Many veterinary students decide at an early age to pursue a life of caring for animals. But not every future veterinarian follows that path. Second-year University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine student Cynthia Gilabert’s journey to veterinary school is one such example.

In 1995, she was an American literature and U.S. history major at UCLA when family financial issues required a change of plan. Gilabert pivoted into the financial services industry—becoming a stockbroker at age 23 and the primary breadwinner for her mom, younger sister, and grandmother, who was ailing from Alzheimer’s.

One day, her younger sister said she wanted a dog, but Gilabert wanted no part of it.

“During those days I did not have any patience for animals and I did not want to become responsible for another living being,” Gilabert remembers. Her sister did her homework and the family bought a Maltese puppy named Sprite. The dog changed Gilabert’s future in about three days. 

“I soon saw Sprite as my niece and I made sure to do everything she wanted because she deserved the best,” she says. 

A focus on healthcare

The addition of Sprite to their household unleashed a flurry of animal arrivals. First, came another Maltese named Ellie, then a German shepherd-husky mix named Gruffi. A bird named Tweety and a red-eared slider named Turtle also were part of the family menagerie. With more animals than humans, it’s unsurprising that the household would eventually produce a veterinarian. It was Gilabert’s younger sister who was admitted in 2009 to veterinary school at Colorado State.

Gilabert continued to support the family by moving everyone to Colorado. She transitioned into a career in banking and earned an MBA while her sister completed veterinary school. But health care began to dominate Gilabert’s life as her mother and Sprite were both diagnosed with cancer. Her mother survived, while Sprite lived for five years—well beyond the initial prognosis. Eventually, age took its toll and all three dogs died within an 18-month period.

“With their passing, I went from giving them medication three times a day, scheduling doctors appointments, taking them for walks, taking them to their physical therapy appointments, and giving them laser therapy at home for muscle pain to having nothing dog-related to do.”

She admits to feeling a bit lost. “I needed to do something with my time and energy. I did not want to go back into financial services, but I knew I had to do something with my life.”

Conversations with her sister led Gilabert to begin volunteering at her sister’s emergency hospital. The experience gave her direction.

“It would still hurt me to see any animal suffering, but knowing I could help them feel better, and it made me feel better,” she says. “I had empathy for all these furry babies because of everything I had experienced with my own furry kids.”

Always pushing forward

After a year and a half of online accelerated science classes, Gilabert was ready to apply to veterinary school. When Minnesota offered her admission, she quickly accepted her seat in the Class of 2027 due to the college’s reputation for integrating research, teaching, and patient care.

Her arrival in veterinary college in Fall 2023 at age 48 was challenging, including a panic attack. 

“I kept telling myself ‘I got this, I got this,' but my body had to go through the motions before I was able to calm down,” Gilabert says. Conversations with the college’s counselors, students, and faculty helped her adjust by learning new coping techniques.

“I had to remind myself that I am allowed to make mistakes on exams and it is not the end of the world," she says. "Since then, I have been able to manage the stress of school a lot better.”

The average age of her classmates is 23, but Gilabert has never felt like the oldest student. She finds her greater amount of life experience puts her at ease in most situations. 

“My life as a stockbroker required a lot of talking and networking,” she says. “I can talk to anyone about any topic. Maybe my age helps me there because I know more now, but I have always been able to talk to anyone about anything.”

Gilabert’s career goal is to open her own small animal clinic. His sister has agreed to be her first employee. She is leaning toward a nonprofit practice to help offset costs for clients while also making sure the staff is paid accordingly. Education for clients and staff will be a driving theme.

“I see veterinary school like I have seen other challenges in life, I just push forward. I cannot quit,” Gilabert says. “I try different tactics to overcome challenges, but I do not quit.”