“We need to have a vision of the world we want to create so that we can see ourselves as collaborators with future generations in the project of shaping it.” David Grinspoon
As each academic year comes to a close, I reflect on how our school has shaped the future of the next generation of veterinarians and scientists that we have mentored, taught, and bonded with during their training with us. In our case, 181 graduates completed DVM studies, a graduate degree, or a residency at UC Davis. I am proud that they have received their education and training from the country’s premier veterinary school, a global leader in veterinary science.
The Class of 2019 is a particularly determined group. For instance, we celebrated Ferrin Peterson, a graduate who pursued a jockeying career while undergoing the rigors of the DVM program. Ferrin would rise at 4:15 a.m. to be on a horse at Golden Gate Fields in San Francisco by 6 a.m., and then head back to school at 7 a.m.
Ferrin won her first race on a steed named Lovely Lioness, which earned her an opportunity to race at Del Mar. In her first race, she took fourth place, riding Chocolate Goddess. She heads out in the world today as a jockey who can double as a track veterinarian.
UC Davis attracts students with that kind of passion—and who, as graduates, make an impact on medicine and the world.
Since the formation of the school in 1948, we have addressed societal needs by working to benefit the health of animals, people, and the environment in California and beyond. Our school, and its alumni, have shaped the field of veterinary medicine, from developing innovative education programs, to discovering mechanisms of diseases of animals and humans.
