July 2019
The California Thoroughbred Foundation, in its continuing mission to advance equine education, awarded scholarships to Sarah Freeman and Kelsey Palsgaard. The two well-qualified candidates study at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Both are third-year veterinary students specializing in the study of equine medicine.
In addition to her studies, Freeman works as a large animal technician at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and as the campus representative for Platinum Performance. She serves on several student boards, including as co-president of the Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative. She has done a rotation with Cornell University Hospital for Animals and has externed at several clinics, including one in Germany. She also did research with the sports medicine team at the University of Zurich in Switzerland.
Freeman’s interest in equine medicine began early. In seventh grade for a science fair, she designed a project examining equine cardiopulmonary fitness. She said that she hopes to start her own veterinary clinic one day, as well as address gender differences in leadership positions and practice ownership.
Palsgaard serves as a large animal critical care technician with the UC Davis VMTH. She is co-president of the equine medicine club/student chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the fundraising coordinator for the Student Veterinary Emergency Response Team. She has externed at clinics in Northern and Southern California.
Pursuing an emphasis in equine sports medicine, Palsgaard wants to practice integrative medicine, augmenting traditional veterinary medicine with acupuncture and chiropractic care. She says she will incorporate emergency response medicine into her practice, having volunteered extensively with the Veterinary Emergency Response Team during California wildfires.