RUSVM Alumni Magazine Winter 2024

WINTER 2024 / ALUMNI MAGA ZINE

OUR ALUMNI JOURNEY BACK TO HOW THEIR PASSION FOR ANIMALS BEGAN.

DEAR RUSVM ALUMNI,

THEN

NOW

ERIK PETERSON, DVM ’98, MSC

I

hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. It is with immense pleasure that I reach out to you as the assistant dean of alumni relations. In the world of academia, there are few greater joys than witnessing the accomplishments and contributions of our alumni. Your successes continue to be a source of pride and inspiration for the entire RUSVM community.

As we all know, the field of veterinary medicine is everevolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging on a regular basis. Our alumni play a pivotal role in shaping the future of veterinary science and medicine, and we are deeply grateful for your ongoing commitment to the profession.

In this spirit of unity and progress, I am excited to introduce the latest edition of the RUSVM alumni magazine. This magazine serves as a means for us to celebrate your achievements, share valuable insights, and keep you informed about the latest developments at RUSVM. Inside, you will find a range of engaging content, including:

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Discover inspiring stories of your fellow alumni who are making a significant impact

in various sectors of veterinary medicine and beyond.

FACULTY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS: Stay updated on the accomplishments of our esteemed faculty

and the exceptional achievements of our current students.

RESEARCH BREAKTHROUGHS: Learn about groundbreaking research initiatives and scientific discoveries

happening at RUSVM. UPCOMING EVENTS: Find information about upcoming alumni events, reunions, and opportunities for engagement with the school.

INSTITUTIONAL UPDATES: Stay in the loop regarding the latest developments, changes, and improvements taking place at our institution.

CAREER RESOURCES: Access valuable resources and career development opportunities that can benefit you and your colleaguess.

We invite you to be an active part of our alumni network by contributing articles, sharing your experiences, and participating in our events. Your involvement is instrumental in fostering a strong and supportive alumni community.

In closing, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and dedication to RUSVM. Together, we can continue to advance the field of veterinary medicine and inspire the next generation of veterinarians.

Please feel free to email us at rusvmalumni@rossu.edu if you have any suggestions or updates, or would like to share your story with our community.

Thank you for being an invaluable part of our Rossie family. We look forward to keeping in touch and celebrating your achievements.

All the Best, Erik Peterson, DVM ’98, MSc Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine erpeterson@rossvet.edu.kn

THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE FOR ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

FE AT U R ES.

2

THEN / NOW

14

ROSSIES GIVING BACK

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APVMA NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

22

40TH SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE AMLC

When you hear the childhood stories of RUSVM alumni, it’s clear why each of them chose to become a veterinarian. From attempting to rescue a colony of ants from the exterminator to nurturing sick strays, our alumni have been animal lovers their whole lives.

At RUSVM, we are passionate about making a positive impact on the world through veterinary medicine. That’s why we are so proud of our students, professors, and alumni who volunteered with Nevis Animal Speak on April 7 for Spring Fling, a four-day charity spay and neuter event on the beautiful island of Nevis.

In March of 2023, RUSVM became the first international veterinary school to host the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association national symposium.

In spring 2023, RUSVM welcomed the 40th Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean to St. Kitts.

The five-day event, hosted partly on RUSVM’s campus, fostered discussions among global professionals on critical topics.

IN THIS ISSUE. 2023 Graduation Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Student Spotlight: Megan Tyrrell, DVM ’23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Student Spotlight: Ashley Sanfelippo, DVM ’23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Research Corner: Annual Veterinary Education Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Matched Internships and Residencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Empower Scholarship Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Alumni Spotlight: Alea Harrison, DVM ’06 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Class Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Engagement along with the Office of Marketing and Communications. It is distributed to alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. For information or to send name/address changes please contact: rusvmalumni@rossu.edu.

FE AT U R E .

WE’VE INVITED OUR ALUMNI TO TAKE US ON A JOURNEY BACK TO HOW THEIR PASSION FOR ANIMALS BEGAN AND OFFER ADVICE FOR NEW AND FUTURE DVMS.

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B R I D G E T A Z N I V E , D V M ’ 17

W

hen you hear the childhood stories of

RUSVM alumni, it’s clear why each of them chose to become a veterinarian. From attempting to rescue a colony of ants from the exterminator to nurturing sick strays, our alumni have been animal lovers their whole lives.

S TA R T I N G S M A L L , D R E A M I N G B I G Their stories are as varied as the animals they adore. For Bridget Aznive, DVM ’17, interest in animals and veterinary medicine began on her family’s farm in New Hampshire. “The animals were always a draw. I was the kid who did their homework on the bus so that I could get to the barn faster.”

Across an ocean, Dawn Wolstencroft, DVM ’91, began her veterinary journey in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales of England, surrounded by a menagerie of cats, dogs, rabbits, and ponies. “I always knew I wanted to take care of animals,” she said.

But being a veterinarian is about more than playing with animals. What set these future vets apart from the typical animal lover was their commitment to caring for animals even when it was difficult. At 9 years old, Karla Denton, DVM ’10, had a chance to “assist” her local St. Croix veterinarian in gelding the new bay stallion she had purchased for Pony Club. “As a child, I was always fascinated by animals and had a strong sense of compassion for them.”

Leanne Ruoff, DVM ’19, the would-be ant rescuer, also highlights compassion as the spark of her love of veterinary medicine. “I’ve always believed in the welfare of animals, advocating for their well-being and showing compassion toward all animals.”

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D A W N W O L S T E N C R O F T , D V M ’ 91

L E A N N E R U O F F, D V M ’ 19

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R U S V M : W H E R E PA S S I O N M E E T S P U R P O S E At RUSVM, these animal lovers found a home and an education that finally allowed them to turn their passion into purpose. “My RUSVM education has shaped my career as a veterinarian by allowing me to become adaptable in difficult situations, coming up with a Plan B, C, or D when Plan A does not work. It also has taught me that if you work hard enough and believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything,” Dr. Ruoff said.

RUSVM is also a place where students create lifelong bonds from Day One. As Dr. Aznive put it, “I think RUSVM is also unique in that the experience of living on St. Kitts provides you with an instant connection that acts as an icebreaker when you meet a fellow Rossie for the first time.”

