Vet Cetera magazine 2015

“… MY MOM ALWAYS NURTURED MY INTEREST
IN VETERINARY MEDICINE. THE THING THAT
HAS INFLUENCED ME THE MOST IS THAT SHE
MAKES EVERYONE FEEL LIKE FAMILY.”
“I can’t think of a time when I
wanted to be anything but a veterinarian,”
Cavett says. “The majority of
my earliest childhood memories are
going on calf delivery calls with my
mom and grandfather. I never really
thought I might do anything else.”
“Carrie has always shown an interest
in my work,” echoes Good. “She
loved to watch surgeries or help
her papa (my father) take care of
animals. When she was around the
age of 3, she got her first veterinarian
bag with a stethoscope, thermometer
and bandages. Needless
to say, our poor cat was one of her
first ‘patients.’”
Over the years, Cavett has spent
many hours at her mother’s clinic
helping in a variety of ways from
cleaning kennels to mopping the
floors. She has worked the front desk,
pulled patient records, helped prepare
monthly statements and accompanied
Dr. Good on after-hours calls.
“Without a doubt, Carrie has a
superior work ethic,” Good says.
“She is also extremely dependable
and finishes what she starts. There
is no halfway for her — if she says
she will do it, she will do it on time
and to the best of her ability.”
“My mom’s work made me want
to be a veterinarian,” says Cavett. “I
never felt pressured to be one; my
mom always nurtured my interest in
veterinary medicine. The thing that
has influenced me the most is that
she makes everyone feel like family.”
Family is important to Cavett and
played a role in her selection of a veterinary
college.
“I wanted to attend a great school
that would provide me with a wellrounded
education, and I wanted to
stay close to my family. OSU offered
me all these things, and I can’t wait
until I am able to give back to the
university that has given me so many
opportunities.
“My favorite memory has been my
entire fourth year. I have absolutely
loved every minute of it, from the
never-ending emergency shifts to
sleepless nights and even the paperwork.
I have learned and advanced
my clinical skills and knowledge tremendously
in these last 12 months.”
To those aspiring to become a veterinarian,
Cavett offers this advice.
“Get as much veterinary experience
as possible,” Cavett says. “Challenge
yourself in your coursework
to better prepare for the demands of
veterinary school, and try to maintain
a healthy life/school balance.”
“Carrie will be an asset to our profession,
and I know when I hood
her, I’m going to be thinking of
how proud my father would have
been of her,” Good says. “Our entire
family, my husband, her older sister,
grandmothers and cousins couldn’t
be more proud of our newest OSU
veterinarian.”
“I can’t even express how grateful
I am that my mom was so supportive
of my dreams,” Cavett says. “I
am so lucky to have attended OSU
and learn from the wonderful professors
and hospital clinicians. This
university feels like home, and I am
thankful every day for the opportunity
that OSU has given me to pursue
my career.”
Cavett’s days at OSU aren’t over
yet. She will be staying at OSU
to complete a yearlong small animal
medicine and surgery rotating
internship. After that, she plans to
pursue a residency in small animal
internal medicine or critical care.
Cavett is one of 88 new veterinarians
in the Class of 2015.
2015 Oklahoma State University 67