Dr. Jared Lyzenga graduated from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in spring 2017. Lyzenga, who also earned his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at MSU, entered the veterinary medicine program in 2013 with a concentration in production animal medicine. During the 4 years it took him to earn his DVM, Lyzenga was awarded 10 scholarships. Each scholarship helped contribute to Lyzenga’s future, in which he would go on to fulfill his veterinary oath.

“The scholarships that I received during veterinary school greatly enhanced my growth and education as a student,” says Lyzenga. “They allowed me to attend various food animal conferences and externships in other states while becoming a well-rounded production medicine veterinarian.”

Lyzenga says the most valuable quality that his scholarships provided was the ease of his transition from student to veterinarian. Because of the recognition, opportunities, support, and overall preparedness Lyzenga received from his scholarships, he is now better able to care for the dairy cattle seen at Abbotsford Veterinary Clinic in Southwest British Colombia, Canada.

Abbotsford Veterinary Clinic is a progressive food animal practice that specializes in dairy cattle medicine. Lyzenga focuses on preventative medicine and routine health protocols at scheduled herd health visits. The practice also offers reproductive services, in-vitro fertilization, and general care for other food animals, such as sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens.

“The College provided me with a great education and prepared me well for private practice,” says Lyzenga. “I’m able to take what I learned at Michigan State and apply it in the real world to heal many types of animals.”

Lyzenga says his entire experience at MSU was pivotal in helping him discover and pursue his passion for food animal medicine. During his undergraduate years, he was an advanced division winner of the 2012 MSU Dairy Challenge and a 2013 silver medalist in the North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge from the American Dairy Science Association for outstanding scholastic and leadership achievements. As a DVM student, he was an active member of the College’s Food Animal Medicine Club and the Theriogenology Club.

Lyzenga’s experience extended beyond the classroom and into the field as an employee for the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, where he worked as an animal caretaker. Lyzenga also helped conduct feed efficiency research studies and participated in a study abroad program, Dairy Husbandry and Environmental Stewardship in the Netherlands and Belgium, in 2012. Additionally, he completed an internship with Zoetis and worked at Treirweiler Dairy, Inc.

“I took advantage of the many dairy-related opportunities offered to me,” says Lyzenga. “The College works hard to provide students with great learning opportunities, especially in regard to production medicine. Valuable, practical experiences are what set the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine apart from other schools.”