“Attending RUSVM not only allowed me to uncover my true self but also led me to meet my husband, resulting in a deeply fulfilling life that I might never have experienced [otherwise],” Dr. Denton said.

When asked their advice for current and future RUSVM students, the common thread among answers was that compassion matters—both for animals and for oneself. As Dr. Ruoff said, “The tough days are inevitable, but when you make a difference in an animal’s life, that makes up for all the hard days.”

K A R L A D E N T O N , D V M ’ 10

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NEARLY 400

NEW GRADUATES LAST YEAR, RUSVM’S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY WELCOMED NEARLY 400 NEW GRADUATES INTO THE RANKS OF OUR 6,000-PLUS ALUMNI NETWORK. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 GRADUATES!

By Colleen Glenney

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any of these graduates will go on to serve in large-animal practice, emergency medicine, and specialty animal care and progress into many other specialties and research. This demonstrates RUSVM’s commitment to filling critical workforce needs in high-demand fields.

During the ceremony, keynote speaker Dr. Janet Donlin, executive vice president and CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association, shared these words of inspiration: “From this day forward, each one of you joins a profession filled with passionate people and wonderful colleagues. We make a huge difference in the lives of animals and people, and we have a tremendous responsibility to be good stewards of our profession and its future.”

As another class enters the workforce, RUSVM remains committed to diversifying the field of veterinary medicine in accordance with the AVMA’s mission of advancing the science and practice of veterinary medicine to improve animal and human health. Over the past three years, 1 in 4 RUSVM graduates have been people of color.

“We are proud of the diversity of our newly minted RUSVM graduates,” said Dean Sean Callanan. “With an RUSVM degree, graduates can make a positive impact on the communities where they live and work using the knowledge gained through focusing on One Health, the connection between human, environmental, and animal health.”

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Z O E T I S D I S T I N G U I S H E D V E T E R I N A RY T E AC H E R AWA R D

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ommencement also marked the continuation of an annual tradition for the graduating class to vote for one professor to be named a Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher. The RUSVM faculty are fundamental in helping students reach the point of entering the workforce as veterinarians, and this year, the honor was bestowed upon Cynthia “Dr. X” Xue, DVM, assistant professor of equine internal medicine.

In her nearly three years at RUSVM, Dr. X has become a mentor for many Rossies interested in donkeys and

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equine medicine. She founded Ross Vet’s Donkey Club and has also been a mentor for diversity, equity, and inclusion through her involvement with the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals student chapter.

“I never intended to be in academia, but I also never thought of teaching my students as teaching, per se; instead, I thought of teaching as helping my future colleagues understand how to become the best veterinarian they could be,” she said in a 2022 profile article.

“ WE ARE PROUD OF THE DIVERSITY OF OUR NEWLY MINTED RUSVM GRADUATES, with an RUSVM degree, graduates can make a positive impact on the communities where they live and work using the knowledge gained through focusing on One Health, the connection between human, environmental and animal health.”

Dean of RUSVM Sean Callanan, MVB, CERTVR, MRCVS, PhD, FRCPATH, DIPLECVP

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MEGAN TYRRELL, DVM ’23

G R A D UAT E S P OT L I G H T.

WINNER

OF THE

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY’S DONALD R. HOWARD AWARD 10 / RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / WI NTER 2024

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ne month prior to her graduation from RUSVM, Megan Tyrrell, DVM ’23, was among the honorees in attendance at North Carolina State University’s 39th Annual College of Veterinary Medicine Awards Ceremony.

Dr. Tyrrell’s enthusiasm for her education and development as a veterinarian during her clinical training culminated in her acceptance of the Donald R. Howard Award for Surgical Excellence.

“Ross Vet sets us up well for anything that could come our way in our clinical year,” said Dr. Tyrrell. “We’re all proactive in our learning and are just here to do our best, ask everything that we can, and take advantage of every opportunity available. So I could look back on this year knowing I did everything I could during the time we have in rotations.”

“It’s nerve-wracking at first, but as the rotations moved on, I became more comfortable,” Dr. Tyrrell recalled of her clinical experience. The Donald R. Howard Award represents the outstanding achievements for which she was recognized by her educators and peers. Her surgical prowess was noticed often through her equine castration lab and various opportunities throughout rotations in the hospital; an externship with a spay and neuter clinic in Southern Pines, North Carolina; and castration labs in her specialty field, equine general practice.

“I was comfortable and confident in everything I was asked to do. I could go with the flow and know what I was doing with confidence in my skills,” she said.

Dr. Tyrrell’s journey to veterinary medicine began at the University of Kentucky, where she studied animal science and biology. She grew up in Milford, New Hampshire, where her neighbors raised horses. Dr. Tyrrell was fortunate to eventually own her own horses and compete them throughout the eastern United States. “I always loved horses and always had the dream of being a veterinarian,” she recalled. “I was very excited to be able to bring my two passions together.”

She’s quick to admit that being able to bring her own horse with her to Kentucky was a big part of the decision to enroll there. She competed for the University of Kentucky Eventing Team and was a working student for Alexandra Knowles Eventing

“ I had an amazing group of friends, and we would not have gotten through school without each other. We always pushed each other as study buddies as much as we did to have free time and have fun together.”

in Lexington after she graduated. She intended to apply to US veterinary schools, but RUSVM’s location in the Caribbean caught her attention as a travel enthusiast.

That brought her to St. Kitts to see a new part of the world while she pursued her dream of becoming a veterinarian.

Now that she has graduated, she leaves with fond memories of the friendships she made and what she and her peers were able to accomplish together.

“I had an amazing group of friends, and we would not have gotten through school without each other. We always

pushed each other as study buddies as much as we did to have free time and have fun together. That was a super important part of my education to have an outlet and so many different things to do on the island,” she said.

Though her clinical experience culminated in an award for surgical excellence, Dr. Tyrrell’s intended field is equine general practice. After graduation, she started an equine general practice internship and will remain in North Carolina for the next year. She has not ruled out a potential residency down the road, but no matter where the journey continues, Dr. Tyrrell is appreciative of the opportunity she has to begin her career as a DVM with the education she received at RUSVM and North Carolina State University.

“It was difficult living so far away during the pandemic, but the experience was unmatched. I was surrounded by amazing peers, taught by highly experienced doctors, and learned more than I ever thought possible.”

