Laura Mena

I am a veterinary student who began my veterinary journey with a background in wildlife rehabilitation. Through my continued professional development, I have expanded my skill set to include domestic species and exotic species extending to the private pet trade as well as zoological settings. I am comfortable with large and small animals and many different species and am flexible in working in the field as well as a hospital setting. Additionally, I have gained experience in other specialties such as pathology and feel this only adds to the value I can add as a member to any team. Furthermore, I am comfortable in working environments that require creative solutions as well as academic/hospital settings where materials and equipment are readily available. I have gained experience in effective communication on both a large and small scale setting and easily mold to the environment in which I am placed. As a student dedicated to constantly growing and evolving as a future practitioner, I challenge myself in finding new and unfamiliar experiences that offer new and rewarding experiences.

Retama Equine Hospital Externship

Selma, TX . 08/2024

• Performed basic clinical tasks such as physical exams and drawing blood
• Assisted with lameness exams
• Observed equine surgical procedures
• Assisted in reading equine radiographs
• Aided in emergency equine cases
• Field work exposure

Pathology Externship with Dr. Scot Estep

Spring Branch, TX . 07/2024 

• Performed necropsies on a variety of species
• Read histology slides on a variety of domestic and exotic species
• Trimmed in tissue samples

Walt Disney World: Animal Kingdom and EPCOT with Dr. Jen Flower

Orlando, FL . 03/2024

• Observed animal handling, restraint and treatment of many aquatic species such as manatees and rays as well as exotic birds
• Observed anesthesia on aquatic species
• Observed ultrasound techniques on aquatic and avian species
• Observed body condition scoring in aquatic species and avian species
• Gained insight into effective communication practices necessary to run a large scale operation

Archipelago Farms Volunteer

Fairbanks, AK . 08/2022-05/2024

• Practiced capturing, restraining, and herding reindeer
• Gained insight in proper reindeer husbandry
• Reproductive and vaccination practices of reindeer
• Assisted with shipping reindeer calves for purchase
• Performed antler trimming, grooming and other physical care practices on reindeer

Yukon Quest Volunteer

Fairbanks, AK . 02/2022-02/2023

• Performed pre-race physical exams and collected urine and blood samples to be sent off for research at Cornell university
• Performed starting line health and documentation checks with each of the mushers and their team
• Gained insight on proper and efficient animal handling and restraint
• Gained practice with my organizational skills and attention to detail in managing large amounts patients
• Gained cultural awareness and experience working with indigenous communities

Research to Examine Codon Bias in Turtles with Dr. David Starkey

San Antonio, TX . 02/2020-05/2020

• Participated in mitochondrial DNA codon bias research focusing on the cytochrome b gene in river turtles
• Gained experience working with Microsoft Excel and organizing pertinent research data

Coral Research at the San Antonio Zoo with Dr. David Starkey

San Antonio, TX . 02/2020-03/2020 

• Measured coral growth of various coral species in vary degrees of light exposure
• Practiced reading different mineral and chemical levels within the coral tanks
• Work on this research project was cut short when the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic forced the zoo to close its doors to all nonessential personnel

Equine Reproductive and Sports Medicine Experience with Dr. Ben Espy

San Antonio, TX . 04/2019-06/2019 

• Drew blood and gave injections to equine patients
• Observed a variety of equine and small animal surgical procedures
• Assisted in IVF procedures
• Assisted with joint injections
• Observed lameness exams

San Antonio Zoo Hospital Volunteer 

San Antonio, TX . 04/2019

• Observed anesthesia being performed on a variety of species
• Observed clinical evaluations on a variety of species
• Observed ophthalmic exams on avian patients
• Observed how handling and restraint varied between the many species that visited the hospital
• Experience working in the field and in the hospital

Giraffe Behavioral Research at the San Antonio Zoo with Dr. Rachel Walker 

San Antonio, TX . 04/2019-05/2019

• Experience observing and monitoring giraffe behavior
• Experience working with animal caretakers
• Experience collaborating with other researchers to share information

Student Honor Board Member

08/2024- Current

• As a member of the Honor Board, I serve to attend semester meetings to discuss current student honor regulations and revisit and update any regulations to make sure they are as fair to the student body as possible. I am also responsible for hearing and investigating any formal complaints submitted by students and oversee special sessions if complaints require further action.

