Veterinary Medicine in Action: Learning, Service and One Health in Madagascar
First Name
Kristen Barclay
Field of Study
Veterinary Medicine
Graduation Year
2029
Virtual or In-Person
In-Person
Program Title, Location, Duration
Beyond the Clinic: Vet Med in Africa; Global Grad Grant: Research Track
What motivated or led you to participate in your study abroad, global internship, on-campus global leadership or other global learning program?
My motivation for participating in this program was deeply personal. I previously spent a semester living and studying in Madagascar during my undergraduate degree, and the country and its people have held a special place in my heart ever since. Returning four years later gave me the opportunity to reconnect with a place that had shaped me while experiencing it through the lens of my career path in veterinary medicine. I was especially drawn to the Mad Dog Initiative (MDI) because I could give back to communities that had welcomed me so warmly while gaining hands-on clinical experience and conducting research to improve access to care initiatives across the globe. The opportunity to combine my love for Madagascar with my passion for veterinary medicine made this program particularly meaningful to me.
What was your experience like in this program? What did you learn from your experience: interacting with other people and cultures; academics; addressing global challenges; and/or developing global skills and leadership?
My experience in Madagascar was both professionally and personally enriching. Working with a team of Malagasy veterinarians and veterinary students taught me the importance of collaboration, adaptability and learning from different approaches to veterinary medicine. I strengthened my clinical skills by performing my first solo cat and dog neuters, assisting with spays, placing IV catheters and administering medications. I also further developed my French and Malagasy while interacting with the team and local community members. Most importantly, I gained a better understanding of the challenges surrounding access to veterinary care in resource-limited settings. This experience showed me how veterinary medicine can address both animal and community health and strengthened my interest in One Health.
What was the most challenging part of your program and the most rewarding?
The most challenging part was the combination of long days on my feet and navigating language barriers. In rural communities, French was often limited, making it difficult to communicate about our work. Practicing my French and Malagasy, with help from the veterinary team and community members, made me more comfortable. I also learned the hard way that flea bites were part of the experience—my ankles were covered in them, and I even brought some home to bed! The most rewarding part was seeing the immediate impact of our work and knowing that each procedure improved an animal’s health and helped protect the community from a One Health perspective.
What’s one of your most memorable experiences from your program?
One of my most memorable experiences was during a quieter clinic day, when several community members brought puppies and kittens who were too young for surgery but old enough to receive rabies vaccines. I loved seeing how eager the owners were to care for their animals and how much they trusted MDI. The slower day also gave me more time to connect with the community and practice my Malagasy. One woman who brought her puppies encouraged my attempts, teaching me new words and helping me with pronunciation. At the end of our visit, she even asked me to name her two puppies—now Jerry and Oreo! I’ll always cherish this reminder of how welcoming the Malagasy people are and how veterinary care can make a lasting difference.
What was a typical day like on your program?
Each morning, I climbed into our jam-packed bus with the Malagasy veterinary team and traveled from our research center in Andasibe to a different village. Once we arrived, I helped set up our temporary clinic, including three surgery tables and all of our medical supplies. We then began seeing community members’ dogs and cats, performing up to 25 spays and neuters throughout the day, along with vaccinations and treatments for other medical conditions. I rotated between performing my own surgeries and technical work, including placing IV catheters, administering medications and monitoring anesthesia. We took turns breaking for our packed lunches in the middle of the day. Once all of our patients were finished, I helped clean and pack up the clinic before beginning our drive back to the research center, where I took sunset walks along the rainforest edge and watched the wildlife.
What advice do you have for someone considering your program or a global experience, in general?
My biggest piece of advice is to be open to learning and willing to step outside your comfort zone. Global experiences rarely go exactly as expected, and some of the most meaningful parts of my experience came from adapting to the unexpected—it’s all about controlled chaos! I also recommend taking every opportunity to connect with the local community, as it makes the experience much more meaningful. Most importantly, be present and appreciate where you are. Take the time to look around and embrace a new culture and environment.
What was your biggest concern about participating in the program? Were you able to overcome that concern, and if so, how?
My biggest concern was whether I would have opportunities to learn how to perform my own surgeries in a veterinary setting and feel comfortable working with different and more limited resources than I was used to, especially given the clinic’s quick pace. I was also nervous about communicating effectively, as French was often limited in rural areas. I quickly learned that being willing to ask questions, listen and adapt was all I needed to be successful. Working closely with the Malagasy veterinarians and students allowed me to learn from their expertise while developing my own skills. By the end of the campaign, I felt more confident adapting to unfamiliar veterinary settings and communicating across language and cultural differences.
What is something you wish you had known before joining the program?
I wish I had the opportunity to speak with the veterinary team and its leaders before joining the program. It would have been great to learn more about their expectations for me and what the learning opportunities would look like. I also would have loved to know what drug protocols to expect, though they were constantly changing based on availability in the country.
Everything worked out well, as the team was extremely welcoming and eager to support my growth.
How do you think your program experiences will benefit you in the future—academically, regarding future career goals, or personally?
This experience will benefit me academically and professionally by strengthening my clinical, surgical, research and communication skills. Performing my first solo cat and dog neuters and assisting with spays gave me confidence in my technical abilities, while working with the MDI team taught me how veterinary care can be adapted to different resource settings. The campaign also introduced me to the importance of collecting and analyzing data to better understand veterinary resource needs. Most importantly, this experience cemented my desire to pursue a career focused on expanding access to veterinary care and contributing to One Health initiatives. Personally, returning to Madagascar deepened my connection to a country that has already played an important role in my life.
Please elaborate on any aspect of your identity or experience that impacted your program decisions or time on the program.
One aspect that impacted my experience was being a young woman traveling solo to a developing country with a different cultural and social environment. At times, navigating a more patriarchal society could be challenging, but the Mad Dog Initiative was incredibly supportive. They prioritized my safety when traveling to and from campaign locations and created a safe environment where I could speak up if something made me uncomfortable. From the beginning, they established clear expectations for the team, emphasizing respect and a zero-tolerance policy for negative behavior. I also spoke with the lead female veterinarians to learn how they navigate having their expertise questioned or disrespected because of their gender.