Cummings School Review 2023

2022–2023

CUMMINGS SCHOOL REVIEW

A Marine Mammal Rescue team, led by Dr. Wendy Puryear, tends to a seal on the coast of Cape Cod.

Education. Research. Clinical care. Service to society. These four pillars support the mission of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. These interrelated yet highly divergent areas share one common feature—they help us change lives.

This year is the 45th anniversary of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and it’s 40 years since the graduation of the first D.V.M. class. The foundational principles of Cummings School remain strong. Whether they are pursuing a D.V.M. or a master’s degree, our goal is to give students a broader perspective of the world and their chosen career path. We hope that every student will pursue their passion and that their experience here will change their lives. In this review, you will find stories of students who have followed our dream by following their dreams. As this publication was going to press, I had the pleasure of talking to one of our recent alums. She shared with me how she had started school expecting to enter one field of veterinary medicine but had moved in an unexpected career direction because of her experience at Cummings School and the mentorship of a faculty member—a great example of inspiring change.

Research and scholarship embody change through the discovery of new knowledge, through innovation, or by inspiring creativity. In this review, you will read about Jelly Bean, a patient in one of our dozens of clinical trials. Because of her participation, Jelly Bean is alive today. Her owners

have been transformed by this experience. You will also read about the research of Chuck Shoemaker, Ph.D., in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health. You would not have known it, but you may be one of the hundreds of thousands of people to have benefited from one of Shoemaker’s commercialized products.

The extraordinary clinical care available through our hospitals drives our research, supports our education, and for many, represents the last hope for care for a loved pet or horse. The passion we have and feel for our animals and the bond from the human-animal interaction creates change in our lives. I still have a hole in my heart from the last two dogs I lost, and I often think that if care at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals had been an option at that time, they might well still be with me. Our ambulatory medicine team at Tufts Veterinary Field Service in Woodstock, Connecticut, provides necessary care for over 30,000 dairy cattle and other food-producing animals each year, supporting animal welfare, protecting the food chain, and helping to provide livelihoods for many owners and employees.

You will read in this review how our students and our graduates are making a difference for others and changing their own lives in the process.

We hope you will enjoy reading, and we thank you for your continued support.

Alastair Cribb, D.V.M., Ph.D. Dean Henry and Lois Foster Professor

TRANSFORMATIVE RESEARCH

Tufts

Researchers Find Bird Flu Associated with Hundreds of Seal Deaths in New England in 2022

RESEARCHERS AT CUMMINGS School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dr. Jonathan Runstadler, professor and chair, Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, found that an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was associated with the deaths of more than 330 New England harbor and gray seals along the North Atlantic coast in June and July 2022, and that the outbreak was connected to a wave of avian influenza in birds in the region.

The study was published in the March 2023 issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases

HPAI is more commonly known as bird flu, and the H5N1 strain has been responsible for 60 million poultry deaths in the U.S. over the past two and a half years. This study is among the first to directly connect HPAI to a larger-scale mortality event in wild mammals.

Dr. Jonathan Runstadler helps carry a seal for sampling.

Virologist and senior scientist Dr. Wendy Puryear and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Kaitlin Sawatzki have been researching viruses in seals for years. Their findings were made possible by a unique, robust data set from a collaboration with wildlife clinics and rehabilitation and response organizations in the region.

“We have a better resolution and greater depth of detail on this virus than before because we were able to sequence it and detect changes almost in real time,” said Puryear. “And we have pairings of samples, sometimes literally from a bird and a seal on the same beach.”

Cummings School’s Runstadler Lab conducts avian influenza surveillance on birds and some mammals. The surveillance began shortly after this strain of avian influenza took a trans-Atlantic journey from Europe to the U.S. Through this testing, the team found a wide range of flu viruses, including at least three strains that crossed the Atlantic, and they witnessed consistent waves of infection in birds.

At the same time, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Greater Atlantic Region Marine Mammal Stranding Network, they were able to screen nearly all seals that came through the network, which is

composed of state and federal wildlife experts, agencies, aquariums, and academic institutions that respond to strandings.

“We were the first to see a strain of the virus that’s unique to New England. The data set will allow us to address questions of which animals are passing the virus to which animals and how the virus is changing,” said Sawatzki.

