Summer 2022 RUSVM Alumni Magazine

SUMMER 2022 / ALUMNI MAGAZINE

YEARS OF ROSSIE MENTORSHIP

THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE FOR ROSS UNIVERSIT Y SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

DEAR RUSVM ALUMNI, On January 9th, I started my role as the first Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at RUSVM, and it feels amazing to work on something that I am truly passionate about.

My passion for this work is also personal, because as an educator, researcher, and advocate, I’ve spent much of my life working to help children and young adults develop their knowledge of science and veterinary medicine with a focus on mentoring girls and underrepresented minorities. My life story, as well as my alternative career path, help to bring these topics onto the table, and to have these conversations is important within the veterinary profession.

The main task as Assistant Dean for DEI is to develop a strategic plan that creates cultural change and supports student and employee success equitably and inclusively—a strategy that D R . M A R Í A J O S É N AVA R R E T E TA L L O N I impacts our entire community and elevates the voices of all of our members. As we start this new journey, we need to make an intentional effort to incorporate changes that will be sustainable and meaningful. Our students have amazing talents, and we must provide them with an environment that they will need in order to thrive, grow these talents, and potentiate them.

These changes cannot be implemented on paper. They need to be real, tangible changes that are integrated into the RUSVM structure, such as the plans to modify and include transversally DEI topics in the curriculum, through the curriculum review. We will be enhancing our commitment to training students and colleagues in diversity and inclusion, as well as to listening to their needs and concerns. We will continue to work through the Diversity Committee, which will provide us a dedicated team to work on the by-laws and implementation of the DEI Task Force recommendations and translate them into actions. Of course, we will incorporate the St. Kitts and Nevis community and local government to enhance the impact of these steps.

These are challenging—yet also amazing—times, because we are changing the veterinary culture, and we are doing it now.

I invite you to join us in this effort—this cannot be done without you and your experiences. Your lives are examples for today’s and future Rossies.

María José Navarrete Talloni, DVM MPVM PhD she / her / ella Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology

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PASS IT ON

SUMMER 2022.

Sean Callanan, MVB CertVR MRCVS PhD FRCPath DiplECVP Dean

Rossies pay it forward to the next generation of alumni. Our alumni share experiences of giving back and mentoring.

Mary Mauldin Pereira ’05 DVM MSc Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations

MANY ROSSIES, ONE PRACTICE

Colleen Glenney Manager of Alumni Relations

West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center in Huntington, New York just happens to have twelve RUSVM alumni working between two of the four locations. We connect with them on working together and what makes a Rossie… a Rossie.

MAKE THE MOST OF MENTORING Many of our WIVC sponsors have dedicated mentoring programs to help new veterinarians get started in the profession and grow. Learn how different businesses are building their programs.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS

Dan Ciaglia Colleen Glenney Becky Holton Janice Jensen Melissa Kvidahl-Reilly Kristine Lester Mary Mauldin Pereira MAGAZINE PROJECT MANAGERS

Colleen Glenney Kristine Lester

MATCHED INTERNSHIPS & RESIDENCIES Oh, the places they’re going! Nearly 70 Rossies matched through VIRMP during the 2022 cycle.

Read more about where they’re going and advice for applying for an internship or residency.

DESIGN

Peter Gialloreto Howard Design Group, Inc. Princeton, NJ

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE. Mentorship Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Faculty Spotlight: Cynthia Xue, DVM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Faculty Spotlight: Natalie Ragland, DVM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 2022 Graduation Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Alumni Action Council News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 One Love Pets, Basseterre Animal Rescue Center, and Medicine Rotations . . . . . . . . 36 Empower Scholarship Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Research Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 New Beginnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Event Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Relations 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.

ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2022 / 1

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JOB POSTINGS

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

THANK YOU

A big Rossie shoutout to our amazing Alumni Ambassadors who represented the alumni community at one of our in-person or virtual admissions events this spring, including: ALEX ADLER MCGRATH ’14 JENNY TAM ’12 AUDREY STEVENS ’14 NISHA SANATHARA ’11 KATELYN BEHM ’20 BOAZ MAN ’04 LAURA WATERBURY ’14 ASHLEY ZIEGLER ’16 SAMANTHA LIEBERMAN ’08 VALERIE MORALES COLL ’21 CHAD HARRIS ’12 DANIELLE SHEARER ’16 JAZMEEN SULEMAN ’20

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PAWSIBILITIES VET MED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that proactively increases all forms of diversity within the veterinary profession through mentorship, professional development, and resources to all intersecting identities including but not limited to ability, ethnicity, gender identity, non-traditional paths, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, religion, and veteran status.

Pawsibilities Vet Med is for pre-veterinary students, veterinary students, veterinary technician students, veterinary technicians, and veterinarians from underrepresented backgrounds based on disability status, ethnicity, gender, non-traditional path, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, and veteran status.

Because everyone has something to learn and everyone has something to offer, Pawsibilities encourages allies in the veterinary field to sign up as mentors.

More information on how to join the Pawsibilities platform as a mentor and/or mentee can be found at pawsibilitiesvetmed.com/join-us, where individuals can create an account and complete a required 1.5-hour training on Inclusive Mentoring. After completion of the training, individuals receive a certificate and instructions for creating a profile to access the mentoring platform, all free of charge to the user.

To support Pawsibilities through donations, which go directly to the maintenance and expansion of their mentoring platform and the delivery of events like educational webinars, please visit pawsibilitiesvetmed.com/give.

For information on ways to partner with Pawsibilities Vet Med and any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at: pawsibilitiesvetmed.com/contact.

ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2022 / 5

FE AT U R E .

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE STEPPING OFF THE PLANE THAT FIRST DAY AS AN RUSVM VETERINARY STUDENT, AND FEELING COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED ON THE TARMAC. BUT THESE ROSSIES WERE LUCKY TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HELP AND PREPARATION FROM RUSVM ALUMNI, WHETHER IT WAS IN THE FORM OF WORK EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, ENCOURAGEMENT, OR ALL THREE.

By M elissa Kvidahl-Reilly

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1. D R. WESHEFSKY AND HIS FATHER ON CAMPUS IN 1986 2. D R. WESHEFSKY WITH HIS WIFE LINDA IN ST KITTS 3. D R. WESHEFSKY AND DR. COHEN

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DR. RACHEL COHEN DVM ’18 & DR. TONY WESHEFSKY DVM ’88

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achel Cohen got her first job at age 16, feeding the animals, cleaning cages, and generally helping out at Community Animal Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey. She worked there until college, and even picked up shifts between semesters when she was home from school. “I immediately noticed, from when I first started working there, that Dr. Weshefsky was the veterinarian who always stayed calm and steady handed, even in the most stressful situations,” Cohen says. “When everyone else seemed to be freaking out, Dr. Weshefsky was even keeled, and talked through each situation calmly to make the best decision.” By the time Cohen was an undergraduate student, she started picking his brain about veterinary schools—and found out he went to RUSVM. “It was

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the first time I considered RUSVM,” she recalls. “But it became very clear that many of the things that made him the vet I looked up to came from living on the island and attending RUSVM.” So Cohen started asking for more details.

Weshefsky shared stories about his time on the island, and how adapting to living there equipped him with unique life skills that eventually became invaluable to his practice as a veterinarian. “I never thought of it as mentoring,” he says. “I thought of it as doing my job to teach her what I knew.” But the truth is that Weshefsky is actually a seasoned mentor who loves teaching other vets. In fact, he’s a four year veteran of a summer program that provides free medical and surgical care and training at Native American reservations, and he’s also part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. “Mentoring

can actually be very easy to incorporate into your day,” he says. “Be a good communicator, and be the best person and doctor you can. An eager young mind will be influenced by you, and you will help them reach their full potential.”

So even though traveling abroad for veterinary school was intimidating, Cohen was bolstered by Weshefsky’s advice and experience. “I heard some horror stories about the competitive environment at US vet schools, like people being unhelpful study partners or looking to one-up one another, and I really didn’t want that,” she says. “I wanted a sense of community and that’s what I envisioned myself having at RUSVM.” Before she left for St. Kitts, the staff at Community Animal Hospital presented her with a scrapbook of photos and notes of encouragement. On Weshefsky’s page was a picture of him

“Be a good communicator, and be the best person and doctor you can. An eager young mind will be influenced by you, and you will help them reach their full potential.”

at a bar in St. Kitts, and his message was clear: “He told me to work hard and never forget why I was there, but to also remember to enjoy everything the island has to offer,” Cohen said. “His love for RUSVM prepared me in knowing that even if it was scary at first, it would be worth it. He was right.

I loved veterinary school so much, it gave me the most important people in my life, and I would make that decision 10 times over again.”

Upon returning to the states a newly minted veterinarian, Cohen decided to work full time at Community Animal Hospital (after interviews at 11 different practices, she points out, to ensure she wasn’t choosing what she considered to be the comfortable choice). And her experience on the island began to shape her practice immediately. “One of the first cases I saw was a man who brought in a dog that desperately needed to be seen, and everyone at the hospital was very upset and wondering why he waited so long to bring his dog in,” she recalls. “I saw the case from a totally different perspective. I sympathized with this man who maybe couldn’t afford to bring his dog in until then. I didn’t think about my perspective being different from other vets at the time, but I realize now this was something RUSVM taught me so innately and something Dr. Weshefsky also passed on: learning to work with whatever situation has been handed to you, and not judge others by how they present themselves or what they’re presenting their animal with.”

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“St. Kitts is such a great place to live… I wanted to encourage Grace to embrace the opportunity to meet people and get involved.”

GRACE PECHMAN, FIRST YEAR STUDENT, DR. STEPHANIE BROCK DVM ’18 & DR. MATT BROCK DVM ’18

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race Pechman knew she wanted to go to RUSVM for veterinary school from the moment she took a tour of the campus while on a family vacation in 2017. Three years later, when she landed a job at a Green Bay, Wisconsin emergency clinic as a rising college senior, she was thrilled to find out that two of the doctors there were Rossies themselves. “Before working at BluePearl Pet Hospital, I didn’t know a single person who went to RUSVM, so it was nice to be able to ask them questions,” Pechman says, whether touching on broad issues such as what it’s like on the island, to specific things like how to set up a bank account there.

And, the feeling was mutual.

“We’ve mentored a handful of kids who have all gone on to different schools, but mentoring Grace was special because she was headed to RUSVM,” says Stephanie Brock. “We knew exactly what she’d be going through, and that it was important to help her prepare for the academic side of things, but it was equally important to prepare for island life and what it means to live so far away from home while you completed veterinary school.”

