“Food animal veterinarians serve an essential role in our world and Merck Animal Health continues to make investments in their futures,” said Norman Stewart, D.V.M., the company’s livestock technical services manager. “We have a long-standing commitment to education, personal development and the science of healthier animals. Programs such as this allow us to support, as well as recognize and celebrate, these future leaders.”

The following students are participants in the 2013 Food Systems Fellowship Program.

Brianna Pfluger of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a third-year veterinary student at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she is also pursuing a master’s degree in public health in the College of Human Medicine. Pfluger received a Bachelor of Science in dairy science and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls. She has worked as a summer intern with Clinton Veterinary Service in St. John’s, Michigan, and as an artificial insemination field technician with Genex Cooperative Inc., in Wisconsin.

After graduation, she plans to work in a large or mixed animal private practice with a special interest in cattle. She also plans to utilize her public health education to work in regulatory veterinary medicine.

Matthew Hint of Perry, New York, is a third-year veterinary student at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He received a Bachelor of Science in animal science from Cornell University. Hint plans to become a food animal veterinarian working exclusively with cattle.

Emily Severt of Coldwater, Ohio, is a third-year veterinary student at the Ohio State University (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine. She received a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from OSU. Severt currently works in the Preventive Medicine Department at OSU and has also completed swine, poultry and beef internships. She plans to have a career in food animal medicine with an emphasis in preventive medicine, food safety and public health. 

—From Merck Animal Health news release