Progress 05/01/24 to 04/30/25
Outputs
Target Audience:In this reporting period, our primary target audience comprised veterinary and graduate students within the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM). Additionally, we engaged faculty actively involved in teaching, research, and service related to food animal medicine, emerging and re-emerging diseases, and zoonoses. To maximize outreach, we disseminated information about domestic and international experiential learning opportunities to all veterinary students through classroom group emails and directly to faculty teaching in these emphasis areas. We followed up and worked with students interested in food/farm animal medicine, foreign animal diseases, and food safety and zoonoses. These priority areas, emphasized in our proposal, address current or projected shortages in veterinary professionals. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Experiential Learning: During this reporting period, the grant supported the experiential learning of students as follows: Four veterinary students--Aniyah Ragland, Kristian Hunt, Mary-Margaret Ollivierre, and Kamiiya Cargle--traveled to Chuka University College of Agriculture and Animal Sciences for an intensive 10-day visit to gain international experience in farm animal medicine and production. This visit was facilitated through a collaboration between Dr. Onesmus Nderi, a veterinarian at Chuka University, and the Office of Research and Advanced Studies at TUCVM. Dr. Nderi was a USDA African Faculty Exchange Program (AFEP) fellow at Tuskegee University in 2023, which helped establish a bilateral partnership and collaborative networking opportunities. The relationships and networking forged during Dr. Nderi's AFEP fellowship were crucial to the successful execution of this experiential learning opportunity, highlighting the broader benefits of face-to-face communication and training among international partners. During their visit, the students not only learned about several farm animal diseases that are not encountered in the U.S., but also practiced hands-on aspects of ruminant production and health management. Additionally, they explored the intersection of domestic and wildlife environments within the context of emerging and re-emerging diseases. One veterinarian graduate student Rejoice Nyarku was supported to obtain training on salmonella of poultry origin present her work and present her findings at a conference. Faculty Engagement: Drs. Asseged Dibaba, David McKenzie, Gemechu Wirtu, Temesgen Samuel and Woubit Abebe have continued their active involvement in the announcements, lectures, and instruction associated with this project. Dr Woubit Abebe and T. Samuel received training on GalaxyTrakr tool used to analyze food borne pathogen genomes. Furthermore, we engaged Dr. Bobwealth Omontese, a recently recruited large animal veterinarian at TUCVM, to enhance awareness of the farm animal experiential learning opportunities available through this USDA-funded project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The four veterinary students who traveled to Chuka University will share their experiential learning with a broader audience during the international session of the 59th TUCVM Annual Veterinary Symposium, scheduled for March 19-22, 2025, in Montgomery, AL. Their presentations will highlight key aspects of veterinary medicine, with a particular focus on farm animal medicine and husbandry, wildlife medicine, veterinary student training abroad, and their personal, cultural, and professional experiences. This session will provide valuable insights to attendees on the intersection of international veterinary practices and the broader global context. R. Nyarku W. Abebe and T. Samuel presented their findings and received further training at the IAFP 2024 international conference. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will request approval for a 1-year No Cost Extension (NCE) of the grant until April 30, 2026. During the NCE period, we plan to achieve the following objectives: With the course VMED 872 now permanently available in the Spring Semester each year, we aim to integrate an experiential learning opportunity for students particularly interested in Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases. This could involve visits to state or national veterinary diagnostic laboratories, or wildlife/zoo veterinary facilities. Based on prior experience, we anticipate continued strong student interest in the course, and we will maintain updates and offerings to both veterinary and graduate students. Given the high demand for experiential learning opportunities in the past cycles, we plan to offer 3 students one international opportunity in Summer or Fall 2025, lasting 2-3 weeks, to accommodate more students interested in gaining hands-on experience. We will support up to four additional students in participating in local summer research experiences, externships, or practicums focused on food/farm animal medicine, zoonoses, emerging diseases, or related topics. This approach will ensure continued progress towards the project's goals and expand opportunities for students in critical areas of veterinary medicine.