Merck Animal Health Awards $50,000 in Scholarships to Next Generation Poultry Veterinarians

RAHWAY, N.J., August 4, 2025 – Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced it has awarded $50,000 in scholarships in partnership with the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) Foundation, the charitable arm of AAAP. The scholarships support second- and third-year veterinary students focused on poultry health.

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of Merck Animal Health’s partnership with the AAAP Foundation, which has awarded more than $230,000 in scholarships to veterinary students to date.  

The 2025 scholarship recipients were announced at the AAAP Annual Meeting, held in Portland, Ore., July 29-31. The following five students were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship:

• JeJuan Bryant of Riegelwood, N.C., is currently a third-year veterinary student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. Bryant previously interned with Merck Animal Health through Iowa State University’s PVIP program and has worked at Butterball, Murphy Family Farms, Prestige Farms and Aviagen. His career goal is to become a production veterinarian for a broiler or turkey company.

• Miranda Carrisosa of Santa Clarita, Calif., is currently a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidate at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich. Carrisosa holds a graduate degree in poultry science. She conducted research on coccidiosis and completed a veterinary internship at a broiler company. Her career goal is to become a poultry production veterinarian.  

• Jennifer Irwin of Stuarts Draft, Va., is a third-year student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. As an undergraduate at Virginia Tech, Irwin worked in a poultry nutrition research lab and has interned with George’s Foods, Aviagen, Cobb-Vantress, Case Farms, and the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative. Her career goal is to become a poultry production veterinarian and serve as an adjunct professor at a university.
• Cooper Stanley of Grandview, Texas., is currently a third-year student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He completed internships with Sanderson Farms and Cal-Maine Foods, served as assistant manager of the Texas A&M University Poultry Science Research Center, and was a veterinary intern with Wayne-Sanderson Farms. His career goal is to complete a poultry medicine residency and work in a production or technical service role.
• Becky Tran, of Chantilly, Va., is currently a second-year student in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. Tran works in the poultry immunology lab at North Carolina State University. She aspires to become a field veterinarian in the poultry industry.

“Merck Animal Health is committed to the veterinary profession and is proud to honor these students in their educational endeavors, knowing they represent the future of poultry production and well-being,” said Ivan Alvarado Ortiz, D.V.M., associate director, poultry technical services for Merck Animal Health. “Through our 10-year partnership with AAAP, we are enhancing students’ knowledge of poultry health as they prepare for a career in the poultry industry.”             

“We are deeply appreciative of Merck Animal Health for their partnership in supporting these exemplary students who are the future of AAAP and poultry health management,” said Suzanne McComb, D.V.M., executive vice president of AAAP. “In the near future, students will be overseeing poultry health to support the public with safe, sustainable poultry and eggs, with a focus on feeding the world with sustainable proteins.”

The AAAP is an international association dedicated to promoting scientific knowledge to enhance the health, well-being, and productivity of poultry, ensuring a safe and abundant food for the world. To learn more, visit AAAP.