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You are going to be entering the greatest profession soon. I graduated in 1974, 50 years ago, and the tour of the Equine Facility was nothing short of amazing. I have a 10 Dr. practice in northern Indiana and am still full time in equine surgery and lameness. Long story short - IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE A VETERINARIAN !!!! Regards,

Dr. Jerry Sellon

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Oh the Places you will Go !  - Dr. Seuss

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Congratulations on your Greatest Accomplishment!

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Congratulations on your Greatest Accomplishment!

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Take a minute to appreciate what you have just accomplished. Now realize it is only the beginning of what you are about to go out and do in the world - serving people, their families, their animals, their communities. You will be someone who is respected and valued more than you ever imagined. Live up to this. Be the person you dreamed you could be. Do the right thing. Take the high road. Accept failures and successes as part of your journey and your learning experience. You have received the best education from the best teaching hospital that exists, and you will know this, as time will show you. Use your skills to the best of your ability. Don't doubt yourself. Seek out help from others. Always do your best. And enjoy that you are now a part of the best profession on earth. Have a great time!

Amanda Thomas, DVM

Class of 2000, CSU

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Congratulations on your graduation and the beginning to the greatest career ever. There’s hard days and rough clinics to be sure, my career hasn’t been all happy days. Rest assured though, you have the best education ever! It’s been 17 years of hard work and there has yet to be a case I have had no clue about where to start. Full PE, get people talking about the history and then get to finding the diagnosis. Countless thousands of patients and families are going to benefit from your hard work and perseverance.

All the best wishes to you! Craig Stanton Class of 2007.

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Congratulations on completing your schooling and embarking on the next chapter of your lives. It takes a very special kind of person to enter into the veterinary career, giving help, compassion, and hope for animals and owners alike. Whether you decide to work in a practice or go the research route, your dedication does not go unnoticed. Enjoy your special day and thank you for being the future of the field!

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Congratulations! You did it! Wishing all of you the best on the next steps of your adventures in being a veterinarian. Know CSU is always here to support you and cheer you on along the way! Dr. Erickson

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Congratulations! You did it! Wishing all of you the best on the next steps of your adventures in being a veterinarian. Know CSU is always here to support you and cheer you on along the way! Dr. Erickson

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Work hard. Play hard. Love what you do. I’ve done it since 1981 and wouldn’t change a thing.

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Well, you did it!

I will treasure all the times I worked with you all in the ER.

Remember to be kind to yourself. Remember that you are human. You will make mistakes and you will learn from them. Some may be harder than others. Continue to learn, you will never stop learning. Take care of your team. Eat your lunch. Set boundaries and stick to them. It is okay to cry. It is okay to be sad. Treasure the cases that you got to send home. Reach out if you need help or support rather than trying to take everything on yourselves. Don't practice medicine that is below your standard. Do not just settle. Find somewhere that empowers you to be a better Veterinarian.

I am so proud of each and everyone of you. You made it! You survived. You can breathe now. (:

And if you're staying at CSU, I will see you around.

Sending my love and wishing you all the best on your future endeavors.

Ivy Rodal, RVT

Emergency and Critical Care Unit

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Congratulations DVMs! My best wishes go out to all of you that you may develop a fulfilling career that brings you joy and lets you have FUN!

Yvette Nout-Lomas, Equine Medicine

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Congrats class of 2025! You are about to embark on a life-changing journey. Every patient you save, every patient you lose, will become a part of you! You will get to know amazing clients, and you will experience some difficult ones. The way you see your life, your career and your patients Will depend a lot on your own narrative. Remember that you can change your narrative at any time! I graduated in 1996- I opened my first practice in 1999, my last SA practice is now five years old and I Have recently begun practicing Equine medicine. There is no other career like being a veterinarian!

CSU has prepared you, probably better than any other school, to do great things. When you get lost or down remember your “why”! Find joy in solving puzzles!!!! When you’re in the middle of a challenging case- go back to the signalment and the history! Your profs drilled those into you for a reason!!!

