The 6th Career Day, which we have been organizing every year since 2018 (except during the Covid period), took place on March 19th. This year’s event was unusual in a way that two of our university colleagues gave presentations, both from the Department of Pathology.
Julia Francesca Gilbert is a Hungarian-American, who earned her doctoral degree in June 2024, at out University. In August 2024, she joined the University’s Pathology Department as a diagnostic veterinarian, having discovered her affinity towards laboratory work during her 11th semester practical abroad. Despite growing up in an international environment with numerous opportunities to work overseas, she chose to remain in her homeland and has since been very pleased with her decision to pursue a career as a Veterinary Pathologist. The experience she gained during her practical blocks in multiple countries (Portugal, Scotland, Germany, and Hungary) has allowed her to form important networks and recognize that clinical work is not the only option available for veterinarians. Julia currently aims to become a fully qualified histopathologist and conduct research to advance the field of veterinary medicine.
Dávid Géza Horváth is Hungarian, who received his veterinary degree in 2020. In the same year he started working at the Department of Pathology and was also accepted as a PhD student. His doctoral topic is digital image analysis in veterinary pathology. At the Department of Pathology, he carries out teaching and research activities in addition to diagnostics. He is the supervisor of an average of 2-3 students working on theses per year. He participated in numerous publications already, most of his works are related to digital image analysis. Initially, his diagnostic activities only consisted of necropsy cases, but later it was supplemented with biopsy evaluations. He also works for a private diagnostic laboratory having the biggest biopsy case load in Hungary. Combined with university cases, he evaluates 250-330 biopsy cases and performs 3-5 necropsies in a month. Most of his dissection and biopsy cases are from dogs and cats, but he encounters tissues of small mammals, birds, farm animals, horses and exotic/zoo animals. According to his ambitions and interests, from July he will participate in anatomic pathology residency training in the Royal Veterinary College (UK).
Kristine Bull, born in Norway, graduated from our university in 2008, which was called Szent Istvan University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine between 2000-2016. She holds a postgraduate certificate in “Small animal medicine” from British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA). Kristine participated in several different courses and earned certificates in canine and feline gastroenterology, hip and elbow dysplasia X-ray, small animal oncology, canine and feline dentistry, canine epilepsy, renal diseases in dogs and cats, canine and feline endocrinology and cardiology. Her favorite field is diagnostic imaging. She speaks native Norwegian, fluent English, also little German and Hungarian.
Julia Zammit, from Malta, is Veterinary Surgeon and One Health Specialist. With over a decade of experience as a veterinary surgeon and practitioner, Julia has cultivated a diverse and impactful career in animal health. Her journey has been marked by an evolving passion for One Health – a discipline that bridges human, animal, and environmental health through interdisciplinary collaboration. This shift from clinical practice to a broader health perspective has offered Julia invaluable insights into holistic health solutions for global challenges. In addition to her clinical background, Julia’s roles in management and shelter medicine have equipped her with a well-rounded approach to health and leadership. Her commitment to education and innovative and collaborative healthcare continues to drive her work in the dynamic field of One Health.
We concluded the lecture series with a question that concerns everyone and is important for our mental well-being, burnout, based on the suggestion of university psychologist Réka Szentiványi-Veres. Burnout is a syndrome that most of us have heard of. Nowadays, we often mention it without understanding in more depth how it affects our lives and careers in the long term if there is no intervention. It can cause a deterioration in academic performance, mood swings, and a feeling of isolation, and can even prevent us from achieving our goals. In very severe cases, it causes depression or the inability to lead a normal life. It is not easy to recover from the full burnout syndrome, but if recognized early, it can be reversed and treated.
At the end of the lectures, the students could ask questions and then had the opportunity to talk to the speakers in a more informal way during a wine tasting.
At the end of the interesting lectures and fun gathering, the advice given was that students should build relationships and be open to each other, because this will not only help them further in their careers, but the communal experience will also have a positive effect on their mental well-being.
The next Career Evening will be on March 18, 2026.