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ASHLEY SANFELIPPO, DVM ’23

G R A D UAT E S P OT L I G H T.

WINNER

OF THE

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY’S BOB ROSENTHAL ONCOLOGY AWARD 12 / RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / WI NTER 2024

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hen Ashley Sanfelippo, DVM ’23, narrowed her career path to veterinary oncology, she was captivated by the bond formed between patients and owners through a sensitive time in a pet’s life. With a background studying genetics and biochemistry, a DVM from RUSVM, and recognition as an award-winning oncology student, she now has an opportunity to advance treatment and research for pet cancer, which impacts dogs and other pets at roughly the same rate as humans, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

D E STI N E D FOR R USVM For Dr. Sanfelippo, this was a path she set herself on from the moment she enrolled at RUSVM. “I knew whenever I went to veterinary school that I would combine that with my background in genetics,” she said. She is originally from Dallas, Texas, but was no stranger to RUSVM and St. Kitts thanks to a family vacation when she was younger. A local cab driver helped her fall in love with the island, and although she had not yet started on her path toward veterinary medicine, her burning desire to return to St. Kitts brought her to sign up for RUSVM’s email list for information about the school.

While pursuing her undergraduate degree in genetics and biochemistry at Texas A&M University, she first considered a career

“ When we talk about genetics going wrong, it turns to cancer.

It’s a sensitive and difficult subject that many people have personal experiences with, so to help clients through the diagnosis and focus on the patient’s quality of life builds a strong bond.”

in human medicine. But during her sophomore year, she began volunteering at an animal shelter and fell in love with a dog brought in with face lacerations. She instantly became interested in learning how to care for her new friend and shifted her focus to pre-veterinary courses and clubs. “I truly fell in love and did not look back,” she said.

With her spot on the RUSVM email list still active, she learned about openings to enroll in May 2020. She graduated from Texas A&M on a Friday and was enrolled in her first semester at RUSVM three days later. Her third-semester pathology course, when topics like neoplasia (uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues in the body) are covered, was the first bridge between her undergraduate studies and her veterinary education.

“When we talk about genetics going wrong, it turns to cancer.

It’s a sensitive and difficult subject that many people have personal experiences with, so to help clients through the diagnosis and focus on the patient’s quality of life builds a strong bond,” Dr. Sanfelippo said.

TH E BOB ROS E NTHAL O N C O LO GY AWA R D By the time she reached her clinical year at Colorado State University (CSU), Dr. Sanfelippo had advanced her knowledge and affinity for the care of animals with cancer all the way to earning CSU’s Bob Rosenthal Oncology Award. The award recognizes a fourth-year student who demonstrates proficiency in the care of veterinary oncology patients and aptitude in clinical oncology.

“It’s a special feeling because the clinicians who wrote the textbooks on clinical oncology are here at CSU teaching the subject and awarding me with their oncology award,” said Dr. Sanfelippo. “I was grateful to be recognized coming in as a Ross Vet student, joining a class that had been here four years, and showing we can thrive in rotations.”

Dr. Sanfelippo completed her rotations at CSU in August and relocated to Walpole, Massachusetts, to begin a small animal rotating internship with Tufts VETS (Veterinary Emergency Treatment and Specialties), a specialty and emergency hospital affiliated with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Oncology is one of nine specialties Dr. Sanfelippo rotated through to continue developing her skills in pursuit of a residency position.

“Thank you to all the doctors, faculty, specialists, residents, and interns throughout my time at Ross Vet, Colorado State, and externships in Dallas and Houston, for your guidance and willingness to help me learn,” she said.

Through all her academic and professional training, Dr. Sanfelippo never lost sight of the heart that motivated her journey to becoming a veterinary oncologist.

According to the AVMA, almost half of dogs over 10 years old will develop cancer.

“A lot of pets are going to be impacted by cancer, and I think a lot of clients don’t realize there are a lot of options for our canine friends to provide good comfort, support, and relief during their final stages of life,” she said.

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FE AT U R E .

NEVIS ANIMAL SPEAK ROSSIES GIVING BACK:

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t RUSVM, we are passionate about making a positive impact on the world through veterinary medicine. That’s why we are so proud of our students, professors, and alumni who volunteered with Nevis Animal Speak (NAS) on April 7, 2023 for Spring Fling, a four-day charity spay and neuter event on the beautiful island of Nevis.

“No dog or cat, homed or stray, will go without necessary medical care” is the NAS mission. NAS relies on the generosity and dedication of local and international volunteers to make this happen.

Thanks to the nonprofit’s efforts, 155 dogs and cats received health check exams, surgeries, medications, and food during Spring Fling. They also got to enjoy some cuddles and treats from volunteers.

Their owners learned more about how to keep their pets healthy and happy, and received a bag of Nulo food for each animal that was registered in advance.

Another 60 animals received medical attention and were scheduled for surgery at a later date.

We are also grateful to our RUSVM graduates who donated essential items such as medications, preventives, and consumables for this event. Some even delivered donations in person when they attended the West Indies Veterinary Conference at RUSVM’s 40th anniversary celebration in November 2022. It was amazing to see how our alumni continue to support our community and our mission.

We are so inspired by the collaborative work of the RUSVM community and the NAS team. They truly embody the spirit of compassion and service that we value at our school.

If you want to join NAS in making a difference for the animals of Nevis, visit nevisanimalspeak.org to apply for a volunteer rotation or find out other ways you can help.

“NO DOG OR CAT, HOMED OR STRAY, WILL GO WITHOUT NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE.”

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FE AT U R E .

ALUMNI

GIVING WE ARE THRILLED TO SHARE THE AMAZING WORK OF OUR RUSVM FAMILY WHO JOINED FORCES WITH NAS FOR SPRING FLING.

After three volunteer rotations at NAS, Terry Eylers, DVM ’11 returned to her island home to become the organization’s first clinic director in August 2022. Under Dr. Eylers’ guidance, NAS sees patients from St. Kitts and Nevis, averaging nearly 200 appointments and 100 new patients every month. She offers a range of services, from community education to specialized surgeries. Although Dr. Eylers broke her foot just days before the event, she performed a three-hour emergency surgery and averaged 16 hours a day while managing the clinic during Spring Fling.

