My name is Gabrielle Woo and I am a member of the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 2017.

I began college as an English literature major, but became interested in veterinary medicine after spending time in a chemistry lab that studied environmental pollutants and their effects on Arctic wildlife. Since then I have explored many aspects of the veterinary profession, but have always been fascinated by the connection between animals and human livelihoods, especially working animals in rural areas. My dream is to one day work abroad teaching medicine and clinical skills to veterinary students in developing countries.

This fall, as part of Cornell’s Expanding Horizons program, I will be working with Dr. Gigi Kay and her staff at the American Fondouk in Fez, Morocco. The Fondouk is a charitable equine hospital that provides free veterinary care for working donkeys and mules in the city of Fez. Working equids in Fez and other developing areas are used extensively for pulling, packing and riding in agriculture and industry. As such, their health directly impacts the welfare of their owners and their families. Due to the nature of their work and limited finances, common medical problems in this population of equids include overgrown or unevenly worn teeth, poor nutrition, body and limb lacerations, chronic lameness and other musculoskeletal injuries. The Fondouk aims to address such diseases by giving direct medical care to these animals, as well as providing education and resources for animal owners.

During my four weeks at the American Fondouk, I will have a chance to diagnose and treat clinical cases under the guidance of visiting and local veterinarians. I will also conduct a survey study on harness and saddle wounds with the mentorship of several American veterinarians, including Dr. Eric Davis, Director of Rural Area Veterinary Services and associate veterinarian at the International Animal Welfare Training Institute at the University of California, Davis. We hope to better characterize the extent and nature of these chronic injuries, which are often associated with poorly fitted harnesses and exacerbated by long working hours and other concurrent diseases. Our long-term goal is to develop a wound scoring system that veterinarians can use in the field to make treatment decisions and give appropriate recommendations to owners.

Through this project I hope to learn more about the unique challenges faced by veterinarians in developing nations with limited resources. At the same time, I am excited to experience the rich culture of Morocco while learning veterinary medicine and working with doctors and other students from across the world. I look forward to sharing this adventure with you in the field!