This dermatology internship program was 50% sponsored by WAVD in partnership with the Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Himal Gangeram has recently finished this program. Here are his thoughts:
“I would like to thank the WAVD for the opportunity to do a dermatology internship at the University of Pretoria. Without your support, this year would not have been possible. This internship has equipped me with the ability to approach and manage dermatological cases with confidence. Many of our final year students have also benefitted from my internship training as I was able to assist them with performing dermatological procedures correctly in order to yield interpretable results.
This year has been a difficult one for all of us due to the COVID 19 outbreak. The dermatology case load was reduced as it was not seen as an emergency during the lock down period. This brought about new challenges with regards to management of previous cases and new cases that needed assistance. It has not been all doom and gloom as these new challenges have taught me how to adapt and mold myself in situations that are unfavorable and make the best of it while not compromising patient care. The most appreciable characteristic in this discipline of veterinary medicine that I will use throughout my career; is the importance of communication. This internship as also opened my eyes to the insides of the field and how much research is still needed to be done. I am hoping to get into a post grad dermatology course in the near future and help contribute to further development of this exciting field.”
