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College of Veterinary Medicine

About the Institute for Societal Health

Mission and Vision

The Institute for Societal Health in College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University was established in 2025 to strategically advance our leadership and reputation in filling societal One Health needs. The Institute is committed to developing, evaluating, and implementing innovative, sustainable, scalable models that address societal One Health needs in veterinary shortage areas through mutually beneficial, reciprocal, and scholarly university-community partnerships.

The Institute for Societal Health’s three main pillars are:

  • Increasing One-Health Science Literacy
  • Developing a Veterinary Workforce Prepared to Address One Health Challenges
  • Enhancing the Pipeline for One Health Veterinary Careers

Purdue Engaged College Program

As an active participant in Purdue's engaged college program, our first year goals for the center are:

  • The League of VetaHumanz will validate an embedded superhero model to deliver a new movement-based K-4 science curriculum to increase the physical health and One Health science literacy of children.
  • A model Global Engagement curriculum that produces veterinary students with communication, clinical, and collaborative skills, along with the practical experience needed to tackle global One Health challenges, will be evaluated. 
  • Our Vet Up! programming will serve as a model pipeline program for leveraging academic, industry, and private partnerships to prepare students to fill shortage areas in public health, food safety and security, and rural or other under-resourced communities.
  • Programs will be rigorously designed and evaluated through continued collaboration with the Evaluation and Learning Research Center.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine is proud to be Purdue’s first engaged college!

Leadership

Program leadership and decision-making will be shared, consistent with Purdue’s engagement protocol for scholarly community engagement.

Co-Directors

Sandra San Miguel DVM, PhD | Associate Dean for Engagement, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine | League of VetaHumanz, Principal Investigator | Dr. San Miguel serves as the Administrative/Corresponding Director for the Institute.

Addison Sheldon | Director, Global Engagement, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Darryl Ragland, DVM, PhD | Director, Purdue Veterinary Medicine Extension | Professor, Food Animal Production Medicine | Section Head, Production Medicine | Principal Investigator, Vet Up!

Lindley McDavid, PhD | Senior Evaluation and Research Associate, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, Purdue University College of Education

Erin Phillips, MA | Principal, Thomas Miller Elementary School, Lafayette School Corporation.

Team

Ann Bessenbacher | Senior Research Associate and Lead Data Scientist, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Wilella Burgess, MS | Director, Evaluation & Research Scholar, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Adrianne Fisch | Program Administrator for Training, Institute for Societal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

Paula A. Johnson, DVM, DACVECC | Clinical Associate Professor, Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care I Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care) I Vet Up!

Greg Louk, MS | Assistant Principal, Thomas Miller Elementary School, Lafayette School Corporation

Loran Carleton Parker, PhD | Principal Associate Director, Evaluation & Research Scholar, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Marisol Uribe | Program Administrator, Institute for Societal Health and Office of Engagement, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

Laura Warner | Senior Administrative Assistant, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, Purdue University College of Education

Matthew Winzeler | Program Administrator, Global Engagement, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

*Please see individual program pages for a full list of members, partners, and supporters.

Publications

McDavid L, San Miguel SF. Using a Positive Psychology Lens to Understand How Veterinary Medicine Learning Contexts Promote Student Thriving and Inhibit Frustration. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education (Advance Access, September 2, 2024).

San Miguel SF, McDavid L. League of VetaHumanz SuperPower Pack Program: Introducing Young People from Diverse Backgrounds to STEM Learning Activities and Veterinary Science Careers. Journal of STEM Outreach 2024;7(2):1–11. PMCID: PMC10906976.

Li W, McDavid L, San Miguel SF, Parker L. Examining Effects of a Multisite STEM Outreach Program: A Meta-analysis Approach. Journal of Youth Development 2021;16(4):166-182. PMCID: PMC8496882.

McDavid L, San Miguel SF. Using a community engagement program to promote veterinary medicine while helping veterinary students improve their communication skills and increase their cultural understanding and well-being. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2021;258(12):1322-1324. PMCID: PMC8515836.

Smith II, W and San Miguel SF. A global veterinary education program for North American veterinary students: A description of Purdue University best practice. J Vet Med Educ 2020;47(4):408-413.

San Miguel SF, McDavid L, Carleton Parker L, Simons M. Developing a scalable STEM career development program for elementary school-aged students. Journal of STEM Outreach. 2019;2:1-10. PMCID: PMC7204535.

San Miguel SF, Green H, Cipriani K, Carleton Parker L, Adedokun O.  Impact of a chapter book and collectible cards describing the lives of seven veterinarians on third-grade students’ career aspirations and expectations. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2016;249(5):501-506.

San Miguel SF, Wackerly AJ, Veatch JH, Ruhl JD, Mennonno AM.  Tips for providing P-12 students career day-type presentations about the veterinary profession. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2015; 246(6):616-620.

Shin S, Parker L, Adedokun O, Mennonno A, Wackerly A, San Miguel S. Changes in Elementary Student Perceptions of Science, Scientists and Science Careers after Participating in a Curricular Module on Health and Veterinary Science. School Science and Mathematics 2015;115(6):271-280.

San Miguel S, Burgess W, Cipriani Davis K, Reed D, Adedokun O. Impact of using a veterinary medicine activity book in the classroom on fifth and sixth grade students’ depictions of veterinarians. J Vet Med Educ 2013; 40(4):426-430.

San Miguel S, Carleton Parker L, Adedokun O, Burgess W, Cipriani Davis K, Blossom T, Schneider J, Mennonno A, Ruhl J, Veatch J, Wackerly A,  Shin S-Y, Ratliff T. Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses: K-12 programming for veterinary workforce development. J Vet Med Educ 2013; 40(4):419-425. PMID: 24052417 PMCID: PMC3837546

Amass SF.  Representations of the veterinary profession in nonfiction children’s books. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011; 238 (9):1126-1132.

Amass SF, Davis KS, Salisbury SK, Weisman JL.  Impact of Gender and Race/Ethnicity on Reasons for Pursuing a Career in Veterinary Medicine and Career Aspirations. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2011; 238 (11):1435-1440.

Gratitude

Much appreciation goes to our community, academic, and industry partners; federal agencies including support form NIH, NIGMS, SEPA and HHS HRSA HCOP; and those providing gifts that support the Institute’s programs. These initiatives and their impacts would not be possible without your generosity and support.

If you wish to contribute, please email ish@purdue.edu.