A native of Springfield, Illinois, Dr. Young is the first in a generation to earn a doctorate. She pursued her BS at Iowa State University, where she studied pre-veterinary animal science and enjoyed undergraduate student research. Dr. Young also completed a research internship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she studied microbiology and discovered her interest in a career in veterinary public health. During vet school, she returned to Harvard as a population research and data analytics intern for nearly two years.
While at Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Young completed an MPH through the University of Iowa and was employed by the Center for Food Security and Public Health. She additionally held multiple leadership positions within the college, including President of the Iowa State Chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medicine Association (SAVMA) and Student Senator for the Iowa State University’s Student Government.
Dr. Young’s clinical experience was diversified with externships in comparative and lab animal medicine at Stanford University, Columbia University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New York University, and the Salk Institute.
Outside of her research interests, Dr. Young is heavily involved in organized veterinary medicine. She enjoys advocating for the veterinary profession, both locally and nationally. Recently, Dr. Young was invited to the AVMA “fly-in” in Washington DC, where she met with congress members to discuss legislation pertinent to the veterinary profession. She has continued this work locally as an AVMA Ambassador.
Through her PhD program, Dr. Young aspires to bridge animal and human health by studying zoonotic diseases, ultimately improving global health and bolstering pandemic preparedness. By investigating innate antiviral responses, she hopes to identify the immunological mechanisms that allow animals to evade virulent viruses.
Dr. Young has exemplified her dedication to mentorship throughout her educational career. Acting as a coach, teaching assistant, and mentor, she has successfully guided students through and beyond the path to veterinary school In her free time, she volunteers as a virtual science educator, leveraging her expertise to spark scientific curiosity among students of diverse backgrounds and ages.
Dr. Young has created an expansive network through her diverse experiences and leadership in veterinary medicine and is excited by the opportunity to empower aspiring students to achieve their dream of becoming veterinarians. Dr. Young is passionate about making the veterinary school application process manageable, transparent, and accessible for all.