VMCVM Student Spotlight: Alison Lynch
Alison Lynch
Degree: DVM, 2026, Small Animal Track
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
My undergraduate was in…
General biology at the University of Maryland, College Park. I graduated back in 2015. My time there — plus a semester abroad in London — helped solidify my love of science, travel, and exploring new perspectives.
Best part of being a VMCVM student…
The community, without question. Our class is incredibly supportive, and I love being able to help bring people together as class president — whether it’s for service projects, social events, or just making vet school feel a little more human. I love how connected our classes are — the Big/Little program, clubs like Alpha Psi, and all the cross-class friendships and mentorships they create. Our faculty and staff are a huge part of that community too; they care about us as people, not just students, and they show it.
The moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian/public health professional was…
It wasn’t one moment — it was two turning points that eventually came together.
Losing my first cat, Smudge (a 1-year-old domestic shorthair [DSH] with feline infectious peritonitis [FIP] before there was a treatment) and my dad within a month of each other sparked something in me: a deep appreciation for compassionate care during the hardest moments. It’s what first drew me toward the veterinary field.
But it was also working as a veterinary assistant for years — helping families through difficult decisions, seeing patients improve, witnessing both the joy and the heartbreak — that solidified that I wanted more responsibility, more medical knowledge, and the ability to make a bigger impact. I’m still growing into the veterinarian I want to be.
My hidden talent...
My hidden talent is that I’m a former Irish dance champion and a former a cappella singer — two very different skills that somehow both still come in handy more often than you’d expect.
A person who has inspired me...
My mom. She has the biggest, warmest heart of anyone I know. She nurtured my love of animals from the time I was little, supported every dream I’ve chased, and embodies resilience in a way I admire deeply. She is instantly loved by everyone she meets, and I aspire to be even half as loved and genuine as she is.
Biggest misconception about being a veterinarian/public health student…
That it’s all about animals.
The truth is: veterinary medicine is a people profession. It’s communication, empathy, collaboration, navigating emotions, showing up for clients during the best and worst days of their lives — and doing it all while being a medical professional. The animals may bring us in, but the people keep us growing.
If I had a superpower, it would be...
... the ability to communicate with animals — for them to truly understand me and for me to understand them.
My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song...
“Drag Me Down” by One Direction
What excites me the most about the future of my industry...
We’re moving toward a more sustainable and human-focused profession — one that prioritizes mental health, mentorship, and longevity. At the same time, advances in anesthesia, pain management, and technology are transforming patient care. It feels like the field is finally balancing innovation with compassion, and I’m excited to be part of that shift.
Favorite way to end the day...
Coming home and catching up with my amazing housemates, taking a long bubble bath with a glass of wine, curling up with my cat Bindi to watch a movie, and drifting off knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
Top of my bucket list...
Traveling to Australia, with the Australia Zoo as my first stop. I’ve always admired the Irwin family’s impact on wildlife conservation, and visiting their zoo would be incredibly meaningful.
How many pets/animals live at home? Can you tell us about them?
In Blacksburg, I live with Bindi, my 9-year-old black DSH cat named after Bindi Irwin. She’s brilliant, extremely food motivated, and trained to sit, give paw, sit pretty, figure-8, and spin. I’m her person, and she’s supported me through all of life’s ups and downs for almost a decade. I couldn’t imagine these years without her.
At my mom’s home, she has Scarlett, a 1-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and Oliver, a 9-year-old grey tabby DSH. They’re silly, goofy, and adored — true chaos gremlins in the best possible way.
Anything else to add?
I’m endlessly grateful for the mentors, classmates, pets, and experiences that brought me here. Each one has shaped the veterinarian I’m becoming, and I can’t wait to see where the journey leads next.
