Building South Dakota’s next generation of rural veterinarians
South Dakota State University’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine and the South Dakota Veterinary Medicine Association are working together to encourage and support students who want to build their careers in rural South Dakota.
Their shared goal is simple and urgent: Strengthen the veterinary workforce that keeps South Dakota’s livestock, communities and agricultural economy thriving.
The Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine offers multidisciplinary veterinary education through a cooperative agreement between SDSU and the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Students admitted to the program spend the first two years of their veterinary education at SDSU in Brookings and then transfer to Minnesota for the final two years. The first cohort of students was welcomed in 2021, and since then the state association and its members have been there with support.
“The South Dakota Veterinary Medicine Association has been a strong and valued supporter of SDSU's program, actively helping students build early connections to the veterinary profession and the broader agricultural community in South Dakota” said Lisa Lunn, Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine director and associate dean for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.
The state association is a network of South Dakota veterinarians whose mission is to promote and advance the science and profession of veterinary medicine in South Dakota. SDSU students receive free association membership, allowing them to participate in professional activities and begin building relationships within the state’s veterinary network.
State association members serve as invaluable resources to students through mentorship and local collaborative educational opportunities. The association also helps organize and invite students to attend the annual Ag Fest event in Pierre to gain exposure to state government and agricultural policy.
“The SDSU Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine provides a valuable asset to South Dakota’s producers, pet owners and veterinarians,” said Broc Mauch, state association president and associate veterinarian at Oahe Veterinary Clinic. “They are the next generation that will work alongside the veterinarians that are helping with the program today. The association looks forward to continuing to find ways to help the next generation of veterinarians in the program flourish.”
Beyond the networking opportunities and experiences, the state association gifts each incoming student a set of surgical instruments, enabling hands-on practice to further strengthen clinical learning, and a ceremonial blue jacket, celebrating the beginning of their veterinary journey. Through the generosity of local veterinarians, each student is presented a blue Carhartt jacket symbolizing the program’s commitment to agriculture, livestock production and rural veterinary medicine.
“A key tradition that reflects this strong connection is the Blue Coat Ceremony,” Lunn said. “During the ceremony, the sponsoring veterinarian personally presents the jacket and helps the student put it on, creating a meaningful link between current practitioners and future colleagues.”
Many South Dakota Veterinary Medicine Association members provide externship and research opportunities to help students gain hands-on experience and scholarships to help ease financial burdens. Donations have also been made to the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, enabling the purchase of critical equipment, including ultrasound machines and simulators that allow students to safely practice medical procedures. Thanks to the support of the state association and its members, many alumni of the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine have entered livestock-focused practice or serve in rural veterinary communities.
