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Veterinary Medicine Student at University of Padova, Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, MAPS, and Chair of the IVSA Pathology Network, Italy

Professional ambitions? I would love to advance the field of veterinary pathology through research and education – improving animal health and welfare, particularly in the context of conservation and wildlife pathology. Additionally, I aim to foster a more dynamic and engaging educational environment for veterinary students by pushing initiatives like the IVSA Pathology Network.

Inspiring mentor or educator? I do not have one person in mind, but a team: the Cetacean strandings Emergency Response Team (CERT) of the University of Padova (Dep. of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science - BCA). Over the past three years, I’ve followed CERT in relation to my undergraduate-thesis and external activities. I’ve learnt so many things about pathology applied to the conservation of wild species, and I also gained practical and theoretical knowledge in other aspects of research. Being surrounded by professionals who are enthusiastic about their field is simply grand, and seeing them in action is always exciting. 

Attracting talent… Although pathology has such a broad spectrum of applications, by talking with other students from various countries, it appears that pathology is seen as “just” pathological anatomy. I firmly believe that with enthusiastic professors and professionals who share their passion for their fields, more students and graduates will be drawn to this field and realize the vast opportunities for exploration. One effective approach is inviting speakers who specialize in specific sectors and are excited about presenting their findings to talk to students. I still remember the first pathology-related paper I had ever read, as the speaker was so enthusiastic about his field of research.