Since April 2019, Danielle HeyneZuliani, DVM ’15, has volunteered as oversight DVM for NAS. Dr. HeyneZuliani manages the clinic’s equipment, drug, and consumables inventory and rotates in for surgery and clinic exams when she is on Nevis.

Dr. Terry Eylers, left, briefs students at the start of a shift.

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RUSVM professor Melissa Bucknoff, DVM ’10, has been sharing her expertise as a volunteer criticalist for NAS, both in person and remotely, since 2019. In June 2023, Dr. Bucknoff also volunteered as clinic education consultant for NAS, managing volunteers locally and internationally, including small animal externships.

Melissa Bentley, DVM ’11 arrived several days before the NAS event in April. Dr. Bentley spent two weeks volunteering while reconnecting with her island home and her RUSVM family. Her experience as a successful practice owner in a rural community in the U.S. helped her adapt quickly to working with local clients.

Current RUSVM student Jennifer Guerrero, Class of ’24, coordinated 41 RUSVM student volunteers. The students rotated through two shifts over each of the four days, and 20 students worked multiple days. All the students got an opportunity to experience a high-volume spay/ neuter event with support from RUSVM professors and graduates. The students also had the opportunity to engage with other partners during the event, including Banfield Pet Hospital, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), and Hippo Vets.

Clockwise from front left: Marie Rivera Sauls, CVT Banfield; Dr. Andrea Peda, RUSVM; Dr. Melissa Bentley, RUSVM; Kate Mawby, RUSVM student; Kurt Roman, LVT, RUSVM; and Melinda Massey, RUSVM student.

Dr. Eylers stands next to photographs of one of her first patients.

“When the lights go out, you keep going!” says Dr. Melissa Bentley.

Andrea Peda, DVM ’09, a current RUSVM professor, and licensed veterinary technician Kurt Roman did a surgical rotation and have been supporting NAS’ charitable efforts for nearly five years.

Dr. Danielle Heyne-Zuliani, left, and Dr. Melissa Bucknoff

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R ESEA RCH COR NER.

RUSVM FACULTY & STUDENT PRESENT AT VETERINARY EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM

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n July, several faculty members and one clinical student from RUSVM attended the Veterinary Schools Council’s annual VetEd symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two-day gathering of leaders from veterinary schools around the world was an opportunity for RUSVM’s academic leaders to take part in conversations, idea sharing, and innovations for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate veterinarians.

Front left: Priti Karnik, DVM ’01, MS, DACVS; Ryan Cavanaugh, DVM, DACVS-SA; Kerry Rolph, BVM&S CertVC PhD FANZCVS DIPECVIM-CA FRCVS; Christopher Biancaniello, Class of ’24; Rob Gilbert, BVSc, MedVet, DACT, FNAP, FRCVS

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Five faculty members were in attendance as invited presenters across various topics on the theme of sustainable veterinary education: • R OB GILBERT, BVSc, MMedVet, DACT, FNAP, FRCVS,

associate dean of academic affairs, chief academic officer, and professor of theriogenology • PRITI KARNIK, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, assistant dean of academic operations, director of curriculum review, and clinical associate professor of small animal surgery • RYAN CAVANAUGH, DVM, DACVS-SA, ACVS Founding Fellow, Surgical Oncology, associate professor of small animal surgery • SARAH HOOPER, DVM, MS, PhD, assistant professor of physiology, director of RUSVM’s Center for Research and Innovation in Veterinary and Medical Education • K ERRY ROLPH, BVM&S, CertVC, PhD, FANZCVS (Feline Chapter), DIPECVIM-CA, FRCVS, director of RUSVM’s Center for Integrative Mammalian Research, and professor of small animal medicine Christopher Biancaniello, Class of ’24, joined the faculty in Edinburgh as a student presenter for his research on postsurgical discharge instructions for companion animals written by third-year veterinary students. He found that student-written instructions measured too high in readability, meaning they were written in terms average readers might not fully comprehend.

According to Biancaniello, there were two primary findings in his research. “Even when veterinary students try to make discharge instructions simple, they are still too difficult to read and do not align with the patient reading material standards in human medicine,” he

“ I meticulously prepared for my presentation…

I was then glad to see that my efforts availed.”

said. “Secondly, the correlation between readability and postoperative complications shows us that our discharge instructions have clinical implications that could potentially impact veterinary education and practice by creating more awareness on this subject.”

For his work, he was awarded a certificate of excellence for the best student presentation.

“I was pleasantly surprised when I heard my name called during the awards portion of the conference,” Biancaniello said. “I meticulously prepared for my presentation, as this was my first public speaking event that held significant value. I was then glad to see that my efforts availed.”

FAC U LT Y- P R E S E N T E D R E S E A R C H

The research presented by RUSVM faculty covered diverse topics, including the school’s Academic Development Program to provide structured academic support for students in need, in-person versus remote lecture attendance and its academic impacts, veterinary medical education simulator studies, and clinical reasoning skill development.

In their presentation titled “Structured intervention of early term preclinical veterinary students experiencing academic peril improves academic performance,” Drs. Cavanaugh, French, Jacobs, and Gilbert described the Academic Development Program, which is designed to improve academic performance of the lowest quartile of students advancing from first to second semester. Per their research, providing structured guidance in effective study strategies, wellness, and other academic successors is effective in improving academic performance of enrolled students.

“The benefit of academic intervention [through the Academic Development Program] increases each subsequent term, indicating that students can continue to develop and apply the skills they learned as they advance through the program,” Dr. Gilbert said.

Drs. Karnik and Gilbert also presented a study, “Does in person vs. synchronous remote attendance impact academic achievement?” It found that students performed better in small animal surgery courses when they attended inperson lectures rather than depending on the synchronous remote delivery of the same lectures.

Elsewhere, Dr. Hooper presented her research, “Transparency, reproducibility, and replicability of peer-reviewed analyses of veterinary medical education simulator studies,” on simulatorbased veterinary education. She found minimal data that supports simulator studies maintaining transparency, reproducibility, and replicability, the cornerstones of scientific literature.

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RUSVM

BECOMES FIRST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TO HOST APVMA NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN MARCH 2023, RUSVM BECAME THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL VETERINARY SCHOOL TO HOST THE AMERICAN PRE-VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (APVMA) NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM.

