Two Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine students have been selected as recipients of the inaugural Dr. James H. Bias Scholarship from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP). 

Carla Gutierrez and Kia Williams, members of the Class of 2025, were chosen from a competitive national pool of approximately 20 applicants representing veterinary schools across the United States. 

The Dr. James H. Bias Scholarship, named after the first Black man to graduate from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1910, aims to support and encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in bovine medicine. Each recipient receives a scholarship, travel, and accommodation costs for the AABP Annual Conference, and free registration for a Recent Graduate Conference within three years of graduation.

Bovine medicine, a specialized field within veterinary practice, focuses on cattle health and welfare, including dairy and beef cattle. It encompasses everything from preventive care and nutrition to complex surgical procedures, playing a crucial role in food safety and agricultural productivity.

Sierra Guynn, clinical assistant professor in production management medicine at the veterinary college on Virginia Tech’s campus, supported the two applications. 

"Carla and Kia are truly outstanding students,” Guynn said. “Their dedication to bovine medicine, combined with their commitment to diversity and inclusion, makes them excellent ambassadors for our program and the veterinary profession. We're incredibly proud of their achievement and excited to see the positive changes they'll bring to the field."

Guynn said both students have already demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities within the college. "They both have excellent experience leading student groups inside the college and are student ambassadors. This leadership experience helps set them apart and will help prepare them for future professional roles."

Gutierrez and Williams' selection for this scholarship comes at a crucial time when the United States faces a significant shortage of food animal veterinarians.

"Only 3 to 4 percent of new veterinary graduates pursue livestock or food animal practice areas, down from 40 percent 40 years ago. Scholarships like this are vital in encouraging and supporting students passionate about bovine medicine, " said Guynn.

Expanding horizons and building networks

Guynn said it's important to offer a broad range of experiences in food and animal medicine.

"Some of the best externships, you must go to California to those big dairy practices and palpate for three weeks straight,” Guynn said. “You must get out there and see how other clinicians do it. What other disease processes, and what other cattle populations, have problems different from those we do here in Virginia? This breadth of experience is crucial for developing well-rounded, adaptable veterinarians ready to tackle the challenges of food-animal medicine. But all that costs money to do for flights, hotels, and travel."

The scholarship will enable Gutierrez and Williams to attend the national AABP Annual Conference, which will provide invaluable networking opportunities and exposure to the latest developments in bovine medicine.

"Getting to the conference for the full duration allows us to participate in the job fair, present research, and connect with potential employers," Gutierrez said. "Last year, I met someone at the conference with whom I'm now doing an externship. These connections can shape our entire careers."

Williams saod: "The conference is a chance to see ourselves represented in the field and to be part of important conversations about the future of bovine medicine. It's an opportunity we might not have had without this scholarship."

Breaking down barriers

Both Gutierrez and Williams acknowledge the challenges they have faced and the importance of representation in the field.

"As students without a farming background, who are women of color, and a part of the LGBTQ+ community, we've overcome multiple barriers," Gutierrez said. "This scholarship is a reminder that there's a place for us in bovine medicine, and our perspectives are valued."

Looking to the future

As they prepare for their final year of veterinary school, Gutierrez and Williams are excited about the opportunities this scholarship will open and the impact they hope to make in the field. 

"We want to be the mentors we couldn't find," said Gutierrez. "Our goal is to stick with bovine medicine and create a trickle-down effect, making it easier for future generations of diverse veterinarians to enter and thrive in this field." 

"We're here because we're passionate about animal health and welfare,” Williams said, “and we bring unique perspectives that can enhance the field of bovine medicine."

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