As a new monthly series, CAHFS will be highlighting our residents, graduate students, faculty, and staff. To begin, we'll be featuring one of our new veterinary public health residents, Dr. Lauren Bernstein!
How did you end up at the U of M? Following a Rotary International site visit to South Africa as an undergraduate student, I decided to focus my prospective veterinary career on public health, specifically on issues involving diseases at the human-animal-environment interface. I took my veterinary education overseas to University College Dublin. During college and veterinary school, I completed internships with the American Public Health Association and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture in collaboration with USDA-APHIS. I also learned about disease outbreak investigations during an Epidemiology Elective with the Centers for Disease Control. Although I had my sights set on the VPHPM residency since veterinary school, I wanted to build a solid clinical foundation first. Prior to moving to Minneapolis, I practiced in a private small animal and exotics practice in Dallas, Texas for nearly five years.
What do you do at CAHFS? I am a Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine Resident and a student in the Executive MPH in Public Health Practice.
What are you most passionate about professionally? Professionally, I am interested in preventive medicine, One Health, and the policy initiatives, community outreach, and public education surrounding One Health topics.
What do you have a knack for? Having studied overseas for several years, I understand and value the importance of interpersonal communication and collaboration. I integrated this into clinical practice, enabling me to foster trusted relationships and effectively share information. I’m looking forward to integrating this into my public health career.
Where can we find you when you are not working? When I’m not in the office, I enjoy yoga, embracing the outdoor activities in Minneapolis, and finding excuses to talk about my rescue cat, Father Ted (affectionately named after a famous Irish TV comedy).
Where did you grow up, and why are you not there now? I have zig-zagged across the U.S.: I grew up in New Jersey, attended high school and college in Tennessee (go Vols!), took a four-year detour to Ireland for veterinary school to gain an international perspective of veterinary medicine and public health, started my veterinary career in Texas, and have now made it back north for the residency.
Do you have volunteer activities you are passionate about? Prior to moving to Minneapolis, I was a regular, dedicated volunteer for an equine-assisted therapy program for individuals with cognitive, physical, and social-emotional disabilities. I am hoping to find time for a similar program during the residency.
People may be surprised to know: I have an identical twin sister who is also in public health.