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Purina PRO PLAN® Launches Historic "Purina Youth Initiative" to Empower the Next Generation of Veterinarians
08/01/2026
Purina PRO PLAN recently hosted its first-ever European Veterinary Students Symposium 2025, a landmark event titled "Where Science Meets Passion". It attracted over 700 registered students from across Europe, with key opinion leaders from both Purina and external organizations speaking on a wide range of fascinating topics: nutrition, covering nutritional differences and similarities between humans and pets, as well as common myths in this area, sustainability, the human–pet bond, and students’ future career paths. The symposium also served as the official launchpad for the Purina Youth Initiative, a comprehensive program dedicated to supporting veterinary students' career development and shaping the future of veterinary medicine. Discover the Purina Youth Initiative.
Bridging the Gap: The Three Pillars of Success
The Purina Youth Initiative was introduced by Maryline Vaney and Dr. Jenifer Molina as a specialized online platform designed to provide additional knowledge and skills that students may not fully access during their standard university curriculum.
The program is anchored by three main pillars:
- Pet Nutrition: Addressing the fact that only about 25% of universities offer a comprehensive educational program in clinical nutrition, this pillar provides masterclasses and e-learning modules on condition-based nutrition.
- Employability: Equipping students with practical tools to "shine" in the job market, including modules on CV building, mastering interviews, and creating a professional online presence.
- Entrepreneurship: For students aspiring to open their own practice, the initiative provides resources on accounting, people management, and building strong client relationships.
Real-World Opportunities and "Nutrition Champions"
The initiative goes beyond digital learning by offering testimonials from "Nutrition Champions," current students from across Europe, as well as in-house internships and local university partnerships. In an exciting announcement, Purina revealed that one lucky participant attending the symposium would be selected to visit the Purina Research Center in France next year to experience the science behind the brand firsthand.
Inspirational Voices from the Profession
A major highlight of the symposium was a career-focused roundtable featuring influential women in veterinary medicine working in European organizations (such as the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe), academia, and private companies (including Nestlé Purina & IDEXX). They shared "squiggly" career paths ranging from academia to corporate leadership, emphasizing that a veterinary degree offers a 360-degree life cycle.
Key quotes from the speakers included:
- Rosa Carbonell (Head of B2B & Veterinary Affairs, Nestlé Purina): "The veterinary profession needs you—needs your curiosity, needs your creativity, and needs your courage... the future of pets, people, and the planet starts with you".
- Nancy De Briyne (Executive Director, FVE): "We’re the most employable profession because our education is so wide".
- Dr. Jenifer Molina (Scientific Affairs Manager, Purina): "Every pet needs a vet like you. You are the future, so we really count on you, and we hope that you count on us as well".
- Carmel Mooney (Chair of ECVIM-CA): "Don’t forget about the foundational knowledge that you need... you need really good clinical reasoning, problem-solving skills, and empathy".
ACCESS THE RECORDINGS HERE:
Access the Speaker’s Presentations here.
About Purina PRO PLAN®
Purina PRO PLAN is on a mission to become the most recognized pet food brand globally, improving the lives of dogs and cats through ground-breaking nutrition. Backed by over 125 years of research, the brand leverages expertise in animal science to anticipate the evolving needs of pets and the professionals who care for them. Visit: https://www.purina.co.uk/brands/pro-plan.
About Purina
Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe believes that when people and pets bond, life becomes richer. This is why, for more than 130 years, it has been committed to creating richer lives for pets and the people who love them through high-quality nutrition and care.
Purina Europe aims to have a positive impact on pets, people, and the planet. In 2022, the company launched six new Purina Commitments (2023-2030) to help reach this goal, to support adoption and responsible pet ownership, help the wellbeing of people in vulnerable situations and support the regeneration of soil and ocean ecosystems.
The Purina portfolio includes many of the best-known and best-loved pet foods including Felix®, Purina ONE®, Gourmet® and PRO PLAN®. For more information about the company, visit: https://www.purina.eu/.