Indeed, Matthew Brock recalls a distinct conversation he had with Pechman, about embracing the culture on St. Kitts and taking advantage of the island’s challenges to become a unique type of veterinarian. “St. Kitts is such a great place to live, and we talked about that a lot,” he says. “I wanted to encourage her to embrace

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the opportunity to meet people and get involved.”

Stephanie and Matt discussed with Pechman the challenge of handling a big academic load, while making time for fun and friends. And, they encouraged her every step of the way. They walked Pechman through procedures and physical exams, explained how to interpret ultrasound images, and shared findings under the microscope. “They always explained what they were doing and why they were doing it very clearly,” Pechman says. “They took the time to teach me even under the pressure of the ER.” They also supported her while she applied to RUSVM, completed her interview, and readied herself to leave.

Pechman was even at the clinic when she got the call she was admitted (“Dr. Matthew Brock was the doctor on shift when I received the call, and he congratulated me while I cried tears of joy,” Pechman recalls).

For Stephanie, it’s all about paying it forward. “The biggest thing I gained from my mentor was confidence,” she says. “The approachability of my mentors allowed me to grow quickly and gain confidence in my abilities. To have the opportunity now to shape and inspire future colleagues as a mentor is huge.”

“It’s important to give back and be a mentor because these veterinary students will graduate and work right next to us side by side in the future,” Matt agrees. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to watch several young people that we’ve worked with grow as students and veterinarians in their own right.”

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4. DR. STEPHANIE BROCK AND DR. MATT BROCK 5. G RACE PECHMAN WITH ASIAN WATER MONITOR 6. GRACE PECHMAN WITH RUSVM DONKEY

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FE AT U R E .

MANY ROSSIES, ONE PRACTICE

COLLEEN: How about you, Dr. Langdon?

By Colleen Glenney

West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center in Huntington, New York, is a full-service general practice, emergency, and specialty hospital that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week… and they just happen to have twelve Rossies working between two of the four locations. I sat down with five of them one night to talk about their paths and how mentorship plays into their day-to-day work.

COLLEEN: Thank you all for being here!

It was so exciting to learn that there are so many Rossies within the West Hills family. Let’s start with you all telling me about your RUSVM journeys.

COLLEEN: So, the lead doctor, Doctor Coren, does he just love Rossies? I mean, he must, right?

KIM MELONI ’11: I knew I wanted to be a vet from day one. So, that was always the goal in my mind. When I was an undergrad, I didn’t have a lot of great guidance in the way of people encouraging me. My GPA was not necessarily good, and it definitely caused difficulties for me going forward.

I took a year off between college and vet school and worked with a few doctors that had graduated from RUSVM, and I just really loved the way that they practice.

RUSVM hadn’t even really been on my radar, and my parents preferred that I not go out of the country for vet school. But once I met these Rossies and worked with them, I really liked the way they practiced and communicated with clients. So, I thought, “I really want to go to RUSVM. I want to apply here.” Once I graduated in 2011, I worked at another practice for a year, and one of the girls who went to RUSVM with me and worked the overnight ER shift at West Hills told me they were looking to hire doctors and asked if she could give the hiring team my name.

JESSICA LANGDON ’21: It seems like it!

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DR. MELONI: That’s it.

KRISTIE WILLIAMS ’16: I think he realizes how good we all are.

MELISSA EISBRUCK ’04: Because we’re awesome.

COLLEEN: Dr. Shoop, let’s go to you. Tell us about your experience, how you got into vet med, why you went to RUSVM, and then how you got to West Hills?

LINDSEY SHOOP ’21: I wasn’t always 100% sure that I was going to vet school. It just never really seemed like a realistic thing for me. For undergrad, I went to the University of Rhode Island for physical therapy. They had an animal science program, and sometime during my undergrad track, I realized that I hated the physical therapy route. So,

WEST HILLS ANIMAL HOSPITAL AND EMERGENCY CENTER HUNTINGTON, NEW YORK

I switched majors to animal science, and I did what I could to graduate on time with the credits I needed to get my degree. Luckily, it turned out to be enough to get into RUSVM. I had talked to a couple of people that went to RUSVM, and everyone just had such good things to say about it.

They all had really good experiences.

So, I applied and got in. Just from talking to so many different people, so many things felt right about RUSVM. There were so many open-minded people who all come from such different walks of life and ended up at RUSVM. I was able to get all these different experiences through the people I met.

After graduation, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to do an internship at the University of Michigan or go straight into practice—I never felt that confident that I was ready for practice.

Dr. Langdon had posted something on our Rossie Vets Facebook page about an opening for an internship at West Hills, and I thought, “This sounds like me!” So, I reached out to Erma (the hiring manager) at West Hills and everything just kind of worked itself out.

I’m still in my internship right now. I’m a little more than halfway through.

DR. LANGDON: Ever since I was little, I’ve always wanted to be a vet. I grew up horseback riding, which kind of strengthened that feeling. I applied to about 15 vet schools. I got into RUSVM, but I was really nervous to go there at first because I always thought the island schools had this weird stigma, and so I wasn’t sure if I was going to be taken professionally. But I talked to a bunch of RUSVM grads who made me feel better about it. They didn’t feel any weird stigma, and they weren’t being treated differently than anybody else.

They felt like their education was just as strong as anyone who went to a non-island school. I loved it down there. If I had to do it again, I probably would have only applied to RUSVM because I loved it so much. I met so many different people that are now lifelong friends. I had so much fun with the locals there also, and just the whole culture. I cried when I left the island.

When I was in classes, Dr. Ryan Cavanaugh, Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery, made a point in class one day that really stuck with me. He said, “I think all veterinarians should do an internship so that way they’re more practiceready.” Dr. Cavanaugh is an oncology expert, and I knew that he probably said that for a reason, so I really took that to heart. I always knew I wanted to do at least an internship. After graduation, I wanted to be home again because I had been gone for so long. I really loved that West Hills had so many Rossies whom I could learn from. I trusted their education because I came from the same school. What really convinced me was a conversation with Dr. Williams when she was doing surgery. I was talking to her about what the practice is like compared to what she thought it would be. I’ve learned so much. There are around 22 doctors whom you can learn from. You get so many different perspectives. Dr. Boccia for example—he’s one of the oldest from RUSVM who works at West Hills, and he has so many different perspectives compared to some of the younger doctors.

WEST HILLS 3 ROSSIES: left JESSICA LANGDON ’21 EMERGENCY DOCTOR middle JESSICA FERRARA ’22 ROTATING INTERN right LINDSEY SHOOP ’21 ROTATING INTERN

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COLLEEN: You know, everyone I meet talks about how awesome and how prepared Rossies are. We have people contacting us all the time, saying “We want to hire a Rossie! We want to hire a Rossie!” And it’s not just other Rossies saying that—it’s across the board. And while I think that there was that stigma once upon a time, now it’s turned around completely. Now the reputation is that if you went to RUSVM, you are super prepared in ways that other schools can’t prepare you, just based on what you’ve dealt with in being on the island.

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“Rossies get so much more hands-on experience.

There’s so much more of a collaborative approach.”

DR. EISBRUCK: Yeah. I don’t know if this is everyone else’s experience, but my experience at RUSVM was definitely that it was hard being there, and you had to really want it. But you know everyone who was there really, really wanted it and made it the experience that it was.

DR. MELONI: For sure.

COLLEEN: Right. And then you’re just so tight with your classmates because you’ve gone through this together and it just can’t compare to anything else.

Dr. Williams, let’s hear your story.

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I liked it so much that I decided to stay, and now I’m a full-time emergency doctor at West Hills. I convinced Dr. Shoop and some of the other Rossies to join the team and two more Rossies are here for internships.

COLLEEN: It’s a Rossie explosion! Dr. Eisbruck, tell us about your journey.

DR. EISBRUCK: I graduated from RUSVM in December 2003 and started practicing in 2004. I applied to a bunch of vet schools and RUSVM was the only one I got into right away. I was deferred for a year at another school. But I thought to myself, “What am I going to do, work at The Gap for a year?” I had wanted to be a vet since the womb; anyone who sees me now, whom I knew when I was a kid, says “You always wanted to be a vet. You did it!” For me, there was no other option

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(although my dad was a dentist and he wanted me to apply to dental school).

I grew up on Long Island, so (RUSVM) it was a big adjustment. But it was the time of my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

It was such an amazing experience for me personally. My best friend from RUSVM, my study partner who lives in LA—even with the different time zones, we have managed to stay friends all of these years. And professionally, I worked my tail off down there. Before I graduated, I had applied for an internship at a private practice in New York City, and everybody told me, “You’re not going to get it. There are six spots and you’re a Rossie—you’re not going to get it.” I decided to also apply for jobs at the same time to be safe. I did end up getting the internship… but the day before, I had accepted a job at a doctor’s practice that paid a lot more money and was a lot closer to my apartment. So, I took the job and had

“on-the-job training.” During the COVID-19 lockdown, I decided I needed a change, so I sent out my resume one night at 7:00 pm, and by 9:00 pm I had five interviews lined up for the next two days. I interviewed at a bunch of places. I met Dr. Williams and Dr, Meloni and I really loved their practice.

In regard to the island stigma, I think that Rossies have gotten a bit of an unfair reputation. When I got to Cornell Vet School for clinics, the couple of us who were Rossies were rockstars—our surgery skills were amazing. We blew those “kids” out of the water, hands down. And then when I applied for the internship in the city that had six spots, and everyone told me that they don’t take Rossies—I got the internship!

RUSVM gave me so much confidence in everything I learned there. And so here I am. I’ve now worked solely with the West Hills family since August 2021.

DR. WILLIAMS: Where do I begin? I always knew I wanted to be a vet my whole life, ever since I was a little kid. I actually have pretty horrible vasovagal syncope, so it took me a really long time to get over being able to use needles and do all this stuff we do without passing out. For a little while, I didn’t know that I was going to actually be able to overcome it. But I did.

When I was picking colleges and planning to go away to school, I knew I needed to pick a school that had an animal science or pre-vet track. So, I went to Penn State. I had a great time there and got a great undergrad education. Then I applied to a bunch of vet schools, like a lot of people. I only got into RUSVM and Western, but Western’s program did not resonate with me. It was a really new program, and my mom’s cousin is a vet who graduated from RUSVM. He loved it and he had been talking to me about his experience at RUSVM since I was a little kid. And then, throughout the years, I’ve met many vets that have gone to RUSVM,

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1. JONATHAN BINGHAM 2. JESSICA LANGDON 3. VANESSA HAMMER 4. JESSICA FERRARA 5. CARMINE BOCCIA

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and the program seemed like a really good opportunity. So, I went to RUSVM and had the most amazing experience.