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T

he symposium is an annual event that offers prospective pre-veterinary students an opportunity to learn more about the field of veterinary medicine and speak with representatives from various veterinary schools.

The symposium provided RUSVM with a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and perspectives with other schools from around the world. This type of collaboration is critical to the development of future veterinary students and the advancement of veterinary education in general.

The event began with a keynote address from Matthew Brunke, DVM ’04, who is a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Veterinary

Referral Associates. Emillie Rose Weiss, DVM ’21, and Jordana Rosen, DVM ’05, joined Dr. Brunke as featured alumni speakers, as well as André Escobar, MV, MSc, PhD, Dipl. CBAV, Dipl.

ACVAA, assistant professor of anesthesiology at RUSVM, who presented a popular workshop on using blow darts to deliver anesthesia.

We hope the discussions and connections made during the symposium will continue to have a positive impact on the future of global veterinary medicine.

RUSVM is proud to share in the APVMA’s goal to promote and stimulate interest in veterinary medicine and share our knowledge and resources with students pursuing their dream to become veterinarians.

Dr. Emillie Rose Weiss, DVM ’21 will be the Keynote Speaker at the 2024 APVMA Symposium at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine

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FE AT U R E .

R U S V M

H O S T S

ASSOCIATION of MARINE LABORATORIES of THE CARIBBEAN’S 40th SCIENTIFIC MEETING I

n spring 2023, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed the 40th Scientific Meeting of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) to St. Kitts. The five-day event, hosted partly on RUSVM’s campus May 22–26, fostered discussions among global professionals on critical topics such as the current outbreak of coral diseases, coral restoration efforts, sargassum bloom, use of remote sensing and other techniques for coastal and marine science, sustainable coastal development and conservation, and more.

The meeting connected students, scientists, policymakers, practitioners, and others with an interest in marine science. Key leaders from organizations such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the Coral Reef Alliance, The Ocean Foundation, Mote Marine Laboratory, and more were in attendance.

“We are delighted that Ross Vet is hosting this event and we can showcase our university and the beautiful Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said RUSVM Dean Sean Callanan, MVB, CertVR, PhD, FRCPath, DipIECVP, FRCVS. “The program is strong and topical, and the attendees and AMLC delegates have rich experiences to lend to this program and advance knowledge in marine research.”

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T H E A M LC A N D R U S V M C O M E TO G E T H E R

RUSVM is one of the 38 institutional members of the AMLC, a confederation of marine research, education, and resource management institutions endeavoring to encourage the production and exchange of research and resource management information, advance the cause of marine and environmental education in the region, and facilitate cooperation and mutual assistance among its membership.

By bringing together participants from a broad collection of geographic and scientific specialties, the AMLC provides a platform for new marine science ideas, discoveries, and techniques and serves to expand regional and interdisciplinary collaborations throughout the Caribbean region. The biennial conference has seen a rapid growth in attendance over

the past few years as the only Caribbean-focused meeting of its kind.

Mark Freeman, BSc, PhD, professor of aquaculture and aquatic parasitology at RUSVM, currently serves as president of the AMLC board.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm at Ross Vet for the marine environment because of our location in St. Kitts,” he said. “The scientific meeting is quite timely, as aquatics is being inserted into the DVM curriculum this fall, so the timing to host this all sort of fits together and the students are excited about it.”

RUSVM students could attend the meeting as a volunteer or register as an attendee to participate in session topics throughout the week. Members of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association Student Chapter assisted with conference planning.

Dr. Freeman was also among several RUSVM faculty members to present their ongoing research during the week. Also participating were Anna Becker, DVM, MSc, PhD, associate professor of microbiology; Nicole Atherley, PhD, BSc, postdoctoral fellow; W. Brady Little, DVM, MSc, assistant professor of veterinary gross anatomy; and Maria Jose Navarrete Talloni, DVM, MPVM, PhD, assistant professor of anatomic pathology.

O N E H E A LT H : C O N N E CT I N G C OA S TA L A N D M A R I N E E C O SYS T E M S T H R O U G H SCI E NCE AN D PEOPLE

As host institution, RUSVM provided overall management of the meeting, arranging facilities for research presentations, receptions, and participant accommodations. Drs. Freeman, Becker, and Atherley took charge of the meeting’s organization guided by the AMLC’s theme: Connecting Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Through Science and People.

“Now more than ever, we realize that we’re all connected, especially from our perspective as an institution

that believes in One Health,” said Dr. Becker. “It’s important to consider that we all live in these ecosystems, and our location in St. Kitts allows us to see that interconnection between coastal and marine ecosystems.”

Per the meeting’s scientific program, the theme and subsequent topics encouraged presentations

“ Now more than ever we realize that we’re all connected, especially from our perspective as an institution that believes in One Health.”

on interdisciplinary, integrated science that examines interactions among biological, chemical, physical, and socioeconomic aspects of coastal and marine environments. In Dr. Freeman’s introductory letter enclosed in the Meeting Guide, he noted a near-record number of oral and poster presentation abstracts submitted in the scientific meeting’s first gathering post-pandemic.

Dr. Becker added: “We wanted to encourage in this program more than ever the role of citizen engagement and science. That interdisciplinary, integrated science approach defines the AMLC. We as veterinarians get the opportunity to mingle with biologists, oceanographers, legislators, policymakers from marine research institutes, from the Caribbean, United States, and South America. It broadens your perspective as a veterinarian and scientist to get that input.”

RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 23

53

RUSVM STUDENTS MATCH INTO RESIDENCY AND INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS THROUGH VIRMP IN MARCH 2023, THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY CELEBRATED ITS ANNUAL MATCH DAY THROUGH THE VETERINARY INTERNSHIP AND RESIDENCY MATCHING PROGRAM (VIRMP).

SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY CLINICIANS (AAVC), THE VIRMP IS DESIGNED TO CREATE AN OPTIMAL MATCH BETWEEN INTERNSHIP AND RESIDENCY CANDIDATES AND AVAILABLE PROGRAMS.

W

e’re thrilled for the 53 clinical and postgraduate students from Ross Vet who matched into 46 internships and seven residencies, which put RUSVM among the top five institutions placing the greatest number of applicants into residency and internship positions. Most of the positions began over the summer, and we hope our Rossies have found much success and continued growth in their respective specialties.

