AI adoption in veterinary clinics rose from 39 percent to 84 percent in two yearsResting cortisol tracked APPLE scores but not mortality in 30 SIRS dogsFetch Pet Insurance bundles four annual telehealth visits into every policy at no added premiumPregabalin before spay raised sedation scores 2.46 points in 54 catsParasight System wins preferred-provider deal with 850-hospital independent practice networkVeterinary economist Matt Salois says practices cannot rely on pricing growth into 2027WSAVA publishes updated dental guidelines with trauma and radiographic sectionsDechra launches Laverdia, the first FDA-approved oral treatment for canine lymphomaAI adoption in veterinary clinics rose from 39 percent to 84 percent in two yearsResting cortisol tracked APPLE scores but not mortality in 30 SIRS dogsFetch Pet Insurance bundles four annual telehealth visits into every policy at no added premiumPregabalin before spay raised sedation scores 2.46 points in 54 catsParasight System wins preferred-provider deal with 850-hospital independent practice networkVeterinary economist Matt Salois says practices cannot rely on pricing growth into 2027WSAVA publishes updated dental guidelines with trauma and radiographic sectionsDechra launches Laverdia, the first FDA-approved oral treatment for canine lymphoma
The Exam RoomBy The VeterinaryPracticeNow Desk3 min readSeptember 9, 2026
NC State guarantees vet school seats to undergrads who shadow equine practitioners for 10 weeks
The program, created in 2024, addresses a documented shortage: fewer than 4% of veterinary students nationwide choose equine medicine.
NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine created the Equine Scholars Program in 2024 in partnership with NC A&T State University and the University of Mount Olive. The program guarantees DVM class seats to undergraduates who meet admissions criteria and are chosen through a competitive committee selection process.
What NC State built
Six students from the first cohort entered NC State's Class of 2030 this fall: Nasya Burgess from NC A&T, Ana Church from the now-closed St. Andrews University, and according to NC State, "Lexa McDermott, Austen Stinson-Miller, Kathryn Healy and Gracie Towles" from NC State. "The second cohort of six scholars and two alternates" spent the summer in field placements and are anticipated to enter the Class of 2031, the college said.
According to Dr. Katie Sheats, associate dean and director of Professional Education and Admissions, "the number of interested students who were accepted varied from year to year" before the program. The program tries "to ensure that some students in every DVM class have guaranteed interest in equine veterinary medicine," she said.
The program is modeled after NC State's Food Animal Scholars initiative. Students are paired with mentors at their undergraduate schools, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, and in private practice.
The shortage this addresses
Fewer than 4% of veterinary students nationwide choose equine medicine. The equine industry has "a $3.4 billion impact on North Carolina's economy, according to the NC Horse Council," NC State reported.
The program guarantees seats to equine-interested students who meet admissions criteria and are chosen through a competitive committee selection process, according to the college. "We are really hopeful that the Equine Scholars Program will help to address the need for equine primary care veterinarians in North Carolina," Sheats said.
Peters, from Raleigh, North Carolina, completed her second internship at Peterson in Florida. "I learned more about myself and my aspirations in the veterinary field in the past two summers than ever before," she said. "Through my summer experience, I had the opportunity to work hands-on in major thoroughbred operations, which continued to spark my passion for equine sports medicine and orthopedics."
Hilary Burns, from Glens Falls, New York, also interned at Peterson in Florida. "Every member of the team, both veterinarians and other staff, took time to teach and showed a genuine interest in taking time for us to learn," she said. "I had opportunities to help with embryo flushes and transfers, breeding mares, observing follicle aspirations and so much more."
Other summer placements included Neuse River Equine Hospital in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and Peterson Smith Equine Hospital - Advanced Fertility Center. The scholars present their summer experiences at the College of Veterinary Medicine on September 30.
What this changes for equine practices
The program guarantees seats to students who are chosen through the competitive selection process, and the two alternates can still enter through the normal application route.
Sheats said the number of equine-interested students admitted varied from year to year before the program. The program is working to increase the numbers of students choosing equine medicine, according to NC State.
The pipeline model NC State is running
NC State also runs "the Randall B. Terry Jr. Rural Veterinary Scholars Program," which supported seven DVM students in rural practice internships this summer, the college said. The college now has the Food Animal Scholars initiative, the Equine Scholars Program, and the rural veterinary scholars program.
The application period for the Class of 2027 cohort opens November 1.
Get the next issue in your inbox. Free, weekly, no fluff.