Living in a foreign country with totally different cultural values was an invaluable experience. I just feel so much more worldly for everything that I experienced living there, and the education is, I think, unmatched. Rossies get so much more hands-on experience. There’s so much more of a collaborative approach. I feel we have a lot more technical skills coming out of the school. I think our interpersonal skills are better. There were just so many benefits to being a student there that we all carry through our careers.

Initially, I was planning to become a boarded surgeon, so after I graduated, I did an internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City, which is an extremely difficult internship to get into.

At the time, they were not super keen on Rossies so much like every place is now.

So, it was a bit more of an uphill battle to get that internship. However, my education and my skills stood for themselves, so I was never treated like an outcast. I had an

awesome experience there. That was one of the hardest years of my life. And then I went on and did a surgical internship at the BluePearl Veterinary Partners across the borough. I’m from Long Island, and I grew up five minutes away from West Hills, which has always been a staple in the community since I was a little kid. In fact, my first dog ever came from a pet store that has an affiliation with West Hills—we took him there for his first appointment.

So, I’ve known the practice my whole life.

I interviewed at West Hills and a couple of other smaller daytime practices on Long Island. And I just knew that my education would be able to continue to grow at West Hills rather than… not squander, but maybe stagnate. I wasn’t going to have anywhere near as much mentorship as I would at West Hills. And I love it to this day. I love the fact that West Hills has such a huge group of doctors, and we all work so well together. Even now, I’m at one of our satellite practices with Dr. Meloni and Dr. Eisbruck, but it’s still like being in an extension of the hospital—there’s so much collaboration and we all really love that.

COLLEEN: So, you’ve all touched on mentorship and how it’s played out in your journeys, but do any of you have any specific stories about how another Rossie mentored you, either through West Hills or in another aspect?

DR. MELONI: I said this to Dr. Williams and Dr. Eisbruck the other day. When I came in, it was with the goal of me being back at the Locust Valley satellite office, then buying it as a partner and essentially running that practice there. I don’t get to spend a lot of time physically with the other staff over at West Hills, because I am only at the Locust Valley location.

It’s just been so great having the two of them there with me now in the office, knowing that because we all went to RUSVM, we all practice very similar medicine, even though we all graduated at different times. I feel like I’m still learning every day from both of them.

It’s such a cool thing knowing that we all went through the same experience, and so it continues now with each other every day. It’s a really good thing.

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6. KIMBERLY MELONI 7. KRISTEN SZENDREY 8. MELISSA EISBRUCK 9. DIANA PIROLO

8

DR. EISBRUCK: I 100% agree. I think that there is such camaraderie and knowing that we all slaved through the same years of our life on that island and had similar education—we all practice relatively the same way. We have similar values and views on how we see veterinary medicine.

When I came to Locust Valley, knowing that I’m significantly older than both Dr. Meloni and Dr. Williams, I love the fact that they graduated way after me and can teach me new things, and I can teach them things, and we can talk about the things that we do that are all the same.

It really is like learning for all of us. I think that every day that we’re there together.

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7

DR. WILLIAMS: Another thing that’s important to say is that because we now have a specialty facility, boarded specialists, and a huge, very busy emergency service over at West Hills, there is so much collaboration that we

can do among all the different services.

We have the awesome ability to just pick up the phone and page over to a specialist or over to the emergency service, even if we’re not physically in the same building. We have so much of that at our disposal—so many different layers of education and levels of education in all of the doctors that we work with. That’s definitely something unique to our group that isn’t necessarily available elsewhere unless you’re at a specialty hospital, referral center, or university. We have the best of both worlds. We have a general practice, we have an emergency practice, and we have a specialty practice, and that’s just a really cool thing as far as improving our skills and knowledge every single day as general practitioners.

DR. LANGDON: That’s a large reason why I stayed here. I graduated in January 2021 and started my internship pretty

quickly at West Hills, and I love that there is the general practice and emergency service there. They were going to let me do the surgeries pretty shortly after shadowing. Secondarily, I can just walk next door and talk to the boarded specialists about whatever I need help with. I’ve even called one of the surgeons on FaceTime to help me during surgery.

How often can you do that? It’s crazy.

Even our theriogenologist next door is a Rossie. I learned so much during my internship, and I just wanted to keep learning through all these amazing doctors.

That’s why I wanted to stay. And while I’m not the best teacher, I am getting better, so I get to teach the other interns too.

DR. WILLIAMS: Give yourself more credit! You’re better than you think. On a personal note, I’ve been at the West Hills Group for a long time, in a fastpaced and demanding environment—the

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“We all teach each other something.

We all grew from the same seeds.”

responsibilities of the doctors in that particular facility are immense. I learned so much and continue to learn so much. That’s why I stayed there for so long. But I was burning out, which I think is a very common thing that happens in our profession (especially these days).

I think the pandemic really killed a lot of us emotionally.

So, I knew a while ago that I wanted to work at the Locust Valley location. The thing that kept me from leaving the group entirely and not looking for a position elsewhere was the fact that we had such an amazing team of collaborative doctors and mentors with different levels of education. It’s a really awesome team and as Dr. Eisbruck said before, we all have a very similar foundation, so it’s like we’re all kind of cut from the same cloth. We all practice similar styles. We all have a similar approach to the way that we handle clients. There’s so much similarity, even though we’re all different people and we all do things a little differently. We all teach each other something. We all grew from the same seeds.

COLLEEN: This was inspirational hearing your stories and experiences. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

10

DR. EISBRUCK: I think that not all vets are good vets, but every Rossie that I’ve met, you could be sure that they are good doctors. We all learned the same way, and everybody has the same fundamentals. So, meeting another Rossie for the first time and not knowing anything about them other than knowing that they went to RUSVM—there is definitely some confidence there that they’re not faking it. You had to really know what you were doing to get through RUSVM, and get through clinics, and get to where we are. There’s definitely confidence that Rossies have a really good background.

MENTORSHIP SPOTLIGHTS

By C olleen Glenney

Mentor: Jonathan Leshanski ’97 Mentee: Megan Michitsch ’23 When did your mentor relationship begin? 2012 Area of Mentorship: General Medicine, House Calls, Work/Life Balance Megan came to me as a vet assistant looking to become a tech. She and I have been working together for a long time, so much that we almost read each other’s minds when working together and really are quite hand in glove. She is really a member of the family. With the exception of my wife and daughter, I think Megan knows me better than anyone—and I think in most ways I return the favor.” —Jonathan Leshanski

DR. MELONI: I agree 100%. You wanted to graduate, you had to work your tail off. We earned it.

COLLEEN: Thank all of you for making the school look as good as it does—you all are rockstars. And that’s what gives RUSVM the good name that it has.

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10. KRISTIE WILLIAMS 11. LINDSAY SHOOP

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At present time, the following Rossies are working at West Hills Animal Hospital and/or its affiliate, Locust Valley Animal Hospital: Drs. Jonathan Bingham ’13, Carmine Boccia ’97, Melissa Eisbruck ’04, Jessica Ferrara ’22, Vanessa Hammer ’12, Jessica Langdon ’21, Kimberly Meloni ’11, Brennan O’Shea ’22, Diana Pirolo ’15, Lindsey Shoop ’21, Kristen Szendrey ’16, and Kristie Williams ’16.

Mentor: Ashley Hager ’17 Mentee: Madison Wilinsky ’25 When did your mentor relationship begin? 2021 Area of Mentorship: General Practice I started working at a veterinary hospital while applying to veterinary schools. I would discuss my progress through the application cycle with the doctors that I worked with, and one of them was Ashley, who is an RUSVM alum. When I had told her I had been accepted to RUSVM, she took me under her wing and gave me really beneficial advice on what to expect from the program, living in a new country, traveling, etc. I truly believe that is what helped me decide on attending RUSVM. The hospital we worked at is a general practice, mixed animal hospital, with emergency days in the mix. I was a nurse assistant, so I was able to work closely with Dr. Hager and be a part of many skillbuilding opportunities; from client communication, to laceration repairs, to emergency medicine. She always did a wonderful job of fully explaining the tasks at hand and how she would go about solving any issues that would arise. She is a veterinarian that I look up to, and I hope to follow in her footsteps one day. I am glad that we had RUSVM as a connection to bring us together.” —Madison Wilinsky

Mentor: Stephanie Johnson ’15 Mentee: Whitney Brown ’21 When did your mentor relationship begin? 2017 Area of Mentorship: General Practice Whitney’s grandparents and my parents randomly met at a Christmas party and discovered that she was admitted to RUSVM. They shared our numbers and Whitney started job shadowing with us before going to RUSVM. We kept in touch, and then in her clinical year she did a preceptorship at our practice, and then we hired her! We have a solid friendship, share an office, and discuss cases daily. I absolutely love watching her grow and blossom as a new grad. She teaches me too all the time and we share caseload and jokes. The RUSVM and Kittitian flags hang proudly in our office.” —Stephanie Johnson

Mentor: Jacquline Celmer ’18 Mentee: Alison Gouinlock ’19 When did your mentor relationship begin? 2020 Area of Mentorship: General Medicine, Shelter Medicine, Elective Surgeries I run a mentorship program at our current practice and Dr. Gouinlock started with us right before COVID-19 hit. We had one week with her shadowing my normal appointments before everything changed. When she was supposed to finally start seeing her own appointments on week three, the practice went fully curbside. Dr. Gouinlock’s training was more challenging given the wacky world of COVID-19, but she excelled. She was soon seeing the normal caseload with me by her side to consult with as needed. We started training in surgery—dentals, mass removals, spays/neuters, etc. After 5-6 months Dr. Gouinlock was on a normal schedule, seeing the same case load as myself. Rossies are strong and have no problems adjusting to whatever life throws at us—including a pandemic in the middle of trying to learn how to doctor.” —Jacqueline Celmer

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FE AT U R E .

DID YOU KNOW? MANY OF OUR WIVC SPONSORS HAVE DEDICATED MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS. READ ON TO LEARN MORE.

