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From the Dean: By Our Foundations
By Hodes Family Dean Bonnie Rush
We are committed to the four cornerstones of our college, each supporting the other: Exceptional Teaching, Impactful Research, Outstanding Service and Extraordinary Graduates. Neither succeeds without the rest. The multifaceted mission is the strength of the college. This issue of Wildcat Veterinarian encapsulates the successes and ongoing efforts in each of the pillars used to train the next generation of veterinarians and serve K-State’s Land Grant mission.
Exceptional teaching
The applicant pool to the college continues to be strong with 1983 candidates to fill 120 seats in the class of 2028. This is the largest class of applicants in the recent history of the college, perhaps ever. We appreciate the alumni that provide their time and expertise to assist with 470 interviews during the selection process. The quality of students accepted into the college is second to none. Our four-year graduation rate is 95% and our six-year rate is 96.6%. The pass rate on the national board examinations remains far above the national average.
The dedication of faculty to the educational mission is strong and scholarship of teaching is valued and supported. Dr. Shane Lyon has recently been named a Distinguished Expert in the founding class of Academy of Veterinary Educators. Dr. Pradeep Malreddy is a member of the Academy of Medical Educators and three faculty are members of the Council on Outcomes-based Veterinary Education — Drs. Jessica Meekins, Matt Basel and Lyon — responsible for developing implementation tools for Competency-Based Veterinary Education.
Certificate programs were developed to provide thematic educational opportunities for students that strengthen career development and graduate marketability. Four certificates have been implemented: Food Animal Medicine (approved in 2020, 15 graduates, 98 enrolled), Shelter Medicine (approved in 2021, 12 graduates, 35 enrolled), Exotics/ Zoologic Medicine (approved in 2022, four graduates, 41 enrolled), Sustainability (approved fall 2023.) Future certificates programs in Surgical Skills, Business Management, and Equine Practice are under development. We have further accelerated these programs with the addition of a new position in our college, the director of advanced veterinary education. Meet Dr. Alexiou on Page 12.
By far, our exceptional teaching does not stop there. The food animal industry is critical to the economic viability of the state, Our graduates now hit the ground running and are finding success in rural practice. Both faculty and industry partners have made it possible to offer a feedlot elective course for our fourth-year students. Read more about this opportunity on Page 18.
Impactful research
K-State is ranked No. 6 in research productivity among US CVMs using a metric-based impact assessment by Research. com. Areas of research strength include (1) emerging, transboundary, zoonotic and parasitic diseases, (2) pre-harvest food safety, (3) beef production, (4) animal welfare and (5) comparative and translational medicine. A core biomedical research facility (5,000 square feet), supported by an NIH grant is in the final stages of construction. Continued research support will keep K-State in the top tier. Meet our new associate dean of research and graduate programs, who will help us do just that on Page 30.
K-State has the third highest number of dual-degree DVM students among AAVMC institutions with an equal distribution across M.S., MPH, and Ph.D. degree programs. Twentyone students participated in the 2023 veterinary research summer scholars’ program, funded by college, corporate, federal and private gifting. Student participation in poster sessions and presentations on Phi Zeta Research Day is at an all-time high. Avenues in research and graduate programs require exceptionally strong mentors. A long-standing partnership is highlighted in “Nurturing Success” on Page 32.
First-year students Weston Ahles and Ally Hazy; fourth-year student Eliza Turnage and volunteer Olive Blevins examine a canine patient at the Santee Sioux reservation in South Dakota. Photo by Elizabeth Scarbrough.
Outstanding service
The Veterinary Health Center supports clinical training through delivery of 24-hour care for traditional and exotic species. Faculty in the VHC provide service to clients from all 105 counties of Kansas and consultation services for veterinarians throughout Kansas and beyond. Read stories of their outstanding service starting on Page 38, with “Sadie’s Story.”
Also serving all counties in Kansas, the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory offers more than 500 diagnostic tests and processes more than 500,000 samples annually. It maintains the largest rabies laboratory in the world, serving 50 states and 52 countries. KSVDL serves as a Level 1-National Animal Health Laboratory Network facility and is fully accredited by the AAVLD and CLIA. It is the first U.S. VDL to be accepted by the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
In addition to its highly accredited standards, the KSVDL works from the grassroots level, listening to and integrating feedback from clients and fellow veterinarians. This year the KSVDL started the Diagnostic Webinar Series in response to a need for more continuing education available online. Read “Watch Where You Are” on Page 46 to learn more about this program.
Veterinary students participate in regional public events including the Kansas State Fair, American Royal Livestock Show and the Dodge City Rodeo. These livestock events provide a public service and educational opportunities for the public. Students practice their communication skills, often serving as the voice for the college in these high-profile events. “Special Delivery” on Page 26 highlights the unique intersection our veterinary students find themselves in by educating others, while also learning themselves.
Extraordinary graduates
Kansas State University has awarded 7,857 DVM degrees since the first graduating class in 1907 and maintains a longstanding history of developing leaders in practice, industry, and government. Consistent with our land grant mission, we are committed to producing graduates with problem-solving skills to address local, regional, and global societal needs. Our graduates continue to impact the world we live in and we’re thrilled to showcase their paths starting on Page 48. Lower educational debt was an intentional goal to support the future of the profession. Tuition was frozen for six consecutive academic years (2017-2023). Targeted fundraising doubled our scholarship endowment from $13.8M to $29.4M (2017-2023), and annual scholarship distributions increased from $1,209,253 to $1,677,497 (2019-2023). Hidden expenses totaling $6,700 per student were eliminated to lower the overall cost of attendance. In 2022, a successful legislative effort provided an expansion of the state-funded rural scholarship program from $400K to $650K, allowing additional scholarship recipients in each class. The results of these actions are well worth the effort.
Kansas Graduates (Tuition $98K)
2019: $128.3K
2020: $122.5K
2021: $101.8K
2022: $99.5K
2023: $95.9K
Out-of-State Graduates (Tuition $215K)
2019: $264.8K
2020: $254.3K
2021: $236.1K
2022: $223.7K
2023: $187.9K
I am proud of the students, faculty and staff of this college who continue to overperform in all areas of responsibility — teaching, research and service, all while demonstrating the K-State core value of Midwestern nice. Our best to the alumni and friends of the college from Manhappiness, Kansas. Go CATS!
