St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine graduate Erin O’Shaughnessy, DVM ’20, has built a fulfilling career as a small animal general practitioner dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary care.
Dr. O’Shaughnessy is an associate veterinarian at Centennial Animal Hospital in Bracebridge, ON, her hometown. Her days are primarily filled with illness and wellness appointments for pets and performing surgeries. Dr. O’Shaughnessy shared that her favorite part of her job is collaborating with a fantastic team of dedicated, intelligent, and determined people.
“I love getting to work with them every day, and there is no other group I would enjoy working with more through the ups and downs of veterinary medicine,” Dr. O’Shaughnessy said. “I also always love seeing the animals, especially the ones who are in routinely. They look forward to seeing me!”
Beyond her clinical work, Dr. O’Shaughnessy is a committed advocate for the veterinary profession. She serves on the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) Board of Directors, where she has the opportunity to make a positive change in her community and in her field. Recently, Dr. O’Shaughnessy was the recipient of the Rising Star Award from OVMA which recognizes an associate veterinarian who graduated five years ago or fewer for superior leadership for the betterment of animal welfare and the veterinary profession.
In reporting on her award, the news site Muskoka 411 said of Dr. O’Shaughnessy:
“She has become the go-to person in the practice to discuss cases and manage complicated medical cases. She’s known as a team player and always steps up to help clients and colleagues—if a prescription needs to be signed off or there is an urgent question from a client, she’s always there to help. She ensures that everyone on the team feels heard and clients are supported. Her ability to connect to both animals and their owners is a testament to her professionalism and kindness.”
Learn more about Dr. O’Shaughnessy’s path to success.
SGU: How do you hope to positively impact your community through your work?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy: Of course, I hope to better the well-being and health of the animals and people I see every day, but I also hope to impact the well-being of the people in veterinary medicine. It is an increasingly difficult field to work in due to the amount of stress and various internal and external pressures we experience. I hope through my work at my clinic and the OVMA that we can evolve the future of vet med to promote overall well-being for all those involved. Animals bring us all so much joy—I hope that my involvement in shaping the future of vet med can help us embrace and nurture this bond.
SGU: Can you share more about your Rising Star award? How did it feel to receive it?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy:I was so honored to be the recipient of this year’s OVMA Rising Star Award. A colleague of mine, whom I’ve been working with since my high school co-op at Centennial Animal Hospital, nominated me. I now work there full-time, so it was truly a full circle moment. It feels surreal to have my work recognized, and I feel such appreciation from my community. It has further strengthened my platform to educate the community about the intricacies of veterinary medicine and build connections to drive positive change in the profession. I feel very lucky!
SGU: How did SGU help prepare you for your career?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy: I learned so much at SGU. From a professional perspective, I feel that SGU prepared me to hit the ground running. I had the knowledge and skills to be able to effectively practice veterinary medicine from day one after graduation. All the professors were so supportive, including after graduation.
From a personal standpoint, I learned so much about myself. I became more confident because I knew I could push myself in ways that I didn’t think were achievable before. I believe SGU cultivates a strong sense of community, I never felt alone—both during school and beyond.
SGU: Why did you choose SGU?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy: SGU gave me an opportunity to become a veterinarian and explore a new place—there was no better option!
SGU: What advice do you have for aspiring veterinary students considering SGU?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy: I believe that the experiences SGU offered me were exceptional—from the lectures, labs, excellent professors, great community, lasting relationships, and the ability to live on a tropical island. It was a great way to achieve my career goals and to discover who I am while feeling so supported through the whole process. I highly recommend SGU to anyone considering becoming a veterinarian. I wouldn’t change my experience for the world!
