Going All Out: 3,000 out-of-class hours working with animals shows College of Saint Mary 2016 grad’s devotion to veterinary medicine

Omaha, Neb. – Haden Mikesell hasn’t even taken her first class at Iowa State University, where she’s been accepted into the School of Veterinary Medicine. But the 2016 College of Saint Mary graduate has already spent a staggering amount of time in the field – about 3,000 hours-worth.

When Mikesell walks down the aisle this Sunday to receive her bachelor degree, the biology major will have amassed nearly 3,000 hours of veterinary and animal experience – most of them in the last two years. All while running cross-country, taking a full load of classes, and serving in leadership positions at CSM.

It’s commonly acknowledged that getting into vet school is much harder than getting into Med School. Like most, Mikesell applied to several before being accepted into ISU. It’s not enough that you have good grades, although you do need them. It’s not enough that you exhibit leadership, although that’s a given. It’s that, unlike medical school, you’re required to have already gained extra-curricular experience in the field.

There is no minimum number of hours required, but when it came to accumulating those hours, says Dr. Jeff Keyte, division chair of arts, sciences and professional studies at CSM, “Haden went all out.

“In part,” he says, “it was because she wanted to be a top candidate. But it was also because she loves the work.”

Haden has wanted to become a vet “forever. Since I was a little kid,” she says. “I’ve always loved animals and wanted to know how to take care of them.”

Her love of all things animal is evident not only in her out-of-class experiences, but in-class, as well.

Animals as pets hold a special place in the hearts of humans, says Keyte. But that special place is seldom opened for the animals we use for food, or as specimens in research. “To Haden, all animals matter and are special.”

“This is a young woman who tried for days to save starfish that had been considered mere “specimens” for zoology class,” says Keyte. “This is someone who would spend hours cleaning the university aquarium, not so it would look nice for the humans, but so the fish could have a healthy environment. This is a student who researched where biological lab materials came from to decide if she would participate in their use.”

During a biology class, Haden was upset to discover how the tissue samples she and her fellow students were working with had been produced. Rabbits had been subjected to a prolonged, painful process in order to produce the needed proteins. She also found out that a pain-free alternative to that method was available. Mikesell went to Keyte to express her concerns. She was given an alternative project, and the lab now is identifying sources that supply the produced materials for class projects.

Mikesell also demonstrated her love for animals while accumulating field and clinical experience at the Henry Doorly Zoo, True Buddy Farms and Langley Animal Clinic.

While at the zoo, Mikesell worked in the Red Barn Park, training goats, donkeys and miniature horses, and on interactive programs for children. She was also able to help rehab Skittles, a scarlet macaw with a wing injury, back to health. When she was able to help him finally open his wings, she says, “I thought, that is the best feeling in the world.”

While working at True Buddy Farms, a therapy sheep farm in Papillion, Mikesell experienced both the good, and the painful part of her chosen profession. Two years ago, a young cow was born on the farm. The calf, named Bullwinkle, survived, but the mother did not. Mikesell spent five days in the stall with him, feeding him round the clock. Although he became a much-loved therapy cow, the decision was made to send Bullwinkle to slaughter. Mikesell stepped up. She started a Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/SaveBullwinkle, raised the money to buy him, and found him a new home in Missouri. Bullwinkle recently celebrated his 2nd birthday, and has his own Facebook page.

Sometimes an experience would have an inevitable, not-so-happy ending. One day, Buddy, the farm’s namesake and first therapy sheep, became very ill. It got so bad that Buddy couldn’t even stand up. “I knew it was selfish to keep him alive,” she says. Mikesell assisted the farm’s vet, Dr. Norman Jernigan, in putting Buddy down. “It was the hardest thing I had ever done to that point,” she says. “But it was essential for me to put aside my selfish feelings and put Buddy first.”

For the past year, Mikesell has been volunteering her time at the Langley Animal Clinic in Papillion. Under the supervision of Dr. James Langley, she assisted in basic services such as suturing, spay and neuter, and vaccinations. Working with smaller, and less exotic animals added diversity to her experiences.

In addition to her vet experience, Mikesell also put in a great deal of time in leadership positions at CSM. She served on student senate; the student athlete advisory committee; the math & science club; and the aquarium team. Mikesell also led the CSM Elementary Science Outreach Program for one year, helping to create science activities for Omaha-area elementary schools. For four years, she ran cross country for CSM and, in 2015 was named the regional winner of the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, which recognizes student athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, and campus and community leadership. Earlier this May, Mikesell won CSM’s 2015-16 Champions of Character Student-Athlete award.

Mikesell’s chosen career also happens to be her favorite hobby. So, when asked what she does for fun, Mikesell says she doesn’t do much. Maybe that will change when she gets to vet school. She’ll probably have more time on her hands.