Celebration in China
U.S.-China Joint DVM program holds homecoming event abroad
The US-China Joint DVM programs welcomes a wide range of guest to its 2023 Homecoming in Beijing, China.
A very special celebration for Kansas State University took place in Beijing, China, on Sept. 8 and 9. The U.S.-China Joint DVM Program held its China Homecoming event, which was co-organized by the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health, Chinese Veterinary Medical Association and Zoetis. About 70 people attended.
The guests are representatives of governments, sponsors, and partners, including the Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Health, China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; the US Embassy; China Scholarship Council; Zoetis; Chinese Veterinary Medical Association; Chinese Veterinary Drug Association; American Veterinary Medical Association; American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges; 16 U.S. and Chinese partnering universities, as well as 25 program graduates.
Dr. Jishu Shi, director of the U.S.-China Center for Animal Health hosted the first day morning meeting and gave a formal introduction about the program's history after the center was established in 2010 and formalized from 2010 to 2012 and about its growth over the 11 years since.
“Kansas State University is very proud of Dr. Shi and this US-China Joint DVM Scholarship Program,” said Dr. Grant Chapman, associate provost for International Programs at K-State. “Global problems demand global solutions and global talent. This innovative, unique scholarship program provides for the development of animal health professionals for China to assist the world in solving many of the animal health concerns. Here’s to many more years of partnership and collaboration.”
“Scientific collaboration is a key aspect of the U.S.-China relationship,” said Tyler Partridge, public diplomacy officer with the US Embassy in China. “Veterinarians’ work in the One Health framework helps ensure not only animal health but public health, thus the US China Joint DVM Program benefits the American and Chinese people but people all over the world. The program truly plays a critical role confronting global health challenges and building generations of expertise in veterinary medicine through exchange of ideas and exchanges of students themselves.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the partnering universities, both in the United States and in China. I’d like to especially recognize the tremendous work of Kansas State University’s U.S.-China Center. I would also like to thank Zoetis and the China Scholarship Council for their work in supporting this great program.”
The afternoon portion of the homecoming program started with an introduction about the program homecoming history and its purpose by Dr. Lei Wang, manager of education programs for the US-China Center for Animal Health. Then a leadership seminar was given by Dr. Mike McFaland from Zoetis, followed by reports from the Chinese students who have participated in the DVM training program.
“As we all know, the U.S.-China Joint DVM Program has trained a group of high-level young talents in the field of clinical veterinary medicine for my country,” said Xingbin Liu, dean of the Huazhong Agricultural University veterinary college. “All of the graduated students returned to China and became excellent faculty members of various veterinary schools in mainland. We are glad to see that they are thriving under the guidance of their predecessors.”
“It is an honor to be a part of this outstanding program and to be here representing Iowa State University,” said Dr. Daniel Grooms, dean at the ISU CVM. “There is a long legacy of veterinarians and scientists that have trained at Iowa State who come from China. We are honored to be a partner in the Kansas State University China DVM program that continues this training legacy today. Because of this collaboration, we are able to work together to raise the bar on both animal and human health on a global level.”
Kansas State University was represented by Dr. Callie Rost, associate dean for admissions. “It is wonderful to see the graduates as associate professors teaching the future veterinarians of China and impacting veterinary education, animal health, public health and food safety,” she said. “Kansas State is fortunate to get to play a role in these students’ education and the early stages of their successful careers as veterinarians.”
The second day of the homecoming event included a round-table discussion about veterinary education collaboration between the US and China.
“We currently have three students in our veterinary curriculum at the University of Missouri enrolled through the U.S.-China Center program,” said Leah Cohn, interim dean for the MU CVM. “Our first graduate should earn her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2025. While we look forward to witnessing all our graduates’ accomplishments, we are especially excited to see how our graduates of this program will be positioned to improve the health and well-being of animals and people on a global scale.”
Dr. Mike Topper represented the American Veterinary Medical Association as its director of international affairs and chair of its committee on international veterinary affairs. “The AVMA truly appreciates these opportunities that bring us together to network with international colleagues to discuss our common issues and celebrate the future of our great profession,” he said. “We recognize that our ongoing success in protecting animal and human health is connected to the success of the global veterinary community, and access to a quality veterinary education serves as a foundation for that success. Indeed, our collaboration with the program is a natural extension of our ongoing commitment to veterinary education; global outreach; and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the veterinary profession.”
About the US-China Joint DVM Program
The U.S.-China Center for Animal Health established the U.S.-China Joint Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program at Kansas State University in 2012 to continue to advance its "One World, One Health" mission. For each graduating veterinary class, four to six Chinese students enroll at the K-State campus to complete one year of pre-veterinary studies so they can acclimate to studying in the United States. After that year, the students may apply to study for their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at either K-State or one of three other U.S. veterinary colleges: University of Minnesota, Iowa State University and University of Missouri.