Veterinary students have the option to pursue internships and residencies to gain hands-on experience in their chosen field and continue their professional

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development after completing their formal education. Programs connect students with experienced veterinarians and other professionals in a clinical setting, providing them with the opportunity to observe and participate in a variety of medical procedures, treatments, or cases they may not encounter in a traditional classroom setting.

Congratulations to our Rossies on continuing your professional training through the match program! We are proud to see you take the next step and continue seeking new opportunities to advance yourselves and the veterinary field. Make us proud!

2023 RUSVM APPLICANTS MATCHED P OY E E C H E N G

CA

San Diego, California, USA Vca West Los Angeles Animal Hospital Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship T Z U -C H E N C H U Diamond Bar, California, USA The Animal Medical Center Internship — Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship YE R I N LI M El Cajon, California, USA The Ohio State University Internship — Small Animal Internal Medicine Research Internship ALLI SON TE U N I S Camarillo, California, USA VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship CH E LS EA TYLE R San Marcos, California, USA The Animal Medical Center Residency — Small Animal Surgery

L E X BA L D W I N

TX

Bryan, Texas, USA Kansas State University Internship — Equine Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship G U R S I M R I T TO O R Houston, Texas, USA University of Florida Small Animal Clinical Sciences Residency — IDEXX-Sponsored Residency in Diagnostic Imaging

RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 25

CA R O L I N E Q U OT I Z Z ATO E S T E V E S

FL

Miami, Florida, USA Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center Internship — Small Animal Surgical Internship K AT E LY N M E A K I N Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Internship — Small Animal Medicine Rotating Internship LAR I SSA M E N KE St. Augustine, Florida, USA Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center—North Hills Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship HAR R I SON PEAR L Sarasota, Florida, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—Tampa Internship — Small Animal Rotating Medicine and Surgery Internship SAMANTHA SOONG Gainesville, Florida, USA Friendship Hospital for Animals Internship — Small Animal Medicine, Surgery, and Emergency Rotating Internship

K AT H RY N B E R I S H

TN

Knoxville, Tennessee, USA Kansas State University Internship — Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship H E R D E ST B ETH E L Memphis, Tennessee, USA Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Residency — Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Residency KE LS EY DOE R I NG Nashville, Tennessee, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—Franklin Internship — Small Animal Rotating Medicine and Surgery Internship

ZAH I RA B U D EG U E R

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St. Paul, Minnesota, USA VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

E M M A E VA N S

MA

Brighton, Massachusetts, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—North Dallas Internship — Neurology D I L R A J G O R AYA Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA Veterinary Specialty Hospital of San Diego Internship — Surgical Internship M A N R A J G R E WA L Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship N ICHOLLE ROSS Grafton, Massachusetts, USA Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Internship — Small Animal Medicine and Surgery

G A B R I E L L A DA R B E N Z I O

PA

Dallas, Pennsylvania, USA Iowa State University Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

J U S T I N G A R R E T TO

VA

Blacksburg, Virginia, USA VCA Animal Specialty and Emergency Center Internship — Small Animal Specialty Internship (cardiology)

D R E Y TO N O L I VA

CO

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Garden State Veterinary Specialists Internship — Rotating Internship K AT H L E E N O ’N E I L L Aurora, Colorado, USA Colorado Animal Specialty & Emergency Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 27

S O P H I E H A J I A L I A K BA R

KS

Manhattan, Kansas, USA VCA California Veterinary Specialists—Carlsbad Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

M E L I S S A S A LV I O LO

NJ

Red Bank, New Jersey, USA Red Bank Veterinary Hospital Internship — Small Animal Medical and Surgical Rotating Internship

AD R IANA D IAZ

NY

Amityville, New York, USA Veterinary Specialty Center Internship — Small Animal Surgical Internship E LI ZAB ETH FI ECHTE R North Bellmore, New York, USA University of Missouri Internship — Comparative Medicine Program F R E D DY M A Z A South Floral Park, New York, USA Pieper Memorial Veterinary Hospitals Internship — Small Animal Surgical Internship R E B E C CA P U R DY Syracuse, New York, USA Garden State Veterinary Specialists Internship — Rotating Internship J E S S I CA S C H R A D E R Jamestown, New York, USA Neel Veterinary Hospital Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship CA I T L I N Y U N G Ithaca, New York, USA University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine Internship — Small Animal Oncology Resident

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D O RY M E R A Z

GA

Sandy Springs, Georgia, USA Sage Veterinary Imaging Internship — Diagnostic Imaging Internship

SAMANTHA NOR R I S

MD

Frederick, Maryland, USA University of Missouri Internship — Comparative Medicine Program S A R A H S TO L L Parkville, Maryland, USA Hope Advanced Veterinary Center Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

I VA N CA R D O N A

NC

Raleigh, North Carolina, USA University of Tennessee Internship — Diversity Enhancement Rotating Internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Z AC H A RY K A S S O N Raleigh, North Carolina, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—Conshohocken Internship — Surgery S C OT T R U B I N S T E I N Cary, North Carolina, USA Chesapeake Veterinary Surgical Specialists Internship — Surgical Internship M EGAN S I M EON Charlotte, North Carolina, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—Stone Oak Internship — Surgery Internship B RONWYN TU R N E R Naples, North Carolina, USA Pet + E.R. Internship — Emergency and Critical Care Internship KR I STE N WE N N I NG Raleigh, North Carolina, USA University of Tennessee Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

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N H U YE N NG UYE N

OR

Corvallis, Oregon, USA Access Specialty Animal Hospital—Los Angeles Residency — Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Residency

SY D N E Y O ’N E I L L

MI

Whitmore Lake, Michigan, USA Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital/Metropolitan Veterinary Referral Group Internship — Small Animal Surgery Internship

C H E L S E A S AU N D E R S

OH

Columbus, Ohio, USA VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

J E N N I FE R R US H

CT

Newtown, Connecticut, USA Mississippi State University Internship — Equine Medicine and Surgery Internship A S H L E Y VA S E L Wethersfield, Connecticut, USA Angell Animal Medical Center Internship — Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Internship

DY L A N T H O M A S

IL

Urbana, Illinois, USA Colorado State University Internship — Livestock Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship

E L I Z A B E T H M A N U KOV

SC

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Columbia, South Carolina, USA Carolina Veterinary Specialists Internship — Small Animal Surgery Internship

B R U C E G R AV E S

IN

Lafayette, Indiana, USA BluePearl Pet Hospital—Levittown Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship M O R G A N W E RY Noblesville, Indiana, USA Metropolitan Veterinary Associates Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

VA L E R I A VA N D E R DYS

OK

Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA VCA Southpaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

G EORG E R E I S MAN

ON

North York, Ontario, Canada Veterinary Emergency Clinic and Referral Centre Internship — Small Animal Rotating Internship

I N D I R A R OJ A S R I V E R A

PR

Coamo, Puerto Rico Friendship Hospital For Animals Internship — Small Animal Medicine, Surgery, and Emergency Rotating Internship

VIRMP connects students with experienced veterinarians and other professionals in a clinical setting, providing them with the opportunity to observe and participate in a variety of medical procedures, treatments, or cases they may not encounter in a traditional classroom setting.