Educational and Professional Development Committee

03/2024-12/2024

• As a member of this committee, I aid in grading applicant essays and awarding a variety of grants for a variety of purposes such as NAVLE grants that aid veterinary students in the cost of preparing or paying for the NAVLE exam, travel grants and many more. I am charged with coordinating the Retrospective Travel Grant where students can apply for a refund of expenses paid by them to attend veterinary conferences or participate in externships.

Senior SAVMA Delegate

12/2023-12/2024

• My position allows me to serve as the connection between the AVMA and our SAVMA chapter. I represent our UAF SAVMA chapter at a local and national level as I am responsible for attending symposiums to vote on subjects that affect our 2+2 program. My role also serves as a connection to CSU so that we are included and considered when making decisions that impact us as students and future physicians. I have also spearheaded a new position on the board to allow for a permanent position of a recent UAF program graduate to attend all meetings to bridge the gap between the two campuses. I have also created funding for the UAF program to allow the students to use funding for purposes such as wellness week and funding different academic events.

Class Representative

08/2022-05/2026

• Elected class representative for the University of Alaska Fairbanks cohort. My main responsibility is to act as a student-professor liaison. I am in charge of communicating important information, advocating for our class and its unique needs, ensuring there are no scheduling conflicts, and acting as a representative for the program when needed.

National Veterinary Associates Fellowship Recipient

08/2023

• This fellowship was awarded to 4 people in the veterinary program. I was selected to be the Biology of Disease professor’s assistant. My responsibilities are to trim-in tissue specimens collected at the time of necropsy that will later be fixed and evaluated for any pathologies.

Employee of the Month

07/2021

• Employee of the Month for Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Cum Laude Graduate

08/2020

• I graduated Cum Laude from the University of the Incarnate Word

Dean's Honor List

Fall 2014, Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Spring 2019

• The requirements to qualify for the Dean's Honor List are to be a full-time student at the University of the Incarnate Word and have a GPA of 3.5 or above.

HACU Emerging Leaders' Summit

09/2019

• I was selected to represent the University of the Incarnate Word at the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities Emerging Leaders' Summit. To be eligible, candidates had to be a STEM major and have a GPA of at least 3.0. I was selected based on the above criteria and a personal essay.

W. D. Barr Scholarship

08/2019

• This was a scholarship awarded to select students pursuing an undergraduate pre-medicine degree.

SunEdison Endowment for Math, Science and Engineer

08/2019

• This scholarship was provided by the SunEdison Corporation and was given to select students whose degree concentration was science, math, or engineering.

Dr. M. J. Fairweather Scholarship

2018-2019

• This scholarship was awarded to select juniors or seniors at the University of the Incarnate Word who were pursuing a pre-medicine or pre-veterinary undergraduate degree.

Mary Gibbs Scholarship

2017-2019

• This scholarship was awarded at the discretion of the University of the Incarnate Word.

Kathleen Watson Scholarship

2017-2019

• This memorial scholarship was given to 'deserving undergraduate students who are graduates of the Incarnate Word High School'.

Josephine Sobrino Scholarship

2017-2019

• This scholarship is given to an alumna of Incarnate Word High School.

National Society of Leadership and Success

09/2018 

• I was inducted into the University of the Incarnate Word chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

UpGrade Your Aid

2017-2018

• This scholarship was awarded to students enrolled in college full time and that had maintained a minimum GPA of 3.2.

Southwestern Psychological Association Meeting

04/2018

• I was one of a few students selected to represent the University of the Incarnate Word at the 2018 Southwestern Psychological Association Meeting that was held in Houston, TX. I was selected based off of my GPA and personal essay.

UIW Psi Chi Invitation

12/2017 

• I was invited to join our local chapter of the Psi Chi international honor society based on my academic performance as a psychology major. The criteria to be invited are to have a GPA of at least 3.0 and have an overall GPA that is top 35% of my class.

State Funded Scholarship

08/2017

• This is a state funded scholarship that is distributed to students at the discretion of the University of the Incarnate Word.

Kenedy Foundation Scholarship

01/2017

• This was an academic based scholarship for students enrolled full-time.

Undergraduate Academic Scholarship

08/2016

• This scholarship was given based off of academic performance for students enrolled full-time at the University of the Incarnate Word.

Catholic High School Scholarship

08/2016

• This scholarship was granted to students who graduated from a catholic high school and were enrolled full time at the University of the Incarnate Word.