Honoring service and science

From caring for military working dogs to performing ultrasound exams on dolphins, Justin Bolin, DVM ’25, has built a veterinary career that bridges two worlds — animal health and military service. His journey at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine reflects a rare combination of scientific curiosity, adventure and dedication to serving both animals and country.

A recipient of the U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), Bolin has combined his passion for veterinary medicine with his commitment to military service. Through HPSP, veterinary students complete annual active-duty training that prepares them to serve as officers in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. For Bolin, that training led to an extraordinary experience few veterinary students ever encounter: the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP) clinical externship in San Diego, California.

“I have always been fascinated by marine mammal medicine,” Bolin said. “As a certified scuba diver for more than ten years, the NMMP externship was a dream opportunity that allowed me to advance my clinical skills while fulfilling my military training.”

Based at the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, the NMMP trains bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions to support national defense missions such as detecting underwater mines and locating unauthorized swimmers. Working alongside the NMMP Veterinary Laboratory (VETLAB) and the National Marine Mammal Foundation (NMMF), Bolin contributed to the care and research that sustain the Navy’s elite marine mammals.

During his rotation, Bolin participated in morning rounds, hands-on procedures, and emergency care, gaining experience in physical examinations, ultrasound, endoscopy, anesthesia and preventive medicine. “It was a privilege to work with such a dedicated team,” he said. “The level of collaboration between veterinarians, trainers and researchers was remarkable.”

Among his most memorable experiences were assisting with in-water echocardiography and participating in open-water training with sea lions. Bolin also contributed to the Enclosure Video Enrichment (EVE) program, a research initiative exploring cognitive enrichment through interactive video games for dolphins and sea lions. He concluded his externship by delivering a briefing on bottlenose dolphin reproduction, highlighting advances in fetal echocardiography and maternal health.

Beyond the NMMP, Bolin also trained at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and Camp Pendleton Veterinary Treatment Facilities, where he provided care for military working dogs. “As a U.S. Army Veterinarian, one of our core missions is to ensure the health and readiness of working animals, whether they are dolphins, sea lions, dogs or horses,” he explained.

Now serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, Bolin is continuing his professional training through the First Year Graduate Veterinary Education (FYGVE) Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Seattle, Washington. The one-year, multidisciplinary internship emphasizes clinical medicine, surgery and public health. After completing the program, Bolin will have the opportunity to pursue a variety of assignments within the Veterinary Corps in the United States and abroad.

“The Army Veterinary Corps has opened doors I never could have imagined,” Bolin said. “It allowed me to gain hands-on experience in marine mammal medicine and supported my goal of becoming a board-certified veterinary specialist. I could not have done it without the support of my family, especially my parents and my wife, Elizabeth.”

Bolin’s story reflects the College of Veterinary Medicine’s enduring tradition of service, where compassion, science, and duty come together to make an impact that reaches far beyond the classroom and clinic.