Adrianna Cuesta Amado, DVM

As Adrianna Cuesta Amado, DVM ’21, grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, she had two main ambitions: become a veterinarian and interact with horses on a regular basis.

“I’ve always had a deep love for all animals, but horses always fascinated me,” Dr. Cuesta Amado said. “They are such majestic creatures, so strong yet so sensitive. Their eyes are a mirror to their souls, and they perceive people’s energy like no other animal.”

Today, she can proudly say that she has accomplished both her goals, though not without encountering some obstacles.

For her first challenge, Puerto Rico did not have a veterinary school at the time she was applying. This meant that early on she had to be prepared to leave Puerto Rico and her family to achieve her goal. St. George’s University (SGU) School of Veterinary Medicine turned out to be the perfect fit according to Dr. Cuesta Amado.

Currently, she practices as an equine veterinarian specializing in racetrack medicine in Boynton Beach, FL and Saratoga Springs, NY. Dr. Cuesta Amado provides medical care to thoroughbred racehorses, even working with some of the best equine athletes and most renowned trainers and personnel in the sport, she said. Her daily responsibilities can include lameness exams, routine check-ups, emergency care, and surgical procedures as needed.

“The bonds I’ve created with some of my patients I wouldn’t trade for the world,” said the equine veterinarian. “Making my patients feel better, live healthier lives, or end their lives in the least painful, most peaceful way possible is a role I take extremely seriously.”

SGU News sat down with Dr. Cuesta Amado to learn more about her journey to becoming an equine veterinarian.

SGU: What is your favorite part of your job?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: There are many, many aspects of my job that I really love. One of my favorite parts of the job is getting to know these athletes, being able to help them feel their best, and seeing them win their races after a bit of help from me. Another equally favorite and gratifying part of my job is being able to connect with all the personnel that are involved with the horses and witnessing their love for them.

SGU: How did you tailor your education at SGU to reach your goal of becoming an equine veterinarian?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: When attending SGU, I took electives and participated in extracurriculars to gain more equine experience. Our advisor recommended Texas A&M for clinical year as that would give me the option for track equine medicine/surgery. Another thing that helped me was becoming involved in the Large Animal Society club. I started as a member and quickly saw the many opportunities to get more hands-on experiences with horses. I then became the secretary, vice president, and eventually the president of the club.

Through these experiences, I gained a lot of confidence and learned many valuable skills I got to use in my time at Texas A&M and after. That, and all the connections made throughout the process, help get me to where I am today.

SGU: Why did you choose SGU?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: I chose SGU because they have a fully accredited program with hands-on experience. SGU, to me, was the full package that allowed me to work hard in a focused, fun environment. SGU is located on the beautiful island of Grenada, and I quickly fell in love with the culture, the people of the island, and the diversity of my classmates and professors.

SGU: What was your clinical experience like at Texas A&M? How did SGU help prepare you for that?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: I had a great experience at Texas A&M. They work at a fast pace and have incredible faculty that helped me develop from vet student to veterinarian. SGU definitely prepared me for that next step with their hands-on curriculum, extracurricular opportunities, and electives. Also, the semester before going to clinicals ran in a rotation style very similar to clinical year, which was very helpful for the transition.

SGU: How did SGU help you secure and prepare for your internship at Rood & Riddle?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: SGU and Texas A&M prepared me well for any internship by providing me with all the core knowledge needed to succeed. The internship was overall a positive experience for my professional growth. I gained lots of experience in equine medicine, surgery, emergency work, lameness, diagnostic imaging, and ambulatory work.

SGU: What are your long-term goals for your career?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: I want to be the head and owner of an equine practice. I also want to continue to gain experience and polish my skills so that one day I can be one of the best equine lameness veterinarians out there.

SGU: What’s your favorite memory from your time at SGU?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: I have too many to pick one! Some of my favorite memories on the island were the extracurriculars and outings with friends. One of my favorites was the many times I participated at the One Health One Medicine clinics where we offered free veterinary services to the animals of the islands. We got to give consults, physical exams, vaccines, dewormers, and schedule spays and neuters. Later on, we would conduct spay and neuter procedures, which allowed us to practice our skills while also trying to control the population of strays on the island.

SGU: We heard that you recently got engaged to a fellow SGU alum—congratulations! Can you tell us more about your relationship and your time together at SGU?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: Thank you! The name of my fiancé and love of my life is Dr. Andy Rhim. He went to SGU School of Medicine. Despite routinely studying in the same locations without realizing it, we met at a bowling alley while attending a birthday party for a mutual friend. While my friend and I were sitting and waiting for an open lane, Andy sat next to me. He got me a drink, and the rest is history. We spent the rest of our time at SGU deepening our relationship and furthering our education. We loved exploring the island, hashing, going to the beach, going on sunset cruises, and chasing waterfalls—we reminisce about our time at SGU often!

SGU: What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing racetrack medicine?

Dr. Cuesta Amado: You should be a person that loves horses, is passionate about making them feel their best, wants to aid them in achieving their professional goals, and knows how to work under pressure. You must be able to build trust with not only the horses but the people that care for them. You must be prepared to always put the horse first and advocate for their well-being and best interest.

The best advice I could give anyone pursuing racetrack medicine is to become proficient at lameness exams and to be calm in the storm of every emergent situation. And, of course, I would encourage anyone that has a dream to be fearless in the pursuit of it. Enjoy the journey, and never give up. Trust me, it’s worth it.

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