Merck Animal Health Extends Scholarship Support to Next Generation of Livestock Veterinarians
Madison, N.J., Sept. 30, 2020 – Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the Food Systems Fellowship Program coordinated by the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, is pleased to award three scholarships to veterinary students who are participating in the program. Each student will receive a $5,000 scholarship to advance his or her education in livestock production.
“The future of animal health lies in the next generation of future leaders,” said Lowell Midla, VMD, Livestock Technical Services Veterinarian for Merck Animal Health. “Merck Animal Health is committed to helping to develop future veterinary leaders and we have been proud to partner with Michigan State University since 2013 to provide support to outstanding students.”
The following students will receive 2020 Merck Animal Health Scholarships:
- Patrick Crannell of Waitsfield, Vermont, earned his bachelor’s degree in English from St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. He is currently a third-year student at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and expects to graduate in May 2022. His goal is to work as a dairy veterinarian after graduating.
- Ellen Launstein of Dansville, Michigan, earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from MSU in 2018. She is currently a third-year student at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and expects to graduate in May 2022. After graduating, Ellen plans to enter private practice and focus on production animal species, particularly dairy cattle.
- Jessica Zenchak Petersen of Brookfield, Illinois, earned two bachelor’s degrees — one in biology, one in French — from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. She then earned a master’s degree in neuroscience from Central Michigan University. Jessica is currently a third-year student at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and expects to graduate in May 2022. After graduating, she aspires to become a production animal veterinarian.
“Merck Animal Health is an outstanding partner,” says Dr. Ángel Abuelo, Head of the FSF Program and Assistant Professor of Cattle Health and Wellbeing for the MSU Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. “Their research, products, and services to advance animal healthcare are huge assets for our students and other future veterinarians who are learning to care for production animals.”
For additional information on the Food Systems Fellowship Program, please visit www.cvm.msu.edu/fsf.
About Merck Animal Health
For more than a century, 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, and Twitter at @MerckAH.
About the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine
The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1910, although veterinary science has been taught at MSU since the institution’s founding in 1855. With a focus on One Health—the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health—the College is at the forefront of veterinary medical education, research, clinical practice, and diagnostic and public health services. For more information, visit the College, the MSU Veterinary Medical Center, and the MSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Find us on social media @msuvets.