Gabi McCarthy, Class of 2028

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

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This summer, UGA College of Veterinary Medicine student Gabi McCarthy is making the most of her time outside the classroom through the Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program (GVSP). Originally from Fort Mill, South Carolina, Gabi is an incoming second-year veterinary student with an interest in mixed animal medicine. GVSP is designed to give veterinary students early exposure to research careers in biomedical sciences. This three-month program spans from May to the beginning of August each year.

Gabi’s research project this summer focuses on the detection of Leptospira in wild pigs across Georgia and South Carolina. She has been hard at work both in the field and in the lab, contributing to a study that aims to better understand the spread of this potentially zoonotic disease. Her fieldwork includes collecting environmental and biological samples from pigs in the field, while her lab days involve a wide range of tasks—from processing pig kidneys and filtering water samples to extracting DNA and running real-time PCR.

While she’s still undecided about her exact career path after graduation, Gabi chose to participate in GVSP to explore her interests and gain experience outside of traditional clinical settings. “I have most enjoyed the variety of opportunities I have been offered through this program,” she shared. “Whether it’s going to an island on the coast to collect samples or sitting under the hood in a lab, it’s different every day, and I think it’s given me a great insight into the research world.”

Her experience highlights the many ways UGA veterinary students are expanding their horizons over the summer. “GVSP has been an awesome opportunity, and I’m so grateful I was selected for the program and the project I am on,” Gabi says.

We’re proud of students like Gabi who are embracing hands-on research opportunities and making meaningful contributions to veterinary and public health.