VMCVM Faculty Spotlight: Augusta O'Reilly
Augusta O'Reilly
Veterinary Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Veterinary Teaching Hospital
When did you join the veterinary college?
October 30, 2023. The day of Ezy-Vet launched AND a full moon, won't ever forget that.
The best part of being a faculty is?
Being able to watch from the sidelines as the treatment team uses their skills and knowledge to help the pets. I'll always be their biggest cheerleader!
Best advice I've gotten...
Surround yourself with good people, and good things will happen.
How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
"Veterinary Social Work? A therapist for your pet? Nope! Something even better..."
At first people don't understand why a social worker would be in an animal hospital or shelter but when I explain that I am just like a social worker in a human hospital or doctors office it starts to make more sense. I support the humans, that support the animals, in a number of different ways!
My hidden talent...
I can quote all of the Disney movie "Hercules." Yes, I am a Disney Adult.
Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...
Find your support team and you will go far. Surrounding yourself with people with truly care and understand will help you when you feel stuck and ready to give up.
A person who has inspired me...
Jane Goodall and Steve Irwin.
One misconception that all students seem to have is?
Their voice or thoughts don't matter during their clinical rotation. It does! You see things in different ways, have fresh insight, and communicate a lot with the families. It's just finding those people that will lift up your voice and help grow that confidence.
If I had a superpower, it would be...
To talk to animals- I feel like that would really come in handy in this line of work!
This excites me the most about the future of my industry...
The growth. The field of veterinary social work has really expanded in the last decade and is only getting more popular as more people recognize the importance of supporting the whole bonded family.
A cause I'm most passionate about...
Supporting different cultural practices for euthanasia and cremations. I love learning how different cultures process their grief and celebrate life.
Favorite way to end the day...
I typically end it scrolling through TikTok, but my favorite way is to hang out with my cats and plants in my sun room.
Top of my bucket list...
Travel! I want to go to Iceland and Greece especially.
My favorite quote...
“Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” - Harry Potter
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
I have two cats; Kazoo and Shenzi that I adopted in college. They are the best ever (of course everyone says that). Kazoo can turn any non-cat lover into her biggest fan. Shenzi loves to play catch and has a red ball she hides around the house.
Then I have two goober dogs as well; Juno and Trace. Juno is my Great Pyrenees, she loves to play in the snow and be my shadow. Trace is a pointer mix and is my kiddo's dog through and through. I also have never seen a dog eat as fast as her, even with a slow feeder!
Anything else to add?
A social workers superpower is: if I don't know, I know someone who does, and will find out!