Although the risk to the public remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it could become a larger issue for human health. Among the 868 cases of human infection with H5N1 reported worldwide since 2003, more than 52 percent (457 cases) were fatal, according to the World Health Organization.

Thorough and timely surveillance of domestic animals is key to understanding how the virus is evolving to prepare the best possible vaccines and treatments.

“This critical research exemplifies Tufts University’s commitment to animal health and public health,” said Dr. Bernard Arulanandam, vice provost for research at Tufts University. “It’s one of many ways that Tufts is helping to prevent the next pandemic.”

“ We have a better resolution and greater depth of detail on this virus than before because we were able to sequence it and detect changes almost in real time,” said Puryear. “And we have pairings of samples, sometimes literally from a bird and a seal on the same beach.”

Clinical Trial Helps Dog with Osteosarcoma to Far Outlive Expectations

THANKS TO A Cummings School clinical trial, the life of one lucky canine has been extended far longer than expected. Most dogs who develop metastatic osteosarcoma live for only eight to 10 weeks. Jelly Bean has survived for two years.

Once Jelly Bean was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), the back leg of the two-year-old Labrador retriever cross was amputated, and Jelly Bean started chemotherapy. When it was discovered that the cancer had spread to the lungs, the family was referred to the school’s veterinary clinical trials, which explore better treatment options for various forms of cancer, kidney disease, heart disease, arthritis, and neurological conditions.

More than 500 animals participate in clinical trials annually through the Clinical Research Shared Resource, which aims to improve the health and well-being of veterinary patients through better care or earlier diagnosis.

Jelly Bean’s clinical trial tested combinations of three immunotherapy medications to treat dogs with metastatic osteosarcoma that has spread to the lungs. Cummings School jointly launched the trial with Colorado State University (which is running a parallel study) in 2018. The study is funded by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Moonshot initiative.

“In general, the response rate of osteosarcoma after it has failed standard chemotherapy is less than 10 percent,” said Dr. Cheryl London, associate

dean of research and graduate education. “We found that a triple drug combination of all oral medications has activity in about 60–70 percent of dogs with spread of osteosarcoma to the lungs.”

This trial could potentially impact treatment for humans as well.

“We are transitioning this therapy to be used prior to the development of tumor spread to the lungs,” London explained. “If it shows activity in this setting, it will likely be evaluated in human patients who develop osteosarcoma spread to the lungs.”

Jelly Bean and her owner at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

Preserving Rare Livestock Breeds through Artificial Insemination

WHEN THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO sought breeding assistance for its Arapawa goats, it reached out to a former contact at the Swiss Village Farm (SVF) Foundation. Thanks to completion of a 20-year collaboration with SVF to preserve genetic material from various livestock breeds, Cummings School’s Tufts Veterinary Field Service (TVFS) has become one of a select few clinics offering services for laparoscopic artificial insemination (AI) of goats and sheep, as well as for nonsurgical AI of horses and cattle.

Dr. Rachael Gately, assistant clinical professor, Department of Ambulatory Medicine and Theriogenology, started doing AI procedures eight years ago, and performs between 300 and 400 AI procedures annually, ranging from herds of up to 100 down to small groups.

The SVF Biodiversity Preservation Project collected more than 100,000 samples of semen, embryos, blood, and somatic cells of over 1,100 animals across 36 breeds of cattle, goats, and sheep. They were

then cryopreserved and stored at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia.

TVFS receives requests to access the stored material and conduct AI procedures. Approximately 50–70 percent of the procedures result in a successful pregnancy. Since much of the preserved genetic material is from rare breeds, such as the Arapawa goat from New Zealand, this work will help to extend their existence.

In addition to AI, TVFS has a diverse set of advanced reproductive service offerings, including embryo collection, transfer, and cryopreservation; breeding soundness examinations; and semen collection, evaluation, and cryopreservation. Pending future investments into additional equipment, Gately hopes to expand services into ovum pickup and in vitro fertilization.

Dr. Rachael Gately of Cummings School’s Tufts Veterinary Field Service artificially inseminates a goat.