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The goals of our project at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) continue to align with the mission of the college by training graduates who will play vital roles in: 1) responding to emerging zoonoses and food safety challenges, 2) contributing to national and international organizations that regulate the global trade of animals and animal products, and 3) addressing the urgent need for food animal veterinarians in various sectors. With the specific aim of enhancing the global competence of veterinary students at TUCVM, the only historically Black College and University (HBCU) with a College of Veterinary Medicine, we remain committed to increasing awareness and participation among the next generation of veterinarians and animal health professionals. The growing threat of emerging zoonotic infections and the critical need for more veterinarians in food and farm animal medicine are key to securing U.S. national interests. To advance these objectives, we have accomplished the following during the reporting period: Elective Course 'VMED 0872: Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases': In 2024-2025, we continued offering this elective course to both veterinary and graduate students interested in these critical topics. The course remains popular, with active participation from both faculty and students. Current concerns, such as the emergence of high-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and the risks of African Swine Fever, are among the topics addressed in the curriculum, reflecting the U.S.'s heightened awareness of these issues. Experiential Learning at Chuka University, Kenya: Four veterinary students participated in an experiential learning opportunity focused on foreign animal diseases and farm animal medicine by traveling to Chuka University in Kenya. In collaboration with veterinarians from the host university and surrounding institutions, students gained valuable exposure to international veterinary practices and management strategies. Support for the TUCVM Center for Farm Animal Health, Food Safety, and Defense: We continued to support the TUCVM Center, led by Dr. Woubit Abebe, in its research and training on the mechanisms behind supershedding of Salmonella and E. coli in cattle. Furthermore, we worked with industry partners to deploy rapid detection methods for foodborne pathogens in poultry, resulting in the successful submission and award of an academia-industry collaborative grant.
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Progress 05/01/23 to 04/30/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience in this reporting period included veterinary and graduate students in the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), as well as faculty whose teaching, research and service activities includes food animal medicine, emerging and re-emerging diseases, and zoonoses. The opportunities in this project were made available to all veterinary students. After that, those students who have shown interest in food/large animal medicine, foreign animal diseases, or food safety and zoonoses were directly contacted or served. These emphasis areas were those where shortage of veterinarians exists or is expected. As we stated previously, we continued to reach out to expand the audience pool including TUCVM faculty. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Experiential Learning: During this reporting period,this grant has supported the experiential learning of students as follows: Three veterinary students, Jennifer Maharath, Aliyah Thompson, and Whitney Shivers travelled to Addis Ababa University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ethiopia for 3 weeks to gain international farm animal medicine and production experience. This visit was facilitated and coordinated by Dr Alemayehu Lemma, one of the faculty members in Ethiopia, who was in TUCVM on a Fulbright scholarship for 1 year in 2022-2023. The networking opportunity with us during his stay here was instrumental to a successful execution of the learning opportunity. Besides learning about several farm animal diseases not encountered in the US, students were able to practice hands-on certain aspects of dairy cattle production, reproductive health management, laboratory diagnostics, and local institute for biologics production. Faculty Engagement:Dr Asseged Dibaba, an epidemiology faculty at TUCVM,and course faculty for Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign animal Diseases, was supported to attend a conference pertinent to his professional development. The 2023 Annual Meeting of the society for Risk Analysis (SRA) was held from December 10-14, 2023, in Washington DC. As the faculty teaching the risk analysis and regulations portion of the VMED courses, this conference was beneficial to the professional preparation of Dr Dibaba. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Upon return from their travel to Ethiopia, the three students shared their experiential learning opportunity, including their personal, cultural, and professional experiences with a wider audience at the International session of the 58th TUCVM Annual Veterinary Symposium held in Montgomery AL, from March 20-23, 2024. Their presentations covered several aspects of veterinary medicine, abattoir experience, animal infections and control, animal welfare, student training, farm animal production and husbandry, international engagement in veterinary medicine, and specific observations on veterinary medicine in resource limited environment. At the same annual veterinary symposium, Dr Dibaba also presented on SPS and Risk Analysis. