New WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine class arrives at white coat ceremony ready to face the challenges of year one

The large, enthusiastic College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2030 received their white coats on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, signifying the beginning of their veterinary education journey at Western University of Health Sciences. 

Keynote speaker and CVM Professor Gagandeep Kaur, BVSc&AH, PhD, advised the students to enter the classrooms ready to meet the challenges of CVM’s complex curriculum, one in which they are expected to take responsibility for their own learning. 

“Your perspective can hinder you or empower you,” she said. “The choice is yours.” 

Dr. Kaur recalled the initial difficulties she had after moving to the U.S. to advance her education. Success came only after she focused on the tasks that took precedence in her academic program. 

 “You need to prioritize your education,” she said. “Ask yourself, ‘what is the most important thing I could be doing right now.’” 

The 120-member class of 2030 appeared ready to dive right into the Year One program. By the time the white coats were distributed at Gardiner Spring Auditorium in Ontario, students had spent a week in orientation and had already experienced a taste of the college’s Problem Based Learning (PBL) program. Faculty spent the week laying out the expectations of the WesternU College of Veterinary Medicine. 

First-year CVM student Angelica Arteaga admitted that the week of orientation was somewhat overwhelming, but it did not diminish her excitement.  She was ready to start.  

“I know that I’m closer to achieving my dreams,” she said. “I’ve had the (veterinarian) dream since I was, like, 5 years old.  I haven’t had a change of mind.” 

First-year CVM student William McDermott did not catch the veterinarian dream until his sophomore year of college. An animal science major, he was first drawn to exotics, but learning about the medicine involved in caring for the animals during an internship sparked his interest in vet med. 

“I started working with zoo veterinarians, and I enjoyed the process of medicine,” he said. “I made my transition.” 

McDermott took to PBL quickly.  “The first day was kind of nerve-wracking,” he admitted. “But by the second day, I was getting the hang of it.” 

Laura Weatherford, DVM, an At-large Governor of the California Veterinary Medical Association, suggested in her address to the first-year students that they lean on each other over the next four years. 

“They are the only people who will truly know what you are going through, and understand the pressures you are under,” she said. “Together you will celebrate successes, overcome setbacks, and support each other during the challenges that you will face. You are going to grow in ways you can’t imagine.”