Get involved!!!! AAHA, AVMA, AAEP, VMG… Surround yourself with people smarter than you and more successful than you! Get a mentor!!!

Don’t be afraid of practice ownership! It is the path to financial success-beyond anything you can dream of. My last bit of advice is that work life balance is achievable. For me, that meant I worked as hard as I could so that I could afford the life I wanted. I have no regrets that I worked my butt off for 20 years, opening hospitals and daycares- I work now because I love it not because I have to! Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that you will be wildly successful by working four days a week eight hours at a time. You won’t ! You might have a marvelous work-life balance, but you will not become wildly successful. I will assure you that I struggled… And I will also assure you that the struggle is worth it. DRPAMN@gmail.com Is my email. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need it! I am so excited for you all to go change the world, change the narrative in veterinary medicine- And mostly- to experience the joy and the magic of saving patients and helping clients. All my best to each of you.

Pam Nichols, DVM CSU Class of ‘96

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I am so proud of you for pursuing your dreams and entering into the best profession in the world. I graduated from CSU in 1988 and my career has been long and prosperous, and I love every minute of it. Wishing you all the best as you embark on this new journey.

Dr Laurie Bulkeley

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Dear Class of 2025,

At some point—or many points—you will have to decide what kind of veterinarian you will be. Balancing your oath to care for the pet, the pet parent, and the community is not easy. Many veterinarians feel pressured to prioritize the pet parent's wishes, emotions, or external pressures, sometimes at the expense of the pet.

I encourage you to always put the pet’s welfare first. In doing so, you will earn the trust and respect of your clients. This means speaking directly and honestly—not just about what is considered "best medicine," but about what is truly best for the situation. And sometimes, often, that means guiding families to end veterinary medicine when it is no longer serving the pet.

Quality of life should be the cornerstone of every treatment plan. Learn how to assess it, and more importantly, teach your clients how to assess it. If they choose not to follow your recommendations, they should not be left alone with a pet that may suffer a slow, painful death. Your role is to ensure they understand, to provide them with clarity, and to advocate for the pet above all else.

I say this from over 20 years in end-of-life practice, having witnessed firsthand what happens when pet parents are not properly educated. The difference between a peaceful passing and unnecessary suffering often comes down to how well we guide and prepare them.

This is the kind of veterinarian I hope you choose to be.

With respect and encouragement,
Dr. Christina Guttuso

Class of 2003

Gentlejourneyaz.com

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CSU remains one of the best vet schools in the nation. 

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CSU remains one of the best vet schools in the nation. 

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I've lectured at every national veterinary conference and most of the US vet school universities, in Canada, Australia and in Beijing, China. To this day CSU graduates are some of the best trained and most knowledgeable veterinarians I've encountered. You'll do well out here.

Byron Farquer, DVM, CVA Class of 1991

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Congratulations and welcome to our community! Remember that you know more than you think, but don’t ever fear saying “I don’t know, but I will find that out for you.”

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Congratulations to the class of 2025.  Welcome to the fellowship of veterinarians around the world who care for "All Creatures Great and Small".  You will meet people under the best and the worst circumstances and they may be very afraid of what is happening with their animal(s).  Please remember to be the sane person in the room, no matter how stressed you and/or the client may be.   Keep in mind that "persistence pays off."   Respectfully, Joan Bowen, member of the Notorious Class of 1976.

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Congratulations to the class of 2025.  Welcome to the fellowship of veterinarians around the world who care for "All Creatures Great and Small".  You will meet people under the best and the worst circumstances and they may be very afraid of what is happening with their animal(s).  Please remember to be the sane person in the room, no matter how stressed you and/or the client may be.   Keep in mind that "persistence pays off."   Respectfully, Joan Bowen, member of the Notorious Class of 1976.

