Aiden Pang
"I’ve been grateful to be fully immersed in veterinary practice throughout my placements. There have been opportunities for me to work with a huge variety of species, ranging from sharks to servals!"
A home away from home
I was immediately set on coming to Surrey after my interview. There was a strong sense of community and I felt instantly welcomed. The first day I arrived on campus it felt like I was welcomed with open arms. Despite being over 300 miles away from home, there has never been a time I felt out of my depth.
Studying at Surrey
The practical sessions at Surrey are a great opportunity to improve confidence with animal handling, laboratory techniques and clinical skills. The facilities are modern and well-structured which allows for lots of creative thinking.
I’ve always found the academic staff to be approachable and enthusiastic. Our lecturers get to be a huge part of our growth throughout the course, and I feel privileged to be able to learn from people with so many different interests and receive encouragement and respect for my ideas.
The clinical skills team are also amazing and put a lot of effort into making resources widely available for students. From student feedback, they’ve successfully opened up the Clinical Skills Laboratory for out-of-hours use. This provides students with a space to work on skills at their own pace and practice those they're less confident with.
"The practical sessions at Surrey are a great opportunity to improve confidence with animal handling, laboratory techniques and clinical skills."
On placement
The final year of Veterinary Medicine is structured so you spend the year out in clinical practice on intramural rotations (IMR). I have spent the year living all over the UK, from Cardiff to Carlisle, and have been integrated into different teams.
Extramural studies (EMS) are another essential component of the degree. This has also been an incredible opportunity to see new places and meet new people. Although I have completed most of my placements around my home in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, I have also explored some of the UK and even abroad in Spain!
I’ve been grateful to be fully immersed in veterinary practice throughout my placements. There have been opportunities for me to work with a huge variety of species, ranging from sharks to servals! I currently have a strong interest in surgery, so personal highlights include being allocated my own cases for routine neutering in cats and dogs, and assisting veterinary surgeons in my specialist orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures. I’ve had opportunities to formulate the anaesthetic plan for many species and have been trusted to implement this too!
The next chapter
Veterinary medicine is something that has always been inspiring to me. Beyond the fulfilment I get from knowing I can improve the welfare and quality of an animal's life, I’m fascinated to be in such a rapidly evolving profession. Being able to work in an environment where I’ll be able to learn something new every day is exciting for me and I love being able to work with so many people and animals.
I have a dream job lined up in a veterinary hospital as a small animal veterinary surgeon which I'm excited to start after graduation.
