Lisa Lunn has recently been hired as the third director of SDSU’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (PPVM), which started in 2021. SDSU’s PPVM is a ‘2+2’ program, in partnership with the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
A 2+2 veterinary program means students complete their bachelor’s degree, then spend their first two years of veterinary school at SDSU before transferring to the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. There, they finish their final two years of their Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine degree.
Lunn applied for the position on campus and was looking for a job that would allow her to be passionate about her job as well as her life.
Lunn noticed right away how friendly and collaborative the people were during the interview process.
“I was inspired,” Lunn said.
Before moving to South Dakota to start her new position, Lunn traveled and worked around the world. From working in the tropical islands of the Caribbean, to the remote frontiers of Alaska and in Texas, these experiences gave Lunn a global perspective of veterinary medicine.
Lunn is passionate about food-animal medicine, food safety and how agriculture fits into our lives as humans. This passion and different experiences led Lunn to work with 2+2 veterinary programs at previous institutions.
Lunn led West Texas A&M’s Veterinary Education, Research and Outreach’s 2+2 program.
“That was the first 2+2 program I had worked in, and I had fell in love with the model of that, having a small cohort of students you could intensely train,” Lunn said.
Angela Pillatzki, head of the veterinary and biomedical sciences department and director of the animal disease research and diagnostic laboratory, said Lunn’s extensive academic experience with different colleges of veterinary medicine meant she was a great fit for the job.
“Her experience, specifically with other 2+2 programs, made her stand out against others who were interviewing for the position,” Pillatzki said.
SDSU’s program layout allows for SDSU students to interact with one another before making the transition to the second part of the 2+2 program.
“With this program only being five years old, the people that built the foundation of the program did a good job,” Lunn said. “Our students are outpacing Minnesota students, performing well on exams and in clinics.”
Looking into the future, Lunn has some different goals for the program to continue to succeed. More simulation equipment would increase hands-on experience, she said.
“We use a lot of simulators to practice to help build confidence before using a live animal,” Lunn said.
Lunn thinks it would be beneficial to reach out to producers and veterinarians in the community for their perspectives.
“I want to know what they would like to see in a day one ready veterinarian, to be confident in hiring them,” she said.
Lunn said she loves how supportive the community is and how invested they are in the success of the program.
Typically, when a person enters a doctor’s profession, they are given a white lab coat. Instead of this white lab coat, SDSU students are given blue Carhartt jackets as their symbol of entering the veterinary profession transitioning from an undergraduate student.
“This blue jacket represents that as a veterinarian in South Dakota, you are going to be working outside, and this jacket will keep you warm,” Lunn said. “It’s meant to be a work jacket.”
This year’s PPVM cohort’s blue coat ceremony was Oct. 4. This was Lunn’s first blue jacket ceremony. She said it was “awesome” to see how many local veterinarians came out to support.
These seasoned veterinarians are able to sponsor a jacket for students, share wisdom and make it known that they are there to support students throughout school.
Lunn has a passion for veterinary medicine, and hopes her vast range of experiences will help students at SDSU succeed.
