Want to get connected with and involved in UTIA international activities? The UTIA faculty and staff Ignite fund provides matching funds for faculty and staff to grow ongoing UTIA international projects and programs. This fund provides up to $1,000 to a faculty or staff member to support international travel to a location in which UTIA is developing or has ongoing projects and programs.

Ignite Funds Recipients

Dr. Ricardo Videla, Large Animal Clinical Associate Professor, UTCVM, received Smith Center Ignite Funding to travel to South America and develop a veterinary rotation course in northern Argentina. Videla presented at the International Camelid Conference held at the University of Jujuy and had multiple meetings with researchers and extension agents from the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA).
Videla selected the remote pastoralist community of Ambra Pampa in Jujuy for veterinary practicums. The clinical rotation will expose senior veterinary students to the challenges associated with practicing veterinary medicine in an under served, rural community in a foreign country. The students will be able to practice hands on skills in small and large animal species and help households reduce animal losses and improve productivity. Prior to visiting Argentina, students will be required to complete an online module introducing the culture of the community and the animal diseases that are more prevalent in the area. Dr. Videla and CVM colleague Dr. Martin-Jimenez also offer a Spanish course for veterinarians during the spring semester which all students will be encouraged to take.

