Vet student’s semester in Malawi is part of new educational partnership

In fall 2023, Ashley Vanderbeck was deciding on her final elective to complete her 8-year journey as a student in the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's VMD-Ph.D. program.

Enter Associate Dean of One Health Jennifer Punt, tasked with developing an initiative to integrate Penn Vet's immunology expertise with the emerging curriculum of Faculty of Veterinary Medicineat Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi. When Punt and Vanderbeck met over coffee to discuss potential independent study projects, Punt saw an opportunity to turn the emerging initiative into a reality. With the endorsement of Associate Dean of Education Kathryn Michel, what started as a creative solution to elective uncertainty quickly evolved into a new institutional partnership.

Facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding and supported by funding from Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine Andrew M. Hoffman, a novel program between Penn Vet and LUANAR was formed to foster educational exchange and research opportunities. The collaboration officially launched in January 2024 with Vanderbeck offering online immunology instruction to LUANAR veterinary students, and Punt and other Penn Vet representatives contributing recorded lectures. In March 2024, the partnership was elevated by Vanderbeck traveling to Malawi, East Africa, to teach and collaborate in-person.

"Veterinary medicine knows no borders, and collaboration is essential for addressing the global challenges we face," Punt says. "By partnering with institutions like LUANAR, we have a unique opportunity to gain invaluable perspectives on wildlife and livestock interactions, as well as a broader understanding of diseases that transcend geographic boundaries. This partnership isn't just about education; it's about becoming part of a global community to tackle the animal health issues that affect us all."

Over the course of three months, Vanderbeck curated and taught an immunology course to 22 third-year LUANAR veterinary students, drawing on the expertise of faculty from both institutions. Beyond delivering lectures in the classroom, Vanderbeck focused on providing hands-on immunology experiences through lab work and community engagement.

On some days, Vanderbeck demonstrated how to utilize SNAP tests, which detect antibodies and antigens of pathogens. On other days, Vanderbeck took the students to farms to practice administering cattle vaccines, or to visit the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals to develop canine interaction skills.

"This experience was the type of equitable knowledge exchange I had always hoped to experience as part of my education at Penn Vet," Vanderbeck says. "I love talking about immunology, teaching, and mentoring, and this program fundamentally changed the way I think about all those things. I am eternally grateful for Penn Vet's support in pursuing this collaborative, impactful type of learning."

This story is by Caitlin Ware. Read more at Penn Vet News.