May 2025 Vet Candy Magazine Shines a Light on Veterinary Medicine's Rising Stars
This May, Vet Candy Magazine is proud to unveil one of our most inspiring issues yet—celebrating the future of veterinary medicine with our annual Rising Stars spotlight. These exceptional veterinary students aren’t just preparing for careers—they’re transforming the profession before they’ve even earned their DVMs.
Merck Animal Health to Invest $895 Million in Kansas Facility Expansion
Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK), announced a major investment of $895 million to expand its manufacturing and research operations in De Soto, Kansas. The move marks one of the largest capital investments in the region’s veterinary pharmaceutical sector.
Senators Push for Tax Relief to Boost Rural Vet Workforce Amid Idaho Shortage
With 16 Idaho counties facing a shortage of veterinarians, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) have reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act (S. 1163) — a bipartisan effort aimed at tackling the growing crisis in rural animal healthcare.
Bird Flu Surges as USDA Loses Hundreds of Veterinarians Amid Federal Staff Cuts
As the U.S. grapples with its longest bird flu outbreak in history, critical staff losses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are raising alarms about the country’s ability to respond to current and future animal disease threats.
‘Critter Fixers’ Celebrate Tuskegee University’s 2025 Veterinary Graduates
A new class of 65 doctors of veterinary medicine walked across the stage at Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM), cheered on by alumni and television stars Dr. Terrence Ferguson and Dr. Vernard Hodges of Critter Fixers: Country Vets. The ceremony marked the university’s 76th veterinary graduating class, further cementing Tuskegee’s role as a leading producer of Black veterinarians.
Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Appoints New Assistant Dean
Effective June 1, 2025, Leslie Martin has been appointed as the Assistant Dean for Administration at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine (PVM). Martin currently serves as the college’s Director of Financial Affairs and will step into this newly created leadership role to oversee administrative processes, financial operations, and strategic business initiatives.