Alumni News by Callie Rainosek
College Honors 2016 Outstanding Alumni, Rising Star Recipients During Homecoming The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) honored five of its alumni at a dinner held on April 1, 2016, at the Miramont Country Club. The recipients of the 2016 Outstanding Alumni Awards and the Rising Star Award are all leaders in the veterinary profession, and the awards recognize their contributions and service to their communities. “It is an honor and a privilege to recognize our former students and the impact of their work on our college, our state, our nation, and the world,” said Dr. Eleanor M. Green, the Carl B. King dean of veterinary medicine. “These alumni are ambassadors for the CVM, and we are proud of their commitment to serve, educate, and lead.”
Rising Star Award Captain Casey Barton Behravesh earned her B.S. in biomedical sciences in 1997 and her M.S. in veterinary parasitology in 1999 from Texas A&M University. She went on to earn her doctor of public health (DrPH) degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health in 2005 and her DVM from Texas A&M University that same year. Currently, Barton Behravesh serves as the director for the One Health
Dr. Eleanor M. Green and Capt. Casey Barton Behravesh
Office of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she provides direction and advice on aspects of public health issues related to zoonotic diseases at the intersection between animals, humans, and the ecosystem. From 2014 to 2015, Barton Behravesh served as the chief of epidemiology activity in the Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch, Division of Vectorborne Diseases at the CDC. Her work in both domestic and international One Health projects highlights the critical importance of disease control efforts for human, animal, and environmental health. From 2006 to 2014, Barton Behravesh worked in the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED), where she served as the Deputy Branch Chief of the Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch (ORPB) and as the DFWED coordinator for Enteric Zoonoses and One Health. At DFWED she investigated outbreaks of human illnesses caused by enteric bacteria. In addition, her work with the poultry and pet industries led to the formation of an Enteric Zoonoses Team in the ORPB. Barton Behravesh has also been recognized for her exemplary service to her country. She was recently one of six CDC commissioned corps officers to be selected for a prestigious Early Proficiency Promotion, promoting her to the rank of captain in the United States Public Health Service in 2015. Outside of work Barton Behravesh continues her education through annual conventions and conferences. She presents her research in the United States through numerous presentations and various scholarly articles and books. She also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Texas A&M and as a mentor to epidemiology students who study at the CDC for internships and externships. Barton Behravesh enjoys spending time with her husband, Essy, and two daughters, Gia, who is 9, and Lila, who is 5. She also helps care for the non-human
members her family: a dog, a cat, hamsters, a gerbil, rabbits, hermit crabs, and fish.
Dr. Eleanor M. Green and Jason D. Jennings
Outstanding Alumni Awards Jason D. Jennings is a graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned his B.S. in biomedical sciences. He also holds an M.S. in physical therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch and an MBA in business administration from the University of Texas at Tyler. He currently serves as the chief executive officer (CEO) of Baylor Scott & White Health: College Station Region, where he directs the day-to-day operations of two hospitals and nine regional clinics in the College Station area. Jennings was a critical component in the planning and preparation for the Baylor Scott & White Health in College Station, which was a $200 million investment for the community. The new hospital in College Station has a successful open-heart program, an ICU, a neonatal ICU, neurosurgery, cancer care, endoscopy, and specialty services. His hard work and leadership in executing medical strategies in the College Station region is evident in the satisfaction of patients and clients in the community. Prior to becoming the CEO of Baylor Scott & White in College Station, Winter 2017 •
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