Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Luisa Correa Garza.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, a small city in northeast Mexico; right on the border with McAllen, TX. Growing up I’ve always had a passion for animals and medicine, so I decided to study Veterinary Medicine. At the age of nineteen, I moved to León, Guanajuato, which is located at the center of Mexico where I spent five years studying. While at the university, I decided I wanted to focus on equine medicine; spending my free time assisting an equine veterinarian on his outpatient visits is how I fell in love with horses. In 2019 I graduated from Universidad De La Salle Bajio, where I obtained a Veterinary Medicine Degree (DVM).
I constantly seek to get out of my comfort zone, for this reason, I am always looking for new challenges abroad. In early 2020, I had the opportunity to move to San Antonio to start an internship at an Equine Hospital, I was really excited about it!
After this short experience it became clear to me that my passion was, yes, in working with horses, but especially in equine reproduction.
I am currently in charge of the breeding program at Rancho La Sierrita located in my hometown. The breed I work with is American Quarter Horses.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The main obstacle was the pandemic that did not allow me to finish my internship at the Equine Hospital. I planned to stay in San Antonio for 6 months to a year or even longer, but life decided that in the fourth month of my stay I would return home. It was difficult for me, it felt like a failure in my professional career. In the end, I recognized that everything happens for a reason.
Sometimes the language was also a barrier. Despite having had a bilingual education all my life, speaking a second language in medical terms is another level entirely.
I will never forget the day someone told me at work that I did not have enough passion for equine medicine. Oh, but that person was so wrong. I didn´t let that comment get me down and I continue to pursue one of the things that makes me happiest in the world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Equine Veterinarian specialized dedicated to Theriogenology.
“Medical Definition of theriogenology: a branch of veterinary medicine concerned with veterinary obstetrics and with the diseases and physiology of animal reproductive systems.”
This year´s breeding season will be the first time I´m working on my own. It´s scary but at the same time, it’s exciting to see how much I´ve grown and learned professionally over the years. In matters of medicine and science you never stop learning. I consider myself self-taught, but I also always seek to continue preparing myself.
I currently work with 15 broodmares and 2 stallions, and I look forward to foaling season 2023.
One of the achivements of which I am most proud is a review I wrote as co-author with Luis Losinno, Argentine veterinarian.
We worked together in this paper for months, during the pandemic, “The mule: an alternative as a recipient of equine embryos” is the title. The main idea was to publish updated and interesting information in our mother tongue, Spanish, since there is very little bibliographic references.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I think that for now one of the best supports is through social media. I would love to collaborate with brands, colleagues and even universities.
I hope one day I can give lectures or webinars and I dream of creating a program of international internships for vet students with interest in equine reproduction to facilitate the application and selection process. Mainly because it was not easy for me to find opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Email: analuisa.correagza@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvz.aluisacorrea/
Image Credits
Karinna Garza
