When Ana Ruiz’s second child, Paolo, was born, she was thrilled to welcome him to the family— and grateful that he arrived on a weekend, so she didn’t have to leave in the middle of her school day. 

Paolo was born during Ruiz’s second year of veterinary school, which was already a demanding experience spanning two schools—South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine through their 2+2 program—but navigating it all as a parent brought another level of complexity. 

“When I was finished with school for the day, I had other responsibilities that kicked in right away,” says Ruiz, ’26 DVM. “Even with my best efforts to manage myself efficiently, I had to sacrifice time with my husband and our kids when I had to study for exams because veterinary school is so rigorous—as it should be!”

It was a similar experience for Doug Chamroeun, ’26 DVM, when his wife, Nouvkosala (Bee)—who he lovingly refers to as the family’s foundation and powerhouse—gave birth to their first child, Doug Jr., during his first year of vet school.   

“Having Junior during this time was a challenging but beautiful moment,” he says. “That first week, my wife and I had about five to six hours of sleep in total. It was difficult for us, it truly was. My professors were very kind to extend the deadline or exam deadlines due to the arrival of our son.”

Finding balance

Before her son’s arrival, Ruiz was already familiar with juggling school and family. In addition to Paolo, Ruiz and her husband, Salvador, have a 10-year-old daughter named Prudence. Balancing being a DVM candidate and a parent meant more studying on her own, often early in the morning or at night.

When preparing for Paolo’s birth, Ruiz says she took an assertive approach in asking for accommodations around assignments, exams, and labs months in advance. Professors recorded lectures and provided assistance where they could. Her classmates also were incredibly supportive, sharing notes and reviewing course content with her. 

Even with this support, the demands and stress took their toll on Ruiz and her family. 

“Honestly, there were times when I thought I might not make it through vet school and would have to give up on my dream to become a veterinarian,” she says. 

After finishing the fall semester of her third year, she chose to take a year away from veterinary school. In that time, through counseling and strong faith, her family persevered and rebuilt. Returning from her leave, Ruiz says the final year and a half of veterinary school went smoothly. 

For Chamroeun, balance also came easier with time, but not before overcoming a difficult second year. During that time, he was working 24–30 hours a week in addition to school. That left the weekends for catching up on studying. As Junior grew, Chamroeun’s third year felt easier than the previous ones. 

Eventually he and Bee would welcome a second child during his final year of veterinary school, now 9-month-old Oliver. 

Resources and support 

A constant in both Ruiz and Chamroeun’s experiences was the Student Parent HELP Center, a University of Minnesota program that connects Twin Cities students who are parents with resources such as financial assistance, community spaces, child care assistance, family-friendly activities—and each other.  

“I was able to connect with other student parents, which was a great mental and emotional support during the demanding years of veterinary school,” Ruiz says.  

Chamroeun also met up with other student parents in support groups, during which they talked about parenting and helpful resources, and used it as an opportunity to decompress. 

Having lived through it, Ruiz and Chamroeun want prospective and current veterinary students to know that having kids while in school—while difficult—is not impossible. 

“Each journey is unique, and while there may not be that many people around you in terms of classmates who understand what you are going through, know that there are veterinary professionals who do,” Ruiz says. 

Ruiz and Chamroeun both graduated this past May—a feat they are grateful to achieve with the support of their loved ones. 

“Ultimately, we want this, we are this, and this is our career and our family,” Chamroeun says.