Sarah Lok - Costa Rica

This summer, I had the immense privilege of participating in a three-week internship at El Hospital de Especies Menores y Silvestres (HEMS) in Heredia, Costa Rica. HEMS is a large referral and teaching hospital associated with the Universidad Nacional (UNA) veterinary school, treating small animals, exotics, and wildlife. I chose this site because of its diversity of specialties and the opportunity to strengthen my medical Spanish, and it proved to be one of the most formative experiences of my veterinary education so far.

At HEMS, no two days were alike. I was able to scrub into orthopedic procedures such as TPLOs and TTAs and follow cases through to physical therapy on underwater treadmills. I observed advanced soft tissue surgeries, including pericardectomy, gastropexy, and perineal urethrostomy, while assisting with anesthesia and peri-operative care. Daily responsibilities included patient handling, administering medications, and monitoring inpatients. I also learned proper safety and restraint techniques for wildlife intake and gained hands-on experience with exotic species.

Equally impactful were the cultural and professional lessons. The team of Costa Rican veterinarians and interns welcomed me warmly, even as I navigated a steep learning curve with medical Spanish. Working alongside them expanded my veterinary vocabulary and revealed important differences in resource availability, treatment options, and client populations compared to U.S. practice. I was struck by the accessibility of care—diagnostics like radiographs, often cost-prohibitive in the U.S., were broadly utilized without imposing financial strain on owners. This perspective reinforced my commitment to improving access to veterinary medicine for underserved populations back home.

Beyond medical knowledge, this experience reshaped how I view leadership, communication, and the role of veterinarians in a global context. I returned with a deeper understanding of veterinary medicine as not only a science, but also a social and cultural service. I am grateful for this opportunity, which has broadened my perspective as both a student and a future veterinarian.