{"id":3484,"date":"2026-06-12T11:46:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T18:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/?p=3484"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:31:18","slug":"mckenna-quirk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/2026\/06\/12\/mckenna-quirk\/","title":{"rendered":"McKenna Quirk"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wsu-overlap wsu-overlap-spotlight  wsu-overlap-spotlightu002du002dstyle-right-middle wsu-overlap-spotlight--style-right-middle\">\r\n    <div class=\"wsu-overlap__container\">\r\n        <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column\">\r\n            <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column-inner\">\r\n                <div class=\"wsu-overlap-spotlight__image  \">\r\n                    <div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-1-1\">\r\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-792x1056.jpeg\"\r\n                        srcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-792x1056.jpeg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-396x528.jpeg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-hub\/uploads\/sites\/3476\/2026\/06\/McKenna-Quirk-3-scaled.jpeg 1920w\"\r\n                        sizes=\"(max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\"\r\n                        alt=\"DVM student Brooklynn Balic stands with a cow\"\r\n                        style=\"object-position: 47% 30%\"\r\n                        \/>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column wsu-overlap--surface-column\">\r\n            <div class=\"wsu-overlap__column-inner\">\r\n                <div class=\"wsu-overlap-spotlight__caption  wsu-dropshadowu002du002dmedium wsu-borderu002du002dadd-left wsu-dropshadow--medium wsu-border--add-left\">\r\n                    \n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hi, I&#8217;m McKenna!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"mailto:mckenna.quirk@wsu.edu\">mckenna.quirk@wsu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;m a DVM student from Montana and completed my undergraduate studies at Montana State University. I started the DVM program on the Montana campus as a member of the class of 2028. This is my first year as an ambassador.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;d love to talk to you about <a href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/curriculum\/simulation-based-education-program\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/curriculum\/simulation-based-education-program\/\">Simulation-Based Education<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/curriculum\/simulation-based-education-program\/clinical-communication\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/curriculum\/simulation-based-education-program\/clinical-communication\/\">communications curriculum<\/a>, club activities (especially wet labs) and conference and travel opportunities!<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row  wsu-color-backgroundu002du002dgray-0 wsu-color-background--gray-0 wsu-row--thirds\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column  wsu-borderu002du002dadd-left wsu-border--add-left\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Areas of interest<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-f553429e-bfde-4f16-8235-623447ba814e\">\n<li>Equine (internal medicine &amp; surgery)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rural mixed animal practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Large animal practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column  wsu-borderu002du002dadd-left wsu-border--add-left\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Club involvement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Integrative Medicine Club<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internal Medicine Club (Secretary)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SAVMA <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Student Chapter American Association of Equine Practitioners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Small Ruminant Club<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agricultural Animal Club<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column  wsu-borderu002du002dadd-left wsu-border--add-left\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extracurricular activities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Simulation Based Education Peer Instructor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/learning-opportunities\/veterinary-student-summer-research-fellowship-program\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/learning-opportunities\/veterinary-student-summer-research-fellowship-program\/\">Summer Research Fellowship<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lambing shifts at University of Idaho<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4-H outreach events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equine floating lab<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-accordion\">\r\n    <h3 id=\"unique-id-1__12937\" class=\"wsu-accordion__title\">\r\n        <button class=\"wsu-accordion__title-button wsu-accordion--toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"unique-id-1__content\">What experiences in our program have been the most meaningful so far?<\/button>\r\n    <\/h3>\r\n    <div id=\"unique-id-1__content\" class=\"wsu-accordion__content\" aria-labelledby=\"unique-id-1__12937\">\r\n        <div class=\"wsu-accordion__content-inner\">\r\n            \n\n<p>One of my most meaningful experience in our program thus far has been the <a href=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/learning-opportunities\/veterinary-student-summer-research-fellowship-program\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/vetmed.wsu.edu\/education\/dvm\/discover-our-program\/learning-opportunities\/veterinary-student-summer-research-fellowship-program\/\">summer research fellowship<\/a> that I completed after my first year of veterinary school. This experience showed me the impact that I can have on the field of veterinary medicine as a student. Our contributions to the veterinary field begin as vet students, and likely before during our undergraduate careers. This experience also allowed me to spend valuable hours completing physical exams on the lambs in our study, and showed me the key role that veterinarians play in research. I will carry the critical thinking, problem solving, and clinical skills I gained from this experience into my future as a large animal practitioner. Keep reading for more details about my research project! