{"id":98305,"date":"2026-04-13T08:50:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T12:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/?p=98305"},"modified":"2026-04-14T08:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T12:17:45","slug":"graduating-senior-balances-motherhood-and-veterinary-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/04_13_2026\/graduating-senior-balances-motherhood-and-veterinary-dreams","title":{"rendered":"Graduating Senior Balances Motherhood and Veterinary Dreams"},"content":{"rendered":"

As she prepares to graduate this May, Christie Hoeflinger, a senior studying health sciences with a pre-medical professions concentration<\/a>, reflected on a journey defined by resilience, hands-on learning and a clear sense of purpose.<\/p>\n

A Toledo native, Hoeflinger returned to higher education in fall 2023 after stepping away from college during the pandemic. As a nontraditional student and parent to her young son, Hoeflinger chose The University of Toledo for its supportive environment and proximity to her family and support system.<\/p>\n

\"Graduation

CELEBRATING SUCCESS:<\/strong> UToledo recognizes the Class of 2026 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at spring commencement<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI needed to be close to my support network to balance school and parenting,\u201d she said. \u201cUToledo provided that sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hoeflinger\u2019s path to veterinary medicine began early, driven by a lifelong passion for animals and a strong interest in science and anatomy. Through the health sciences program, she has built a foundation that combines interdisciplinary coursework with real-world application, preparing her for the collaborative nature of healthcare professions.<\/p>\n

Courses in healthcare ethics, law and evidence-based practice have broadened her perspective, helping her understand how veterinary medicine intersects with other disciplines.<\/p>\n

\u201cVeterinarians don\u2019t work in isolation,\u201d Hoeflinger said. \u201cThe program has helped me see how important it is to understand multiple fields and how they connect.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond the classroom, Hoeflinger has gained extensive hands-on experience working as a veterinary assistant at local animal hospitals for the past several years. These experiences have strengthened her clinical skills and prepared her for the demands of veterinary school and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking in clinical settings has taught me how to stay adaptable and composed in high-pressure situations,\u201d Hoeflinger said. \u201cIt\u2019s where everything you learn really comes together.\u201d<\/p>\n

On campus, she has been actively involved in student leadership and mentorship roles, including serving as a Presidential Ambassador, a student ambassador for the Pre-Health Advising Center, service chair for the Pre-Vet Club, co-founder of Rockets Parents and Caregivers, and a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Ohio.<\/p>\n

Through these experiences, Hoeflinger built connections across campus while supporting fellow students.<\/p>\n

She credits faculty mentors, including Dr. Sarah Long, a senior lecturer in the College of Health and Human Services, and Dr. Deborah Hendricks, director of the Pre-Health Advising Center, for their guidance and encouragement throughout her academic journey.<\/p>\n

\"Portrait

A nontraditional student and parent to a young son, Christie Hoeflinger graduates May 2 with a degree in health sciences with a pre-medical professions concentration.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cTheir belief in my abilities made a significant difference,\u201d Hoeflinger said. \u201cHaving mentors who see your potential and know you can succeed helps you stay motivated and confident in your path.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long said Hoeflinger has been an outstanding student whom she\u2019s enjoyed getting to know outside of the classroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really appreciate that she contributed thoughtful ideas during class because it brought a different perspective to our discussions,\u201d Long said. \u201cGiven her experience prior to starting the HS program, she brings a maturity and professionalism that made everyone around her better. I’m confident she’ll be a great veterinarian who will take great care of the animals as well as their human parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Balancing academics, work and family responsibilities has required careful planning and self-awareness. Hoeflinger emphasized the importance of setting priorities, establishing boundaries and taking time to reflect on what is working.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about being honest with yourself and managing your time intentionally,\u201d she said. \u201cThat balance is key to staying focused and avoiding burnout.\u201d<\/p>\n

This fall, Hoeflinger will continue her journey at Colorado State University\u2019s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Following completion of her DVM, she plans to pursue specialization in avian and exotic animal medicine.<\/p>\n

Her long-term goal is to work in a field that expands access to veterinary care for a broader range of animals.<\/p>\n

Looking back, Christie said her experience at UToledo has been transformative \u2014 not only in preparing her academically and professionally, but in helping her recognize her own resilience and capabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cReturning to college showed me what I\u2019m capable of achieving,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s never too late to pursue your goals if you\u2019re willing to put in the work and use the resources around you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"Portrait<\/a>

As a nontraditional student, Christie Hoeflinger chose UToledo to study health sciences, utilizing her local support system and hands-on clinical experience to prepare for veterinary school.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":902,"featured_media":98324,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,69,61,1,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98305"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/902"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98305"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98305\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98351,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98305\/revisions\/98351"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}