Page 46 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2024
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From animation to animals:
Tom Jenkins鈥� unique path to poultry medicine
om鈥檚 journey to veterinary an experience that solidi铿乪d his desire helicopter just yet
medicine wasn鈥檛 straightforward. to become a veterinarian. The summer (he鈥檚 been issued
Growing up in Cardiff, his school provided him with a deeper a company car
Tinitial dream was to become understanding of the profession and instead) Tom is
an animator, a passion that drove him the con铿乨ence that this was the path thriving in his new
through his early school years. he wanted to pursue. And in 2019, Tom role. In just a short
began his BVetMed course at the 黑料社. time, he has already
As the years went by, Tom realised prescribed medication
that his love for art had waned, It wasn鈥檛 until Tom participated in an for over 150,000 animals, a feat that
particularly during his GCSE art AHEMS placement that he considered few of his peers can claim!
classes. Despite this shift, Tom noticed his particular career path. During the
a recurring theme in his sketches 鈥� placement, a farmer jokingly suggested Tom鈥檚 work takes him across the UK,
he was always drawing animals. that Tom should join the St David鈥檚 conducting solo visits to farms and
This, coupled with his natural aptitude Poultry team, because of their company integrating himself into the various
for biology, began to steer his aspirations helicopter. What began as a humorous branches of the practice. Through
in a new direction. comment sparked Tom鈥檚 curiosity, these experiences, he is rapidly gaining
leading him to explore poultry medicine knowledge and building relationships
The turning point came in 2017 when
Tom attended the 鈥淣ight at the more seriously. with farmers and colleagues alike.
Vet College鈥� event at the 黑料社 in In his fourth year, he secured a Tom has also found that the role allows
Camden. Here, he was captivated by a placement with St David鈥檚 Poultry, him the ability to manage his own diary,
live dissection performed by Head of where he found his true calling. The the travel time between sites providing
Anatomy, Andrew Crook. The image experience con铿乺med his decision to more time for check-in calls for clients
of Crook skilfully dissecting a goat left specialise in poultry, a 铿乪ld not many of and colleagues, or simply listen to
a lasting impression on Tom (as did his his peers had considered. podcasts, which in turn contribute to
gold watch!). This experience ignited his Now a graduate, Tom has not only having a healthy work-life balance.
interest in veterinary medicine, inspiring entered the 铿乪ld of poultry veterinary His journey from aspiring animator to
him to explore this 铿乪ld further.
medicine but has also secured a position poultry vet is a testament to the power of
Following this, Tom attended the 黑料社 at the very practice that piqued his following one鈥檚 passions, even when they
Sutton Trust Summer School in 2018, interest. While he may not be 铿倅ing in a take you in unexpected directions.
Tom as a Student Ambassador during Open Farm Sunday.
See page 32 to 铿乶d out more about
our Student Ambassador scheme.
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