ROSS VE T A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 31

Alumni-Sponsored Scholarships Continue to Make Students’ Dreams Come True Through the Empower Scholarship Fund RUSVM places a heightened emphasis on scholarship opportunities because we know that the decision to become a veterinarian is both a major life decision and a financial commitment. We partner with organizations and sponsorled initiatives that share the same goal of providing greater access to education regardless of economic barriers.

One of our partners, the Empower Scholarship Fund, helps keep education within reach for qualified students.

Since 2016, it has awarded more than 2,700 scholarships totaling more than $5 million to students attending Adtalem Global Education institutions, including RUSVM. Every year, RUSVM offers multiple scholarships made possible thanks to the support and generosity of the alumni network. Below, read about some of the latest recipients to be honored with an alumni-sponsored scholarship.

JIASHI FENG

SIDHARTH PAUL

TAYLOR THOENY

TYRA EGGERT

Class of ’25 RUSVM Alumni Action Council Scholarship

Class of ’24 Dr. Lanse T. Fox Memorial Scholarship

Class of ’25 Dr. Michael Buedel Veterinary Scholarship

Class of ’24 Dr. Michael Zareski Memorial Scholarship

To me, the most significant impact of this scholarship award is the recognition and responsibility that it carries. Not only does this scholarship help me financially, but it also further motivates me to work harder and represent Rossies to the best of my ability.

I feel more validated because this award is decided by the RUSVM alumni who have walked in my shoes. I can’t wait for the day I can finally join them.”

Receiving the Dr. Lanse T. Fox Memorial Scholarship means a lot to me. It is a privilege to be chosen for these awards, and I feel very blessed in the pursuit of my dream career of a veterinarian. This will help me focus on my education and achieve my goal of taking care of animals in need. After I graduate in 2024, I plan to work in shelter medicine, so I am able to help animals that are often overlooked and underrepresented.”

Beyond lessening my current student loan burden, this award demonstrates how far my passion and resilience have led me in this field.

Thank you again to Dr. Michael Buedel for this recognition.”

I am very thankful to Susan and Karen Zareski, Michael’s mother and sister.

This award is not only helping fund my education, but it helps instill confidence in me as a student. I had a lot of doubts about attending veterinary school… but receiving awards such as this one helps make me feel confident that I made the right decision. Receiving support like this only makes me more motivated to continue performing well in my studies as I soon move on to my clinical year. Thank you for helping me pursue my dreams and reduce any doubts I had. I am so grateful for the help.”

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JOB POSTINGS

LOOKING TO FILL INTERNSHIPS OR FULL-TIME/ PART-TIME POSITIONS AT YOUR PRACTICE?

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine is happy to work to build relationships between your organization and RUSVM alumni. Listing your openings with RUSVM can provide you with increased exposure to quality practitioners from a variety of specialties. Support the RUSVM community of alumni and enhance your organization by recruiting and hiring fellow Rossies.

Please email RUSVMemployers@rossvet.edu.kn.

RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 33

A L U M N I S P O T L I G H T.

ALUMNA ALEA HARRISON, DVM ’06,

APPOINTED TO CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF BANFIELD PET HOSPITAL FOR ALEA HARRISON, DVM ’06, THE INSPIRATION FOR HER PURSUIT OF A CAREER IN VETERINARY MEDICINE WAS CREATING MEANINGFUL IMPACT THROUGH TREATING PETS. AS THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER (CMO) OF BANFIELD PET HOSPITAL, HER LATEST CAREER ENDEAVOR BRINGS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPACT PET TREATMENT FOR THOUSANDS OF VETERINARIANS AND THEIR CLIENTS NATIONWIDE.

A H O M E -G R OW N O P P O R T U N I T Y

F O S T E R I N G T E A M - BA S E D CA R E

Dr. Harrison started her career at Banfield in 2006 immediately following her graduation from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM). She has served in several medical leadership roles throughout her tenure, first beginning as an associate doctor practicing at Banfield locations in Willoughby, Ohio, and Pineville, North Carolina.

“Having been raised in our hospitals, that is a perspective that keeps me grounded every single day,” said Dr. Harrison. “The hospital-centric mindset is critical especially for the trials and tribulations that we face today. If we are going to truly deliver a better world for our people and the pets they support, keeping that hospital-centric mindset is crucial.”

Her personal experiences treating pets and building strong relationships with clients helped shape what will now be the wisdom, leadership, resources, and strategies she shares with Banfield’s nearly 4,000 veterinarians to make informed, best-in-practice treatment decisions rooted in the latest medical research.

In the three months since taking office, Dr. Harrison’s first priorities were to ensure the continuation of foundational work being carried out by her predecessors. Initiatives to promote safer anesthetic procedures and lessen heartworm disease remain ongoing, but the new role is an opportunity for Dr. Harrison to forge new paths and priorities for both Banfield and the broader field of veterinary medicine.

“As I sit in this position, one thing is very clear and that is our need for more veterinarians in the profession. We must look at the shortage of veterinarians and look at a culture where we could do things differently.

For me, that embodies an environment where we truly foster team-based care, and that is going to allow a greater effectiveness on how we deliver care and quality outcomes.”

A team-based model of care strives to meet patient needs and preferences by including patients as full participants in their care while supporting every member of the care team, from doctor to technician, to function to their fullest extent. Most importantly, according to Dr. Harrison, it provides access to care where pets that need to be seen across all spectrums of veterinary medicine could receive the services they need.

