FFAR Names Seventh Cohort of Veterinary Fellows

The United States has lost 90% 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 (FFAR) and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) have selected the seventh cohort of FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellows (FFAR Vet 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.

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:

1. Donnie Alverson, Oregon State University
2. Victoria Houser, Tufts-Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
3. Cailin Karotkin, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
4. Regina Kurandina, University of Minnesota
5. Jeselle-Ann Laxa, Western University of Health Sciences
6. Kara Linder, Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine
7. Yimeng Lu, Western University of Health Sciences
8. Nathan Maizels, Long Island University
9. Francisco Benitez Merle, Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Veterinary Medicine
10. Hanna Meyer, Washington State University
11. Luis Ochoa, Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine
12. Ainslie Reynolds, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine
13. Lauren Robinson, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine
14. Yasmeen Patnaik, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
15. Jade Wilkinson, Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine

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

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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.

Connect: @FoundationFAR 

American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

The member institutions of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) promote and protect the health and wellbeing of people, animals and the environment by advancing the profession of veterinary medicine and preparing new generations of veterinarians to meet the evolving needs of a changing world. Founded in 1966, the AAVMC represents more than 40,000 faculty, staff and students across the global academic veterinary medical community. Our member institutions include Council on Education (COE) accredited veterinary medical colleges and schools in the U.S., Canada, Mexico,the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand as well as departments of veterinary science and departments of comparative medicine in the U.S.

Connect: @AAVMC