UT alumni achieves lifelong goal thought out of reach

What Lacey Jurke thought would set her on the path to becoming a veterinarian actually shined a light on a lifelong desire to become a medical doctor.

After graduating from Lakeland College’s university transfer pre-veterinary medicine program in 2013, the Maidstone, Sask., native transferred to the University of Saskatchewan to work on an animal bioscience degree. Jurke planned to eventually enter the university’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I took university transfer because at the time I wanted to apply to veterinary school, and I knew that I was going to transfer to university the next year. I was able to take pre-vet required classes that I would need without being in a larger centre,” Jurke says of her choice to attend Lakeland.

During her time at Lakeland, Jurke says she appreciated the smaller class sizes and felt connected to her professors, who challenged her and wanted her to learn and succeed at her highest potential.

“Being able to meet with an academic advisor one-on-one to discuss classes and plan credits was advantageous, especially coming straight out of high school. I was able to take the lead in my own life by having the option to choose to take university classes closer to home. Coming out of Lakeland, I felt prepared for continuing classes at a university.”

At UofS, she joined a pre-vet club and “for the heck of it” joined the pre-med club during her third year.

It was in the pre-med club where she met individuals who were in medicine and shared the same outlook towards becoming a doctor.

“I have always wanted to be a doctor since I was little; however it was an unattainable goal in my mind, reserved for those with the very highest marks. I didn’t even think of it as an option when I started university. When you grow up on a farm, love animals and do well in school you are told to become a vet. Therefore, that is what I went along with during high school and into my four-year degree.”

She discovered that becoming a vet wouldn’t fulfil her in life, so she turned her focus to writing the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) between her third and fourth year of school. In her fourth and last year of school she did well enough on the MCAT and was granted an interview as the next step to get into medicine.

“The interviews to get into medicine are very intimidating and difficult to prepare for. You have 10 interviews in two hours by people who say very little to you, more so only listen to your response to various scenarios involving ethical decision making, critical thinking, knowledge of the healthcare system, and communication skills,” she says.

A few days after she obtained a Bachelor of Animal Bioscience with Distinction in 2016, she learned she was accepted in to the College of Medicine at the UofS and began classes in August 2016.

“If I could give any student advice it would be never to undermine yourself and believe that you are not capable of something. With hard work and determination, you can achieve goals that seem out of reach. It is also never too late to change your mind regarding what direction you want to go in life.”

She will be attending the College of Medicine for four years, and then will complete a residency in the type of medicine she wants to specialize in – family medicine, surgery, and oncology are currently her interests. Jurke, a member of Lakeland’s Class of 2013, will be a member of the College of Medicine’s Class of 2020.

Photo: Lacey Jurke, a member of Lakeland’s Class of 2013, will be a member of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine Class of 2020.