“It takes all of us to drive our profession forward,” she says. “There is a vital importance of medical quality and how that quality is going to dictate how we show up every day for every pet, every client, every associate.”

The passion for veterinary medicine and dedication to quality of care is something that comes innately to Dr. Harrison. As far back as her childhood in Boston, Massachusetts, long before the last two decades spent at RUSVM and Banfield, this path in life was always the vision. Within the home movies and videos her father keeps is a video of an 8-year-old Alea answering questions like ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ and replying with one swift and firm response - a veterinarian.

“I wanted to take care of animals. It was always in me.”

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“ I am now afforded this amazing opportunity to help support veterinarians and veterinary professionals at a much larger scale, and that was all made possible through my time at Ross Vet.” Vet’s Alea Harrison, DVM ’06

VA L U I N G D I V E R S I T Y, E Q U I T Y, A N D I N C L U S I O N

ALL POSS I B LE TH ROUG H ROSS VET

Dr. Harrison studied biology and biological sciences at North Carolina Central University. After her senior year, she enrolled in an introductory veterinary summer program that connected her to four students on their way to RUSVM. She started researching the opportunity to attend RUSVM, contacted recruiters, heard stories directly from other students, and was enrolled shortly after.

She recalls something felt completely different in the way RUSVM saw her. “I most appreciated the inclusivity and intimacy that I was not made to be just an enrollment number. I felt valued.”

From Ross Vet to today, Dr. Harrison has always been advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in veterinary medicine. Being the first Black woman to be appointed CMO at Banfield makes her a trailblazer in the field. More personally, it’s a recognition she hopes enhances the notion to aspiring veterinary leaders that you don’t have to fit the traditional mold and our differences should be embraced.

“Where I might sit here as the first Black woman in this role, I won’t be the last and it’s important for me to share my story and the stories of others who may sit in similar roles throughout the profession to understand what’s possible and celebrate that.”

Outside her day-to-day roles, she also volunteers with Banfield’s Associate-led POWER Diversity Resource Group. Though it has already been a lifetime commitment, her new role brings a refreshed motivation and increased access to continue advocating for change across veterinary medicine.

“There are vast opportunities in this profession, and to be in a position where I could enhance those and truly have impact for the better… We must start centering our focuses around quality of care, but to receive that quality care we must diversify our pipeline to be able to create access for these patients to get in.”

As her career in veterinary medicine reaches new heights, Dr. Harrison never forgets the foundation RUSVM laid in getting her to this point. Just a mention of St. Kitts is enough to bring a huge smile to her face and endless memories from her time as a student.

“I am now afforded this amazing opportunity to help support veterinarians and veterinary professionals at a much larger scale, and that was all made possible through my time at Ross Vet. There is something about being uprooted from your familiar surroundings and being embraced by this university that taught me a skillset that wasn’t available to me through a book. It was through life lessons, and I learned so many things from a leadership standpoint that I didn’t realize it when I was in it. That’s what Ross Vet gave me, and I hope any student now given the same opportunity takes advantage of it, sees the positives of their opportunity, and drives that forward.”

Learn more about how your passion for animal health can lead you to a world of possibilities here.

RUSV M A LU M N I M AG A ZI NE / W I NTER 2024 / 35

CL A S S NO T E S .

C L A S S O F 2 0 12

CLAS S OF 2018

C H A D H A R R I S , D V M ’ 12 , past president of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation (TVMF), joined Dr. Tracy McAdoo, current president of TVMF, on the “Veterinary Vitals” podcast to discuss giving back to the profession. Dr. Harris touched on TVMF’s accomplishments and talked about the importance of veterinary professionals. “Giving back is something that is imperative to our industry. The reason we became veterinarians was to mainly help pets, but a lot of people figure out very soon you’re not just here for the pets…,” said Dr. Harris. “It’s really important for us to remember that while we are here for the animals, we’re also here for the humans. We are the other family doctor.”

S A R A S T E I N , D V M ’18 , started her business Peaceful Paws in northern Michigan to offer in-home euthanasia services for pets. “I love being able to provide a peaceful environment for both the pet and owners during this end-of-life procedure,” she says. Congratulations to Dr. Stein on finding her calling and providing a much-needed service in her community.

CLASS OF 2021 Congratulations to A D R I E N N E P I N K S , D V M ’ 2 1 , who was named chief of staff at All Creature Features Animal Hospital in La Porte, Indiana. Dr. Pinks counts exotic companion animals, senior pet care, and “all things feline” among her favorite areas of practice.

I T WA S G R E AT TO S E E S O M A N Y R O S S I E S AT O U R A L U M N I E V E N T S I N 2 0 2 3 !

CLASS OF 2001 R O N I T B E R D U G O , D V M ’ 01 , is co-founder of Vet Holidays (www.vetholidays.com/about), a vet continuing education (CE) experience that also recognizes the importance of veterinarians’ well-being. In June, Vet Holidays will hold a retreat-style conference in Colorado. One of the featured speakers will be N I C O L E T R E N H O L M E , D V M ’ 13 , who is board certified in both small animal emergency and critical care and veterinary anesthesia and pain management.

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We were excited to connect with many of you at multiple events, especially those in conjunction with major conferences last year. We had a strong turnout for the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) convention, Western Veterinary Conference (WVC), American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) convention, and the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX). It was also great to see Rossies at the Big Apple Veterinary Mixer that was co-sponsored with the Veterinary Medical Association of New York City.

S E E YO U S O O N !

Look for details regarding RUSVM alumni events during the WVC in February and AVMA convention in June.

Our mission is to foster a robust community of active alumni through encouraging lifelong relationships with each other and with RUSVM.

Office of Alumni Engagement 630 US Highway One, Suite 2031 North Brunswick, NJ 08902

TELEPHONE: 732-898-0002 EMAIL: rusvmalumni@rossu.edu WEBSITE: veterinary.rossu.edu/alumni

@RossVetSchool

Save the Date NOVE M B E R 3-8, 2024

Mark your calendars for the 2024 West Indies Veterinary Conference on the beautiful island of St. Kitts—an expert program of continuing education for veterinary professionals and an opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni.

Registration Details Coming Soon!

© 2024 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. All rights reserved.

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s DVM degree program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE) 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173 Tel: 800.248.2862 | Email: MMaresh@avma.org