College of

Veterinary Medicine

Growing up on a commercial cattle ranch in Wyandotte, Oklahoma, Lauren Dixon was immersed in the livestock industry at a very young age. She was able to see all aspects of the industry and fell in love with the fascinating concept of herd health. Lauren was actively involved in her FFA chapter, where her love for the livestock industry and food animal health continued to develop. All these experiences led Lauren to her decision of attending Oklahoma State University to pursue a degree in animal science and later apply to veterinary school.

 

Why did you choose OSU to earn your veterinary degree?
Growing up, I always dreamed of going to Oklahoma State to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. With the competitive nature of applicants for vet school I wanted to ensure that I was able to pursue my dream of becoming a veterinarian. With that in mind, I applied to Kansas State University, University of Missouri, and Oklahoma State University. Being accepted to all three schools I applied to was an amazing experience, however, there was no question that I was going to continue my journey at Oklahoma State to become a veterinarian. The community and traditions at Oklahoma State were the big drawing point for me to attend. The passion that we have when standing behind our teams on their big days or the passion that the professors have for the subjects that they are teaching made Oklahoma State truly feel like home, and I wanted to be a part of the cowboy tradition.

 

What does rural veterinary medicine mean to you? Why is it something you are passionate about?
Rural veterinary medicine to me means prosperity. The people living in these rural communities are the backbone of our great nation and rural veterinary medicine is imperative in keeping them going. I have a passion for helping the farmers and ranchers to help keep our nation prosperous. Coming from a rural farming and ranching community, I have seen the struggles farmers and ranchers face when it comes to animal health care. We are seeing more clinicians shifting to bigger cities, which leaves our rural communities without veterinarians. Seeing rural communities struggling to receive the care needed to maintain and/or grow their operations fueled my drive to return home and serve my community.  

 

What are your future plans?
After obtaining my DVM, I plan to move back to my hometown and give back to the community that helped make me who I am today. My plan is to work in a rural mixed animal practice with an emphasis in food animal medicine.

 

How does it feel to receive this award?

This program is a blessing, not only to myself as being one of the first to receive this award, but also for future recipients who are looking to begin a career in rural veterinary medicine. This award will allow me to begin my career with financial stability and reduce the burden of my student loans. I am humbled to be chosen for this award and will pay it forward by being an advocate for animal health in my community.