Summer Henschel, a University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (UW SVM) student, was elected by her peers to serve a two-year term on the WVMA Executive Board.
Henschel, of Chilton, Wisconsin, attended UW-Madison as an undergraduate, earning a B.S. in dairy science in 2020. During the summer after her first year of college, she was offered a spot in the UW SVM class of 2024 through the Food Animal Veterinary Medical Scholars Program.
“I always had animals around me while growing up, whether it was pets, my mom’s small flock of sheep or my grandparents’ beef cattle. I remember wanting to be a farmer when I was little so that I could spend all day with cows and barn cats,” Henschel says. “It was during middle school that I had my first opportunity to shadow a local large animal practitioner and truly became interested in veterinary medicine. I loved the variety of issues faced and procedures completed, along with the cows, farmers and steady workflow.”
Henschel is looking forward to her term on the WVMA Executive Board as it will allow her to meet new people in the industry and gain experience with organized veterinary medicine.
“I am looking forward to learning more about how and when actions are taken on new issues facing our members across the state,” she says. “I also look forward to meeting veterinarians throughout Wisconsin, especially through this year’s Reconnect the Vets events.”
While at the SVM, Henschel says her focus is on classes and activities that will allow her to be well-rounded on topics beyond
medicine. She also would like to expand on the dairy consultation skillset that she began building while she was an undergraduate. Her involvement in student organizations on campus includes memberships with Bovine Club, Small Ruminant Club, Veterinary Business Management Association and Student American Veterinary Medical Association. She also recently began working as the American Veterinary Medical Association Trust student ambassador. Outside of veterinary school, she is involved in the Collegiate Farm Bureau and the Association of Women in Agriculture Benefit Corporation.
Following graduation from the UW SVM, Henschel hopes to practice food animal medicine with a focus on dairy cattle.
“I am not sure yet whether that means going into private practice, industry, farm management or even government,” she says. “If I get to work with cows and farmers almost every day, I will be content.”