Meet the Future of Vet Med: Vet Candy’s Rising Stars Who Are Redefining the Industry!

Written By Jill Lopez

The future of veterinary medicine is looking brighter than ever, and it’s in the hands of an exciting new generation of veterinarians who are already shaking things up! With workforce shortages, rising pet ownership, and the rapid pace of technological advancements, these students are stepping up to the challenge in ways that will forever change animal healthcare. From first-year dreamers to soon-to-graduate clinicians, the future is here—and it’s more innovative, bold, and passionate than ever before.

The Immediate Changemakers

Graduation may be on the horizon, but these rising stars are already making waves in the field. Casey Lavender(Mississippi State ‘25) is using his clinical year to redesign ER workflows as part of Chewy’s inaugural Veterinary Leaders Program, proving that new grads can bring fresh solutions right out of the gate.

Meanwhile, Ricardo Alvarez (Ross University ‘25) and Thomas Vega (Ross University ‘25) are bringing specialized skills to the table early in their careers. Alvarez’s exotic animal protocols are already being adopted by mentors, while Vega is using his platform, @TheFashionVet, to ignite a national conversation about professional identity in veterinary medicine. Talk about trendsetters!

The Disruptors

As clinical rotations approach, these students are preparing to disrupt the status quo and reshape veterinary education and practice. McKenna Ullsperger (Dublin ‘27) is studying abroad and documenting differences in herd health approaches. She is learning practices that could benefit U.S. vet med and sharing them with her peers back home.

Back in the U.S., Made Petrie (Oklahoma State) is connecting vet students with much-needed rural clinical experiences. She is addressing the gap that exists for food-animal vets and creating something better for future generations.

The Early Visionaries

First-year students like Jovanna Perez (Michigan State ‘28) and Alexis Hudson (Virginia-Maryland ‘28) are setting their sights on the future of veterinary care with bold ideas that may take years to fully come to life but are already making an impact. Perez’s innovative concept of an intergenerational adoption café for pets and Hudson’s groundbreaking feline pain management research are paving the way for the profession’s next big steps.

The Throughlines Redefining Vet Med

What unites these students across class years? It’s a shared commitment to redefining the future of vet med. Here are the key trends they’re all championing:

Specialization From Day One – Today’s vet students aren’t waiting to figure out what they want to specialize in—they’re diving into their niche immediately, whether it’s exotics, fashion vet med, or shelter reform.

Digital-First Mentality – Whether it’s Coco Yeung (UC Davis) educating on TikTok or Taylor Emery (Virginia-Maryland) live-streaming surgical procedures, these students are fluent in using technology to share knowledge and democratize education.

Systemic Problem-Solving – Students like Jalea Stevens (Virginia-Maryland) are taking on issues like burnout head-on, designing mental health interventions that complement their DVM coursework.

The Graduating Class That Will Never Stop Learning

Students may be finishing school, but they’re just starting the real work. Whether they’re graduating this spring or just starting their journey, one thing is crystal clear—the future of veterinary medicine is already here. And it’s filled with fresh ideas, unstoppable passion, and a relentless drive to change the game. Watch out world—these students are here to stay and make an impact, one stethoscope at a time.

The Vet Candy Rising Stars of Veterinary Medicine 2025

  • Jeremiah Pouncy, Cornell

  • Natalie Smith, Cornell

  • Juliana Navas Diaz, Tuskegee

  • Kyle Jorel, Tuskegee

  • Taylor Smallwood, Western

  • Ashley Oppermann, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • Taylor Emery, Virginia-Maryland

  • Coco Yeung, UC Davis

  • Ava Cabble, Cornell University

  • Josetta Adams, University of Pennsylvania

  • Aaryn L. DuBose, Tuskegee University

  • Vitória Kuzolitz, University of Georgia

  • Ricardo Alvarez, Ross University (EXO VET)

  • Thomas Vega, Ross University (THE FASHION VET)

  • Casey Lavender, Mississippi State

  • Jovanna Perez, Michigan State 2028

  • McKenna E Ullsperger, University College of Dublin Veterinary Medicine '27

  • Alexis Hudson, Virginia-Maryland, class of 2028

  • Isla Farrow, North Carolina Vet School

  • Amanda Mills, Purdue University

  • Jalea Stevens, Virginia-Maryland

  • Made Petrie, Oklahoma State

  • Khali Robinson, University of Arizona

  • Jessica Soanes, University of Lancaster

  • Amanda Lo McGregor, Western University

  • Laur Charleston, UCLan School of Veterinary Medicine

  • Millie Mullings, Ross Vet

Follow Vet Candy for more stories of rising stars in vet med! #FutureDVMs #VetMedRisingStars #TheNextGeneration

Jill Lopez
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