HUMAN

Name: Anastasia Lucignani
Age: 34
Residence: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Occupation: I’m a relief emergency veterinarian
Years involved with Iditarod: First Year
Iditarod Role: Veterinarian
Current Location: Wasilla, Alaska at the Iditarod Head Quarters, Vet checks

Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 26, 2025
Temperature: 32F

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?:

I first got involved with the Iditarod, I first heard about it during my clinical year rotations at Illinois School of Veterinary Medicine from another doctor that had worked relief and had done the Iditarod and had such fun things to say about the entire experience, I knew that I wanted to be involved and make a difference with the teams. And I’ve been applying for four years. So I’m finally here. 

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

 

Very excited today to be involved with the Iditarod because I want to learn more about the culture here of all the dog sled culture, the people involved, the veterinarian’s role, and how I can make a difference in helping that kind of community in the world because that is what I travel for as a relief veterinarian. And that is what I like to do, is try to see how I can take advantage of my career to make a difference and make an impact in other communities.

Tell me about your most memorable Iditarod experiences?:

I don’t have any memorable experiences yet because it’s my first year, but I know that I’m going to have so many after this. So I’m really excited to tell you about them all after the experience.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know for sure in life is that we are given such an amazing opportunity to live and to experience things, and I want to take advantage of that incredible opportunity to be who I want to be in this world, to see everything that it has to offer and to do everything that I could be meant to do.