College of Veterinary Medicine creates opportunities for seven students to gain and share experiences from around the world
Friday, April 14, 2017
From left: Kansas State University veterinary students Erin Strathe, Jessica Prado, Chantal Girard, Jeffrey Laifer, Stephanie Skinner, Katya Luckenbach and Taylor Young are recipients of travel grants from the International Programs office in the College of Veterinary Medicine to participate in international veterinary and One Health projects around the world. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Seven Kansas State University veterinary students will participate in veterinary or One Health projects around the world through a special competition offered by the International Programs office in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
The students were awarded travel grants following a contest to select the most worthwhile, novel, educationally beneficial and interesting projects. The projects will take place in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe.
"The interconnected nature of today's world means that it is important for all veterinarians to have a global perspective," said Keith Hamilton, the college's executive director for international programs. "In addition to the broad range of experiences these students will gain, they will return to K-State and share their knowledge with their fellow students. International Programs not only aims to get veterinary students out into the world, but also to bring the world to them."
Hamilton said the objective of the program is to facilitate international experiences and make a positive contribution to animal and public health.
"Several of the students travelling this year will also be acting as ambassadors for the College of Veterinary Medicine, helping to establish and strengthen strategic links with overseas institutions which will create international opportunities for future generations of K-State students," Hamilton said.
Students earning travel grants and their projects:
Jessica Prado, fourth-year veterinary student, Gardner, will participate in extension and education in animal husbandry and animal health in northern India and Thailand. Prado will receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in May.
Stephanie Skinner, third-year veterinary student, Olathe, plans to participate in the health management of llamas in Peru. Her project seeks to improve the livelihoods of local communities by improving fibre production, which will give Stephanie the opportunity to work with species not normally seen on the prairies of Kansas.
Erin Strathe, second-year veterinary student, Parsons, will participate in a mentored clinical experience in Puducherry, India, where she will help to forge a relationship with the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, known as RIVER. Through this partnership with RIVER, other Kansas State University veterinary students will have the opportunity to participate in student exchanges in years to come.
Jeffrey Laifer, third-year veterinary student, Alpine, New Jersey, will study neurology at the University of Ghent, or UGhent in Belgium. The Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine is currently exploring a partnership that would allow its fourth-year students to participate in clinical rotations at UGhent and for its students to participate in clinical rotations in Manhattan.
Taylor Young, second-year veterinary student, Telford, Pennsylvania, and Katya Luckenbach, first-year veterinary student, Woxall, Pennsylvania, will spend four weeks in Tanzania and Rwanda with a multidisciplinary team gaining skills in leadership and One Health. This program is a collaboration of Master of Public Health program at Kansas State University; University of California, Davis; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania; and the University of Rwanda. These students will also work to strengthen institutional links with the University of California, Davis and Sokoine University.
Chantal Girard, third-year veterinary student, South Burlington, Vermont, will promote rabies education and vaccination in Namibia. She will participate in an important pilot project which is supporting the global framework for the elimination of dog-mediated human rabies supported by the World Organisation for Animal Health, World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. Important for sustainability, the project is a national priority and is being implemented through Namibia's National Veterinary Services.
