About
VPHE Graduate Program Overview
The graduate program in Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology (VPHE) offers an MS (non-thesis or thesis option) and a departmental PhD (with an emphasis in epidemiology), which prepares students for leadership roles in epidemiological study design, evaluation, and professional research, in both animal and human populations. Completion of a dissertation is required for the PhD degree through this program. In addition, a thesis or non-thesis MS degree in Veterinary Public Health is offered with the approval of a program faculty advisor.
MS VPHE / DVM Combination Program
This combination program leads to the concurrent completion of the existing MS in VPHE and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees in four years. Graduates of the program are uniquely prepared to integrate knowledge from both the VPHE and veterinary medical disciplines and advance to careers in local, state, federal, and international public health agencies and academia.
Enrollment & Opportunities
The program enrolls approximately 10–20 graduate students each year. Admission to the VPHE program requires approval by the program, the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS), and the Texas A&M Graduate & Professional School.
Collaboration
The program offers numerous opportunities for student collaboration with faculty. Our program also has ongoing collaborative relationships with the Texas A&M Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD), the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the USDA Southern Plains Research Facility, and multiple departments throughout The Texas A&M University System.
Program Faculty
Faculty members in the Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology Program (VPHE) actively study the frequency, distribution, and control of diseases in animal and human populations. To accomplish these objectives, epidemiologists draw upon their expertise in medicine, biology, biostatistics/biomathematics, and social sciences.
Areas of research include:
- zoonotic diseases,
- surveillance of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases,
- international veterinary medicine and public health,
- food safety,
- biodefense, and the ecology and
- molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance.
Affiliated Faculty and Staff
Kristina Agan
Program Coordinator I
Christine Budke
Department Head, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Sarah Hamer
Professor
Director, Schubot Center for Avian Health; & Schubot Endowed Chair in Avian Health
Gizem Levent
Assistant Professor
Martial Ndeffo
Assistant Professor
Keri Norman
Associate Professor
Awards & Recognition
Texas A&M Celebrates Its First Cohort Of Dual Veterinary Medicine, Public Health & Epidemiology Graduates
Story by Megan Bennett, VMBS Marketing & Communications
Graduating Texas A&M Student Pursues Passion For Science Through Veterinary Medicine, Public Health
Story by Courtney Price, VMBS Marketing & Communications
VMBS Recognizes 2024 Outstanding Alumni, Rising Stars
Story by VMBS Marketing & CommunicationsWe are thrilled to announce Ashley K. Rodriguez-Bishop, who earned her MS VPHE degree in 2016, was recognized with a VMBS Rising Star Award at the May 2024 ceremony! This is the highest award given to college alumni. Ashley has served her community in her roles as Program Coordinator (2017-2019) and now Supervisor (2019-present) with the City of Bryan Animal Services. Ashley holds a very impactful city government position in which she oversees both the Bryan Animal Center (the public-facing shelter) and Bryan Animal Control. Over the years, Ashely has welcomed the opportunity to partner with TAMU VBMS to facilitate opportunities for students to learn about shelter management and collect samples from the animals to enable new projects. On a daily basis, Ashley puts into practice all the principles of herd health, public health, zoonotic disease control, and ethical management of animals that she learned in her MS training, and our program is proud to be one small part of Ashley’s excellence.
VPHE Contact Information
Dr. Christine M. Budke
VPHE Graduate Program Director, Department Head& Professor VPHE | VIBS | VMBS
