Dr. Lauren Abrams, Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Intern
Dr. Lauren Abrams is a Canada native and completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Montreal. After graduation, she worked at a small animal general practice/urgent care facility, as well as many years of volunteer work at the Montreal SPCA. In fact, Abrams began fostering litters of kittens at just 12 years old. Harboring her love for shelter medicine at an early age.
Knowing she wanted to pursue shelter medicine as a career, Abrams applied to veterinary school at St. George’s University in True Blue, Grenada. After receiving her veterinary medicine degree, Abrams completed her clinical year at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine.
When asked why shelter medicine, Abrams said, shelter medicine is so diverse that you can work with all species, including wildlife. She enjoys the community medicine/access to care components as well. “I wanted to be a resource for people that have questions about animals. I wanted to have a bigger voice in shelter medicine.”
Abrams is most looking forward to working with the Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program (MSMP) faculty/staff on consultations, whether it’s visiting local shelters or fielding inquiries online, Abrams wants to learn more about triaging key factors that go into consultative inquiries and identifying critical needs.
Upon completion of her internship with MSMP, Abrams would like to pursue a residency in shelter medicine. Currently, Canada only has two boarded shelter medicine specialists and Abrams has her sights set on being the the third!
In the future, Abrams would love to take her knowledge and training to implement a shelter medicine internship program in Canada, where one does not currently exist. Bridging the gap for animals located in rural areas to receive the access to care they so desperately need.
FUN FACT: Dr. Abrams love to practice embroidery. She embroiders her initials onto each of her own surgical scrub caps.
Dr. Lexi Belk, Janet L. Swanson Intern of Shelter Medicine
Dr. Lexi Belk was born in Michigan and has been an avid animal lover her entire life. She completed her undergraduate degree from North Dakota State, double majoring in animal biomedical science and equine science. For veterinary school, Belk is a graduate of Colorado State University.
For Belk, shelter medicine has always been at the forefront. She began volunteering at her local shelter at a young age, in a variety of roles–from dog walking and kitten socializing, to eventually becoming an animal care tech and adoptions counselor.
“I feel like I directly make an impact on the welfare and lives of animals, and I don’t know that everywhere you can do that so directly,” said Belk.
When asked what she is most looking forward to when it comes to the Maddie’s® Shelter Medicine Program internship, Belk said she’s excited to grow her surgical skills, as it relates to high-quality, high-volume spay neuter (HQHVSN), as well as learning new surgical procedures.
After completing her internship, Belk said she’s possibly interested in pursuing a shelter medicine residency program but she’s also open to see what opportunities present themselves in the sheltering world as time goes on.
One of the things she loves most about the shelter medicine field is the strong connection she
has with each animal. Belk said, “I feel like I am that human, even if there’s no human attached to an animal, I love them, and so I will take care of them.”
FUN FACT: In 2015, Dr. Belk played the piccolo in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade when she was in high school.
