2025 World Spay Day: Empowering Future Veterinarians at the University of Illinois

December 16, 2025

The University of Illinois HumaneVMA Chapter was honored to be selected as a 2025 World Spay Day grant recipient. Thanks to this support, fifteen University of Illinois veterinary students performed 22 spay and neuter surgeries for community cats at a clinic earlier this year. For many of us, this event was one of the most confidence-building experiences of our veterinary education. Developing surgical skills is a challenging but deeply rewarding progression — from tying your first square knot in a square piece of silicone to closing an abdomen on your first patient with a precious purr and a beating heart. Extra opportunities like the World Spay Day event accelerate that growth and help shape us into efficient surgeons.

As a fourth-year student, it was incredibly meaningful to watch my vision for the first spay/neuter event come to life for the U of Illinois HumaneVMA Student Chapter. I learned about this grant at the 10th Annual HumaneVMA Animal Welfare Symposium in Madison, WI. The University of Wisconsin’s Spay/Neuter Program inspired me to reach out to our chapter's Faculty Advisor, Dr. Laura Frazier. She immediately understood what would be needed and enlisted the help of her talented team from the Shelter Medicine Department. Dr. Frazier’s surgery lecture and demonstrations prepared us thoroughly. She has a way of encouraging young surgeons with her trademark positivity and enthusiastic teaching.

This event simply wouldn’t have been possible without the combined effort of everyone involved. Behind the scenes, Amber West coordinated the safe and humane trapping and release of every cat. The Shelter Medicine Technicians prepared patients for surgery with proficiency and ease. The volunteer veterinarians provided (sterile-gloved) helping hands. After surgery, patients benefited from the support of faculty and staff, including Dr. Amy Fischer, PhD; Dr. Jane Desmond, PhD; and Rita Bouwens, PhD Candidate.

To add to the joy, one of the kittens found a forever home with veterinary student Grace Bilingmaier. At the end of the day, 22 community cats were sterilized and vaccinated by a group that made me proud to say “Yay, team!!”  We are so grateful for HumaneVMA’s support and investment in community cats and our veterinary education. The skills, confidence, memories, and meows from World Spay Day 2025 will stay with us throughout our careers. I hope our experience motivates others to pursue the projects they’re passionate about.

Written by Kelly Giles, Class of 2026 DVM Candidate and Student Organizer of the 2025  HumaneVMA World Spay Day clinic at University of Illinois CVM.