Merck Animal Health Furthers Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion Efforts Amongst Veterinary Community

Madison, N.J., Sept. 21, 2021 – Merck Animal Health is pleased to announce its sponsorship of veterinary student scholarships at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM). Merck Animal Health has sponsored the past two years of sponsorships for the TUCVM, awarding 15 students during the 2019-2020 academic year and 15 students during the 2020-2021 academic year. Each student received a $5,000 scholarship to further their education as they pursue careers in either companion or large animal veterinary care.

TUCVM is the only veterinary medical professional program located on the campus of a historically black college or university in the United States. The college has educated more than 70 percent of the nation’s African American veterinarians and has been recognized as the most diverse of all 32 schools or colleges of veterinary medicine in the nation.

            “At Merck Animal Health we believe in promoting diversity in the veterinary profession and we are eager to support each of these talented recipients,” said Lowell Midla, VMD, Livestock Technical Services Manager, Merck Animal Health. “We are confident that the unique talents, perspectives, and contributions of these students will help build a brighter future for the veterinary profession.” 

“We are very grateful to Merck Animal Health for their intentional and long-standing commitment to the veterinary profession and promoting veterinary medical education at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine through its scholarship program. Across the 2019-20 and 2020-21 academic years, 15 of our students in each cycle received a total of $75,000 in scholarships from Merck Animal Health. The spirit of this scholarship aligns with the legacy of the TUCVM to embrace and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the veterinary profession. We look forward to continuing this impactful partnership with Merck Animal Health,” said Dr. Ruby L. Perry, dean of the college, TUCVM. 

“I echo what Dean Perry says about the appreciation we have for our valued partnership with Merck Animal Health. Our scholarship committee here at the College works hard to identify truly deserving students for the generous Merck Animal Health scholarship. The company continues to not only be an asset to our scholarship program, but it also gives students an incentive to maintain high standards for academics and to become actively involved in service to the veterinary college and their communities,” said Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham, coordinator of educational programs and instructional technology at TUCVM and chair of the scholarship committee.

The 2021-2022 scholarship application period is now open through Oct. 1, 2021. Interested second- and third-year veterinary students can apply by contacting Dr. Deidre Quinn-Gorham at dquinngorham@tuskegee.edu.

About Merck Animal Health

For 130 years, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine

Located in Alabama as one of the state’s two accredited veterinary programs, the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) was envisioned in 1944 by Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, founder of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and officially established at Tuskegee in 1945. TUCVM is the only veterinary medical professional program located on the campus of a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the United States. The College has educated more than 70 percent of the nation’s African American veterinarians and has been recognized as the most diverse of all school/colleges of veterinary medicine in the nation. The College’s primary mission is to provide an environment that fosters a spirit of active, independent, and self-directed learning, intellectual curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, ethics, and leadership; and promotes teaching, research, and service in veterinary medicine and related disciplines. For more information, visit www.tuskegee.edu/vetmed.