Preveterinary medicine grad gains career-connected experiences at ASU

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2023 graduates.

At age 4, Chloe Ward already knew she wanted to pursue veterinary medicine. Eighteen years later, she is making her childhood dreams come true.

Ward, an applied biological sciences major concentrating in preveterinary medicine, is wrapping up a stellar undergraduate career boasting 40 credits from Barrett, The Honors College and more than 4,000 hours of preveterinary clinical experience, research projects and volunteer work.

Her volunteer work enabled her to understand the science behind animal behavior, train dogs to become companion animals, and do community outreach via therapy dogs as an officer for the student club Angels for Devils.

A student in the School of Applied Sciences and Arts in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU’s Polytechnic campus, Ward decided to focus her honors thesis on the correlation between grain-free diets and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy in canines, in hopes of better understanding the concerns of pet owners and the role diet plays in canine health.

She also made contributions to building, monitoring and maintaining habitats for endangered burrowing owls as part of a larger conservation project, funded by Ørsted, during her senior year.

Ward, from Tucson, Arizona, credits Assistant Teaching Professors Julie Murphree and Adam Stein for her undergraduate research experiences and added that “the Polytechnic campus has a wealth of resources for students, and faculty who always strive for their students’ success. It made me realize how important our community and the people who surround us are.”

Besides research, Ward, an ASU Polytechnic Campus Scholarship recipient, worked in general practice veterinary medicine for three years and recently began working in emergency and critical care medicine.

In fall 2024, she will take her experiences to veterinary school so she can continue learning and making an impact in a field she is so passionate about.

Here, Ward goes on to tell us more about her time at ASU and provide some parting wisdom for fellow students.

Question: Why did you choose ASU?

Answer: ASU provided me with the tools I needed to succeed and faculty that supported and encouraged me throughout my entire experience. Having the ability to learn from individuals who are not only experts in their field but also so passionate about their students' success was an opportunity I am so glad I took.

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: My best piece of advice would be to enjoy it. Having the education we do is a privilege. I am lucky to be able to study something I am so passionate about — it’s what made all the night study sessions bearable.

Q: What was your favorite spot on Polytechnic campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?

A: The courtyard outside of the library on the ground level. It was always very quiet and peaceful and was my go-to spot for studying.

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: I would tackle habitat destruction and deforestation, concentrating on the conservation of wildlife and our ecosystems.