“There are great moments ahead on everyone’s horizon, not just for those that make the ‘A’s in school.”
Turning Challenges into Success
Dr. Shannan Hall-Ursone’s Story
Shannan Hall-Ursone attributes her professional accomplishments to turning challenges into learning experiences. Shannan always knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. She majored in biology and chemistry at Delaware State University and attended veterinarian school in Virginia where she earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Shannan says vet school was difficult. The courses were challenging, and she readily admits she did not always get A’s. Shannan credits her success to her determination to strive for excellence and by surrounding herself with a core group of true friends.
An internship at Johns Hopkins shifted Shannan’s career interests from private veterinary practice to a career in biomedical research. Her skill as a veterinarian provided her with opportunities to design protocols regarding animal care within the biomedical sciences. Through her experiences in biomedical research, she has become a skilled surgeon, performing the same life-saving surgeries on animals that are done on humans. Shannan wants to change the misconceptions about animals and biomedical research. In her position as a veterinarian at Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) in San Antonio, she ensures animals receive the highest level of care throughout their lives. The work she and her colleagues do at the SNPRC helps heal people and animals, including our beloved pets!
Shannan believes “You don’t really learn until you’re out in the world.” The only guarantee is that each of us will encounter challenges along the way. Follow Shannan’s example and surround yourself with people who lift you up and are positive influences in your life. A core group of friends can get you through any challenge. When it comes to friends, it’s about quality, not quantity. From experience, Shannan sees challenges as opportunities: it all depends on how you respond to challenges. When you encounter challenges and think your opportunities are limited, take Dr. Hall-Ursone’s advice to heart: “There are great moments ahead on everyone’s horizon, not just for those that make the ‘A’s in school.”
Additional Materials
Discussion Questions
- What challenges have you experienced that you were able to change into opportunities?
- Describe how a veterinarian applies science to their career.
Suggested Activity
Watch the video as a class
After watching the video, ask students to write a discussion question about animals and bioscience research. Collect the questions and facilitate a class discussion using randomly selected questions. Or provide small groups with 1 or 2 randomly selected questions to discuss. Groups are to provide a share-out from their discussion.