Written by Kathryn Ross
Hali Jungers has wanted to be a veterinarian for as long as she can remember, and thanks in part to her time at APU, that dream has come true. Hali is currently an Aquatic Animal Veterinary Fellow at UC Davis where she works with aquatic animals in the marine biology department.
After graduating from APU in 2014 with her degree in Biology, Hali earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. She believes her experience at APU prepared her well for her doctoral program and current career, as sort of consecutive building blocks. “WesternU had a pretty unique curriculum,” said Jungers. “There was less of a lecture-based approach and more of a problem-based learning approach. This means you are consistently working in small groups to address the cases you’re given and come up with solutions. Working in small groups has become something of a staple in her work with marine animals. As a Fellow at UC Davis, she continues to work and research in small groups and finds the setting more conducive to learning. “I think APU’s smaller class sizes and more intimate environment prepared me extremely well for this. I was able to jump into the curriculum comfortably and make really strong connections with my classmates!”
While at APU, Jungers also had access to resources through the APU Biology department that proved to be a major stepping stone in helping her decide which path of veterinary medicine she wanted to take. “I have [always] wanted to work with animals and be a veterinarian. I can’t remember a time when I wanted to be anything else,” she said. However, it was the APU biology department’s partnership with the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies that sparked her interest in marine biology and aquatic animal health. “I was fortunate enough to attend marine biology classes at their Washington State campus one summer. That program was the catalyst for my desire to become a veterinarian who specializes in aquatics,” says Jungers. “I discovered animals I didn’t know existed and was immersed in a local community that was passionate about animal welfare, sustainability, and environmental stewardship. It was phenomenal!”
So far, Jungers’ career is flourishing. She’s contributed to a prestigious publication on the study of Northern Elephant Hearing Adaptations (2018), earned certification from the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA), and has earned awards from WesternU and the Veterinary Business Management Association respectively for her work in service and business.
“I believe the foundation I found at APU has led to my firm belief that I’m where I’m supposed to be at any given moment in my life,” says Jungers. “I know now that I can always turn to God and withstand life’s trials—of which there are plenty in the world of veterinary medicine!—and that has really given me great comfort.”
This message is especially timely given the current state of the world, in which uncertainty and trials seem to be in abundance. In light of this, Jungers offers current and future students of APU some advice, based on her experience:
“It’s important to recognize that everyone around [you], whether in an undergraduate institution, graduate school, or other, will be at a different place in their life and no two situations will be the same. That said, try not to compare yourself to others. It’s 100% okay to not have everything figured out. It’s also okay when you think you have things figured out and they don’t go according to plan. You will thrive if you can adapt and learn to go along with the journey.”
