Page 11 - Paws and Hooves - Autumn 2025

STUDENT
STORIES

EMS+ Grant opens doors

to wildlife medicine

Tilly Jamart, a fourth year RVC While at the hospital, she developed
Veterinary Medicine Student, has practical skills rarely encountered Reflecting on the placement,
shared how an EMS+ grant enabled during standard placements. Tilly said:
her to accept a placement at the Port Tilly assessed incoming patients,
Stephens Koala Hospital in Australia, assisted with diagnostic imaging, Thanks to the EMS+
an experience that deepened her and witnessed treatments, ranging grant, I made personal
commitment to wildlife medicine. from fracture repair in birds to laser and professional
therapy for koalas with arthritis.
The grant, funded thanks to donations developments which
to the ACT, enabled Tilly to treat and Beyond honing clinical skills, the will remain with me
rehabilitate native Australian wildlife experience prompted important
over the course of three weeks. reflections about the ethics of wildlife throughout my career.
Tilly worked alongside specialist care and the role of veterinarians in I am immensely grateful
wildlife veterinarians and dedicated preserving biodiversity. With resources for this opportunity and
volunteers providing expert care on limited, wildlife veterinarians face hope to make good use
projects, including koalas suffering difficult decisions about when and how of the lessons learnt
the effects of disease and habitat far to pursue treatment. Being part of
loss and helping injured birds. an organisation that could offer more throughout my career
extensive interventions encouraged as a vet, to contribute
The opportunity arose after Tilly
learned about the growing threats Tilly to think critically about welfare, to ongoing change
facing Australia’s wildlife, particularly resources, and the One Health and help preserve
koalas. Over the past 20 years, koala approach, which recognises the biodiversity.
populations in parts of the country interconnection between the health of
have fallen by at least 50%. Climate animals, humans and the environment.
change, bushfires, habitat destruction
and disease have all contributed to EMS placements like Josh and Tilly's are only possible thanks to our
their decline. Thanks to increased supporters. By funding these opportunities, you help veterinary students
funding, centres like Port Stephens overcome financial barriers and gain the experience and confidence they
Koala Hospital have been able to need to build a brighter future for animals and the planet.
provide treatment, inspiring Tilly to If you would like to support the future of veterinary students,
travel across the world to learn more. you can donate online at: RVCact.com/donate

Tilly

AUTUMN 2025 11