Ashleigh Woods, Class of 2028

Highlighting the incredible summer experiences of our College of Veterinary Medicine students. 

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This summer, Ashleigh Woods, a CVM student from Guyton, Georgia, took full advantage of the opportunities available through the Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program (GVSP). With a career focus on small animal surgery, Woods embraced the challenge of working in equine research, expanding her skills and knowledge in the process. 

Her primary project explored the use of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain in horses. Using a PEMF device called Magnawave, Woods helped investigate whether this therapy could reduce pain and improve postural stability. Her weekly workload included facilitating treatments with the horses three days a week, while the rest of her time was spent managing data, developing a research poster, and preparing an oral presentation.

In addition to her main study, Woods also contributed to a separate retrospective project, reviewing hundreds of veterinary cases across four different institutions. These combined experiences offered her valuable insight into both the hands-on and analytical aspects of veterinary research. What she enjoyed most, however, was the opportunity to work directly with horses and experience what a clinical study is like in veterinary medicine. 

As a capstone to her summer research, Woods recently traveled to Spokane, Washington, to present her project at the Veterinary Science Symposium. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a rotating internship following graduation, with the ultimate goal of securing a residency. Her time in the GVSP not only broadened her clinical and research skills but also reinforced her passion for advancing veterinary medicine.