Rising Stars: Meet the Veterinary Students Who Are Changing Vet Med

Every generation of veterinary medicine has a moment when new voices step forward and change the conversation. Vet Candy's Rising Stars program exists to find those voices early — and make sure the profession knows their names.

These are the veterinary students, new graduates, and early-career DVMs who are already doing the work. They are researchers, advocates, innovators, and clinicians who chose this profession with intention and are building something worth paying attention to. We profile them not because they have arrived, but because they are on their way — and this community deserves to watch them get there.

Rising Stars is published annually by Vet Candy, the leading media platform for veterinary professionals, with over 50,000 members across the globe.

Emese Avdeyenkova Traded Combat Boots for a Stethoscope - and a Diaper Bag!
Vet Candy Vet Candy

Emese Avdeyenkova Traded Combat Boots for a Stethoscope - and a Diaper Bag!

There is a particular kind of courage it takes to walk away from a career you have already proven yourself in and start over as a first-year student. Emese Avdeyenkova has done exactly that, twice over, once when she traded a biology degree for an Army uniform, and again when she traded that uniform for a white coat. Now she is bringing all of it, the discipline, the humility, and the hard-won perspective, to Vet Candy Radio as one of the vet student hosts of Vet School After Dark.

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FAQ About Vet Candy Rising Stars

  • Vet Candy Rising Stars is an annual program that identifies and celebrates veterinary students and early-career DVMs who are already making an impact in the profession. Each year, Vet Candy profiles a select group of next-generation veterinary professionals — highlighting their stories, their clinical interests, and the work they are doing to move vet med forward.

  • Rising Stars features veterinary students, recent graduates, and early-career DVMs who demonstrate exceptional promise, leadership, or innovation in the field. Nominees can be in any specialty or practice area — what matters is the impact they are making and the trajectory they are on.

  • Honorees are selected by the Vet Candy editorial team based on nominations from the community, academic institutions, and professional networks.

    We look for candidates who exemplify what the next generation of veterinary medicine looks like — curious, driven, community-minded, and unafraid to do things differently.

  • Nominations for Rising Stars are accepted through our online form at myvetcandy.com/nominate

    You can nominate a classmate, colleague, student, or yourself. We want to hear about the veterinary professionals in your world who deserve a spotlight and tell us who they are and why they belong on this list.

  • Vet Candy Rising Stars is published annually every May. The 2026 class is featured now at myvetcandy.com/rising-stars.

    Nominations for the next class open later this year, follow Vet Candy on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know.

  • Vet Candy is the leading media and education platform for the next generation of veterinary professionals, founded by Dr. Jill López, DVM, MBA.

    With over 50,000 members, the number one veterinary podcast on Apple, and programs like NAVLE Warriors, Career Match for Dream Jobs, and Scrub Squad for first year vet students, Vet Candy is where the profession's future is already showing up.