Welcome Class of 2030!

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed 155 students of the Class of 2030 in the annual White Coat ceremony on Friday, August 21.

Dean Mark Stetter welcomed the incoming class, remarking on the journey they will now undertake from students to doctors to leaders. The students come to Davis from around the globe, including India, South Korea, Taiwan, and across the U.S. from New York to California. Among the students, there are four sets of twins—with one of the siblings in medical school. 

The average age of incoming students is 24 with an age range of 20-42. They come from a variety of backgrounds such as figure skater, rodeo queen, bagpipe player, ballerina, baker, fashion designer, beekeeper and ice cream specialist (from goat’s milk).

“Remember this white coat as a symbol of trust and credibility,” Stetter said. “It represents care, compassion and knowledge…and endless possibilities for your career. The opportunity to make a difference as a veterinarian has never been broader.”

Stetter then introduced the alumni guest speaker, Dr. Jovanna Radillo ‘12, who currently serves as blendVET Foundation president.

Radillo recalled that in her incoming class, she was only one of two students of Latino descent, which sometimes made her question if she was in the right place and on the right path. She had four main messages to share with the new class.

--You deserve to be here. Every unconventional path you have ever taken has brought you here.

--Remember where you came from.

--Be you. Stop comparing yourself to others.

--Your current plan may not be where you end up…and that’s ok.

“Be curious and say yes to experiences that change you,” she said. “Welcome to the first step in this profession; we’re so glad to have you here.”

SAVMA President Arely Navarro, Class of 2028, provided remarks as well, and encouraged the students to connect with the network of more than 20,000 veterinary students worldwide.

Dr. Karl Jandrey, associate dean of Admissions, then took the stage to offer a few words of encouragement and introduce each new student. As they filed across the stage to receive their white coats, Jandrey read off fun facts about each person, including: For the third year in a row, more than 50% of the incoming class are first generation college students.

The event concluded with Navarro leading the new class in reciting the veterinary medicine student’s oath and closing remarks by Dr. Jodi Woods, president-elect of the California Veterinary Medical Association.

“Some of the most important things you will learn in the next four years won’t come from a lecture, but from the people you are sitting next to,” Woods said. “Your classmates will become your colleagues. This is a profession that you can’t practice alone, it’s built on relationships. Don’t just go to classes—be active, get involved. Every experience will teach you something and some of the most valuable things you learn will have nothing to do with medicine.”