Making Headway with the Oregon Zoo

We are excited to share Emily Olszewski’s experience below, funded by Charlie’s Angels fund.

Through this scholarship, I was able to travel to Portland, Oregon to work with the veterinary team at the Oregon Zoo. This opportunity was a stepping stone to create connections with professionals and gain hands-on experience with zoo species. The program was rigorous, but the skills and knowledge that I gained is invaluable. I participated in black bear and polar bear blood draw training, performed exams on unique species, including penguins, alligator lizards, and snowy owls, and crafted anesthetic plans for chimpanzees and African painted dogs. I worked alongside 3 veterinarians that gave guidance and support. By the end of the externship, I was identifying abnormalities on elephant bloodwork and providing differential diagnoses for anemic owlets. I was able to work on my necropsy skills and even got to visit a California condor conservation center. While in Portland, I stayed with a Romanian family that included me on family dinners and took me to a local Romanian festival. I was able to attend the Saturday markets downtown and walk through Powell’s City of Books as well as enjoy the food scene. During my last weekend, I went to an interactive art exhibit, Hopscotch, and spent the weekend camping at Mt. Rainier with some friends I had made along the way. The experience helped me develop veterinary skills and establish myself in a competitive career environment as well as spend some time in nature and discovering what makes Portland so unique.