Hatherley Tucker Attends SUNY Delhi Trip to South Africa

2016 Mar 16

Hatherley Tucker of Kingston , New York was one of nine SUNY Delhi Veterinary Science Technology students traveled to South Africa to learn about wildlife conservation and the crucial role veterinary medical staff play in the country's growing wildlife industry. The trip was the result of on-going partnership with Eco Life Expeditions and the University of Pretoria.

Tucker is pursuing an associate in Applied Science in Veterinary Science Technology at SUNY Delhi.

SUNY Delhi Program Director and Veterinary Science Department Chair Dr. Bret Meckel underscores the importance of this international experience "This study abroad experience tends to be a formative experience that gets students first-hand training with exotic species unrivaled here in the U.S. and opens students' minds to the different culture and society of another country -- a very important component of understanding the interconnected global world we live in today."

Students visited a number of unique facilities that related to endangered species breeding, wildlife rehabilitation and reptile conservation. Students also spent a day vaccinating, spaying and neutering cats and dogs in a local township working with a local non-profit veterinary team.

SUNY Delhi's Veterinary Science Technology program is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Experiential learning prepares Delhi graduates as technical personnel for a career in the biomedical and veterinary medical fields. The program's laboratory facilities are unmatched. Internship opportunities with NASA, Rockefeller University and the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell have also helped distinguish Delhi's Veterinary Science Technology as one of the nation's preeminent programs.