Faculty & Staff Engaged Globally

Each year, Dr. Andrew Cushing and Dr. Julie Sheldon lead clinical veterinary students on a 2-week study abroad experience that exposes them to wildlife and zoological cases beyond what is offered through rotations in the exotics clinic and the zoological service on site at UTCVM. The Belize Zoo is a small-medium-sized zoo that houses native wildlife of various taxa, including primates, felids, birds and reptiles.

Dr. Ricardo Videla leads clinical veterinary students on an externship opportunity that allows these students to work with a rural veterinarian in Argentina and will expose them to the challenges associated with practicing veterinary medicine in a rural, under-served community in a foreign country.

Dr. Odoi is investigating the challenges of diabetes management in rural and urban areas of Uganda. The findings of his research will be useful for guiding contextually appropriate interventions that may be adapted and implemented across not only Uganda but the other East African countries to address the emerging diabetes epidemic in this region.

Dr. Bailey is collaborating with King Salman International University’s veterinary school to provide support for their ongoing curriculum development. She participated as an external examiner for the spring 2023 semester, which involved working with faculty to grow the curriculum into a truly international program. As this collaboration grows, we hope to aid in training new KSIU faculty members, have joint research projects, and have exchange opportunities for faculty and students. 

In collaboration with World Veterinary Services, Dr. Souza leads the Applied One Health pre-clinical elective which takes place at the Pan Animalia Veterinary Clinic on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. This course is typically offered twice per year, and students learn about domestic animal medicine as well as the impact of these animals on the native wildlife.

Dr. Souza hosted 10 Filipino veterinary educators during the Fall 2023 semester at UTCVM for USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Sponsored Faculty Exchange Program (FEP). This fellowship focuses on improving knowledge and skills of teaching, while also building research and collaboration. Each fellow is paired with a faculty mentor who will complete a reciprocal visit to their fellow in 2024.

For over 25 years, UTCVM has participated in an international exchange program with the Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine in Towada, Japan. With the aim of improving the veterinary education system and enhancing our international network, an academic exchange agreement was created for Japanese veterinary students in their clinical year. Each summer, a few students and a faculty advisor visit UTCVM to observe clinical rotations in the veterinary hospital. These students gain international perspective through direct exposure to veterinary clinical education in the U.S.