Young person holding black-and-tan Rottweiler puppy in dirt lot, white pickup and trees behind

Olivia “Liv” Morgans: 2025 CVET Undergraduate Intern

  • by Eunah Preston

At the California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET), preparing for disasters means investing not only in training and readiness today, but also in the next generation of veterinarians who will lead responses in the future. That’s why we launched the CVET Undergraduate Internship Program and why we’re thrilled to celebrate our inaugural intern, Olivia “Liv” Morgans, on her recent acceptance to the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine.

Liv joined CVET as our first undergraduate intern in 2025, stepping into the fast-paced world of veterinary disaster preparedness during our busy spring training season. The internship is designed to immerse students in the operational side of disaster response. Interns assist with multi-agency trainings, observe exercises across California, and take the lead on planning and facilitating one training of their own. From the start, Liv proved to be an invaluable member of the team.

A Key Role in CVET’s First Mock Deployment

One of Liv’s biggest contributions was helping plan CVET’s first Responder Mock Deployment, a large-scale exercise designed to simulate real disaster conditions for veterinary responders. She assisted with training development, logistics, and facilitation, contributing to the creation of a realistic learning environment for participants preparing to care for animals during emergencies. Her hard work helped set the foundation for what the internship program could become.

Four team members in navy shirts discussing over clipboards near a CVE banner under clear blue sky

Liv’s enthusiasm and initiative inspired the CVET team to expand the program moving forward. When applications opened for the 2026 internship season, 77 students applied, with two interns ultimately selected after a competitive application and interview process.

Inspired by the Impact of Veterinary Care

Liv’s journey toward veterinary medicine began with a deeply personal experience.

“A defining moment that inspired my decision to pursue veterinary medicine was having to rehome my pig due to financial limitations and housing insecurity. That experience expanded my awareness of how access to veterinary care impacts families and pushed me to want to be part of that solution.”

That perspective continues to shape how she views the profession and its broader role in supporting communities.

Discovering the World of Disaster Response

During her internship, Liv gained firsthand exposure to veterinary disaster preparedness and response.

“Through my internship with CVET, I helped prepare a large-scale veterinary disaster deployment exercise, gaining hands-on experience with incident command structure, patient triaging, and case development for both small and large animals. Supporting trainings for first responders and CARTs showed me how important cross-disciplinary collaboration is in disaster medicine.”

The experience expanded her understanding of what veterinarians can do beyond traditional clinical practice and strengthened her interest in emergency and disaster response.

One moment in particular stood out:

“The Templeton exercise really stuck with me based on the way it brought together small and large animal veterinarians from completely different backgrounds to share their clinical and disaster perspectives. Observing how those differences came together to strengthen a future disaster response gave me a deeper appreciation for collaboration in the veterinary field.”

Looking Ahead to UC Davis

Now, Liv is taking the next step in her journey after being accepted into the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the top-ranked veterinary school in the United States.

“Being accepted feels surreal as it has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember, even when it felt out of reach,” she said. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue my education at UC Davis, stay connected to my mentors and friends who have supported me so far, and learn in an environment that will challenge me in the best way.”

While her interests currently center on small animal emergency medicine, Liv hopes to continue exploring the many ways veterinarians can serve their communities.

“From my pre-vet experiences, I am primarily interested in small animal emergency medicine that participates in community-based outreach programs. At UC Davis, I hope to explore different avenues of veterinary medicine as I go through my training.”

Building the Next Generation of Disaster Responders

Liv’s internship demonstrated exactly why programs like this matter. Veterinary disaster response requires collaboration, preparation, and a workforce that understands the unique challenges of caring for animals during emergencies.

Four smiling women in navy shirts standing by a blue vehicle with large rabbit and dog graphics

By bringing students into the training environment early, CVET hopes to inspire future veterinarians to see disaster preparedness and response as a meaningful path within the profession.

Liv helped launch that vision and we can’t wait to see where her career takes her next.

Congratulations, Liv, and welcome to the UC Davis veterinary community!