By Colleen Glenney

HEARTLAND VETERINARY PARTNERS ensures each new graduate finds a practice that is fully committed to supporting the doctor’s journey, not only for the first few weeks, but as long as the doctor wants higher touch support. Our structured yet customized mentorship program ensures each doctor receives the guidance they need based on their interests and experience. With this, new graduates find that working at a Heartland practice strikes the perfect balance of challenge and support. Our practices are diverse with unique general practice offerings and are locally led to ensure we are able to provide the best care to the communities we serve.

AMERICAN VETERINARY GROUP (AVG) & URGENTVET offers a 12-month long mentorship program with an assigned DVM mentor. Our new associates receive personalized mentorship, which is individualized for each new associate—you decide the cadence of your check-ins, as well as when and how your mentor doctor assists you on cases and surgeries. Each month, our new graduate associates join together with our Regional Medical Directors for monthly mentorship virtual calls, where they discuss topics

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that many new graduates face when making the transition “from the classroom to the exam room.” Each veterinarian at AVG also receives access to VetShare, our proprietary networking platform that connects our 225+ (and counting) veterinarians together. New associates can receive ‘on the fly’ help from more experienced veterinarians by posting pictures and asking questions, while our network of veterinarians can chime in with advice!

THE NVA VETERINARY GROUP ACADEMY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM, launched this year, was created to help bridge the gap between classroom and clinic. All new graduates who join NVA hospitals are eligible to participate. Dedicated mentors support new graduates with shadow days, case reviews, and cohort-based events for up to a full year. The curriculum covers topics such as core surgery skills, client communication, and wellness and is based on the personalized needs of each participant. Our mentorship programs allows new grads to learn, connect, and grow together as they begin their journey as veterinarians.

THE SOUTHERN VETERINARY PARTNERS DOCTOR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM helps new graduates launch their careers in the right direction with the dual support of an in-hospital coach and a mentoring DVM outside of the hospital—together, supporting your customized learning plan. Your experienced mentor DVM supports you in personal and professional development, while your coaching DVM helps guide you through operational tasks and day-to-day onboarding. Through this program, you will gain experience and confidence, develop soft skills like clinical reasoning, stress management, time management, teamwork, as well as network and socialize with other new graduates.

veterinarians. The first phase is dedicated to helping you get your feet under you as a clinician, phase two focuses on efficiency and client communication, and the third phase focuses on wellbeing and professional development. The program is supported by a structured framework that can be easily tailored to the individual new veterinarian’s needs and desires. As a participant in our program, you will be paired with a dedicated mentor network that includes your in-hospital mentor, an external experienced UVC veterinary mentor, and an external peer mentor who will all work together to provide support and address different aspects of your early veterinary experience.

As a veterinarian-led company, UNITED VETERINARY CARE understands the importance of providing comprehensive mentorship. That’s why we have launched “The Whole Vet, our veterinary professional mentorship program dedicated to young veterinarians who are just entering clinical practice. The Whole Vet is a twelve-month long phased program that is focused on developing new graduates as whole human beings and not just as

At each of the 5 Chicagoland hospitals within THE PET EXPERTS VETERINARY GROUP, our doctors appreciate our team approach to practicing veterinary medicine, and the fact that they can rely on each other for advice and assistance as we seek to provide the ultimate in diagnosis and treatment for every pet we see. When someone new joins our team, our goal is to make them feel welcome and support their specific needs through mentorship and by sharing

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Available at all VCA ANIMAL HOSPITALS PRIMARY CARE locations and select Specialty and ER locations, new and recent veterinary graduates receive one-on-one mentorship with experienced, engaged veterinarians. Mentorship is customized to your interests and progression is based on your pace and skill development. The 12-week Primary Care program has three areas of focus – surgery, dentistry, and medical appointments. The six-month ER program includes didactic training and a two-day hands-on ER Skills workshop. Weekly check-ins with your mentoring team help you decide the best next steps and tailored phases of mentorship are based on your interests and needs. The VCA Academy mentorship program is just the beginning of a dynamic career path with VCA. If you’re a recent graduate who wants to work with the best and be the best in veterinary care, our VCA Academy Mentorship program can get you where you want to go.

PETVET365 is utilizing the SHIP internship program across the US. This program focuses on students that are interested in business ownership after graduation. The program accepts students that have completed between years 1 and 3 in veterinary school. The student’s time in the hospital will be divided between medicine and mentoring on veterinary hospital ownership as well as attending a number of classroom learnings hosted by the program throughout the week.

our experiences and expertise with them. We also encourage them to explore their interests in order to learn and grow as much as possible throughout their career. Our doctors, techs, and staff regularly participate in ongoing training and courses in order to stay up-to-date on the latest advances and techniques. Our partnerships with local rescues allow our staff, including externs and new grads, to see a wide variety of cases, get hands-on experience, and build confidence in their abilities.

At BANFIELD, we’re committed to helping new graduates succeed at work and in life. Our 12-week onboarding program will give you a strong start in your career. It’s designed to provide the support you need most in the early stages of your work life, including the right mix of access to experts who will help you build confidence along with critical hands-on experiences. Over the first three months we’ll introduce you to key coaching topics to give you a solid foundation, helping you every step of the way. We’ll explore the latest in quality medicine and standards, give you access to our signature program ‘energy for performance,’ and introduce you to our community engagement work where you can help us make a strong social impact both in and outside of the hospital.

At VETCARE, we firmly believe that mentorship is critical to the success of students, our practices, and the future of veterinary medicine. In conjunction with several veterinary schools, VetCare has developed a comprehensive list of skills which we feel are

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foundational, and which can be built upon. We recently launched a sixteen-week paid program where we will challenge, develop, and encourage future veterinary students to put their learnings to work and get a head start on building their confidence and skill sets in a controlled environment. Our expectations are for the student and the practice to work through the list during their time together. Some students, depending on location will have the opportunity to cycle through multiple clinics during their time with us. Weekly check-ins with the National and/or Regional Medical Director will be part of this program. This will serve as a time for connection, reflection and discussion. It also includes monthly video rounds where students have the ability to share their learning experiences and go over cases. We are also committed to continuous improvement and will evaluate and adjust the program where necessary to ensure the continued development and success of this program.

At VETCOR, we understand that, just like our practices, our people are unique. Therefore, we don’t subscribe to a “one size fits all” mentality when it comes to mentorship. VetCor takes a multi-faceted and versatile approach individualized for each newly graduated veterinarian. Resources include a dedicated advocate for new grads to offer support outside of their practice, pairings with a recent grad peer-advisor, opportunities to learn new skills by visiting other VetCor practices, topic rounds scheduled into the workday, and slack channels for case help and special interest groups.

ZOETIS — VET VANCE® is a free educational and professional development resource for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

The program offers 130+ multimedia courses covering topics related to professional development, business skills, professional stewardship, financial literacy, and personal wellness. Zoetis’ Commitment to Veterinarians™ social campaign provides engaging educational and inspiration content that reflects your experiences as a veterinary professional. Scrub Chat® is a podcast of stories told by veterinary professionals for veterinary professionals. Hear from veterinarians and veterinary technicians about their career journeys, life and how they got to where they are today.

Best Friend, we know DVMs coming to work in our practices need to learn the hospital team, flow, the practice management software, products, and the rest of the medical environment.

At VETERINARY UNITED, we are more than just a company that loves to help animals… we’re a family. A family that believes in you, believes in your team, and most importantly we believe in your growth as a person. We offer five levels of mentorship throughout all our twenty-four hospitals and boarding facilities to help empower you both individually and professionally. Together we can create a different vision of veterinary medicine through culture, ecology, and a growth mindset. Sound like you?

The NAVE GROUP is committed to providing young veterinary professionals the opportunity to grow through hands-on training and peer-to-peer mentorship. During your externship, you will have the opportunity to develop critical mentoring relationships with veterinary professionals from across the nation. With over 160 veterinary professionals in the Nave Veterinary Group, we have built a team founded on diversity of experience, thought and practice.

During your externship, you will have the opportunity to interact with veterinary professionals from across the nation who have unique specialties and experiences that they are eager to share. All of our practices, from our general practices to our specialty center, are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. We believe in ensuring our clients have access to the most cutting-edge medicine. During your externship, you will have the opportunity to observe and interact with the newest technology in the veterinary field.

THE BONDVET MADE (Mentorship, Advancement, Development & Education) Program is a fully-paid, 16-week proprietary mentorship program for recent veterinary graduates. It is the middle ground between going straight into practice right out of vet school (without much experience) and an internship. It is the best of both worlds, in which you can secure a salaried position while getting extensive clinical training to prepare you for the breadth of cases you’ll treat in your veterinary career, along with mentorship.

At VET’S BEST FRIEND, we have several mentorship practices in place. New graduates or newer veterinarians are partnered with an experienced DVM who has the passion to mentor newer DVMs. Prior to the new doctor’s start date, we discuss their goals for their first 2-3 months. The mentor DVM does frequent check-ins, especially at the end of each shift, so that the new doctor can ask questions from the day and also discuss areas that went well and/or where things went off course. We also ensure that an experienced technician is partnered with the newer doctor and that the mentor DVM is available to the new DVM in the capacity that makes the most sense; some new DVMs want to reach out as little or as much as they would like, while others need and appreciate shoulder-to-shoulder training. Overall, we give the new DVM time to see cases and perform surgery on a timeline that fits their comfort level and gradually increases their caseload in a thoughtful manner. They have the autonomy to drive their caseload so that they are not overwhelmed. At Vet’s

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FE AT U R E .

Julie Fithian Graduation Year: 2022 Internship/Residency: Small Animal & Exotics Rotating Intern at Oklahoma State University

2022 MATCHED INTERNSHIPS & RESIDENCIES EACH YEAR ON MARCH 1, THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY CLINICIANS (AAVC) RELEASES SUCCESSFUL MATCHES THROUGH THE VETERINARY INTERNSHIP AND RESIDENCY MATCHING PROGRAM (VIRMP).

IN 2022, 69 ROSSIES (GRADUATING SENIORS OR ALUMNI) WERE SUCCESSFULLY MATCHED—44 WITH AN INTERNSHIP AND 25 WITH A RESIDENCY. WAY TO GO, ROSSIES! HERE’S A FEW 2022 MATCHED PROFILES.

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied to the

Match because I have plans to specialize and pursue a residency in Aquatic and Zoologic Medicine. What excites me most about the program I am starting is the wide range of exotic species the OSU exotics service sees!

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP?

I would recommend reaching out to those who have been through the Match, they can offer some really great advice and mentorship through the process which helped a lot!

