Pre-Veterinary Student Spotlight: Zachary Padilla

The dedication of pre-vet students like senior Zachary Padilla is notable, and usually only outweighed by the demanding veterinary school academic prerequisites (since there are only 32 programs across the nation).

Fresno State pre-veterinary faculty confirm that the Ramona, California native’s impressive aptitude, and well as the 21 universities that offered him acceptance this fall, including Colorado State University, where he is drawn to its innovative teaching hospital and curriculum. 

Padilla has wanted to attend there since he was a high school sophomore because noted animal welfare advocate Temple Grandin is a CSU graduate and faculty member there (and she is coincidentally also on the autism spectrum like Padilla). Padilla’s family equine veterinarian, whom he has known since he was eight years old, also attended CSU and confirmed the quality of its program.

His work outside of class with Fresno State’s veterinary faculty has included work with both large and small animals, as well as several research projects (including an award-winning presentation).

Read more about the #FresnoStateGrad, who sports a 3.94 GPA and has been active as a Fresno State Pre-Vet Club vice president and Fresno Humane Animal Services staff member, in this recent interview.

 

Q: Why did you choose to attend Fresno State, and how did you pick your major?

“Before applying to Fresno State, I had come to campus several times for FFA trips such as field day competitions, horse judging events, state conferences, and others. I was very impressed with both the incredibly knowledgeable and helpful faculty as well as the campus’s vast opportunities to get involved through the animal units.”

Q: Which classes and faculty members have had the biggest influence on you while at Fresno State and why?

“The faculty members who have had the biggest influence on me have been (in no particular order) Dr. O’Bannon and Dr. Iared of the Animal Science Department, Dr. Slade of the Biology Department and Dr. Garrett of the Chemistry Department. All four have been incredible mentors throughout my journey of applying to veterinary school in their own ways, and have all given me a huge wealth of their knowledge, guidance and advice.”

“Dr. O’Bannon and Dr. Iared have both mentored me extensively through the process and helped me plan my journey from the start of my undergraduate classes all the way to post-veterinary residency (which I’ll hopefully attain!). Dr. Garrett encouraged me to pursue research and explore all of my options to both allow me to develop my growing passion for science as well as make me a better applicant, student and person. Dr. Slade has also given me tons of mentorship and advice alongside providing me the amazing opportunity to work in his lab on my own research project- he’s shared his immense knowledge with me as well.”

“The classes that have had the biggest influence on me would likely be ASCI 165 (Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals), ASCI 155 (Animal Reproduction) and ASCI 165 (Infectious Disease of Domestic Animals). All three of these classes have had tons of emphasis on veterinary medicine, and despite their challenge, they have given me an even greater passion and excitement to delve deeper into the topics in vet school.”

 

Q: Have you been gained any hands-on pre-veterinary experience already on campus or locally?

"I have gained a significant amount of experience working with both Fresno State’s veterinarians as well as veterinary staff at local clinics. Dr. O’Bannon has been integral in giving valuable experience in conjunction with skills taught in the classroom; in addition to helping prepare our Pre-Vet Club for its annual vaccine and microchip clinics. She also has allowed me to participate in live anatomical dissections with large animal internal organs; an experience that has further solidified my interest in anatomy and physiology. She has also provided guidance on proper technique with small animal procedures I performed regularly with my work with small animals. Dr. Iared has allowed me to observe and even assist with reproductive procedures at the horse unit, and I have gained a newfound interest and appreciation in equine reproduction. At one point, he even allowed me to help him monitor the health of several dozen horses and nearly 300 head of cattle as they were flown to and from Hawaii."

"I have also worked with veterinary staff at Fresno Humane Animal Services, which provided me countless opportunities to gain hands-on experience working with what is likely the most underserved patient population in veterinary medicine; stray dogs and cats. During my time there, the veterinary staff allowed me to gain many hours of clinical exposure treating common diseases and conditions prevalent in shelter environments while educating and expanding my knowledge on treatments. All three of these experiences have proven to me that I want to be in this field."

 

Q: How have you been involved with research on campus, and how will it benefit your career path?

“I have been involved with research through the NIH RISE (Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement) program and grant since 2022, but have worked on three projects total.