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The overall purpose of the study I worked on in Diane Bimczok&#8217;s lab at Montana State University was to formulate and test a biofilm-based M. ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) vaccine that can be utilized to decrease the prevalence of this pathogen in domestic sheep herds, improve overall herd health, and protect bighorn sheep populations from disease spillover. The economic impacts that M. ovipneumoniae has on the sheep industry, and the lack of effective antibiotic treatments necessitates the development of an effective vaccine. I worked with an established herd of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) domestic sheep for this project. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was analyzed utilizing serum, nasal wash, and bronchiolar lavage samples. In my summer research project, I focused on determining the safety of the vaccine through examining the lambs for adverse reactions, and assisted in the completion of experiments to determine the immunogenicity of the vaccine. This project culminated into a challenge experiment performed with the SPF herd to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine formulation. While working in Dr. Bimczok&#8217;s lab that summer, I was also able to analyze data from a longitudinal study of chronic M. ovipneumoniae infection in a domestic sheep herd, and I was lucky enough to recently publish my findings in the American Journal of Veterinary Research.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-accordion\">\r\n    <h3 id=\"unique-id-1__38353\" class=\"wsu-accordion__title\">\r\n        <button class=\"wsu-accordion__title-button wsu-accordion--toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"unique-id-1__content\">How is the DVM program preparing you for your future career?<\/button>\r\n    <\/h3>\r\n    <div id=\"unique-id-1__content\" class=\"wsu-accordion__content\" aria-labelledby=\"unique-id-1__38353\">\r\n        <div class=\"wsu-accordion__content-inner\">\r\n            \n\n<p>One of the most impactful ways that our DVM program has prepared me for my future career is our communications curriculum. As veterinarians we will be talking to our clients and staff every day, and the way we communicate will be a cornerstone of our success as employers, teammates and doctors. Having the opportunity during my second year to practice talking with simulated clients, and practice giving and receiving feedback gave me a vast amount of tools that I will be able to use in practice every day. In addition to our communication curriculum, our simulation-based education department through which we learn surgical skills has helped me feel prepared both for my future career, and to be able to confidently perform basic procedures while completing externships.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wsu-accordion\">\r\n    <h3 id=\"unique-id-1__36611\" class=\"wsu-accordion__title\">\r\n        <button class=\"wsu-accordion__title-button wsu-accordion--toggle\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"unique-id-1__content\">What do you wish you knew before vet school?<\/button>\r\n    <\/h3>\r\n    <div id=\"unique-id-1__content\" class=\"wsu-accordion__content\" aria-labelledby=\"unique-id-1__36611\">\r\n        <div class=\"wsu-accordion__content-inner\">\r\n            \n\n<p>Veterinary school gives you an immense number of tools and opportunities to help you build the career in medicine that you envision for yourself. At times, the sheer volume of opportunities available, whether it\u2019s lunch lectures, wet labs, club events, research, or networking experiences, can feel overwhelming. I still find myself struggling to decide which opportunities are most worth my time and energy. What I wish I had understood before starting veterinary school is that there is no single \u201cright\u201d path. There are no wrong answers when it comes to choosing where to invest your time. Every experience teaches you something, whether it helps you discover a new passion, develop a skill, build connections, or simply learn more about yourself and the kind of veterinarian you want to become. Veterinary school is ultimately about growth, and your journey does not have to look like anyone else\u2019s to be meaningful or successful.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--thirds\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n<div class=\"wsu-cta \" >\n\t<a \t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/2026\/06\/12\/jessica-portrey\/\"\t\n\t\tclass=\"wsu-button  wsu-button--style-outline wsu-button--size-small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"wsu-icon wsu-i-arrow-left\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\n\t\tPrevious\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n<div class=\"wsu-cta \" >\n\t<a \t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/connect-with-us\/meet-our-dvm-students\/\"\t\n\t\tclass=\"wsu-button  wsu-button--style-outline wsu-button--size-small\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\tAll ambassadors\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n<div class=\"wsu-cta \" >\n\t<a \t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/2025\/10\/31\/lexi-schroeder\/\"\t\n\t\tclass=\"wsu-button  wsu-button--style-outline wsu-button--size-small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"wsu-icon wsu-i-arrow-right\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\n\t\tNext\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":11846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wsuwp_accessibility_report":null},"categories":[46],"tags":[44,51],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3484"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11846"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3484"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3527,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3484\/revisions\/3527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3484"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=3484"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hub.wsu.edu\/dvm-admissions\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=3484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}