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Congratulations new DVM’s! I graduated from CSU (the BEST vet school of course) 20 years ago and have been working as a small animal veterinarian ever since. I haven’t had the same burn out that a lot of my colleges face and I feel the majority of that is because I found a hospital that has a wonderful culture. We’ve had most of the same employees for many years and they are happy to come to work. So find a hospital that treats and pays the staff well (talk with the receptionists, techs, assistants when you interview), lets bad employees go (this includes ones that bring drama), understands the importance of work-life balance, and isn’t afraid to fire clients when they treat staff members poorly. It may take you several years and several different hospitals, but I hope you find your work family out there- it will help your happiness so much.

All the best,

Chelsea Newby, CSU class of 2005

P.S. Even after years of smelling them, anal glads will still smell bad 😜

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You made it through and are about to realize your vision, that's amazing! I've learned a lot in my 28 years and here are some of the high points:

-You will never be perfect so stop expecting perfection in yourself. Instead expect excellence in your knowledge, in your skills, in your care of patient and client.

-Never forget why we are here, to take care of the animals and their people and support that amazing bond.

-Learn the difference between book knowledge and what works in the real world. There isn't just one type of pet or one type of client. They each come with unique challenges and philosophy that you will have to adjust to in order to serve them best. The book answer isn't always the only answer, nor is it necessarily the right answer for the patient or client in front of you. Stay flexible and focus on spectrum of care.

-Science is amazing, but without someone to apply the nuances it doesn't work. Remember there is an art to practice.

-Don't get caught up in imposter syndrome, and never let someone's words make you think you are less than you are.

-Lifelong learning is key. The profession advances faster than you can keep up, and will entirely change during your career. Stay up on the things that are important to you or that you excel at, because at some point you won't be able to keep up with everything.

-Life is way too short for drama. Don't get caught up in judgement, whining, backbiting, gossip or any other the other things that take away from our purpose.

This is an amazing profession and it will serve you well. Remember it is a priviledge to get to do what you love when so many people don't and value that every single day!

Dr. Shelley Brown, DVM, CVPP, GDVWHM, CVNN (lifelong learning!)

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You don't need advise - you did it!!! Well done!!! Not sure if it works for everyone, but I was told to follow a simple rule: 'Do what's right' - served me well so far :-) Best of luck out there! Felix Duerr

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It's been a long road and you've worked hard to get here. Be proud of yourself. In many ways the journey is just beginning. It might feel hard at first. In the first 5 years there are some steep learning curves. From years 5-10 you hone your craft and hopefully find your niche. At 10 years out you feel confident in a way you might not have thought was possible. Remember you have done what many have only dreamed of. Stay curious, stay humble. Be awesome! Wishing you the best. Dr. Christina Hansen, class of 2006.

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Congratulations, Doctors! Four years ago, we started the journey in this program; you becoming doctors and me figuring out what it means to be an effective helper for vet students. Thank you for your grace as I learned alongside you. You are a collective force-for-good of a class, and I look forward to hearing the positive changes you all make as you go out into the world and shake up the status quo. You are resilient, intelligent, and confident. Remember to take care of yourselves, find time for your non-vet identities, and trust that you know more than you think you do. It's been a privilege serving you while you've been at CSU. Pamela Kemp, LPC

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CONGRATULATIONS!

You are entering an amazing profession that encourages life long learning. Keep on learning and having fun while you do!

Nancy Bureau, DVM

Class of 2000

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Earning your DVM is an incredible achievement and a testament to your resilience, compassion, and dedication to our field. As you step into this next chapter, remember that your degree is not a finish line—it’s a launching pad. Veterinary medicine is a beautifully diverse field, and if you ever find yourself in a role that doesn’t feel like the right fit, know that countless other opportunities await you—many you may not have even imagined yet. Stay curious, stay open, and trust that your path can evolve in wonderful ways.

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This marks the beginning of a wonderful journey. You may explore various aspects of veterinary medicine, you may stay in one sector. No matter what you choose you have already chosen wisely in becoming a veterinarian. Love what you do and know that you have been truly blessed to work in a profession that does such good for so many. Love your clients and you will never go wrong. Enjoy the journey!

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Congratulations to the PVM Class of 2025 from your Community Practice team! We're proud of you!!