K-State awarded $1 million for professorship in small animal clinical nutrition

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive, recently announced a significant investment in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The company has pledged $1 million over five years to establish an endowed small animal clinical nutrition professorship. This professorship is aimed at enhancing the educational experience of veterinary students and advancing veterinary nutritional science through teaching and research.

The Hill’s Pet Nutrition Clinical Nutrition Professorship is a strategic initiative to promote the health and wellbeing of pets by focusing on the critical aspect of nutrition. By appointing a distinguished faculty member to teach small animal nutrition courses and conduct innovative research, Hill’s aims to contribute to the development of a future generation of veterinarians who are knowledgeable and confident in making nutritional recommendations for pets.

Jolle Kirpensteijn, global chief veterinary officer of Hill’s, emphasized the importance of comprehensive education in pet nutrition for veterinary students. He highlighted the role of nutrition in promoting lifelong overall health in pets and expressed excitement about the partnership with Kansas State University to achieve this goal.

The appointed professor will be responsible for developing and teaching courses that cover all aspects of small animal nutrition. In addition to teaching, the professor will lead research initiatives aimed at improving nutritional practices and developing new dietary solutions for common and complex health issues in small animals. The ultimate goal of this research is to benefit both the academic community and veterinary practices worldwide.

Bonnie Rush, Hodes family dean of the college, expressed enthusiasm for the new professorship and its potential to enhance the educational capacity in small animal nutrition at Kansas State University. She highlighted the benefits that this partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition has already provided for students and clients of the Hill’s Pet Health and Nutrition Center in the Veterinary Health Center, and emphasized the continued growth and impact of this collaboration.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition has a history of collaboration with K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2018, the company contributed $2.4 million to establish the Pet Health and Nutrition Center, which serves as a primary care clinic within the college for the community and beyond. This latest investment in the endowed professorship further demonstrates Hill’s unwavering commitment to pet health and wellbeing.

John Hazlin, president and chief executive officer of Hill’s, underscored the company’s dedication to supporting the education and development of future veterinarians. By investing in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, Hill’s is helping to ensure that pets receive the best possible care throughout their lives. This partnership between Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Kansas State University is poised to make a significant impact on the field of veterinary medicine and the health of pets worldwide.