Texas A&M Vet School Welcomes Its First 2+2 Program Grads

CANYON, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences ( VMBS ) marked a significant achievement this week with the graduation of its inaugural class from the 2+2 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.

Fifteen students started their journey in veterinary studies at Texas A&M’s program for Veterinary Education, Research, & Outreach ( VERO The campus located in Canyon, Texas, had 147 graduates join their peers in College Station on May 7 to be awarded their degrees as part of the Class of 2025.

The 2+2 DVM program was initiated to provide Texas A&M with the chance to extend our globally recognized veterinary education to the Texas Panhandle," stated Dr. John R. August, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "We are incredibly proud of our inaugural group and their peers in the DVM Class of 2025.

Introduced in 2021, the 2+2 initiative enables a chosen cohort of vet students to finish their initial two academic years at the VERO campus prior to moving to College Station for their concluding two years. Established in collaboration with West Texas A&M University in 2009, VERO was set up to broaden rural veterinary training and support within the area.

The inaugural graduates include:

• Dr. Alexa Mendoza , El Paso – pursuing a Ph.D. in parasitology at Texas A&M
• Dr. Bradlee Lafoy , Teague – has joined Buffalo Animal Hospital, a facility focused on food animals.
• Dr. Chelsea Wright , Richardson – joining Aztec Pet Hospital in Harker Heights
• Dr. Christina Edlebeck , Houston – joining Rochelle Veterinary Hospital in Illinois
• Dr. Delainee Braly , Seminole – has joined Haskell Veterinary Clinic
• Dr. Devon King Hillsboro, Illinois – now part of the team at Brazos Valley Equine Hospital in Salado
• Dr. Garrett Jackson , McKinney – joining 380 West Animal Hospital
• Dr. Hannah Garthwaite , Canyon – beginning an equine internship in Santa Fe
• Dr. Holly Freeman , Animas, New Mexico – seeking a mixed animal practice in Texas
• Dr. Ian Kutrybala , Mansfield – joining Double Oak Veterinary Medical Center
• Dr. Jayci Padgett Goldthwaite — has joined the Kendall County Veterinary Center in Boerne.
• Dr. Madison Lake , Victoria — has joined the team at Bay City Veterinary Clinic and Equine Hospital
• Dr. Nikita Padilla , Dalhart – has joined Progressive Dairy Health Services in Clovis, New Mexico.
• Dr. Park Phillips , Madisonville – beginning an internship at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in California
• Dr. Cade Holden Granada, Colorado – beginning an internship with Weatherford Equine

These students have cultivated a robust sense of community among their peers and professors," stated Dr. Susan Eades, associate dean for administration at VERO. "They form an outstanding cohort of experts, and I'm thrilled to witness the influence they will bring to our field.

Since its introduction, the 2+2 program has garnered increasing attention and applications, thanks to its limited class size, almost individualized student-faculty interaction, and practical education opportunities within one of the country’s top agricultural zones.

“VERO is more than just a vet school — it’s a family,” said Garthwaite. “Not only did the professors know my name, they wholeheartedly cared about my education and well-being.”

The 2+2 graduates join the ranks of more than 9,000 Aggie veterinarians who have earned their degrees since 1916. They now bring with them the skills and experience to serve both urban and rural communities across the U.S.

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