surgical patients – that’s quite interesting. For the surgery rotation, you are responsible for patient care in the hospital prior to and post-op, and you get subbed to scrub into surgeries. Ambulatory is my favorite rotation, and you’re on the road with vets who primarily provide ambulatory care, which is a great experience.
What’s it been like working with the team and the other interns at PBEC?
The team at Palm Beach Equine Clinic was something I was really excited about coming into this internship. We have a great, well-rounded group of veterinarians with diverse experiences and passions, which allows us to learn different things from each person. It’s the same with our intern team; we’re all well-rounded and have different strengths, and I think that that really pushes me as an individual to grow.
What advice would you give to students interested in equine veterinary medicine?
Take every chance to get hands-on experience. Put yourself out there and look for opportunities to learn under different equine veterinarians. Everyone has different life experiences and points of view, which is essential to making you into a well-rounded vet. As we all know, the horse world is quite small, so building connections throughout the community is definitely something that will help you.