The Center for Animal Health and Food Safety and the Veterinary Population Medicine Department are excited to welcome two new residents into the Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine (VPHPM) program.

Drs. Jan Mladonicky and Addis Hunde Bedada began the University of Minnesota program in July.

The two-year VPHPM residency allows early to mid-career veterinarians gain specialized training in veterinary public health practice, and is the first program in the United States to receive recognition from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM).

The two new residents are assigned to a variety of projects and activities with an emphasis on providing experiences across the full spectrum of teaching, research, and service. Residents work in close collaboration with their VPHPM residency mentors as well as U of M veterinary and public health faculty advisors.

Jan Mladonicky

Jan became interested in public health while working on basic science research at Michigan State University; during an internship working with health surveillance programs at the Lincoln Park Zoo, her focus shifted to Veterinary Public Health. While completing a combined DVM/MPH degree from Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Public Health, Jan traveled to the rural villages of Uganda for an epidemiology field project, which solidified her career interest in One Health. Since graduation, she has been practicing small animal emergency and urgent care medicine.

Professionally, she is interested in the health relationships between animals, people, and the environment as it relates to conservation, infectious/zoonotic disease, biodiversity, and animal welfare. When she’s not in the office, Jan can be found chasing her two toddler sons and two Labrador Retrievers. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, hiking, trail running and sipping craft brews with friends. Jan also obtained her pilot’s license when she was a “fearless undergrad.”

Addisalem Hunde Bedada

Addis completed his DVM at Addis Ababa University of Veterinary Medicine in Ethiopia, then earned an MS in Veterinary Public Health from the same institution two years later. After graduation, Addis worked for six years as an instructor and researcher at Wollega University, and most recently, for two years as a veterinary drug and feed inspector with the Ethiopian Veterinary Drug and Feed Administration and Control Authority. He has extensive experience in research, laboratory practices, and teaching.

His interests include food safety and production systems, antimicrobial resistance, One Health, and outbreak investigation and prevention. Addis hopes to utilize these interests to build his competencies in animal health, preventive medicine, and project management during the VPHPM residency. Outside of work, he likes reading books, enjoying the beauty of nature, and watching soccer.