While growing up in China, students Yifan Chen, Jingjing Ding, Earelda Jiang, and Qian Liu were all inspired by different reasons to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. 

Jiang has always loved animals but hadn't considered veterinary medicine as a career path until she was exposed to the industry in college. Stories of cases relayed by her undergraduate roommate studying the field inspired Liu to switch majors from design. Chen is following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents, who also studied veterinary medicine and took nonclinical jobs in the field. 

For Ding, it was witnessing the 2018 outbreak of African swine fever ravage the Chinese pork industry and its impact hitting close to home for her family.  

“My grandfather raised pigs in the countryside, and unfortunately, his entire herd became infected and had to be culled due to biosecurity protocols,” she says. “This experience made me realize the devastating impact of the disease on both the economy and people’s livelihoods. These events inspired me to pursue preventive veterinary medicine as my graduate major, as I wanted to contribute to solving this problem.”

Previously, their paths have varied, but these students’ pursuit of a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) brought them all to the same place: the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). The college is a partner of the U.S.–China Joint DVM Scholarship Program administered through Kansas State University’s (KSU) U.S.-China Center for Animal Health. 

Established in 2012, the scholarship program facilitates collaboration among universities, government, and animal health industry partners in China and the U.S. with the mission of training future leaders for veterinary education and the veterinary profession in China.

Each year, four to six top students are recruited from universities in China to join the program. KSU’s U.S.-China Center for Animal Health, through funding from program partners, provides scholarships that cover tuition for one year of pre-veterinary studies at KSU and activity fees for the duration of the program. The China Scholarship Council supports DVM tuition and living expenses.

Attending veterinary school in a new country comes with opportunities and challenges. All four DVM students say the welcoming and supportive nature of the CVM community has allowed them to settle in and thrive during their time in the U.S. 

“By the time I started vet school in Minnesota, I was an international student who was only in the U.S. for about a year,” Jiang says. “Everything seemed so overwhelming and challenging back then. It never ceases to amaze me how supportive and helpful our wonderful school staff are.”

Access to well-being programs and other resources have helped Chen, Ding, Liu, and Jiang navigate not only the stress that comes with veterinary school but also other challenges posed by adjusting to life in a different country. Forging friendships with classmates, joining student organizations, and finding experiential learning opportunities also have proven to be positive and rewarding parts of their education at CVM. 

“The experiences I’ve had, both academically and personally, have been incredibly enriching,” says Liu, who will be graduating later this year. “I’ve met some amazing people who have made this journey memorable.”

Upon completion of the U.S.–China Joint DVM Scholarship Program, all students return to China to teach or conduct research at a university, veterinary medicine research institute, government agency, or another public institution for a minimum of six years.

Chen, Ding, Liu, and Jiang all have plans to pursue academic careers. Jiang aims to work as an instructor and veterinarian for her local university. Liu is interested in an academic career, pursuing further research opportunities, and may consider working toward a PhD in the future. Ding and Chen also both intend to work in academia and are excited to use their education to help advance the field. 

“I am deeply grateful for the knowledge and experiences I have gained throughout my journey, as well as for the mentors who have inspired me along the way,” Chen says. “My goal is to contribute to the advancement of veterinary education in China by sharing what I have learned and inspiring the next generation of veterinarians. I hope to play a role in bridging global veterinary knowledge with local practices, ultimately improving the field in China.”