Published: 18 Sep 2023 | Last Updated: 18 Sep 2023 09:52:06

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) hosted the 2023 UK Fulbright Scholars induction at its Camden Campus and is set to welcome a Colorado scholar to the institution.

The Fulbright Commission runs the Fulbright Scholars scheme which supports education exchange between talented people of all backgrounds between the UK and the USA. This enables study, teaching and research at some of the world’s most exciting universities through scholarships, advice, coaching and experiential learning.

This year, the RVC hosted the 2023 UK Fulbright Scholars induction at its Camden Campus. The important event was for all 46 scholarship holders who are from the USA and coming to the UK to study at 40 of the UK’s Higher Education Institutions alongside eight Fulbright staff.

Throughout the week, scholars experienced all the RVC and London had to offer whilst being inducted into the programme. This included a welcome speech from the RVC’s President and Principal, Professor Stuart Reid CBE, a tour of the institution’s anatomy museum and a pub quiz.

The 2023 cohort of scholars includes Aiden Winters who will be studying One Health at the RVC. Aiden studied for his undergraduate degree at North Carolina State University and worked as an ORISE Fellow at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studying tick-borne diseases and tick ecology.

Speaking on his choice to study One Health at the RVC, Aiden said the institution appealed to him because of its diversity and expertise as well as its location. The One Health approach recognises the relationship between health and disease at the human, animal and environment interfaces and has become an important focus in both medical and veterinary science. It promotes a “whole of society” treatment of health hazards and a systemic change of perspective in the management of risk which is paramount to the RVC’s outlook and research.

During his time on the course, Aiden will develop a comprehensive foundation on the principles of diseases in the context of socio-ecological systems, global health and food safety. Additionally, he will develop knowledge about One Health methodologies, transdisciplinary interactions and using a systems approach.

Aiden Winters, Fulbright Scholar at the RVC, said:

“When I was awarded the Fulbright Scholarship, it was a very exciting moment for me and my family. As a first-generation college student, it was a very big deal to be able to participate in a prestigious program like this.

“The reason the RVC appealed to me is because there's a very diverse group of people here and when you're studying vector-borne diseases, you need to have lots of different perspectives from different backgrounds within multiple fields of study. I felt the RVC was the best place to get those different perspectives due to the scope of study that happens here.

“I've primarily worked in the prevention of tick-borne diseases, but one of the advantages of the MSc in One Health at the RVC is you get to learn about many different fields, so I'm hoping to be able to find the specific area that I can find a lot of passion in, help people and support the prevention of infectious diseases.”

Professor Stuart Reid CBE, President and Principal of the RVC said:

“It has been a delight and an honour to host the Fulbright scholars at the RVC this week. Given that our collective future depends on youth, education and a commitment to global citizenship, the importance of Fulbright has never been greater, and we wish each of this year’s scholars every success as they start on their exciting journey.”

Amy Moore, Fulbright Commission’s Director of Awards, added:

“At the US-UK Fulbright Commission, we believe that to solve global challenges we urgently need to bring together the minds and the energy of people from all cultures and backgrounds. Our US Orientation is, therefore, an exciting occasion, since it is the first time our US cohort of talented students, scholars, teachers and professionals meet in person before immersing themselves into UK life.

“To host this event at the RVC, a longstanding partner that shares many of our core values, was a fantastic opportunity. The space was digitally innovative and inclusive and boasted unexpected delights around each corner, such as its anatomy museum, enormous elephant skeleton and social learning space hanging above the café. It was the perfect introduction to London and the UK, and our time spent at the RVC was both productive and energising.”

Media enquiries

For media enquiries, please contact:

• Jasmin De Vivo jasmin.devivo@plmr.co.uk or rvc@plmr.co.uk
• Press Line: 0800 368 9520

About the RVC

• The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is the UK's largest and longest established independent veterinary school and is a Member Institution of the University of London.
• It is one of the few veterinary schools in the world that hold accreditations from the RCVS in the UK (with reciprocal recognition from the AVBC for Australasia, the VCI for Ireland and the SAVC for South Africa), the EAEVE in the EU, and the AVMA in the USA and Canada.
• The RVC is ranked as the top veterinary school in the world in the QS World University Rankings by subject, 2023.
• The RVC offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in veterinary medicine, veterinary nursing and biological sciences.  
• The RVC is a research led institution with 88% of its research rated as internationally excellent or world class in the Research Excellence Framework 2021.
• The RVC provides animal owners and the veterinary profession with access to expert veterinary care and advice through its teaching hospitals and first opinion practices in London and Hertfordshire.