The power of passion: Sierra Ott’s journey to equine medicine
By Colby Maclin
Communications & Marketing Intern
Despite the physical toll and 24/7 on-call nature of equine medicine, there are still dedicated students who are eager to join the herd. Fourth-year DVM candidate Sierra Ott has always been inspired by equine medicine, but it took some time for her to view it as a realistic goal.
Part of her inspiration was found on the Auburn CVM campus in 2019 at Vet Fest, at the end of an 8-hour ride in a 15-passenger van with undergraduate classmates from Morehead (Ky.) State University.
“Within moments, I fell in love with Auburn as a place — the professors, the clinicians, the school and the opportunity to learn there,” said Ott, a native of Greencastle, Pa. “I think the thing that stuck out to me most during my visit was that everyone here was so passionate about what they did, and you could just see how invested they were in teaching and developing the future of veterinary medicine through education.
“From that moment until graduation [from Morehead State], I just knew ‘I’m going to be an Auburn veterinarian. That’s what I want, and that’s what I’m going to go for.’”
Unlocking new possibilities
As a child, Ott recalls peeking through the stall doors on her family’s farm and watching her dad take care of horses and wrap legs. That inspired her initial interest in sports medicine, but the notion of going to college or becoming a veterinarian seemed unlikely. Ott said she graduated high school “by the skin of my teeth,” but began gaining practical experience as an assistant herds person at a dairy farm. Tom Liskey, a large animal veterinarian, noticed Ott’s eagerness to ask questions and learn more about treatments and procedures and encouraged her to consider college.
Ott took a leap and studied production animals and Equine Science at Morehead State, ultimately graduating in the top of her class. When her pre-vet advisor drove Ott and some of her classmates to Auburn, the trip unlocked new possibilities.
Starting in the Auburn DVM program in 2022, Ott knew that her passion for equine medicine ran deep, remembering the young girl peering through the stall doors on her family farm. But her application to the CVM didn’t say anything about wanting to become an equine veterinarian.
“I kept it kind of quiet honestly, because I didn’t think that I had what it took,” Ott said. “I knew that it took a lot of dedication. I knew the stakes were high. I knew the expectations were high, and it’s something that honestly scared me.”
After becoming involved with Auburn’s American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) chapter and receiving encouragement from professors, Ott became more vocal about her passion for equine medicine. Without that support system, she said she would never have stepped outside of her comfort zone.
Ott quickly established herself as a student leader. She served as president of AAEP and historian for the Society for Theriogenology. She held membership in the Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) and the American Association of Bovine practitioners. And she competed as a member of Auburn University’s 2025 Bovine Palpation team, which placed fourth in competition at the SAVMA symposium.
Ott has also worked with the college’s equine ambulatory team, both as a horse owner and veterinary student.
“I cannot say enough good things about the whole team, but especially about Dr. Alfredo Sanchez-Londono, who I’ve watched over my time here at Auburn work tirelessly to ensure that the ambulatory service stays running at its best,” she said. “Whether it is a world class hunter/jumper that we’re seeing on the farm, or a miniature donkey that somebody just got from an auction … knowing that every patient gets the best is really special.”
The value of mentorship
As a fourth-year student, Ott reminisces about the early mornings and long days she’s experienced with the equine ambulatory rotation. She expressed gratitude for the mentorship she received from Drs. Sanchez-Londono, Genner Josué Alvarado Soto and Sarah Kooy.
“It was truly something special to have the opportunity to work with clinicians who cared so deeply about education and about the well-being of their patients, and I think it has been a good reminder of why I chose Auburn University in the first place,” Ott said.
Her dedication to externship experience, equine medicine and organizational involvement led to her receiving the Anne & Richard Stirlen Scholarship in 2024. Awarded to three third-year students annually, this competitive scholarship is provided through the Foundation of the Horse. Receiving the award at the AAEP’s National Conference was one of her favorite memories as a student.
After graduating in May, Ott will move to Pennsylvania and begin full-time practice with Century Equine, treating everything from miniature donkeys to sport horses.
For many veterinary students, equine medicine may seem intimidating. The workforce is shrinking and graying, according to the AAEP, as more than half of the organization’s members are 50 or older and fewer than 1.5% of U.S. veterinary graduates enter equine practice directly after graduation. But Ott has a strong motivation to show future veterinarians how fulfilling and rewarding a career in equine can be.
“I think it also kind of lights a fire, if you will, for us to encourage the next generation, to create more equine veterinarians and to talk to the people who were an undergrad like me, or who as a child was saying, ‘Oh, I can’t do that, I don’t have what it takes.’ ‘I’m afraid so I don’t want to step into that realm,’” Ott said. “I think that it gives us the opportunity to build, to do a better job in encouraging the next generation, and letting them know that it’s possible, too.
“If there is something in this world you want to do, do it. Do it tired, do it scared, do it when nobody else is looking, and do it with everything you’ve got.”