Jasmine Pena - Mexico

This summer I had the privilege of spending several weeks in Jalisco, Mexico, working alongside local veterinarians to provide low-cost veterinary services to families in the community. The town I spent time in is called Encarnacion de Diaz, also known as La Chona. La Chona is a small rural town that relies on local farmers to supply the majority of their food. In Mexico, my days were spent doing wellness exams, vaccines, client education, and hands-on work that pushed me to learn quickly and adapt to the resources available.

During my stay, I worked alongside a small animal veterinarian and an equine veterinarian. With the small animal vet, I got to aid in procedures such as lick granulomas, ringworm cases, and pyometra cases. Unfortunately, we did quite a few pyometras since sterilization isn’t a practice that has been adopted by the community. The vet confessed that he is forced to take extreme measures to keep costs low in order for owners to be willing to seek care for their pets. Most of the treatments patients received were steroids since prednisone is a fairly cheap drug and the owners would be more willing to pay for it as opposed to more expensive treatments based on diagnostics.

Part of the community relies heavily on livestock so reproductive medicine is an important part of vet care. With the equine vet, I got to assist in and perform rectal ultrasounds in mares to check for pregnancy, perform dentals, help in colic treatments, and laceration repairs. One of the most intense learning opportunities came from performing a necropsy on a foal. While too graphic to share in a video, this experience was invaluable in helping me deepen my understanding of equine anatomy and pathology. I found that people were more willing to spend money on their livestock for the sake of production over their cats and dogs. 

Outside of the clinical work, I immersed myself fully in the culture of Jalisco. I quickly fell in love with the food— the street tacos, hot plates of birria that the region is famous for, and handmade tortillas that set a new standard. Most mornings I walked to the local bakery to buy freshly baked warm pan dulce to have over breakfast with coffee. Sharing food with local families wasn’t just about eating; it was about connecting, listening, and learning from people whose warmth and hospitality made me feel at home. I made friends while in my stay in Mexico who took me to their favorite local spots to eat and introduced me to wonderful dishes. But this summer was more than just learning experience, it was about connection. My parents were born in La Chona, Jalisco, so this experience was also about connecting with my roots. I got to see the schools my parents attended when they were young and hear stories of their experiences growing up in Mexico. 

The scenery of Jalisco was unforgettable. Between the colorful towns, cobblestone streets, Pueblos Magicos, and breathtaking green mountains, I found myself constantly in love with my surroundings. Every day brought a new view, a new flavor, or a new connection that reminded me why I love this profession and why cultural experiences are so vital to it.

Looking back, my time in Jalisco was about much more than just building clinical skills. It was about experiencing the deep connection between people, animals, and community, and realizing how powerful that bond can be. I left with sharper skills, meaningful memories, and a renewed passion for making veterinary medicine accessible to those who need it most. This trip and experience made me more hopeful to one day be able to bridge the divide between veterinary medicine and my community. I hope I am able to implement the skills I learned in Mexico to be able to provide care at a lower cost and encourage owners to seek help without worrying about the bill.