Chuhan Wang is a veterinarian student here on a quick but immersive 4-week externship from the University of Missouri, gaining valuable hands-on experience in veterinary medicine with the unique wildlife Sanibel has to offer.

Where are you from?

I am from China, but I currently attend the University of Missouri Veterinary School. I am on the last week of my four-week Veterinarian Medicine Externship here. It is a bittersweet feeling to be going back and leaving this place.

What is your favorite part of your externship?

My favorite part about the experience has definitely been applying innovative techniques for saving wildlife. For example we used a joint infusion for a Brown Pelican, a method I had only seen used for horses before. It was really amazing to be able to apply that technique to a very unique type of patient!

What is your favorite animal in general and here at CROW?

My favorite animal are otters, because they are so playful & curious.

What is your most memorable CROW moment so far?

The most memorable moment was having the unfortunate but rewarding opportunity of caring for a coyote that was hit by a car. We don’t see many large mammals here and it is interesting to see how similar they are to the domestic animals I have worked with.

What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of CROW?

I enjoy sleeping as often as I can since I usually work long hours, often times returning to the hospital at night for critical patient treatments, so sleep is definitely a priority to stay mentally sharp in such a dynamic work environment. I also love to travel whenever I can get the opportunity!

What has been the most surprising thing you have learned during your time as an extern?

The most surprising thing I have had the opportunity of learning has been the unexpected easiness of placing catheters in birds, from teeny tiny Eastern Screech Owls, to medium-sized birds such as Anhingas, all the way to our large White Pelicans. It’s inspiring to see, and gives me hope in the future of using other techniques in more species that was once not thought to be possible.

What are some of your goals or aspirations for the future?

My dream is to become either a wildlife or zoo veterinarian. I would also like to do as much research in my field as possible, since there is still so much we do not know about wildlife and treating them. I love applying creative techniques and finding a new way to approach wildlife medicine and rehabilitation, and hopefully not go broke doing what I love.

To learn more about CROW’s student programs, click here!