Katie Griffin, Ph.D. ’24, is crafting a career at the intersection of science and service, where discoveries in the lab can improve lives for horses through research implementation.

As part of the school’s prestigious Veterinary Scientist Training Program, she recently earned her Ph.D. in immunology and  will receive her DVM degree in the spring. With more than a decade of hands-on experience in large animal critical care to complement her laboratory experience, Griffin is committed to advancing equine health through regenerative medicine.

 Growing up in rural Mexico, Diego Roque Aguayo witnessed his family—and his larger community—struggle to access veterinary care for their pets, horses and livestock.

“People couldn’t afford care or travel to seek care for their animals,” he said. “Those experiences shaped my desire to become a veterinarian, so I could help other communities in need.”

 

 Growing up in Calexico—an agricultural Southern California town situated on the Mexican border—Kimberly Aguirre was familiar with the sight of cows and sheep, but never considered a career working with them. 

However, when she discovered the field of livestock health as an undergraduate at UC Davis, she knew she had found her path.