09/09/2026
This summer, a group of students from the College of Veterinary Medicine took their learning far beyond the classroom, traveling to Rooiberg, South Africa, for a two-week externship immersed in wildlife veterinary medicine and conservation.
For third-year student Jacob Bennett, one of the trip’s most unforgettable experiences began with a search across hundreds of thousands of acres of South African bush. The goal? Find giraffes, then take to the air to help vaccinate them from a helicopter — an experience he calls one of the best of his life.
But the adventure was about more than an incredible view. Working alongside veterinarians and wildlife experts gave Jacob the chance to put two years of veterinary education into practice and discover just how much he was already prepared to do. Next month, he’ll build on that foundation as he begins Mizzou’s extended clinical training.
“I came away from the trip feeling a lot more confident that I’m capable of not only becoming a veterinarian, but hopefully becoming a good one too,” Jacob said.