JULIE FITHIAN

MEGAN SIMEON

CAITLYN YUNKER

SEAN MCCRAE

Caitlyn Yunker Graduation Year: 2022 Internship/Residency: Rotating Small Animal Internship at Tufts University Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied

to the Match because my end goal is to be boarded in Emergency and Critical Care. I am most excited about getting to work with all the great doctors at Tufts and learn from them over the next year.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? My recommendation is to pick your references

wisely, because a great reference letter speaks volumes.

Megan Simeon Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Small Animal Rotating Intern at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Charlotte, NC

By Colleen Glenney

69 ROSSIES

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44

INTERNSHIPS

25

RESIDENCIES

Sean McCrae Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Residency in Emergency and Critical Care at Veterinary Emergency Clinic of Central Florida Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? UF ECC/ICU is a

strong program that I am very familiar with. They have a high case load and strong mentorship that will help me be a great criticalist, especially in today’s veterinary medicine.

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied through

match this year for a surgery specific internship. During my rotating internship, I had the opportunity to work closely with seven amazing surgeons. I knew I wanted to stay on for another year as a surgical intern and continue to learn and improve my surgical skills in preparation for surgical residency. I am most excited for the experience alone but also being able to work with the surgeons on new and upcoming research in veterinary surgery.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP?

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? I recommend jumping into research right away

Work hard in every aspect that you are involved in. Someone is watching.

as a rotating intern (or even better yet, during vet school).

Research is super important when applying for residencies.

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ALIX DANIELA SAAVEDRA

MARK JACOB (JAKE) TRAUTMANN

Mark Jacob (Jake) Trautmann

Abigail Michelson

Alyssa Kleymann

Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Large Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Texas A&M University

Graduation Year: 2022 Internship/Residency: Tri-Institutional Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency

Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Program, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied to the match for my

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied through

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? Halfway through vet school, I

patient’s sake. I want to know that I’m doing everything I can for them, and this was my best way to confidently say that.

the match because the programs best suited to my goals were offering residencies through the VIRMP. What excites me most about my program is the diversity of facilities and species with which I’ll have the privilege to work. My program encompasses three major biomedical research institutions with a census of 300,000 animals. Additionally, my program is in New York City, which is one of my favorite cities, so the prospect of living there is very exciting.

found a passion for laboratory animal medicine. I knew I wanted to pursue it as a specialty, so I started to look into residencies.

Because of the timing of my graduation from vet school, I could not immediately apply to the VIRMP. Instead, I found a lab animal internship through the scramble and enjoyed life in Aurora, CO at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus as a Faculty Fellow. When the next VIRMP cycle came around, I was ready to apply. I had amazing mentors on my side that encouraged me to shoot for the stars, and so I did! When match day came along, I was thrilled to be placed at my number one choice, the CDC in Atlanta, GA! I am so excited to be a lab animal resident at the CDC because I find infectious diseases fascinating, and I’ll get to work with so many cool creatures like bats and prairie dogs.

Also, I am very excited to be within the government, as my final long-term goal is working for NASA as a lab animal veterinarian, and I think this residency is an excellent stepping stone.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? Don’t close yourself off to learning during your

internship. Even though you might want to be a surgeon or an internist, your focus should be on becoming the best intern you can be. Learn as much as you can during that time, even if it’s not what you want to do in the future.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP?

Justin D. Garretto JUSTIN D. GARRETTO

ABIGAIL MICHELSON

Graduation Year: 2022 Internship/Residency: Small Animal Rotating Internship: Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

For those of you interested in applying for internships or residencies, try out as many externships as possible, particularly at institutions you could picture yourself at for a year or more. It’s the best way to know for sure if the atmosphere matches your vibe, and allows you to network in person with potential future mentors. Always bring your A game. You will be tired, and you will have a lot on your plate, but the harder you try, the bigger your reward.

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied to the

Alix Daniela Saavedra Graduation Year: 2020 Internship/Residency: Cardiology Intern at Southwest Florida Veterinary Specialist Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied through the Match for Cardiology

residency and I am very excited to be going to the University of Missouri! I noted that I had a special interest for Cardiology during my small animal medicine class with Dr. Cavanaugh but did not realize the extent of my passion for it until my clinical year. I have a special interest in congenital diseases and interventional procedures and am extremely excited to about the catheterization lab at Mizzou.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? The biggest piece of advice that I can provide for people applying for an internship or residency is to show up every day eager to learn, be comfortable being uncomfortable with the unknown, ask questions and create a positive environment wherever you go. It is also equally important to be an advocate for yourself and take care of your mental health. There are many mentors, specialists, and RUSVM alumni that are more than willing to help guide and support you if asked!

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match program because my ultimate career goal is to attain board-certification status in the specialty of my choice.

Going into clinics I had my heart set on cardiology, but while rotating through the different services at Ohio State, I found myself drawn to emergency medicine and ophthalmology, in addition to cardiology. I’m excited that Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has been flexible in designing my internship schedule, and that I’ll be able to spend added time on the services that interest me most.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? I recommend starting the application process early,

as the clinical year can be very busy, and overwhelming at times. Your application will take time and several drafts before it is ready for submission—this is not something to put on the back burner. Ask for letters of recommendation early, and don’t be afraid to follow up with your evaluators to check on the status of their evaluation—remember that these letters take a lot of time to compose. Additionally, I recommend asking questions to current interns or residents, as they have gone through the process recently, and may have additional resources to share with you. Make sure to utilize your school’s resources, i.e. career centers, to help develop and edit your resume and letter of intent.

Stephanie Doroshuk

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? My recommendation for Rossies applying to an

internship or residency through the VIRMP is, don’t sell yourself short! You are just as competitive as other vet students who went to school in the US. Apply to the toprated programs, because if you fear you are not good enough, you may miss out on the greatest journey yet!

Graduation Year: 2022 Internship/Residency: Critical Care/Exotic Species/General Practice Internship at Windcrest Animal Hospital (Wilmington, DE) Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied

for the match program to gain more experience and confidence in the area of medicine I am interested in pursuing, which is exotics. I am very excited as I know I will have great mentorship at this clinic to help me reach my goals I set out for myself for this next year.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? I would recommend taking time to interview and/

or visit the practices you’re interested in, if possible. It helps you to figure out if the practice is right for you, plus it gives the veterinarians a great first impression! I would also recommend spending time on perfecting your personal statement; make it unique and something that will stand out to your employers. Have others proofread it as well!

STEPHANIE DOROSHUK

ALYSSA KLEYMANN

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JESSICA HERMAN

KATIE PANSINI

Jessica Herman

Linley Cook

Graduation Year: 2020 Internship/Residency: Small Animal Internal Medicine Residency at Texas A&M University Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program?

Graduation Year: 2020 Internship/Residency: Emergency and Critical Care Residency at Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

Internal Medicine provides ample opportunity for detailed patient management of a variety of conditions as well as long term relationships with clients. I have a special interest in nephrology/urology and interventional procedures. Texas A&M has a large Internal Medicine faculty with diverse interests and expertise, including a busy interventional caseload!

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? When I first went to clinics at

Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Residency in Diagnostic Imaging at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists

Louisiana State University, I fell in love with critical care medicine—I only wanted to be in the ICU with the critical patients, learning about their disease process, pathophysiology and treatments. Since clinics I knew that I would one day be a criticalist and decided I was going to go through the Match to get to that goal.

I’m excited for my program as I know the hospital and criticalists here well (after completing my rotating internship here). We are a very busy ER with lots of critical patients so I know I’ll get amazing experience and see many different cases that will help me be the best veterinarian I can and prepare me for boards.

Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied to the Match for a Radiology residency—I have wanted to pursue

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? For those applying,

radiology since before even starting vet school, so I am so excited to begin this new journey!

don’t forget your “why!” It can be a long overwhelming process going through the Match, doing interviews, and completing a rotating internship or residency. Show your passion for what you are pursuing in your applications or interviews; people can tell when you’re genuinely excited about what you are talking about. Get involved in departments you are interested in where you are working or doing an internship, attend rounds for different services, and take in as much information as you can.

Some days are exhausting, but I always remind myself of the amazing things I am learning and why I chose to do this.

Looking back, you’ll be amazed at how much you grow through all of this.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? Keep at it, apply again, and apply for specialty internships when you apply for a residency! Even though getting into residency as soon as possible is everyone’s goal, a year with a group of new clinicians, house officers, cases, and clients can dramatically improve your application, experience, and knowledge. Make the best connections you can and don’t be afraid to show your passion for learning and the specialty you love. It is so important for your application to develop the best relationships and submit good letters of recommendation!

Katie Pansini

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? Start working on your application and asking for recommendation letters early! No matter what specialization you are interested in, treat everyone with kindness and respect—you never know who may ask around about you!

KRISTEN BOYLE

Kristen Boyle Graduation Year: 2021 Internship/Residency: Emergency and Critical Care residency with Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists in Massachusetts Why did you apply to the VIRMP and what excites you most about your upcoming program? I applied for the Match because I have always known I wanted to be a

LINLEY COOK

LAUNCHING THIS SUMMER

RUSVM CONNECT The Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to announce that we are launching a new mentorship program this summer, called RUSVM Connect. In this program, experienced alumni will have the opportunity to mentor clinical students and/or new graduates about many aspects of the veterinary profession including: the various industries, employment, internships and residencies, board certifications, work/life balance, and other relevant topics. We will be piloting the program with a small cohort of 20 pairs and will then open the program up to the greater alumni community. If you’re interested in becoming a member of the RUSVM Connect Mentoring Program, please email program administrator, Colleen Glenney at cglenney@rossvet.edu.kn.

specialist in emergency and critical care. I am excited about the CCVS program because it is one of the few in the country that emphasizes emergency surgical skills as part of their training.

Recommendations for others looking to apply to the VIRMP? If you’re applying to the Match, do your research! All programs are NOT created equal!

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FAC U LT Y S P O T L I G H T.

By Dan Ciaglia

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O

n the path toward becoming a veterinarian, Cynthia “Cindy” Xue, DVM, Assistant Professor of equine internal medicine, remained consistent in one thing—that her career would be in service to the community.

She volunteered at shelters whenever the opportunity arose, planned externships that had very engaged community outreach programs, and spent a portion of her time in veterinary school participating in a research grant at the American Fondouk, a charitable equine hospital in Morocco. It was here ‘Dr. X,’ as she is known affectionately by her students and peers, found her true calling.

