John Valdevieso from UPLB is the first Philippine representative in the prestigious global Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program

"Many people think that veterinary is all about clinical practice for companion animals, but little do they know that it concerns the food we eat and the public health in general. As my focus of study is child nutrition, I was engaged mainly in milk production. I spent most of my time in the commercial dairy farm where they had rotating porters. We would enroll 60 cows each time, and every cow will have 3 minutes milking time which is very efficient compared to the normal standard. This is the kind of technology I wish we could bring to our local farmers. I came from the province, so my upbringing was: go to school, find a job, then help your community. This experience opened my eyes to the many opportunities around the world, and helped me realize that I can help as many people if I expose myself to different ways of learning.” ~John Valdevieso, a 22-year-old BS Veterinary Studies Student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños

John Valdevieso is the first representative from the Philippines to partake in the prestigious Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. His advocacy is focused on food security and child nutrition.

Everyone wants to attend an Ivy League school. After all, it represents a high level of academic achievement, a drive for excellence, and a desire for the best in life.

However, given that it has the most selective schools in the world, with an average acceptance rate of only 3%, many people continue to dream of attending an Ivy League school.

John Valdevieso, a 22-year-old BS Veterinary Studies Student at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, does not share this belief. John participated in the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program, which lasted 12 weeks, at Cornell University in New York State. 

The program, founded in 1989 in the United States with the goal of exposing veterinary students in their fourth year of veterinary school to biomedical research and career opportunities in academia, government, and related industries, was expanded in 2023 as a pilot to include the Philippines and Japan in their country roster. In more than 30 years, the program has served over 5,000 students from North America, Europe, and Asia.

John is the first representative from the Philippines to participate in the prestigious program, and he brings his advocacy for food security and child nutrition with him. 

As part of the program, scholars conduct hypothesis research projects in collaboration with their assigned mentor and present them at the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium (NVSS). The NVSS is a premier annual scientific colloquium that highlights the research accomplishments of veterinary students completing summer research internships. Aside from poster presentations, the symposium features keynote speaker sessions on scientific and career topics. 

In addition to learning new skills, John was introduced to a world of new possibilities while attending Cornell University. 

Dr. Melvin Cassion, Customer Experience Lead for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, expressed his appreciation for the brand's first global scholar grant. 

"We're deeply honored to have brought one of our Iskolar ng Bayan to such a prestigious university like Cornell. As Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health continues to strengthen the practice of veterinary medicine in the country, we hope to bring more Filipino scholars abroad to expand their learning and introduce to us new and advanced technologies that will help develop the human and animal health correlation." ~Dr. Melvin Cassion, Customer Experience Lead for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines

Boehringer Veterinary Program Scholar, John Valdevieso from UP Los Banos meets with Dr. Sukje Sung, Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines.

This scholar program is just one of Boehringer Ingelheim's initiatives to help veterinarians improve access to veterinary care. Educational resource and training programs are held on a regular basis, including the recent 8th Companion Animals Technical Forum. In 2023, Boehringer Ingelheim Philippines also launched the Animal Health Hub, a free online learning portal designed to provide veterinarians with easy access to a variety of learning modules. 

To know more about Boehringer Ingelheim's The Veterinary Scholars Program, visit its official website: veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Boehringer Ingelheim 

Boehringer Ingelheim is a biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health. As one of the industry’s top investors in research and development, the company focuses on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend lives in areas of high unmet medical need. Independent since its foundation in 1885, Boehringer takes a long-term perspective, embedding sustainability along the entire value chain. More than 53,500 employees serve over 130 markets to build a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow. 

Boehringer Ingelheim - Animal Health business  

Boehringer Ingelheim provides innovation for preventing and treating diseases in animals. The company offers a wide range of vaccines, parasite-control products, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock to veterinarians, animal owners, farmers, and governments. As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim values that the health of humans and animals is deeply connected and strives to make a difference for people, animals, and society.  

Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.com