Allison is originally from Columbus, Ohio. She grew up with a mini Goldendoodle named Oliver, who became part of the family when she was 10 years old. Her love for animals began early, especially after volunteering at her local zoo which was an experience that first sparked her interest in veterinary medicine.
Her first real veterinary experience came from shadowing at a small animal general practice back home. She also volunteered at the local wildlife center and worked as a receptionist at an animal hospital. Currently, she works at a small animal hospital in Columbus.
One of her most memorable experiences was completing an internship at the Columbus Zoo, where she worked with pachyderms, including elephants and rhinos. She had the opportunity to assist with a semen collection from a male elephant and learned how the process supports artificial insemination and breeding programs across the country. This solidified her passion for zoo medicine and opened her eyes to how she can contribute to conservation efforts nationwide.
Allison completed her undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University and is currently a veterinary student at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, with an expected graduation year of 2027. She has a strong interest in zoo medicine and hopes to pursue it as a career.
Although she visited Las Vegas as a child, Allison is looking forward to sightseeing as an adult and discovering local gems beyond the typical tourist attractions.
During this externship, she is excited to gain hands-on experience with small exotics, an area she hasn’t worked with before, and to see how different hospitals operate.
In her free time, she enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles, spending time with her cats, and exploring Iowa. A proud Disney adult, Allison once worked at Disney and dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian at Animal Kingdom.
