VSU gathers national experts to rethink how future veterinarians are trained

In its ongoing work to reshape veterinary education in the Philippines, Visayas State University (VSU) opened its doors for the  workshop on Classroom and Clinical Teaching in Veterinary Medical Education. 

The four-day workshop brought together 22 veterinary faculty members and 14 fellows of the United States Department of Agriculture Faculty Exchange Program (USDA FEP) coming from 13 veterinary schools across the country. 

The training was a chance for VSU and the Philippines to take a hard look at how the country prepares future veterinarians, especially that the country faces more frequent outbreaks of animal diseases, growing concerns about food production, and and urgent need for better public health systems in rural areas. 

With support from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) and USDA FEP, the workshop created space for serious conversations between Filipino and American experts. 

Among the speakers were Dr. Mistly Bailey who focuses on curriculum assessment, Dr. India Lane who is a long-time educator and veterinarian, and Dr. Marcy Souza who works on expanding academic partnerships and learning opportunities. 

Also sharing her experience was Dr. Cynthia Rundina-Dela Cruz of Cavite State University, a senior faculty member who has mentored many veterinary educators in the country. 

The mix of lectures, breakout discussions, group work, and hands-on tasks helped participants rethink not just what they teach, but how they teach. 

They tackled practical questions: How do we balance textbook learning with clinical skills? How do we help students become not just knowledgeable but confident and responsive professionals? What can we adjust in the classroom today that will matter in a real barangay tomorrow? 

For VSU, this gathering marked a turning point in how the university supports rural communities that depend on healthy livestock for their livelihoods. It also added strength to the university’s role as a regional leader in veterinary training, especially in Eastern Visayas, where access to veterinary services is still limited. 

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education, and; SDG No. 17: Partnership for the Goals

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