We’re helping the pet and the owner—to me that’s everything. Cummings School does a good job of teaching us about the spectrum of care and providing the client with all the options, even if it’s not the gold standard. All that fuels my passion.
Gabriel Yunayev, V27 Awarded PetSmart Charities Veterinary Scholarship
Yunayev’s dedication to community medicine recognized with $25,000 scholarship
Gabriel Yunayev, V27, is one of six veterinary students across the country selected to receive the PetSmart Charities Veterinary Scholarship for 2025-26. The $25,000 scholarship will be applied towards his tuition at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. PetSmart Charities distributes the scholarships annually to students committed to offering veterinary care in underserved communities.
“I’m still in awe. I was completely surprised, but very grateful to receive it. It is a tremendous help,” says Yunayev on receiving the scholarship.
In his short time in the veterinary field, Yunayev has demonstrated a deep commitment to community medicine. His path into veterinary medicine started with his Pit Bull Terrier Zohan’s chronic allergies. Continually at the veterinarian to treat Zohan, Yunayev found himself more and more interested in the work. He started volunteering and eventually working as a veterinary assistant at Queens Midway Animal Hospital, near his home in New York. While earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry at Hunter College, he volunteered with Dallas Pets Alive!, coordinating the delivery of preventative medications for fostered pets, and as an animal care technician at Wild Bird Fund in New York City.
Yunayev’s initial exposure to community medicine was with Low Cost Vet Mobile. As a surgical technician, he traveled with the veterinary team to neighborhoods in Queens and the Bronx, treating pets right out of the truck with free veterinary care, including spays and neuters. Shifts could last up to 14 hours, performing on average 25-35 spays and neuters a day.
“I’m really grateful for the experience,” says Yunayev. “It showed me the work ethic you need to get all your patients through. The rule is to see everyone. It was nonstop, but at the end of the day, it was so rewarding. If people couldn’t afford to go to their primary care vet, they would come to us to be seen as their last resort.”
Starting his veterinary studies directly after college, Yunayev was excited for the many opportunities to practice community medicine at Cummings School and found a supportive community among his classmates and faculty.
After his first year, Yunayev participated in a summer selective at Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic, a collaboration between Cummings School and Worcester Technical High School to provide training for veterinary and high school students and affordable veterinary care for the community.
“It gave me a lot of perspective, from the teaching aspect where the fourth-years are the doctors, and also seeing how much of an impact we have on the community,” says Yunayev.
This past spring, Yunayev’s selective with Worcester Housing Authority took him to low-income housing locations to offer free vaccination clinics for pets. He worked alongside Cummings School faculty, veterinary technicians, and retired veterinarians, all volunteering their time for the community and to teach upcoming vets like him.
“We get to practice what we’re learning in the classroom, giving physical exams and vaccines,” says Yunayev. “It’s really helpful for us and for the community, bringing awareness about rabies vaccines and preventatives. They are so grateful.”
One of the leaders of Tufts Community Action Team (TCAT), Yunayev additionally organizes free veterinary clinics for local communities, offering vaccines, preventatives, and tick panels for pets. TCAT hosted three clinics this past spring in Boylston, Grafton, and for Cummings School students.
Yunayev is also co-president of his class and student representative for Hill’s Pet Nutrition. As the liaison between Hill’s and Cummings School, he manages Hill’s Pro Staff Feeding Program, providing discounted pet food to students and staff at Cummings School and supporting school events. Most recently, he worked with Hill’s to sponsor all the food for a school volleyball tournament. As co-president of the class, he helps plan events like the veterinary school prom, Fur Ball, and works closely with the Cummings School administration.
In addition to community medicine, Yunayev is also exploring surgery as a potential career path. This summer, he is working as an out-patient surgical technician at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals at Cummings School. “I am very grateful to be learning from great surgeons who are so willing to teach at the hospital,” he says.
In practicing community medicine, especially poignant for Yunayev is the relief that owners express in seeing their pets receive the care they need, which they otherwise may not be able to afford.
“We’re helping the pet and the owner—to me that’s everything,” says Yunayev. “Cummings School does a good job of teaching us about the spectrum of care and providing the client with all the options, even if it’s not the gold standard. All that fuels my passion.”