Casey Cromer

Casey Cromer Purdue University Equine Sports Medicine

	"My knowledge expanded at a rate I never could have imagined. I had never been involved in a research lab and being able to see the precise detail and intricate processes were very beneficial"

Our research focused on 5-8 Standard bred racehorses on the treadmill. My daily tasks on non-testing days included maintaining and recording individual dietary plans, keeping the horses on consistent training schedules, and categorizing Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology results from previous studies. On testing days I assisted with prepping the horse for their Standardized Racing Performance (SRP) by sanitizing catheter sites, shaving heart monitor sites, and monitoring the horse on an hourly basis. During the SRP I am at the horse's head to control and keep the horse at its racing speed, the pace. I also assisted by flushing the catheters and drawing blood at specific time intervals. After the SRP I aided with bronchoalveolar lavages and endoscopic procedures.

My favorite part of my internship was having the opportunity to be surrounded by professionals in my chosen career. The people I was surrounded by encouraged me to ask questions, and gave me the tools to increase my knowledge of equine sports medicine. I worked alongside graduate students and veterinarians from the United States, Brazil, Malaysia, and France. It was amazing to witness that even though we all came from all around the world; one thing united us: the beauty and power of the horse.

I learned how to properly set up a scientific research paper, enter specific data, and take blood samples. From the veterinary standpoint I was taught how to insert and properly use a neck catheter, rate mucus and blood scores in the lungs, and takes vital signs pre and post SRP. As veterinary medicine expands globally it is important to be able to communicate and work with professionals from around the world. This internship put me with coworkers from across the globe and being able to successfully communicate with them was a challenge at first. As the study progressed the communication barrier ceased to exist.

I acquired my internship by taking the initiative to email and speak with Dr. Laurent Couetil, who is head of the Equine Sports Medicine Center. Dr. Couetil is one of the best veterinarians in equine sports medicine, so I knew becoming involved with him would reward me with expanded knowledge in the field.

Dr. Couetil is MORE than happy to sit down and discuss his research and the opportunity to become involved. I would encourage those who are interested to contact him!