“I discovered most of the animals that walked through the doors were donkeys because donkeys were more affordable than horses. And these animals, although they had critical jobs in the community, were often misunderstood,” said Dr. Xue. “I really wanted to be, in a sense, a pioneer for this species and be

able to practice evidence-based medicine so we would no longer need to extrapolate information from horses to treat donkeys because, physiologically, they’re different.”

Dr. Xue’s path to veterinary medicine started in the New York City boroughs of Queens and the Bronx. The big city life did not expose Dr. X to many agricultural species in their natural habitat, but her passion for animals still found her admiring the city’s squirrels and pigeons all the same. She recalls a love for going to the zoo with her parents and seeking out as many nature education programs as she could at a young age. This early foundation led her to Rutgers University, where her initial sight was set on becoming a marine biologist. When she found that that career was not as much focused on clinical work, Dr. X pivoted to pursue her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree at Cornell University.

After earning her DVM from Cornell in 2016, Dr. Xue brought donkeys and equine medicine into focus through a rotating equine internship at Cornell Ruffian Equine

Specialists, followed by a residency in Large Animal Internal Medicine at the University of Georgia, where she met a friend that graduated from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM).

“She would tell me, ‘I know you love donkeys. Ross Vet has a ton of donkeys.

And you’re a good teacher,’” recalled Dr. Xue. “I did the entire interview not expecting anything, but it kept manifesting. I loved the culture, the diversity—and obviously my donkeys. 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.”

Now having been with RUSVM for over a year and a half, Dr. Xue has become a mentor for so many Rossies interested in donkeys and equine medicine. She founded RUSVM’s Donkey Club, which has grown to over 140 members. Being able to offer hands-on experience through the Donkey Club creates valuable opportunities for students to learn more about the evolutionary biology that shapes donkey behavior before encountering their first donkey in upper semester surgery labs and provides extra practice on essential skills.

Dr. Xue’s mentorship of Rossies extends beyond her expertise in donkeys; she has become a mentor to many Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students that are on a similar path as hers.

“Representation in and of itself is such a powerful thing because I’ve had students come up to me letting me know they never thought they would be interested in large

CYNTHIA “CINDY” XUE

“I loved the culture, the diversity—and obviously my donkeys.”

animals. They never thought that they would see a large animal veterinarian that looked like them—and now they are inspired to become one,” said Dr. Xue. “Ironically, I felt the same thing! Being here, though, I feel like I can make a difference. Ultimately, it circles back to wanting my career to be something that doesn’t just impact myself but impacts others as well, and uplifts the entire community that I work in.”

Asians only make up 5.6% of the veterinary workforce, according to data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (source). “It’s important to remember that the demographics of veterinary clientele are very diverse. But if that isn’t reflected in the community of veterinarians treating those patients?

Then you’re already starting at a disadvantage in terms of being able to provide quality veterinary care that is tailored to nuanced needs.”

As she continues her dedication to mentoring students and encouraging more AAPI representation in veterinary medicine, she believes that it’s important to build understanding with students by providing a safe space for them to discuss what they’re going through as a minority in the field.

“The more we talk about issues in diversity, the less it becomes a ’scary’ topic, the less it becomes so uncomfortable we don’t even want to approach it, and the more that we can move beyond that discomfort to go forth with systemic change.”

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FAC U LT Y S P O T L I G H T.

“A FOR NATALIE RAGLAND, DVM, DACLAM ’11, BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR CONTINUED REPRESENTATION TO INCREASE DIVERSIFICATION AND TO DECREASE ISOLATION.

s an African American woman in veterinary medicine, isolation is a very real experience.

But as the increase in partnerships between higher and lower educational systems continue, there is hope and evidence of what is to come in the future.”

Increasing diversification and decreasing isolation are the drivers that ultimately brought Dr. Ragland to pursue her dreams at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM)—both as a former student and current faculty member.

Dr. Ragland’s journey into the field began at Penn State University in 1997, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal bioscience. Six years later, she was accepted to RUSVM to pursue her doctorate in veterinary medicine (DVM). “I really grew up at Ross Vet. It was my first time living abroad, so the concept was very new to me, but when I landed with my two suitcases and a dream, I thought to myself—let’s get to it,” recalled Dr. Ragland, who would go on to earn her DVM in 2011.

A decade later, Dr. Ragland rejoined the RUSVM family in April 2021 as an Assistant Professor ready to inspire others on a similar journey. Now having been back on campus nearly one year since her return, Dr. Ragland reflected on the changes she has seen between her time

NATALIE RAGLAND

as a student and returning faculty member.

“When I attended Ross Vet, there were not many in my class that looked like me. Groups and outlets like the Student National Association for Black Veterinarians (SNABV) did not exist when I was a student and seeing the level of diversity on campus today is very heartwarming.”

Dr. Ragland now serves as the faculty advisor for SNABV’s RUSVM Chapter, a student-driven organization on campus that offers opportunities to underrepresented groups and is a support system for those currently in or considering the veterinary field. They assist in networking, giving back to others, providing professional development, and partnering with other organizations to increase awareness for underrepresentation.

Dedicating her time to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives provides

Dr. Ragland opportunities to have a role as a faculty member, former student, and Black woman representing a small percentage of the veterinary workforce that exists today. “At one time, it felt very daunting: to be the only one in a committee, in a meeting, classroom, or department. Now I see [being a Black female veterinarian] as an opportunity and a blessing. It creates avenues to dispel stereotypes, biases, prejudices, subtle microaggressions, and I now use it to educate, uplift, and empower others. I carry immense weight and responsibility not just for my current peers, but for those that I mentor, advise or support. I recognize that if offered the opportunity to have a seat at the table, then I must create change through and around the table.”

Outside of veterinary medicine, faith is the core of what has driven Dr. Ragland to dedicate much of her life to uplifting others. “I believe that we all here for a purpose that is much bigger than what we even imagine for ourselves, but we all start in seed format. The more we water something, the more it will grow. Sowing seeds of outreach, humility, kindness, and service will not only have a local imprint in my sphere of influence, but also has the potential to create a global impact.

One person that I may mentor, serve, or assist might in fact help one hundred people, which would then grow from there. The effects of humility, kindness, and service are then limitless.”

By Dan Ciaglia

“The more we water something, the more it will grow. Sowing seeds of outreach, humility, kindness, and service will not only have a local imprint in my sphere of influence, but also has the potential to create a global impact.”

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RUSVM ALUMNI NETWORK WELCOMES NEARLY

400 NEW GRADUATES FROM THE CLASS OF 2022

R

oss University School of Veterinary Medicine celebrated our commencement ceremony in Miami on May 20, 2022, the first time we were able to do so in person since 2019. It was a momentous occasion to be back to celebrating commencement together and, as you all know, a great opportunity for Rossies to come together as a class one last time before they move on to their practice, postgrad residencies or internships, research, or wherever they may go next.

Nearly 400 students* graduated to join the ranks of our network of nearly 6,000 Rossie alumni around the world. These new veterinarians will help fill a critical need for large- and small-animal veterinarian practices, helping to address current and future veterinary workforce needs as a significant number of veterinarians are expected to retire over the next 10 years.

RUSVM Class of 2022 graduates were honored with President of the AVMA, Jose V. Arce, DVM, serving as the keynote speaker. “The AVMA is proud to empower veterinarians to thrive in the profession we all love,” said Dr. Arce. “We are pleased to welcome Ross Vet’s newest class of DVMs to the field, to serve in areas where they are critically needed.

With the ongoing crisis in the world, a caring and compassionate veterinarian is more important than ever to many pet owners who receive comfort from their animals.”

Our graduates will fill critical workforce needs in high-demand fields, demonstrating RUSVM’s commitment to the profession and as a leader in diversifying veterinary medicine in accordance with the mission of American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA®) and American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Annually, RUSVM recruits significantly more total number of DVM students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups than that of other AVMA-accredited schools.

“We are proud of the diversity of our newly minted RUSVM graduates,” said Sean Callanan, MVB, CERTVR, MRCVS, PhD, FRCPATH, DIPLECVP, Dean of RUSVM. “With a 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.”

Sean Callanan, MVB, CertVR, MRCVS, PhD, FRCPath, DipIECVP Dean, RUSVM

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Jill Maney, VMD, DACVAA Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

José Arce, DVM AVMA President 2021–2022

William Guntrum, MFA University Registrar

Robert Gilbert, BVSC, MMEDVET, DACT, FRCVS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Professor of Theriogenology

* Includes students who have graduated during the academic year or who the Registrar’s Office has designated as eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony.

Samson Mukaratirwa, DVM, MVSC, PhD Associate Dean, Research and Postgraduate Studies, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology

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COMMITTEE DESCRIPTIONS

BIANNUAL UPDATE

Each magazine issue, we will be highlighting the work of the Alumni Action Council on behalf of the entire alumni community. If you have any questions or suggestions for the council, please email RUSVMAlumni@rossu.edu.

Events and Chapters Sub-Committee

Leadership Sub-Committee

The Events and Chapters Sub-Committee will be hosting an event for all Rossies at the Funky Buddha Brewery in Fort Lauderdale, FL sometime this summer—date to be announced.

We are also looking into a family event at Everglades Park in the fall, featuring airboat rides, a cookout, and entertainment in the Florida Everglades. The committee is planning on setting up a network of regional chapter leaders that will host and promote regional RUSVM Alumni events. The Events and Chapters Committee will provide advice and guidance on sponsorship for these events, along with any other support needed by the regional chapter leader. The Events and Chapters Committee is also responsible for helping coordinate any alumni-related events at the West Indies Veterinary Conference (WIVC) and other major veterinary conferences throughout the year.

The Leadership Sub-Committee has been working to promote RUSVM Alumni into local and national leadership roles within organized veterinary medicine. The goal is to give members of our alumni association a strong presence and voice in the direction of current and future veterinary medicine. Another recent focus of the committee is to work alongside the Office of Alumni Relations to develop a mentorship program for newer RUSVM graduates. We have been exchanging best methods and ideas from our own existing programs at various practices and identifying successful programs from other areas of the industry. The leadership committee is committed to the engagement and growth of our alumni family.

