This news item is about: It was 10 days of opportunities: to explore a different culture; to sharpen their creative problem-solving skills; to practice their clinical skills; and to protect the ecosystem upon which we all depend. Wildlife is part of a delicate system hanging in the balance, said Tamika Lewis DVM '09, who was a member of the first group of students to participate in the International Veterinary Medicine Abroad program. The system is inherently fragile, and it is tested every day by decisions people make. Animals, humans, and nature are all connected, and veterinarians are instrumental in ensuring the system thrives.