June 2022 ABI Alum Spotlight: Lisa Pacumio

Hi everybody! I'm Lisa from the c/o 2021. After all the time I've spent being so deeply involved in this major as a student and peer advisor I can't express enough how grateful I am for the meaningful opportunities I have been given through this program, and how it has shaped my undergraduate years to be a truly unique and unforgettable time. I was definitely the type of student to try and do all the things at once, but one of my favorite experiences has been working in the Cruz-Orengo lab during my last two years, where I completed my practicum project and developed very meaningful relationships with my colleagues.

I am now a student at our very own SVM, where I recognize that my familiarity and ongoing dedication to research is thanks to the ABI program. I am currently bridging my first and second years by working on a STAR project (a funded summer research program for vet students) focusing on fatty liver disease in bearded dragons - something that I'm glad bridges my interests in non-infectious diseases, clinical research, and of course, beardies. I have big hopes for the future, where I've been toying with the possibilities of becoming an exotic animal specialist and/or pursuing an additional research degree. Stemming from the first days of the ABI major, I have learned how research gives me the power to pursue my own niche interests, as well as the power to make a positive impact in my community by exploring problems we don't have answers to.
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