FFAR vet fellows aim to combat livestock vet shortage

The United States has lost 90 percent of its large-animal and livestock veterinarians over the past 80 years, despite a dramatic increase in the production of food animals, according to a 2023 Johns Hopkins study. As the shortage worsens, farmers are struggling to access veterinary care for their livestock and poultry, jeopardizing both animal health and the security of our food supply.

To address this national challenge, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges have selected the seventh cohort of FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellows. This year-long fellowship provides 15 students with hands-on research experience that prepares them for careers in animal science and public service, ultimately benefiting U.S. farmers and consumers.

“The steak on our grills, the milk on our cereal, and the eggs in our fridge all depend on healthy farm animals, but right now the U.S. simply doesn’t have enough veterinarians to keep them that way,” said Nikki Dutta, FFAR scientific program officer. “That’s why FFAR is proud to once again partner with AAVMC to support the pipeline of veterinary researchers with practical, real-world research opportunities essential for tackling emerging diseases, combating antimicrobial resistance and safeguarding the future of U.S. food production.”

Fellows conduct their research with a qualified mentor at an AAVMC member institution. The program culminates with the Fellows presenting their research at the annual Veterinary Scholars Symposium, a national event attended by more than 700 veterinary students, as well as animal health researchers and leaders from top veterinary schools across the country.

The 2025 FFAR Vet Fellows are:

• Donnie Alverson, Oregon State University
• Victoria Houser, Tufts-Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
• Cailin Karotkin, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
• Regina Kurandina, University of Minnesota
• Jeselle-Ann Laxa, Western University of Health Sciences
• Kara Linder, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Yimeng Lu, Western University of Health Sciences
• Nathan Maizels, Long Island University
• Francisco Benitez Merle, Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Veterinary Medicine
• Hanna Meyer, Washington State University
• Luis Ochoa, Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine
• Ainslie Reynolds, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Lauren Robinson, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
• Yasmeen Patnaik, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
• Jade Wilkinson, Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine

To learn more about each Fellow’s research project, please visit the FFAR Vet Fellows webpage.