Kansas State University

OLATHE -- A new fall lecture series on the Kansas State University Olathe campus, 22201 W. Innovation Drive, is all about getting high school students interested in careers related to the Kansas City Animal Health Corridor. The lecture series is being offered by the university's College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Greater Kansas City area is the national leader in the animal health and nutrition industry. The Kansas City Animal Health Corridor, which stretches from Manhattan, Kan., to Columbia, Mo., accounts for one-third of the nation's $19-billion global animal health market. Companies and universities in this area lead the nation in animal health and nutrition research, innovation, business functions and production.

"Training the future workforce for this industry begins with our students," said Micheal Strohschein, director of K-12 science education partnerships at K-State Olathe. "Years from now, they will be ensuring the continued growth of the success in the corridor and in this field overall."

The lecture series is geared to high school students, but parents, teachers and the general public are invited to attend. College of Veterinary Medicine faculty will be available the day of each lecture to meet with interested students and their families.

The first lecture to be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in Forum Hall. Jane Ashley Stuckey will present the first lecture, "Cases in Ophthalmology." Stuckey is a resident in ophthalmology at the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center and is advised by Amy Rankin, assistant professor of ophthalmology.

Additional lecture series presentations will be Sept. 25, Oct. 9 and 23, and Nov. 6 and 20. Topics, presenters and registration can be accessed at http://olathe.k-state.edu/k-12/vet-med-lecture-series/index.html.

For more information, contact Strohschein at mistroh@k-state.edu or 913-307-7342.