Joint veterinary program with China hosts deans, leaders and Chinese veterinary students at K-State
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021
Students, national veterinary leaders and veterinary college deans attending the recent celebration of the U.S.-China Joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at Kansas State University.
MANHATTAN — The future of Chinese veterinary medicine is taking root and getting stronger through a special program at Kansas State University.
A recent celebration of the U.S.-China Joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program attracted a small but important group of national veterinary leaders and deans from partnering universities to Manhattan for an annual homecoming on Aug. 5 and 6.
"This past year brought unusual challenges due to the global spread of COVID-19," said Bonnie Rush, dean of the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. "We normally bring a class of four to six Chinese students to the K-State campus to complete a one year of pre-veterinary studies so they can be acclimated to studying in the United States. Afterward, the students may apply to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs at K-State or one of the four other participating U.S. veterinary colleges. This year, the pre-vet students had to remain in China and participate in a hybrid system of online learning and virtual meetings. We were really pleased that they were finally able to be on campus for the next step in their educational journeys."
The U.S.-China Center for Animal Health at K-State provides scholarships to cover the first year of pre-veterinary tuition and five years of student activities through funding from Zoetis, Yebio Bioengineering and Banfield Pet Hospital. The China Scholarship Council supports four years of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program tuition and living stipends for five years.
As a health precaution, the guest list was shortened for this year's homecoming and included Jose Arce, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association; Andrew McCabe, president of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges; Beth Sabin, director of global outreach for the American Veterinary Medical Association; Molly McCue, a 2000 K-State veterinary graduate who serves as associate dean of research at the University of Minnesota veterinary college; and Daniel Grooms, dean of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University.
McCabe and Grooms each presented leadership seminars during the meeting. Sabin gave a presentation about the American Veterinary Medical Association's global outreach program and plus an overview of an externship previously held by five previous students.
There were progress reports from one new graduate and 14 of the students who just finished their pre-veterinary year with K-State or are currently working on their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at K-State, the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University and University of Georgia. One of the pre-veterinary students will begin Doctor of Veterinary Medicine studies at the University of Missouri this fall.
As a surprise, Grooms presented a white coat to new Iowa State veterinary student Xingyi Tang, who couldn't attend the school's formal White Coat Ceremony.
Jishu Shi, director of the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health, explained the broader implications and expectations of the U.S.-China Joint Doctor Veterinary Medicine Program, and Frank Blecha, associate dean of research at the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine, served as the emcee for the two-day event.
In an ordinary year, the homecoming extends invitations to veterinary leaders from China and the industry partners that sponsor the joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Shi said he hopes next year's homecoming will return to a normal level of participation.
