Three CSU Veterinary Students Awarded PetSmart Charities Fellowship

Mateo Mendez emphasized the importance of community support in their journey, stating, "Many of the opportunities and successes I’ve had would not have been possible without the support of my own community. That support has given me a strong sense of responsibility to give back in a meaningful way and help ensure people can maintain the bond they have with their animals regardless of their background or financial circumstances." Mendez looks forward to collaborating with fellow students to improve access to veterinary care and enhance the sustainability of community-focused programs.

Lupita Rodriguez from Riverbank, California, will build on her current initiatives through FETCH (Fostering Education Through Community Health), a student-run effort that offers veterinary care and education via community pop-up clinics. She noted, "Each clinic has shown me that improving access to care is more than simply providing a service. It’s about understanding the barriers people face and creating an environment where communities feel supported and their needs respected." Rodriguez aspires to establish a nonprofit community veterinary clinic in her hometown to offer affordable primary and urgent care services.

Sage Farrow from Golden, Colorado, was inspired to pursue community medicine due to her experiences growing up in a family with financial challenges related to pet care. "Growing up, my pets were my main support system, but we often struggled to afford and access the care they needed," Farrow said. "Those experiences shaped my passion for supporting families facing similar challenges and inspired me to pursue a career focused on accessible, community-centered veterinary medicine. I believe that veterinary medicine should be adaptable to the needs and circumstances of each individual and community, to keep the human-animal bond accessible to all." Through various volunteer and clinical experiences, she has witnessed the impact of accessible veterinary care on both people and animals, and the fellowship reinforces her belief in community medicine as a viable career path.