”My first project was titled ‘Effect of probiotic treatments on body weight gain and prevention of neonatal calf disease’ and was conducted with the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center in Tulare under Dr. Rossow. She allowed me to assist with common research techniques and veterinary procedures on 350 neonatal calves for a project led by masters students. Dr. Rossow allowed me to gain my first initial research exposure and even helped me develop crucial techniques to assist with animal research."

"My second project I worked on was titled ‘Dehydroabietic acid derivatives as prostate cancer antagonists’ where I worked on a short-term project led by a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Chen. At this project, I gained exposure to laboratory synthesis techniques despite not even having taken organic chemistry. I presented my findings via an oral presentation through RISE and was even awarded a research grant for future products for my work on this project."

"My current and final project is titled ‘Prevalence of avian malaria in overwintering ground sparrows of the Central Valley of California’. I currently work with Dr. Slade (Fresno State Biology Department) and a number of incredibly driven masters and undergraduate student researchers to sample, test, and quantify the amount of avian malaria infections across three species of sparrows that come to the Central Valley during the overwintering period. This project has led to a poster presentation at CCRS and an oral presentation at the CSU Student Research Competition, and I was even awarded the best JCAST poster award at CCRS. I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Slade and my fellow lab members for their help in ensuring the success of this project. All three projects have given me a desire to continue undertaking research in vet school in order to contribute to the scientific foundation of veterinary medicine."

Q: Describe the most recent research a little more in-depth and your role?

“My research in the campus Slade Lab revolves around testing DNA for organisms that cause avian malaria infections and analyzing it to determine parasitic lineages to eventually be sent and used by databases such as MalAvi for conservation efforts. There is a vast amount of data on breeding populations of ground sparrows, but very little for overwintering populations, so our research serves to fill that deficit. I currently work closely with Dr. Slade, my PI (principal investigator) and mentor, as well as graduate student, Esther Fernandez, alongside the rest of the students in the Slade Lab. I organize samples, prepare them for testing, run PCR with various primers to amplify portions of the DNA, run gel electrophoresis to find individuals positive for avian malaria, and analyze this data all with assistance from the team. It will ultimately serve to hopefully assist in conservation efforts of at-risk populations due to mosquitoes (the vector for malaria transmission) being able to move further northward due to warming climates. I am very passionate about this research and will present at CCRS, the CSU Student Research Competition, and the Wilson Ornithological Society conference.”

 

Q: What was your background in agriculture before you started at Fresno State?

“Prior to coming to Fresno State, I lacked a background in commercial agriculture. However, I did have a lot of animal experience from my four years as an FFA member where I raised 22 market pigs, 4 market turkeys, and 2 market steers. I do however come from a family with a rich history in western horsemanship and rodeo, and have competed in various events since the age of 8, following four generations of my mothers’ family’s footsteps.”

Q: Describe any internships you've done at Fresno State, your responsibilities, and how it has prepared you for your career path?

“My current internship through the RISE program has helped me greatly in preparing for a career in veterinary medicine, and also has helped me get a head start at becoming competitive for internships and residency following vet school. I have worked on two projects at Fresno State, my first being an introductory project assisting graduate students in an organic chemistry lab over summe,r and my second and current being in the Slade Lab, researching rates and lineages of avian malaria in ground sparrows. I am involved with the Biology Department in the College of Science and Mathematics. Thanks to experience I have gained in laboratory skills, field techniques, and developing and giving presentations, I am already well on my way to gaining enough research experience to hopefully match into a surgical residency and become board certified following vet school. I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Slade, my fellow lab members, and RISE for these incredible opportunities.”

 

Q: Are you a part of any other clubs/organizations at Fresno State and involved in any noteworthy activities or competitions?

“I am currently a member of the RISE third cohort, Alpha Zeta Cal Epsilon, and Pre-Vet Club. I have also been a member of the Rodeo Team. I currently serve as Vice President of the Pre-Vet Club, and also served as Sergeant at Arms of Alpha Zeta and Treasurer of the Rodeo Team in the past.”

 

Q: Have you received any scholarships related to campus, the Jordan College or Ag One?  

“I have received two scholarships through Ag One, as well as one through the Jordan College.”

 

Q: Have you overcome any challenges to get where you are today that have shaped who you are?

“A major challenge I had to overcome both socially and academically were those associated with being on the high-functioning autism spectrum.”