Engagement and Awards Sub-Committee The Engagement and Awards Sub-Committee has been diligently working to increase alumni engagement through multiple social media platforms. We hope to post content on a regular basis to keep our alumni community aware of upcoming events, social gatherings, and recognition of alumni achievements. We are also working hard to raise funds for the RUSVM Alumni Action Council Scholarship which is provided through the Empower Scholarship Fund. Currently, we offer an annual scholarship for a RUSVM student who demonstrates leadership qualities, a passion for RUSVM, and an understanding of the Alumni Action Council mission. Our goal is to offer two scholarships per year to honor these future RUSVM Alumni Ambassadors and recognize their hard work and dedication to the school and the veterinary world.

NEW LEADERSHIP

By Becky Holton

RUSVM Alumni Action Council Seats New Leadership As Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) ushers in its 40th anniversary year, the Alumni Action Council (AAC) has elected new leadership. After 14 years, Dr. Moses Humphreys ’05 has stepped down as President and Dr. Mark Salemi ’87 has been elected President of the Council. On behalf of RUSVM and the AAC, we wish to thank Dr. Humphreys for his contributions, leadership, and dedication throughout the years.

“Our goal is to connect alumni with other alumni. We also support current students and new graduates just coming out of school. We (AAC) want to be the liaison between,” says Salemi.

The past two years changed the dynamic of the Council as they ran into roadblocks with COVID and the lack of in-person meetings and events. With reduced restrictions and events returning, the AAC is ready to move forward. “I hope to get this Council mobilized, set goals, and make sure those goals are acted on.”

Dr. Salemi’s leadership on the AAC is a full-circle opportunity. He was the Alumni Association’s charter president and, when he was nominated to become president of the AAC, he wasn’t going to turn down the chance to continue to give back to RUSVM. “There’s a reason they call it ‘practicing medicine”, you get good at it through mentoring and from experience. One goal I have is to formalize and enhance our leadership committee. I think we can do more to make learning opportunities available to students such as managing finances, managing problems, and communicating with people. Maybe create some kind of support group and formalize how they can reach out to mentors and ask questions.”

As Dr. Salemi explains, there’s a distinction between what a student learns in vet school and how to implement those learnings in a workplace environment. The AAC’s mentorship program is to help a new graduate navigate those experiences with someone who can share from personal experiences and provide insights.

“We have a lot of graduates that have been out for a number of years and are board-certified in many different areas. We want to connect those alumni to new grads earlier and more frequently.”

To become an alumni mentor, please reach out to Colleen Glenney at cglenney@rossu.edu.

EVENTS AND CHAPTERS COMMITTEE: The events and chapters committee will be responsible for event and chapter creation alongside the Office of Alumni Relations. The committee members will have input on where each regional event takes place and during what time of year. The committee along with the Office of Alumni Relations will be responsible for the creation of alumni chapters across the United States and around the world. These chapters should be placed where there is a larger number of RUSVM Alumni.

Members of this committee will also be included in the planning of the West Indies Veterinary Conference.

This committee will consist of three members of the AAC and the Executive Officer of the AAC. LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE: The leadership committee will be responsible for staying up-to-date on the activity of state and national veterinary associations. The committee will work with the Office of Alumni Relations to advertise any openings for positions of leadership within the veterinary professional organizations, and will communicate these openings to the RUSVM Alumni Association. Finally, the committee will work with the institution to relay any pertinent information from the veterinary professional organizations to the university. This committee will consist of three members of the AAC and the Executive Officer of the AAC. This committee will consist of three members of the AAC and the Executive Officer of the AAC.

ENGAGEMENT AND AWARDS COMMITTEE: The engagement committee will be responsible for assisting the Office of Alumni Relations in all aspects of engagement with the Alumni Association. The committee will also assist with stewardship of alumni who donate to the Empower Scholarship Fund. Content for the monthly alumni e-newsletter, email communication to the alumni association, and the RUSVM Alumni Magazine will also come from this committee. In addition, the committee will review and select award honorees from the submitted nominations collected by the Office of Alumni Relations.. This committee will consist of three members of the AAC and the Executive Officer of the AAC. ALUMNI ACTION COUNCIL OFFICERS: Mark Salemi – President, 1987 Dianne Rey – Vice-President, 1999 Alex Quarti – Secretary, 2007

About the Alumni Action Council The mission of the Alumni Action Council is to connect, engage, and celebrate alumni, students, faculty, staff, corporate partners, and friends of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. The Alumni Action Council is the governing body, comprised of officers and members and is advisory to the Dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

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MEMBERS AT LARGE: Mickey Axelband, 1987 Jon-Paul Carew, 2001 Brian Husbands,1998 Nejla Azima, 2014 Nisha Sanathara, 2011 Kim Riker-Brown, 2002

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One Love Pets, Basseterre Animal Rescue Center, and the Growth of RUSVM’s Shelter Medicine Rotations

2022

EMPOWER SCHOLARSHIP FUND AWARDS $60,000

T

By Dan Ciaglia

P

arasites are a worldwide concern causing and transmitting multiple diseases, severely impacting the health of both animal and human populations. This is according to One Love Pets, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating global communities on important animal welfare topics, most specifically the proper use of parasite prevention used for fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites in both dogs and cats.

One Love Pets was founded and still run by Mary Mauldin Pereira, DVM, MSc, Associate Professor of clinical communication, Assistant Dean of alumni relations, and an alumna of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s (RUSVM) class of 2005. Dr. Mauldin started her mission in St. Kitts and Nevis to provide parasite prevention and treatments to animals in need and offer community outreach regarding the importance of parasite control. “There are so many ways you can help animals in need. I have an extensive parasitology background having taught the subject for eight years at Ross Vet, and that background is where founding One Love Pets really hit home,” said Dr. Mauldin. “Why not do more for preventative types of measures? I know firsthand how important it is.”

The first fundraising efforts were built on selling collar tags, a concept derived from cause-related wristbands that humans started wearing in the mid-2000s. The tags are still sold today, but as One Love Pets grew and the needs for parasite prevention and awareness spread beyond St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Mauldin and her

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team of dedicated volunteers, many of whom are RUSVM alumni, began pursuing additional avenues to raise funds that can support expansion into the United States and around the world. Another alumna, Stephanye Quinn ’18, currently leads One Love Pets’ United States division and has been instrumental in the organization’s growth into U.S.-based shelters.

As the organization’s reach and impact continued to grow, Dr. Mauldin applied for and received One Love Pets’ first grant from the Adtalem Global Education Foundation in 2018. In December 2021, One Love Pets was awarded another grant totaling $55,925USD to support the organization’s growing partnership with Basseterre Animal Rescue Center (BARC). The grant benefitted BARC’s daily operations, supplemented parasite prevention and treatment expenses, and supported educational outreach and foster days in the St. Kitts community.

BARC, the first ever animal shelter to open in St. Kitts, has also become an integral component of RUSVM’s DVM curriculum, functioning as the host site for the 7th-semester’s required shelter medicine rotations. Dr. Mauldin serves as vice chair for BARC, where volunteering on the board connected her with Andrea Peda, DVM, ’09, another RUSVM alumna and colleague to find avenues for supporting RUSVM’s student clubs.

The shelter medicine rotations have become one of the most popular rotations for both students and the broader community. “We started seeing about 200 local animals a semester, and now we’re at roughly 1,200,” said Dr. Peda.

“It’s so rewarding to see how the local community has grown up with this human animal bond, how they interact with the students and the students interact with the community members. It’s so exciting to see the students shine when they’re trying to educate people and the importance of these things.”

The RUSVM community of students, faculty, and alumni are committed to educating others on the importance of animal welfare and well-being. Through community outreach days to educate locals in St. Kitts and Nevis, students impact the overall animal welfare and population in extraordinary ways and their services care for approximately 600 animals per year.

One Love Pets combines their efforts with the students at each of the community outreach days to distribute knowledge on basic animal care and provide preventative products to animals in need within the St. Kitts community.

he Empower Scholarship Fund awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 19 students during their recent 2022 spring application cycle. Visit the Empower Scholarship Fund website (empowerscholarshipfund.org) to see a list of all our scholarship recipients. RUSVM Alumni can get involved through support of the Alumni Action Council Scholarship or can learn more about funding their own named scholarship by contacting Susan.Rasmus@empowerscholarshipfund.org.

PATRICIA FAWLEY

CHRISTY DAUGHERTY

CHRISTOPHER VERSCH

Class of 2023 RUSVM Alumni Action Council Scholarship Recipient

Class of 2023 Heartland Veterinary Partners Scholarship

Class of 2024 Dr. Lanse T. Fox Memorial Scholarship

I just want to say thank you so much.

This scholarship will help me to pay for my education.

I always say that every penny counts towards this and it really means a lot.”

I feel overjoyed and grateful for this moment. Calling my mom and telling her that I won a scholarship made me feel so proud because she has been doing everything she can to keep my student debt low. A veterinarian is the only thing I can see myself as. There is no back up plan.

Being able to work in a field where my skills and knowledge will help improve the lives of both animals and people and where I can go on to educate others in my dream job.”

I am so very honored to be awarded this scholarship. Thank you for reaffirming that I am in the right place on the long journey of obtaining a DVM, and that I am making a positive impact in the lives of pets, clients and colleagues alike.

I will strive to work as Dr. Fox did, and continue our pursuit of educating clients, healing our patients and protecting the veterinary profession.”

BRIAN HUSBANDS

NISHA SANATHARA

RUSVM Alumni Class of 1998

RUSVM Alumni Class of 2011

I have had the opportunity to review scholarship applications over the past couple of years.

It has been a great opportunity to learn more about some of the current students and to give back to Ross University! In addition, it has been a rewarding experience as there are so many deserving individuals.”

Volunteering to review the Alumni Action Committee Scholarship applications gave me fantastic insight into the future RUSVM alumni. These students are extremely ambitious and have big dreams and big ideas.

I’m proud to be able to call them Rossies and look forward to working alongside them one day.

I feel that reviewing their applications has given me renewed faith and pride in the RUSVM experience, education, and overall culture.”

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EARLY PREGNANCY IN JENNIES IN THE CARIBBEAN: CORPUS LUTEUM DEVELOPMENT AND PROGESTERONE PRODUCTION, UTERINE AND EMBRYO DYNAMICS, CONCEPTUS GROWTH AND MATURATION RUSVM researchers were recently published in Animals, an international, peer-reviewed journal devoted entirely to animals.

