VMCVM Resident Spotlight: Esteban Jimenez
Esteban Jimenez
Resident in production management medicine and Ph.D. student in the Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences program.
Hometown:
Alajuela, Costa Rica
When did you join the veterinary college?
January 2025
My path to veterinary medicine and graduate school…
In Costa Rica, we don't need to go through an undergraduate program to enter into veterinary school. So, after high school, it took me two tries until I got accepted at vet school. After I finished it, back in 2019, I worked two years as a dairy practitioner, until I got the opportunity to pursue a Master of Science degree at The Pennsylvania State University, working on dairy cows during the peripartum period. Halfway through that program, I realized that I wanted to do more clinical work and started to look at different programs and find an opportunity to do a clinical internship at the Food Animal and Camelid Medicine and Surgery service at Iowa State University. Around 6 months into that program, I started to look for a residency position that allowed me to combine my interest in clinics and research, and that was when I found this opportunity here at the VMCVM, which allows me to have clinical training as a resident while pursuing my Ph.D. at the BVMS program.
The moment I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian…
I grew up in a family where both my mom and my dad are veterinarians, so from a really young age, I have always been exposed to animal health in one way or another. Definitely, the dedication and love that my parents give to their jobs planted the seed that eventually germinated as this desire to study veterinary medicine. Regarding the decision to enter graduate school, it definitely started as a "let's see how it goes, it is just a two-year program" (back when I started my M.S. program), which later became a "let's try to understand if that condition explains the decrease in productivity in a certain type of animal."
Best part of being a resident and student…
Being able to interact with so many other talented clinicians, staff, and students. I have been learning every day since the day I started. Furthermore, the chance to work with clients both in their farms and in the hospital definitely brings a plus to my position. At the same time, I really value all the opportunities to learn and grow as a graduate student, a resident, but more importantly, as a person. All the resources available make this intense journey a little bit easier to handle.
Best advice I’ve gotten…
The only stupid question is the one that was never asked.
How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?
Colostrum quality and calf health: how is the Mid-Atlantic region doing compared to the rest of the U.S.?
My hidden talent…
Cooking and baking new dishes without following recipes and still ending up with really tasty results.
A person who has inspired me…
My mom and my dad. All the hard work they have done for our family is amazing. I would never be able to pay for all the time, advice, and life lessons they have given me, and I hope they keep doing it for a long time.
Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student…
Veterinary school is not a speed race; it is an ultramarathon where the secret is to keep the pace, be organized, and squeeze every opportunity you have in your hands to learn. Besides, don't be afraid to fail. Right now, it is the best moment to do it; you have tons of resources surrounding you that will guide you to the right answer.
Biggest misconception in my area…
That students don’t know the answers. Most of them have an incredible amount of knowledge; they just need to organize their thoughts into the most appropriate answer. Another misconception is that veterinarians only work in a clinic, hospital, or veterinary school. In reality, our career is one of the most important ones worldwide, helping with the production of animal products and subproducts, public health policies, food safety, and animal welfare, among others.
If I had a superpower, it would be…
Teletransportation or the ability to fly, so I can visit my country and loved ones more often.
My no-fail, go-for-it motivational song…
Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
The course project/study I’m most excited about…
I want to design a project where I can try to understand how clinical diseases in the early stages of life, like pneumonia in calves, affect the long-term reproductive performance of those animals as adults.
What excites me the most about the future of my industry…
Being able to understand how different diseases during the early life of production animals cause long-term effects on their productive and reproductive performance, using newer technologies. I’m also excited by the possibility of exploring how different management practices or health events can determine the future performance of the affected animal.
A cause I’m most passionate about…
I am really passionate about teaching and sharing my experiences and knowledge with students.
Favorite way to end the day…
Eating a warm meal with a cold beer and a tasty dessert. Sharing time with my girlfriend and her dog—playing video games, building LEGO, or watching TV shows—especially when I know that I am not on-call, so I can rest peacefully overnight.
Top of my bucket list…
Visit New Zealand and Australia, and hopefully learn more about their animal production methods while working with production animals.
My favorite quote…
"Pura Vida."
It is from my country and it's quite simple, however, it has different meanings and I try to live by them during my days.
How many pets/animals live at home?
Unfortunately, I don't have pets with me at the moment. I am planning to get a dog next year. However, my girlfriend has a mixed-breed Husky (Kiara), who is like my daughter!
Anything else to add?
Life is too short to be worried about everything! Let's plan to live a life that we will not regret when we are old!
