Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Adrian Santoyo had a social media post that went viral four years ago. Raised in the heart of California’s agricultural country, Adrian drew a picture as a kindergartener that said, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor for the little cows.” When he was accepted into UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, he put that drawing next to a photo of him standing in front of the school’s logo with the caption, “First week of school vs. First week of veterinary school” and got 163,000 likes on the post.
Today, Dr. Adrian Santoyo is a doctor for the little cows, dogs, cats, and any other animal patient that comes his way in his new life as a veterinarian in Bakersfield. He and the rest of the new doctors, specialists, and Master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine graduates walked the stage for commencement on May 24, 2024. Now they are headed out to practice or pursue internships, residencies, and fellowships—making a difference in California and across the world.
Adrian Santoyo had a social media post that went viral four years ago. Raised in the heart of California’s agricultural country, Adrian drew a picture as a kindergartener that said, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor for the little cows.” When he was accepted into UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, he put that drawing next to a photo of him standing in front of the school’s logo with the caption, “First week of school vs. First week of veterinary school” and got 163,000 likes on the post.
Today, Dr. Adrian Santoyo is a doctor for the little cows, dogs, cats, and any other animal patient that comes his way in his new life as a veterinarian in Bakersfield. He and the rest of the new doctors, specialists, and Master’s in Preventive Veterinary Medicine graduates walked the stage for commencement on May 24, 2024. Now they are headed out to practice or pursue internships, residencies, and fellowships—making a difference in California and across the world.
![Mondays with Mark: September 2023 [Agricultural Edition]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4PFlf-Bx1-4/mqdefault.jpg "Mondays with Mark: September 2023 [Agricultural Edition]
September is harvest time, which turns my thoughts to how the school supports agriculture in California. Every day, hundreds of people at the school, including more than 50 faculty, work to keep crops free of animal-borne illnesses, protect the health of food animals, monitor for diseases, provide critical information and training, and perform other actions to help everyone from backyard farmers to major agricultural producers. Our mission covers everything from chickens, goats, dairy, and cattle, to even organic crops.
In this episode, you’ll get a taste of the incredible scope of what we do and see how we are incorporating new methods like predictive modeling and social media monitoring to keep domestic and wild creatures and humans safe—all while educating our next generation of veterinarians and scientists. Learn more about how we work with the agriculture industry at www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ag
Visit the Mondays with Mark page on our website:
www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/mondays-with-mark Disclaimer: This video was produced before 2025 and may not meet current accessibility standards. These materials are not actively maintained. If you experience difficulty accessing this content or require it in an alternative format, please contact svmcommunications@ucdavis.edu")
