Taylor Smallwood Is Graduating, Licensed, and Ready to Change the World of Small Animal Medicine
Rising Stars 2026
"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." These words, spoken by the renowned Jane Goodall, have never felt more fitting than they do for Taylor Smallwood, who is closing out her final year at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, CA, and stepping into the profession she has spent her entire life preparing for.
From the East Bay to the Exam Room
Growing up in the picturesque landscape of the East Bay Area, California, Taylor's path to veterinary medicine was never a question of if, only when. She graduated from Pacific University Oregon in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Spanish, bringing with her the tenacity of a collegiate-level athlete who competed in both tennis and volleyball. That same competitive drive carried her through three vet school application cycles before earning her spot at Western University. As she told us herself: the third time truly is the charm.
Before ever setting foot in a lecture hall, Taylor had already logged three years of hands-on experience in small animal medicine, with a deep connection to Lafayette Animal Hospital in Lafayette, CA. Summers spent there built her clinical foundation and reinforced the thing she already knew — that the bond between animals and their humans is worth every late night, every board exam, and every hard-fought acceptance letter.
A Decade of Giving Before Vet School Even Started
What makes Taylor's story stand out is not just where she is headed but where she has already been. From fourth grade through high school graduation, she spent a full decade raising Guide Dogs for the Blind — a commitment that shaped her patience, her empathy, and her instinct for community. At home, that same spirit lives on through Kiev, her golden retriever and retired guide dog, and Paisley, her rescued Persian cat.
The Doctor Is Almost In
Taylor is entering the profession with a clear focus on small animal general practice, with particular interests in dermatology and radiology. She is drawn to the depth of relationship that general practice allows — the ongoing partnerships with pets and their families that make this work meaningful beyond any single diagnosis or treatment.
As a Class of 2026 graduate, Taylor Smallwood is crossing the finish line she chased across three application cycles, four years of veterinary school, and a lifetime of loving animals. She did not just make it. She earned every step of it.
