Dr. Michael Mison, chief veterinary medical officer of the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH), recently presented at the 2025 6th International Forum of Directors of Veterinary Teaching Hospitals held in Beijing, China. The forum, hosted by China Agricultural University, brought together hospital directors and academic leaders from several international veterinary teaching hospitals to discuss strategy, operational models, and staffing/labor costs. 

Topics covered by leaders from top international institutions focused on collaborative, high-level veterinary education and clinical excellence.

Mison presented “From Investment to Impact: Effective Utilization of Advanced Medical Equipment,” which focused on the integration of major equipment investments into patient care, education, and workflow at the VMTH. He used case examples, images, and videos from fellow faculty members Drs. Marissa Ames, Boaz Arzi, Bill Culp, Adrien Dupanloup, Denis Drs. Marcellin-Little, and Mathieu Spriet – all some of the most respected clinicians in their fields. Through these contributions, Mison showcased the depth and innovation across Cardiology, Dentistry/Oral Surgery. Interventional Radiology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, and Imaging.

Institutions represented at the meeting included City University of Hong Kong, Kasetsart University (Thailand), Mahidol University (Thailand), the University of Zurich, and China Agricultural University. 

Dr. Lydia Yu, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2021, served as a host, moderator, and translator at the forum. She is currently a faculty member at China Agricultural University. 

“It was a meaningful ‘Davis proud’ moment to see a UC Davis alumna leading and contributing internationally,” said Mison.

Fun facts about veterinary medicine in China:

• There are approximately 100 veterinary schools in China (33 in the U.S.)
• In China, “universities” offer veterinary degrees through 5–6-year bachelor’s degree programs (similar to Europe and Australia), rather than a 4-year post-graduate doctoral program in the U.S. “Colleges” in China function more as vocational or trade-school programs.
• Livestock and horses are not allowed in large Chinese cities (like Beijing), due to biosecurity and space reasons. So, only companion/small animal veterinary medicine is practiced in large cities. Large (food) animal production and medicine is exclusively practiced in rural areas.
• Many Chinese veterinary hospitals possess the exact same technology and imaging equipment (MRI, CT scanner, etc.) as hospitals in the U.S.