College of

Veterinary Medicine

Mandy Lawson from Coweta, Oklahoma comes from a nontraditional agriculture background. Mandy was introduced to the agriculture industry and showing livestock when she joined FFA her freshmen year of high school. She saw the difference her local veterinarian made in their animal projects and that’s where her passion for veterinary medicine sparked.

 

How has OSU helped support you in your path to becoming mixed/large animal veterinarians?
Throughout my time at OSU, I have been able to surround myself with mentors, professors, and peers who weren’t only passionate and knowledgeable about the livestock and production medicine, but people who were willing to share that with me so that I was able to continue growing the passions I had begun to develop. Individuals like Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, Dr. Lionel Dawson, and Dr. Jared Taylor are invaluable assets to their students. The foundational relationships built with them are ones that serve us in so many capacities. From recommendations for externships and introduction to future peers at conferences I will never be able to put into words the full impact they have had on me and my education.

 

What does rural veterinary medicine mean to you? What inspired you to pursue rural and/or large animal medicine?
I believe that as a veterinarian in a rural community, I have the distinctive opportunity to pour into and invest in the next generation of agriculturists as they begin realizing and pursuing their dreams. This close-knit relationship facilitates lifelong learning, a goal of mine for myself and for the individuals I have the pleasure of interacting with daily. Through striving for excellence and looking for opportunities to be a value-added asset to the students, community members, and producers I am working with and for, I am eager to be able to give back to my community. I believe veterinary medicine is ultimately a partnership where I can share knowledge and resources with clients in a way that benefits their operations and livelihood. My hope is that the personal and professional relationships I develop will serve as a direct avenue to assist and facilitate the production of healthy livestock as we strive to continue feeding a growing population.

 

What are you most looking forward to as you will soon begin your career?
Being close to finishing up school, I am excited about the future of veterinary medicine and the abundant opportunities to grow in so many directions. Personally, I am looking forward to developing strong roots in the community I end up in and creating strong relationships with the producers I’ll have the opportunity to work with. By maintaining these partnerships, we can continue to advance animal health, genetics, and production as we work to continually feed a growing population while maintaining a safe, efficient, and healthy food supply. As I begin my own career I hope to practice food animal medicine with a focus in bovine reproduction and technology.

 

How does it feel to receive this award?

I am immensely humbled and grateful to have been selected for this award. Rural medicine is something I have grown passionate about throughout my education and is something I feel blessed to be part of. This award for Rural Practitioners is a tribute to the state of Oklahoma and desire our legislators have to put funding and resources in the hands of communities that need it most.

 

Additional Comments:

As I look back at the past 10 years and reflect on what I have learned to this point in my education, my hope is that I never forget how grateful I am for the mentors who have gotten me here. I believe that no matter what stage of your career you are at, there is always someone in prior stages looking up to you. You don’t have to be a 20 year seasoned practitioner to give advice, encouragement, or suggestions to others. Having individuals in your life who are similar to you, know you deeply, and continue to invest in your life is something that makes all of us better—as mentors and mentees.