The study, conducted by Dr. Lorenzo Segabinazzi, Dr. Erik Peterson, Dr. Don Berfelt, Dr. Juan Samper, Dr. Hilari French, and Dr. Robert Gilbert, along with RUSVM research students Brandy Roberts and Rachael Ambrosia, characterized early embryo development and differences in progesterone profile and changes in the corpus luteum between pregnant and non-pregnant jennies. An understanding of the basic mechanisms of reproduction in donkeys is essential, for several reasons. Some donkey breeds are threatened or endangered, and efforts to save these species depend on improved knowledge of reproductive processes. While the mare has been extensively studied, few studies have explored early pregnancy in jennies.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: DONNICIA JAMES, MSC BY RESEARCH CANDIDATE MSc by Research candidate Donnicia James is working on her project “Comparative etiopathology of corneal changes in tropical keratopathy (Florida spots) in African green monkeys, dogs and mongooses”, under the supervision of RUSVM faculty members Dr. Pompei Bolfa and Dr. Patrick Kelly. Tropical keratopathy is a term given to small, inactive corneal opacities in African green monkeys, dogs, cats, mongooses, birds, and horses.

“Working at St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, I would routinely perform ophthalmic examinations and frequently encounter animals with these lesions. With the etiology currently unknown, and to date only being characterized in cats, the main objective is to further characterize this condition in African green monkeys, dogs, and mongooses. Characterization would be achieved by describing the epidemiology, gross, microscopic, ultrastructural, and synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering abnormalities associated with tropical keratopathy.”

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MSC BY RESEARCH CANDIDATE REPORTS FINDINGS ON PREVALENCE OF DERMATOPHILOSIS IN CATTLE Ian Bradford, MSc by Research candidate, has published his research findings on the prevalence of dermatophilosis in cattle on St. Kitts.

Under the supervision of RUSVM faculty member Dr. Felix Toka, the study aimed to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of D. congolensis isolates collected from cattle showing clinical signs of the disease at farms in St. Kitts. Ian’s research identified the presence of the tet(Z) gene, responsible for tetracycline resistance.

Dermatophilosis is an infection of the skin caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis. Treatment with antibiotics usually gives different responses.

Further research is needed to understand the implications for treating dermatophilosis, however, this study answered key questions about the disease and opened the door for future studies into the bacteria and the disease it causes overall.

Full information can be found in the published manuscript.

MILD TO MODERATE OVERWEIGHT IN DOGS: IS THERE AN IMPACT ON ROUTINE HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PROFILES, ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS AND CARDIAC AUTONOMIC MODULATION? RUSVM researchers—Dr. Aline Viera, Dr. Sarah Cavanaugh, and Marcus Machado, alongside RUSVM research students Mariana Restrepo, Danielle Auzenne, Kevin Molina, and Meghan O’Sullivan, were recently published in Veterinary Research Communications. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of mild to moderate obesity on routine hematological and biochemical profile and cardiovascular parameters in dogs. Although not enough to make conclusions the data raise the question of whether research studies should place overweight and obese dogs in the same category.

RUSVM JOINS TEAM OF RESEARCHERS IN PROJECT AWARDED

BY TRANSNATIONAL INTERREG CARIBBEAN FUNDING PROGRAM RUSVM faculty member Dr. Anna Becker is part of a team that was awarded a grant by the transnational INTERREG Caribbean funding program (European Regional Development Fund). Dr. Becker is a co-investigator on the CARIBPHLORE project, representing RUSVM’s contribution to a project investigating the antibacterial and anti-vectorial activity in local Caribbean plant extracts and their potential application in human and veterinary medicine.

Four partners make up the team for this project: • Lead: Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe) – Dr. Antoine Talarmin, Dr. Severine Ferdinand, Dr. Anubis Vega Rua • A ssociation 100% Zeb: Plantes aromatiques et médicinales caribéennes (Guadeloupe) – Hugues Occibrun • Université des Antilles, Lab COVACHIM-M2E (Guadeloupe) – Dr. Gerardo Cebrian Torrejon • Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (St. Kitts) – Dr. Anne Becker The CARIBPHLORE project is co-financed by the INTERREG Caribbean, a European Territorial Cooperation programme.

RUSVM FACULTY MEMBERS RECEIVE RASCG GRANT TO DEVELOP CULTURAL COMPETENCY COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM RUSVM faculty members Dr.Maria Jose Navarrete Talloni, Dr. Luis Pablo Herve Claude, and Dr. Elpida Artemiou have been awarded a Walden University Research and Applications for Social Change Grant (RASCG). The grant, valued at $10,000USD, will go toward the development of a cultural competency communications program for veterinary students during their preclinical years. The RASCG program was established in 2016 to support projects aimed at significant and meaningful change in academic and social communities, both locally and globally.

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N E W BEGI N N I NG S .

N E W A R R I VA L S .

NEW LEADERS

I N M E MOR I A M .

AWARDS ADRIANNA SMITH ’12,

recently elected as Vice President of the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association.

She also serves on the board of the Southeast Louisiana Veterinary Association.

ERIN BURTON ’12,

new appointment as Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs at the University of Minnesota

PAUL AMERLING ’97, elected as

President-elect of the NYSVMS effective January 1, 2022. He will serve as president in 2023.

ALLAN BREGMAN ’02, started his

term as 2022 NYSVMS President on January 1, 2022.

ELIZABETH KRIER ’15,

newly boarded, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons (Small Animal)

A huge congratulations to Kuwaiti veterinarian TAMARA QABAZARD ’16 who recently won the 2021 Almarai Veterinary Medicine Award! This annual award honors veterinarians in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, under the supervision and organization of the Saudi Veterinary Medical Association and the sponsorship of Almarai Company.

The Westminster Kennel Club (WKC), in partnership with Trupanion, named JOSEPH ROSSI ’87 as the recipient of the inaugural Veterinarian of the Year Award. The two organizations have launched this new online award that recognizes and celebrates veterinarians who make a difference in our pets’ lives. Westminster is donating $10,000 in the name of Dr. Rossi to MightyVet, a non-profit, industry-wide online platform founded to support veterinarians, students, and vet techs tackling mental well-being issues and continuing education in the veterinary profession.

PHILLIP OKERBERG ’18

Victoria Rose, daughter of

Elliot Sutton, son of

MICHAEL HUMPHREY ’14

TEYAH OSHETSKI ’15

Sawyer Keith, son of

Eliana, daughter of

HEATHER (ALLEN) MEYER ’17

DANIELLE DELFINO ’09

Skylar Rose, daughter of

Rafael Fuhrmann, son of

AMY KEISER ’17 & JOHN WRIGHT ’17

RACHEL FUENTES ’11

passed away on April 20, 2022. After graduating from RUSVM in 2018, he moved with his partner Lindsey Farris ’18 to Colorado, where they practiced veterinary medicine and lived in a house full of dogs they loved. Phillip is survived by his brother, Carl Okerberg, mother Rhonda Okerberg, father Warren Okerberg, and grandmother, Christine Sutton, and a larger extended family.

ADELE MURAD ’15 of Scottsdale, AZ, passed away on June 13, 2022 as a result of a car accident, only a few feet from the animal hospital where she worked. She is survived by family and friends and will be remembered always for her great love for animals.

NEW PRACTICES LAURA LEDERMAN ’14, new owner of Genesee Veterinary Hospital (Golden, CO)

HEATHER (ALLEN) MEYER ’17

JENICE BELL ’17,

opened new mobile practice in southern Colorado called Heal House Call Veterinarians (Pueblo, CO)

new owner of the Mortland Animal Clinic (Valparaiso, IN)

JACLYN PICKERILL ’17,

LAURA VEALS ’14

new owner of Aina Hou Animal Hospital (Waimea, HI)

opened new mobile acupuncture and rehabilitation practice, Divine Wellness For Animals PLLC (Boise, ID)

40 / ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2022

A BIG WELCOME TO OUR NEW “FUTURE ROSSIES”

ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / WINTER 2022 / 41

If SVP were a person...

we’d be the kind of person you’d want to get coffee with. The kind of person who’d show up to help on moving day—with pizza and a hype playlist. The kind of person who’d always send you their email discounts that they thought you’d be interested in. And for sure the kind of person you’d call for expert veterinary advice. Because we’re always looking out for our people. We’re that kind of company.

“They treated us like we were their only clients, even though we knew we weren’t.”

– Thomas & Ruth, Albuquerque, NM

Our Team

In the Business of YOU.

Schwanda Flowers, PharmD Managing Director/ Loan Officer (501) 672-5040 sflowers@ffb1.com

We’ve helped keep veterinary practices financially strong with expert advice and financial products. We’ve done this by avoiding “cookie-cutter” solutions and getting to know our veterinarian clients on a personal level.

Only by understanding your business can we create the best solutions for your needs. At First Financial Bank, we’re in the business of YOU.

Vet Financing Acquisition & Real Estate

arn More Le

Equipment financing Expansion & remodeling Business refinancing Start-up loans Ashlee Moore Loan Officer (724) 681-0952 ammoore@ffb1.com

Experience Matters Preferred Lending Partner of the SBA* Current and former business owners on our team Nearly a century of investing in small business

incredible growth support *Approved to offer SBA loan products under SBA’s Preferred Lender Program or SBA Express Program.

Member FDIC | www.ffb1.com | @FFBank1 42 / ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2022

And we’re hiring.

Join the team!

flexible schedules amazing teammates

competitive benefits discounted pet care

(of course)

svp.vet

EVENT ROUNDUP

We were so excited to visit in-person with Rossies across the country at our recent alumni receptions! Whether it was at AAEP in Nashville in December, VMX in Orlando in January, Midwest Vet in Columbus in February, or Western Vet in Las Vegas in March, a good time was had by all. Don’t forget to register for WIVC in November, which also coincides with RUSVM’s 40th anniversary!

supporting students to succeed on the job We are committed to helping young leaders rise up in life and work.

Our 12-week onboarding program helps new graduates build confidence on the job. How do we do it? We have a unique program where a dedicated leader – our Area Chief of Staff – is charged with helping to coach new graduates and empowering them to succeed.

AAEP DEC. 2021

44 / ROSS VET ALUMNI MAGAZINE / SUMMER 2022

VMX 2022

WVC 2022

Office of Institutional Advancement & Alumni Relations 630 US Highway One, Suite 2031 North Brunswick, NJ 08902

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

@RossVetSchool

CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT! We’ve brought the celebration to our online Spirit Store and Ross Vet 40th Anniversary gear is here! Use the QR code to view and purchase RUSVM swag featuring the 40th anniversary logo including t-shirts, polos, jackets, and more!

Items will be available through December 2022.

Polo Shirts

Tee Shirts

© 2022 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. All rights reserved.

12oz Glasses

Sweatshirts

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