From humans to pets, it was a unique opportunity that led senior Haley Prine to discover her true ambition in veterinary medicine.
A first-generation student from Lima, Prine originally came to UToledo on the biology pre-med track, drawn to The University of Toledo’s Health Science Campus; however, she fell in love with animal care when she was selected as one of 12 candidates nationwide for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) summer internship program at North Carolina State University (NCSU) last summer.
Haley Prine, a biology senior studying veterinarian medicine, gained valuable experience at the National Institute of Health’s internship program last summer.
“I switched from pre-med to vet-med because of how much I enjoyed my internship on cancer research on exotic animals,” Prine said. “That experience was incredibly rewarding; it opened my eyes to the unique challenges of working with animals. On the other hand, I realized how much I disliked working as a medical scribe in the ER. Each day at the vet hospital was different, full of excitement and innovation. While I found myself dreading my shifts in the ER and I felt like I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t. That’s when I knew I needed to pursue a career in veterinary medicine rather than human medicine.”
During the summer long internship, Prine focused on a meta-analysis of avian cancers, presenting her findings at the NIH Conference and UToledo’s Undergraduate Research Symposium. She also assisted veterinarians in surgeries, tumor tissue preservation and blood draws on various species and helped care for the red wolves in NCSU’s conservation program.
Prine also traveled abroad the year before as a part of the Salford-Exchange Program in Manchester, England. She conducted research with KidScan, a charity that funds research to develop safer, more effective treatments for childhood cancers.
“I decided to go because it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up; it was an affordable way to travel while continuing my education,” she said. “When I first arrived in England, I was overwhelmed and unsure why I had chosen to step so far out of my comfort zone. It was the first time I had truly challenged myself in that way. Through this experience, I gained a new perspective on life. I realized that memories and experiences are much more valuable than material possessions. I also came to appreciate the diversity of cultures worldwide and how fortunate I was to experience them.”
At UToledo, Prine is the secretary of the Pre-Vet Club and works as a mentor in the Rockets 2 Rockets Pre-Vet Mentorship program. She is working with Dr. Tomer Avidor-Reiss, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences.
“Haley is an outstanding student with a long-term commitment to research,” Avidor-Reiss said. “She joined my lab as a freshman and again as sophomore. Haley plans to be a veterinarian, and I am confident she will be successful.”
Prine said after graduation, she plans to take a gap year to gain more career experience before attending veterinary school.
“My time at UToledo has been filled with opportunities for growth, research and hands-on learning. I have taken full advantage of research programs, study abroad opportunities and campus involvement, all of which have prepared me for veterinary school,” Prine said. “The personal support, resources, and opportunities I have received have made a significant impact on my college experience and I believe this journey would not have been possible at another school.”
