Photos provided by Shannon Gregoire
When Shannon Gregoire first entered the hallowed halls of Western University in 2019, she never thought that her junior year would start off like an apocalyptic novel. With the pandemic continuing to cause uncertainty across the U.S., Shannon is only sure of one thing—this year will definitely not go as planned.
But, that’s okay, because Shannon has got this!
Shannon grew up on a working farm in rural Massachusetts, complete with horses, farm-fresh eggs and an apiary. Life on the farm gave Shannon a different type of outlook on life. She credits this with instilling in her a habit of early rising and a love for hard work.
Now having her new “normal” mixed with a chaotic vet school life, Shannon Gregoire makes her health and happiness a top priority. That means starting each day with meditation and making time for a visit to the gym or a hiking trail after school.
For Shannon, she is very much looking forward to the future. She entered veterinary school with a plan to specialize in equine medicine, but now has decided to pursue other interests.
“I plan to focus my career on the business side of veterinary medicine,” says Shannon. “I want to lead the change and make a difference in our profession.”
While Shannon is considering MBA programs at this time, she does offer advice for other veterinary students; “My advice for new grads would be to apply for leadership roles, negotiate for better pay and benefits, and find a supportive mentor. It is time for us to make a change in our profession.”
Shannon will officially become “Dr. Gregoire” when she graduates from Western in 2022. She will be joining more than 1,500 new veterinary graduates from the 30 accredited U.S. schools—all of whom will be spending the semester in various stages of quarantine and isolation. +
You can follow the future “Dr.” Shannon Gregoire at www.linkedin.com/in/shannonpgregoiredvm/
