Leader in the Making: Kimberly Aguirre

Growing up in Calexico—an agricultural Southern California town situated on the Mexican border—Kimberly Aguirre was familiar with the sight of cows and sheep, but never considered a career working with them. 

However, when she discovered the field of livestock health as an undergraduate at UC Davis, she knew she had found her path.

Aguirre was introduced to veterinary medicine in high school when she started volunteering at the only veterinary clinic in her county. While completing her B.S. in Animal Biology with a minor in Public Health Sciences at UC Davis, she participated in a research project exploring the impacts of grazing on foodborne pathogen shedding in sheep.

“I learned that livestock medicine involves a lot of moving parts,” said Aguirre. “You have to think about the food supply, food safety, public health, and zoonoses. That really piqued my interest.”

Although her family had a dog when she was growing up, Aguirre did not have any experience in large animal handling before veterinary school.

“I have classmates that came from farming backgrounds or worked at livestock practices,” she said. “I didn’t have those opportunities growing up. I had to work to support myself and pay for school, so I was not able to gain those experiences as an undergraduate, either.”

Talk to people. Get to know them and let them know what you’re about. If you leave a good impression, they will keep you in mind for future opportunities.”

 

For students in similar situations, Aguirre recommends reaching out to potential mentors and building relationships.

“Talk to people,” she advised. “Get to know them and let them know what you’re about. If you leave a good impression, they will keep you in mind for future opportunities.”

Aguirre is also passionate about serving disadvantaged communities. She volunteers with the Mercer Veterinary Clinic and is in her second year as co-director of the Knights Landing One Health Center Veterinary Clinic.

“I love giving back to a community that looks so much like the one where I grew up,” she said. “I also know what it’s like to love your pet and not have easy access to care.”

She encourages others to consider practicing veterinary medicine in rural or underserved communities.

I love giving back to a community that looks so much like the one where I grew up.”
 

“The shift that you work at a One Health clinic on a weekend could mean a world of difference to the people who rely on that service,” she said.

Aguirre takes advantage of as many learning opportunities as possible, but also prioritizes her mental health. She admits to having often felt stressed as an undergraduate, and is making an effort to build better habits in veterinary school. She loves salsa and Bachata dancing with her partner as it makes her feel connected to her Hispanic roots. She also enjoys cooking, yoga, tennis, and spending time with her family, friends, partner and their one-year-old puppy, Boba.

When Aguirre graduates with dual DVM and MPVM degrees as part of the Class of 2027, she will be the first person in her family to earn a doctorate. She is considering a career as a food animal practitioner, but is also interested in working with the California Department of Public Health or the United States Department of Agriculture.

“I’m exploring a lot of options because I’m interested in all the different things you can do with a DVM in public health,” said Aguirre.