Dr. Brianna Gaines recently stopped by her alma mater, St. John’s Prep H.S., Astoria, and shared her reasons for choosing to pursue veterinary medicine.
Just back from her clinical year at the University of Florida, Dr. Gaines explained: “When you look into the eyes of an animal, one of God’s magnificent creatures, you see their full emotion, their unwavering trust, their sadness and their pain. Animals have no pretense; they just are. There is something magical to be said about that, and something vitally important about healing creatures who cannot speak, but can love!”
A 2009 graduate of St. John’s Prep, where she captained the dance team, Dr. Gaines received a full scholarship from St. Joseph’s College in Cobble Hill. The biology major/ chemistry minor was accepted into her first choice of veterinary schools: St. George’s University in Grenada, one of only 32 veterinary schools in the world offering graduates accreditation to practice in the United States.
Greatly appreciative of the nurturing atmosphere of both her Catholic high school and college, Dr. Gaines stated: “St. Joseph’s College provided me with a small safe-haven of opportunity, never allowing me to get lost in the crowd.
St. John’s Prep allowed me to grow socially, spiritually and academically, without ever allowing me to feel judged by others or stifled in creativity. My Catholic school education provided the firm academic foundation I needed to make my dream come true!”
Heading back to Delray Beach, Fla., Dr. Gaines will join the staff of Banfield Pet Hospital, inside of a PetSmart store.