For centuries, diseases like avian flu and salmonella have destroyed food supplies. Now, students are studying to forecast and contain diseases with the Food Systems Fellowship Program at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Food Systems Fellowship Program is designed for students with a career focus in the food industry, which includes public policy and animal health. It also includes public health, agribusiness, pharmaceutical medicine, and regulatory veterinary medicine.

As a sponsor of the Food Systems Fellowship Program, the Merck Animal Health awarded scholarships to three students in the program. Recipients were Heather Roney, Carrie Szybisty, and Christina Fenske.

The students were assigned to work for different organizations and corporations all over the country. For example, Roney worked on the US Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which gave her the opportunity to work on the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013, often referred to as the Farm Bill. As the only veterinary student on the committee staff, her primary role was to consult on scientific issues in the bill, which sets federal rules and regulations on food and agriculture.

"For me, this fellowship was a life-changing opportunity that has inspired me to find other ways to get involved and advocate for the needs of the agricultural community," said Roney.

Christina Fenske, a second-year veterinary student, was matched with Michigan Milk Producers Association. Her project focused on protocols to reduce the risk of mastitis, an inflammation reaction of the udder tissue in cows that is the single biggest cause of antibiotic use in the dairy industry.

"I had no large animal experience going in, and I believe it will make me a better veterinarian," said Fenske. "I learned a tremendous amount about the dairy industry, and this experience definitely made me a more knowledgeable consumer."

Another student, Carrie Szybisty, was matched with the world's largest producer of medicine and vaccinations for pets and livestock, Pfizer/Zoetis. She learned about the time, work and money that are put into the research and development of pharmaceutical products.

"When I reach to grab a drug off the shelf, I'll know a lot more of the meaning behind the label and will be able to connect to the client more when I use a product," said Szybisty.

Szybisty was based in a biosafety level 2 building, which meant she had to be trained in handling pathogenic agents.

"The measures taken to maintain sero-negative status, to ensure proper animal care and welfare, and to protect human health were way beyond what I expected," Szybisty said. "I was required to shower in and shower out, and extensive personal protective equipment was required. While my skin may not have enjoyed taking an average of 6 showers per day, it was a necessary part of the research process that kept everything separate to ensure nothing was transmitted between animals and humans."

Students in the program gain real-world experience from working with companies. These experiences often provide the basis of an enriching career.

"Veterinarians are integral to ensuring a wholesome and safe global food supply," said Dr. Dan Grooms, professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine. "New infectious diseases are emerging, there are increasing threats of exotic pathogens, expanding problems with food safety and security, and decreasing profit margins that all contribute to new realties and challenges. Our mission is to train a generation of students that will face these profound changes."

Partners in the 2013 FSF program included Antel BioSystems, Inc., India FSF, Merck Animal Health, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Animal Industry Division, Michigan Milk Producers Association, the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the National Pork Board, Neogen Inc., and Zoetis/Pfizer Animal Health.

September 2014