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We have requested and received the approval for a 1-year No Cost Extension (NCE) of the grant till 04/30/2025. During the NCE period, we plan to accomplish the following goals: 1. We aim to make VMED 872 elective course permanently available for any student interested in Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases. From our experience in the past 2 years, we anticipate that new students will register for this course during the upcoming year, too. We will teach this course again to the new cohort. 2. Our next plan is to send two more students to India, for a period of up to 4 weeks. We already have a faculty network that was established through Dr Gopal Reddy, retired TUCVM faculty and former Associate Dean, to facilitate the domestic Indian logistics. 3. We will support up to four additional student participation in either of summer research experience, student externship, or practicum in food/farm animal medicine, zoonoses, emerging diseases, or related topics. 4. We plan to fully implement faculty professional development by supporting the travel and participation of two faculty who are teaching the VMED 872 course or Farm/food animal medicine course in the upcoming CRWAD 2024 - January 19-23, 2024 - Chicago, IL.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
TUCVM continues to aspire to strengthen capacity to train students to be day 1-ready veterinarians that will play crucial roles in: 1) responding to emerging zoonoses, 2) national or international standard setting organizations that regulate global trade of animals and animal products, and 3) all sectors where food animal veterinarians are urgently needed. This project was designed to enhance the global competence of veterinary students at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), the only HBCU with a College of Veterinary Medicine. Therefore, our aim was to increase awareness and participation among the new generation of veterinarians and animal health professionals to address the growing threat of emerging zoonotic infections, and the need to get more veterinarians involved in the food/farm animal medicine. Accordingly, In 2023-2024, we continued to offer the elective course 'VMED 872 Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases' to both veterinary and graduate students interested in these topics. During this reporting period, we have provided professional development opportunities for one faculty member to better prepare them to teach the course and mentor targeted students. We have also supported the experiential learning of three veterinary students by enabling them travel to Addis Ababa University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ethiopia. Supportedthe TUCVM Center for Farm Animal Health, Food Safety and Defense (led by Dr Woubit Abebe) in its effort to establish the mechanisms behind supershedding of Salmonella and E. coli in cattle.
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Progress 05/01/22 to 04/30/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience in this project is veterinary students in the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM). While the opportunities described in the project were available to all students, more specifically, those students who have shown interest in food/large animal medicine, foreign animal diseases, or food safety and zoonoses were directly contacted or served. These are areas we identified where shortage of veterinarians exists or is expected. The options to support the professional development for more students to pursue these areas are still open and we will continue to reach out to expand the audience pool. Faculty teaching in these subject areas are also included as target audience, as some support for them to attend professional development events is included in the project. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Experiential Learning: During this reporting period,1) Two interdisciplinary pathobiology veterinary graduate students working inthe TU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Center for Food Animal Health, Food Safety and Food Defense (CFAFSD) were provided support for them to gain experiential learning at institutions outside of Tuskegee University. Student Kingsley Bentum travelled to University of Virginia North Fork Discovery Park to learn about the bioinformatics of bacterial genome sequencing.The CFAFSD is currently studying the existence of antimicrobial resistance genetic elements in zoonotic bacterial isolates from Alabama farms. 