One Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to reflect on the connection between animal and human health. Treating animals can lead to breakthroughs for people, which is exactly what happened with VetStem and our sister company, Personalized Stem Cells (PSC). For more than two decades, VetStem has led the way in regenerative medicine for animals, pioneering the use of a patient’s own stem cells to support healing, reduce inflammation, and improve quality of life. Along the way, the success we saw in veterinary patients led directly to the formation of PSC, which now brings the same personalized, cell-based approach to people.

This One Health connection is especially clear in the story of Erin Taormino. Erin is one of the world’s most accomplished trainers of reined cow horses. She became the first woman ever to win the World’s Greatest Horseman title, and in 2024 she joined the NRCHA Million Dollar Rider club, cementing her place in the history of the sport. But years of riding, training, and competing at the highest level took a toll. Erin developed severe osteoarthritis in both hips, leaving her facing the very real prospect of double hip surgery, a procedure that could sideline her career and limit her ability to ride, train, and compete.

Fortunately for Erin, she was already familiar with stem cell therapy, having seen her horses benefit from VetStem Cell Therapy. She stated, “I’ve seen firsthand how stem cells helped my horses recover and perform. When it came to my own body, I wanted to see if there was a way to avoid surgery and stay in the saddle.” Following PSC’s Right-to-Try pathway, Erin received injections with her own stem cells into each hip. After treatment, Erin was able to avoid hip replacement and continue competing at the highest level of her sport, including again this year entering and placing in the Run for a Million competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. She stated, “Stem cells allowed me to keep riding, training, and doing what I love. I don’t know if I’d be here today, competing at this level, if I had gone through double hip surgery. For me, it’s incredible that the same science helping my horses could also help me. We’re both athletes, and stem cells have been a game-changer.”

Erin’s story is a powerful example of how advancements in veterinary medicine can translate into meaningful breakthroughs for people. One Health Awareness Month is a reminder that progress in veterinary medicine can reach far beyond animals. At VetStem, we’re proud that our experience caring for animals has helped shape the future of regenerative medicine for humans too.

Photography Credit: Carolyn Simancik: instagram.com/carolyn_simancik
instagram.com/taorminoperformancehorses