Non Technical Summary
This umbrella project covers a broad set of active outreach activities, the combined goals of which are to improve livestock health by addressing the national shortage of livestock veterinarians and providing educational resources to practicing livestock veterinarians. Outreach activities can broadly be divided into the following five categories:Directing a Summer Livestock Externship Program for veterinary students early in their educationProviding student mentorship and training for the United States Sheep Experiment Station externship programEngaging prospective veterinary students (high school and/or undergraduate) and highlighting career pathways to livestock veterinary practiceEngaging current UC Davis veterinary students in extracurricular activities related to careers or skills relevant to livestock practiceProviding continuing education and engaging with practicing livestock veterinarians at the local, national, and international level

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
311	3899	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
311 - Animal Diseases;

Subject Of Investigation
3899 - Other animals, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Goals / Objectives
The overarching goals of my livestock outreach activities are to:1- address the shortage of food supply veterinarians by engaging students from high school through veterinary school in topics related careers in livestock medicine2-improve livestock health by educating and engaging with livestock practitioners and stakeholders in the livestock industry through scientific speaking events on topics related to livestock health

Project Methods
This umbrella project covers a broad set of active outreach activities related to increasing numbers and education of veterinarians in livestock practice. Outreach activities can broadly be divided into five categories with one through four fulfilling objective #1 and the fifth category fulfilling objective #2.Summer Livestock Externship ProgramUnited States Sheep Experiment Station extern mentorshipProspective veterinary student engagementExtracurricular engagement of current veterinary studentsEducation and engagement with practicing veterinariansMethods:Summer Livestock Externship ProgramThis externship program provides early veterinary students (1st and 2nd year out of a 4 year curriculum) an opportunity to experience rural livestock practice outside of the teaching hospital and school curriculum. The program provides a $2000 scholarship to participating students who complete 4 weeks of summer livestock externships. The goals of the program are: to increase opportunities for 1st and 2nd year DVM students to experience rural livestock practice prior to curriculum tracking in years 3 and 4 of veterinary school; build connections between DVM students and rural livestock practices, veterinarians, and communities; offset the costs of travel and lodging for students during externships to facilitate participation for students who might otherwise not be able to afford such externships due to these costs and to ultimately increase the number of DVM students who pursue careers in rural livestock practice following graduation by providing experience, connections, and the tools needed to follow this path. First and second year UC Davis veterinary students with any livestock experience level, who have an interest in gaining rural livestock veterinary experience or who simply want to know more about this career path, will be encouraged to apply. All first and second year DVM students will be eligible for application. The program is advertised to all Y1 and Y2 DVM students through email, student led organizations (such as the School of Veterinary Medicine's Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine Club), and an annual fall dinner where past participants including students and local mentoring practitioners share their experiences with interested students. Students who are potentially interested in pursuing a career in livestock medicine will be strongly encouraged to apply and students who are unsure of their career path, or who have limited livestock experience, but are interested in gaining livestock experience, will also be strongly encouraged to apply. I will continue to direct this program to facilitate student and mentor participation and will seek ongoing funding for this program from grants, industry stakeholders and private donors.United States Sheep Experiment Station (USSES) extern mentorshipThis externship program provides clinical year DVM students from all over the United States with extensive hands-on training and experience managing the health of ewes and lambs during a busy lambing season. I plan to provide approximately 2 weeks of direct student mentorship and training on-site at the USSES annually as well as continue to organize veterinary coverage for the remainder of the approximately 2 month lambing season/externship program through coordinating an agreement between the UC Davis veterinary medical teaching hospital and the USSES.Prospective veterinary student engagementSpeak at annual events for high school and/or undergraduate students interested in veterinary medicine. For example, I plan to provide a session related to livestock medicine for the UC Davis Summer Enrichment Program, or local high school programs that come through UC Davis, or speak at career panels for undergraduate clubs or courses such as UC Davis undergraduate course EDU 098. Annual participation in these events will be sought out and scheduled whenever possible.Extracurricular engagement of current veterinary studentsSpeak or otherwise teach at extracurricular events or wet labs for current UC Davis veterinary students to provide information on careers in livestock medicine or skills related to livestock practice. Examples include engaging students outside of the curriculum during an annual knot tying wet lab, career panel, or through speaking events to student clubs such as the FARM (food animal and reproduction medicine) club5. Education and engagement with practicing veterinariansI will engage with livestock practitioners through presentations at scientific sessions annually at local, national, and/or international conferences or other educational events on topics related to livestock health and primarily related to respiratory disease in cattle, drug use in livestock, and antimicrobial resistance. Events that I aim to speak at include: the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine annual forum, local continuing education events such as the UC Davis Winter Conference or Goat Day, or international conferences such as European Buiatrics Congress or World Buiatrics Congress.