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BRIEF RESEARCH REPORT article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Veterinary Humanities and Social Sciences
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1553433
This article is part of the Research Topic Veterinary teaching in 2025: where we are and where we expect to go View all 8 articles
A Picture of Purpose: Exploring Veterinary Students' Motivations Through Photo Elicitation
Provisionally accepted- 1 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States
- 2 Veterinary Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States
Understanding the motivations that drive veterinary students is essential for supporting their academic success, well-being, and professional satisfaction. This qualitative study utilized photo elicitation, a visual and narrative research method, to explore the personal, emotional, and professional "whys" of 14 veterinary students pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Participants submitted photographs and reflective narratives describing their motivations and how these motivations supported their journeys. Thematic analysis revealed five key themes: (1) Deep Emotional Bonds with Animals, (2) Overcoming Personal Adversity, (3) The Influence of Role Models, (4) Desire to Make a Difference, and (5) Community and Service. These findings highlight the central role of formative experiences, relationships, and values in shaping students' aspirations and perseverance. The study underscores the potential for reflective practices, such as photo elicitation, to reconnect students with their intrinsic motivations, fostering resilience and long-term satisfaction in veterinary practice. Integrating principles such as compassionate advocacy, spectrum of care, and community engagement into veterinary education may better align training with students' values, enhancing their preparation for impactful and fulfilling careers.
Keywords: Veterinary education, photo elicitation, Student motivation, Thematic analysis, resilience, human-animal bond, spectrum of care, professional identity
Received: 30 Dec 2024; Accepted: 13 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Orchard, Moreau and Crauer. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Ron Orchard, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5802, Kansas, United States
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.