Sarah DiRusso was enrolled in a six-year physical therapy program when she realized she was on the wrong path.
Her introductory anatomy professor was shelter veterinarian Dr. Becky Morrow. “I started shadowing her at a local shelter, and probably by my second shift there I thought, ‘This is where I’m supposed to be,’” she recalled. “From that point on, it’s been shelter med all the way.”
Now a newly-fledged veterinarian, Dr. DiRusso is the current intern in the Shelter Medicine Program at the University of Florida, one of the most intensive and immersive training experiences available to new shelter veterinarians, made possible thanks to the support of the Gladney Foundation.
“The Gladney Foundation was started in 1998 in memory of two family members. We have consistently supported animal welfare organizations and in 2023 made the decision to sponsor select educational programs, primarily through scholarship funding. The shelter medicine internship program at the University of Florida seemed to check both boxes,” said Joan Heazel, Director of the Gladney Foundation and a UF alumna.
“Personally, I have been an active volunteer in dog rescue for over 20 years and have worked with animal shelters in Georgia and South Carolina, both rural and urban. I have witnessed the dire need for veterinarians in these settings. It takes a person with a refined set of skills and tremendous dedication to work in this environment. It’s an honor to help fund an intern and know that person will be placed in an area of such critical need.”
Learning from the Inside Out
Dr. DiRusso’s journey from her native New Hampshire to Gainesville included veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, where she spent summers working at the Frankie’s Friends shelter under the mentorship of Dr. Morrow, who also happens to be an instructor in UF’s Online Graduate Program in Shelter Medicine. “It really gave me the foundation and confidence I needed,” she said. “I knew this was the right fit for me.”
In just the first two months of her internship, Dr. DiRusso has worked at large-scale municipal shelters like Miami-Dade Animal Services, supported mass spay/neuter events with organizations like Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, and spent countless hours at Gainesville-based Operation Catnip, where she mentors students while honing her surgical skills.
Each experience, she says, reinforces her desire to stay in the field, and to stay in Florida. “I think I’d like to work in a municipal shelter, and I really love Florida,” she said. “There’s so much need here, and this program has helped me see where I can make the most impact.”
A Career Fueled by Curiosity and Community
One of the program’s most transformative experiences for Dr. DiRusso was seeing firsthand how interconnected animal welfare systems really are. “Being at a large shelter like Miami-Dade helped me understand how everything from rescue to intake to community relations fits together,” she said. “It was eye-opening.”
She’s also found herself drawn to the growing field of veterinary forensics. After completing an externship with the ASPCA’s Forensic Unit during vet school, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in veterinary forensics from UF after completing her internship. “It’s so exciting to be part of something that’s still evolving. I love continuing to learn, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop.”
Despite challenges such as navigating online debates that can divide the animal welfare field, Dr. DiRusso sees her experiences as an opportunity to build bridges. “This internship has helped me understand where people are coming from,” she said. “It makes it easier to listen, learn, and stay focused on the work.”
Training Future Leaders in Shelter Medicine
Designed and led by Dr. Cynda Crawford and Dr. Julie Levy, UF’s shelter medicine internship program is now in its thirteenth year. The internship was designed as an accelerated and immersive training program to help address the severe veterinary workforce shortage in animal welfare organization. Over the course of 12 months, interns rotate through shelters, clinics, consultations, field programs, and online training while preparing to step into careers caring for the animals most in need.
“Sarah brings such passion and insight to every aspect of her internship,” said Dr. Crawford. “She’s a natural teacher and a skilled communicator, and she’s going to be a phenomenal leader in our field.”
Dr. Levy agrees. “This program was built to support new veterinarians who are ready to shape the future of shelter medicine,” she said. “Sarah’s already doing that. We’re so proud to have her here.”