John Valdevieso: First Philippine Representative in Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program

Everyone dreams of attending an Ivy League school, known for its high academic standards and excellence.

However, with an average acceptance rate of just 3%, this remains a distant aspiration for many.

For John Valdevieso, a 22-year-old BS Veterinary Studies student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, that dream became a reality. He participated in a 12-week program at Cornell University in New York State as part of the prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. Launched in 1989, this program exposes fourth-year veterinary students to biomedical research and career opportunities in academia and industry. In 2023, it expanded to include participants from the Philippines and Japan.

As the first representative from the Philippines, John brought his advocacy for food security and child nutrition to the program. "Many think veterinary medicine is solely about companion animals, but it also impacts the food we consume and public health," he explains. With a focus on child nutrition, John engaged in innovative milk production practices at a commercial dairy farm. "We enrolled 60 cows at a time, with an efficient three minutes per cow for milking. I hope to bring such technologies to local farmers."

During the program, scholars conduct hypothesis-driven research projects with mentors and present their findings at the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium (NVSS), a premier event showcasing veterinary research. John emphasized how this experience broadened his perspective: "Coming from a provincial background, I realized that exploring global opportunities allows me to help more people."

Dr. Melvin Cassion, Customer Experience Lead for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, praised the initiative: "We're honored to support our Iskolar ng Bayan at Cornell. We aim to bring more Filipino scholars abroad to enhance veterinary medicine in the country."

Boehringer Ingelheim's Veterinary Scholars Program is one of many initiatives aimed at improving access to veterinary care. The company also offers educational resources, such as the recently launched Animal Health Hub, a free online portal for veterinarians.

To learn more about the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, visit their official website: veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com.