2) Two veterinary students, Andreya Bryson and Shakara McGirt travelled to Suez Canal University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Egypt for one week to gain international farm animal experience.3) Student Yesutor Soku was sent to Pennsylvania State University to learn about the genetic analysis of bacteria isolated from farmed fish. Faculty Engagement:Dr Temesgen Samuel and staff from the TUCVM CFAFSD travelled to the USDA ARS laboratories in Athens, GA, to visit the bacteriology, and virology facilities, and to build collaborations with ARS researchers. Dr Woubit Abebe, director of the CFAFSD, planned to visit the laboratories, but could not make it at the time. Nevertheless,she still collaborates withfood safety researchers there. Dr David Suarez, a virologist at the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL), who hasbeenassisting withteaching virology toveterinary students at TUCVM, will be hosting a veterinarystudent inhis lab in the summer of 2023. As proposed, Dr Asseged Dibaba, an epidemiology faculty at TUCVM,and course faculty for Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign animal Diseases, is currentlyexploring professional development opportunities that will enhance teaching and research in farm animal health, zoonoses, and emerging diseases.? How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?1. We made the course "VMED 872 Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases" available in the University Course Catalog for both Fall and Spring Semesters. Therefore, it is possible that some new students will register for this course during the upcoming Spring semester. We will teach this course again to the new cohort. 2. Two students travelled to Egypt in Spring 2023 for an international experience with food animal medicine. Our next plan is to send two more students to either Egypt or another country (India, Ethiopia) for a period of up to 4 weeks. Depending on the country readiness, we anticipate sending the students during the next reporting period. 3. We will support up to four additional student participation in either of summer research experience, student externship, or practicum in food/farm animal medicine, zoonoses, emerging diseases, or related topics. 4. We plan to fully implement faculty professional development by supporting the travel and participation of two faculty who are teaching the VMED 872 course or Farm/food animal medicine course in the upcoming CRWAD 2024 - January 19-23, 2024 - Chicago, IL.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
This project was designed to enhance the global competence of veterinary students at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), the only HBCU with a College of Veterinary Medicine. Recent emerging and re-emerging zoonoses have highlighted the need for the US and global health communities to be aware of and be prepared for massive health crises. This proposal addresses the need for new generation of veterinarians trained to address the growing threat of emerging zoonotic infections. It also addresses the shortage of food animal veterinarians in public, private, industrial and academic sectors, which will worsen unless new strategies are implemented. There is a critical need for veterinarians that can contribute to the harmonization of rules and advice clients on global trade of animals and animal products for prevention and control of trans-boundary animal infections. TUCVM aspires to strengthen capacity to train students to be day1 -ready veterinarians that will play crucial roles in: 1) responding to emerging zoonoses, 2) national or international standard setting organizations that regulate global trade of animals and animal products, and 3) all sectors where food animal veterinarians are urgently needed. To these ends, we proposed to create a new course on "Emerging Zoonoses" and to provide externships at collaborating USDA and foreign institutions. We also proposed professional development opportunities for faculty members to better prepare them to teach the course and mentor targeted students. Under these broad aims, we proposed to develop a course specifically addressing Zoonoses and Emerging Diseases while in parallel providing students in the College of Veterinary Medicine with opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge in food animal medicine. Additionally, we planned for faculty to benefit from professional development activities through visits, networking, communications, and conferences. Accordingly, we have developed and offered the proposed course to students in the College; we have enabled the experiential learning of several students interested or working in areas of food animal medicine and health as well as zoonoses; and opened up professional development opportunities for faculty teaching related courses. Specifics of these accomplishments are given below. Course Development: To enable a timely start and ease of course administration, an existingelective course "Foreign Animal Diseases" was adopted as "VMED 872 Emerging Zoonoses and Foreign Animal Diseases' and is being currently offered. Such an adoption was much practical, because creation of an entirely new course would have taken a much longer time, since the process will involvefull Faculty Senate review and discussion, followed by the review and approval bythe Provost. Upon consultation, the Faculty Senate Academic Committee Chair agreed with the adoption of the new name. Subsequently, we revised and modified the existing course contents and created the course syllabus, for which no further full Senate review was needed. Through this strategy, the elective course was made available much sooner in the Course Catalogin SP 2023 Semester, for students to select and register. Currently, 4 TU CVM students (Constance Bennet, Rejoyce Nyarku, Nija Johnson, and Alessandria Aikerson-Russel) are registered and taking the course. Professional development opportunities are described in the section below.
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