Goldstein ’12 Living Her Dream as Equine Veterinarian

“I used to play doctor on all of my stuffed animals,” she remembers.

Goldstein carried this dream with her to Chatham Hall, where she was able to explore her love of horses in a variety of settings.

“Cricket Stone Morris probably had the most influence on my career,” she says. “She taught an equine-focused biology course while I was there that only one or two other people took with me, so I really appreciated the time she put into it for so few people because it gave me a definite step up in my knowledgebase going forwards. She also helped me develop the topic for the Hallum Hurt Scholarship and joined me on a trip to Spain and Germany to study the influence of Spanish breeds on modern-day sport horses. And, of course, she was always willing to let me ride one of the School’s horses even though I typically rode off-site. Thank you Cricket!”

Following her time at Chatham Hall, Goldstein attended Cornell University and the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree in 2021, and that spring was featured on the cover of the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine magazine as the lead student in the 2020-2021 Large Animal Student Resident group. She then accepted a position with Old Dominion Equine Associates in Keswick, Va.

“Going to veterinary school was the perfect combination for my analytical brain and love of animals, and becoming an equine practitioner was especially appealing as I can spend most of my days outdoors with horses,” she says. “The hours can be long, and the work is physically demanding, but it’s all worth it to know you’ve had a hand in the success of horses in their various competitive disciplines.”

For Goldstein, part of her success came from the expectations of Chatham Hall’s courses and the preparation it gave her for further study and part from School-sponsored international travel.

“The community service trip to South Africa was a once in a lifetime experience,” she notes. “Getting to travel to Africa alone is such a unique opportunity that most people don’t get to have and the way the trip was structured really allowed us to become immersed in the culture by getting us involved in activities that helped the communities and that most tourists would not have. It also brought me closer to the classmates and faculty that were on the trip and gave me memories I’ll never forget.”

To today’s Turtles, Goldstein reminds them to dream big.

“In the most non-cliché way possible, follow your dreams! I’d wanted to go to Cornell almost since the time I decided I wanted to be a vet, but was told I wouldn’t be able to get into an Ivy League school. Through a lot of hard work and determination I got into my dream school and, after another nine years of the same perseverance, I now have my dream job and am living my dream life.”