Field research: Meridian veterinary students find the trip to Uganda inspiring local news

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A group of DVM students from Mississippi State University poses while observing a group of mountain gorillas in Uganda on a recent study abroad trip. The picture shows Madison Rawdon, Kiera Reardon, Ashley Beyer and Meridian native Walker Hyche.
The MSU student team took a group photo with students from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Back row: Jai Frontera, Braiam Rosado, Madison Rawdon, Nicole Franks, Lauren Bowles, Walker Hyche; front row: Kiera Reardon, Ashley Beyer, Katie Wright.
Meridian native Walker Hyche is a third-year DVM student at the Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He took a photo of an elephant during a recent study trip to Uganda. Hyche participated in the MSU study abroad course Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Africa and One Health in Uganda.
A group of DVM students from Mississippi State University poses while observing a group of mountain gorillas in Uganda on a recent study abroad trip. The picture shows Madison Rawdon, Kiera Reardon, Ashley Beyer and Meridian native Walker Hyche.
For some college students, classrooms extend far beyond the walls of buildings or campus boundaries.
Although many study abroad programs were shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year, many programs have been restored this year.
Walker Hyche, the son of Dwight and Laura Hyche of Meridian, entered the Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine in May for the third year of his PhD program in veterinary medicine.
His studies include a trip to Africa “Global Class”, where he completed Uganda tropical veterinary medicine and One Health courses.
According to the project description on the website of the Mississippi State Study Abroad Office, the project was jointly organized with Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, “focusing on One Health, international animal production and health management, disease surveillance, public health systems, food safety and security And multi-national cultural contacts.”
Meridian native Walker Hyche is a third-year DVM student at the Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine. He took a photo of an elephant during a recent study trip to Uganda. Hyche participated in the MSU study abroad course Tropical Veterinary Medicine in Africa and One Health in Uganda.
Hyche said this trip is usually suitable for veterinary and undergraduate students who transition from the first year to the second year. However, due to the suspension of the trip last year due to the pandemic, Hyche was able to participate in the trip this year as a third-year student.
His team departed on June 3 and returned on July 3, and included three undergraduates, four second-year veterinary students, and two faculty and staff.
Hyche explained that his team was able to interact with veterinary students at Makerere University to better understand the challenges faced by veterinarians in other countries.
“We really learned the same thing,” he said, adding, “but, for various reasons, some diseases are more important there than here. It’s really interesting to see what is wrong with them and try to control them. .”
“We were exposed to local livestock, such as cattle and goats, and we also did a lot of work on their fish production system,” Hyche said.
They also spent time assisting the local zoo with health checks and visited four national parks to learn about disease surveillance practices and protection measures.
Hyche said that one of his favorite trips was a trip he and three other students took to one of the national parks to watch mountain gorillas.
“We hiked into the jungle and observed a gorilla family for about an hour,” he said. “We may be about 20 feet away from them. This is a crazy experience.”
Hyche said that when he left Africa, he was more grateful for his chosen career, his home veterinary practice, and the Mississippi veterinary college.
“It allowed me to see how much we have here and how great our veterinary clinic is here,” he said. Hyche went on to add: “It really makes me grateful to Mississippi State University and all the top-notch facilities and faculty we have. It is a great experience to see how things work in different countries and how great we are here. .”
The MSU student team took a group photo with students from the School of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Back row: Jai Frontera, Braiam Rosado, Madison Rawdon, Nicole Franks, Lauren Bowles, Walker Hyche; front row: Kiera Reardon, Ashley Beyer, Katie Wright.
Hyche began his first year of clinical education on July 26, starting with the community veterinary services rotation, which included a six-week rotation at the small animal clinic of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“I am very grateful to the Mississippi Veterinary College for this opportunity,” Hyche said of his journey. “This is a great trip.”
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