Ask a Veterinarian: Daniel Carreño

By: Dr. Daniel Carreño, DVM November 3, 2022 High School Adventures, Vet Medicine, Wildlife Conservation

At Broadreach, one of our main goals is to help middle and high school students discover their passions through real-life experiences during our summer programs. If you’re like many Broadreach alumni, you’re wondering how to pursue these interests in college and beyond. If you love animals, you’ve probably considered becoming a veterinarian or some other career related to animals at least once. We asked one of the rockstar instructors in our Broadreach community, Dr. Daniel Carreño, DVM, to share his experiences and advice as a veterinarian with you.

What did you study as an undergrad? What advanced degrees and/or professional qualifications do you hold?

AS in Animal Science, BS in Biology, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree

What is your relationship with Broadreach?

I recently led the Costa Rica Veterinary Experience as a veterinary instructor.

What do you do when not working with Broadreach?

I am a veterinarian! I like working with small animals, food safety and public health.

What do you love the most about what you currently do?

Playing a role in public health and well-being by protecting the public from foodborne illness and ensuring humane handling and treatment of animals. I also love just being able to educate clients on their pets’ health! I also really like mentoring students. I know that opportunities are not always accessible to all students. It just becomes that much harder when you have no available resources, which is why it is very important for me to mentor, guide, and be the person I didn’t have for students interested in this profession.

What skills help you the most to do what you do?

Being bilingual and bicultural has always allowed be to make strong connections and bonds with people. I really enjoy traveling to new countries to be fully immersed in their culture, food, language and traditions!

What’s something you didn’t know about your profession or field that you wish you had known as a teenager?

There are so many things! One main thing is that being a veterinarian is not just working with cats and dogs. There are so MANY different thing you can do with a DVM degree! There are many unique opportunities to work with different animals and in different fields and sectors of the profession.

What advice do you have for teens who are interested in becoming a veterinarian?

My advice would definitely be to explore everything! Do not just focus on one species. Shadow and learn from as many veterinarians working in different fields so that you can have a better idea of what area of veterinary medicine is the most passionate for you!

Do you have a favorite Broadreach memory you’d like to share?

My favorite Broadbeach memory is when we played “Where the wind blows” with students from an agriculture institute we were visiting [in Costa Rica]. Both students of the same age groups were participating in this icebreaker exercise and were able to get to know more about each other, embrace our differences and similarities all while having fun- it was a true Broadreach moment!

Daniel is a veterinarian and Broadreach instructor. He led the Costa Rica Veterinary Experience in the summer of 2022.