Diverse Pathology and Genomics Lab Filling Unique Regional Need

ONE YEAR AFTER opening a Comparative Pathology and Genomics Shared Resource (CPGSR), which provides an analytical and support service, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has carved out a unique regional niche for its services.

Supported by a $2 million grant from the Massachusetts Life Science Center (MLSC), the CPGSR aims to improve human and veterinary translational outcomes (i.e., treatment and prevention) through its work across several species at the clinical, pathologic, and genomic levels. “The MLSC is working to expand the biomedical research footprint in Massachusetts beyond the area inside [Route] 128, which is saturated,” explained Cheryl London, V90, director of the Clinical Research Shared Resource at Cummings School.

Co-directed by veterinary pathologist Dr. Amanda Martinot and veterinary oncologist Dr. Heather Gardner, the CPGSR is one of the few local pathology laboratories that provide hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHC), tissue sectioning, and histopathology scoring, while the genomics arm offers services including nucleic acid extraction, sample quality control, library prep and bulk and single-cell sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics.

Drs. Heather Gardner (left) and Amanda Martinot.

The advanced technologies available have enabled investigators to fully credential and validate animal models of disease as relevant for human comparison, and leverage the school’s veterinary expertise across pathology and genetics to ultimately help improve the successful development of new treatments for a variety of diseases.

Martinot sees much room for growth. “We’re starting to see rising interest in singlecell work and spatial transcriptomics, in particular,” she said. “We hope to attract more projects so we can put our advanced technology to work.”

Professor Charles Shoemaker Named National Academy of Inventors Senior Member

Dr. Charles Shoemaker, a professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health, is among five Tufts University faculty members named senior members of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), an honor awarded to academic inventors who are leaders in their respective fields and who have produced technologies that have either brought or aspire to bring a positive impact on society.

Shoemaker’s research focuses on the discovery of camelid single-domain antibody components (called nanobodies or VHHs) and their engineering into therapeutic biomolecules for treating a wide variety of diseases.

When Shoemaker joined Cummings School nearly 20 years ago, his work concentrated on the development of therapeutic agents that either prevent or reverse intoxication from bacterial toxins. This work then expanded to other toxins (e.g., Shiga toxins, C. difficile toxins, anthrax, ricin) and more recently to enteric pathogens and respiratory viruses. Shoemaker works collaboratively with other academic labs and with industry, which has led to commercialization of products he has helped develop. His goal is to improve prevention and treatment of veterinary and human diseases, particularly those most affecting the developing world.

A Peek Inside a Level 3 Biosafety Facility

CRITICAL RESEARCH IS taking place inside the New England Regional Biosafety Laboratory (RBL), a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility on campus that safely allows for research on highly contagious microorganisms.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) selected Tufts University as one of 12 domestic sites to house one of these special laboratories.

Jointly funded by the NIH and a Massachusetts Life Science Center grant, as well as an endowment from Tufts to partially offset operating costs, the RBL is used by Cummings School scientists and third-party companies, mostly major research organizations, who rent its lab space.

“It took a pandemic, but the RBL has become a bustling hub of cutting-edge infectious disease research focused on the health of humans and animals alike,” said Dr. Saul Tzipori, distinguished professor and the RBL’s former director. “The

RBL enables Cummings School to be a safe place for investigators to advance research efforts on diseases that affect millions of people worldwide.”

From COVID-19 research to investigating a vaccine for tuberculosis, all work with live infectious agents is conducted in a biosafety cabinet to contain the virus or bacteria. BSL-3 lab work conditions are restrictive and labor intensive because of the level of safety measures. “Researchers in the RBL strive to develop treatment and prevention strategies [for diseases] that continue to cause death around the globe, and that work can only be done in BSL-3 spaces,” said Dr. Jonathan Runstadler, professor and chair of the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health.

Tufts Vice Provost for Research Bernard Arulanandam added, “The RBL positions Tufts as a leading academic research institution making significant contributions to public health in general and the future of infectious disease research.”

The exterior of the Regional Biosafety Laboratory at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

SPOTLIGHT: DEPARTMENT CHAIR

Dr. Andrea Varela-Stokes

Joins Alma Mater to Lead

Department of Comparative Pathobiology

Dr. Andrea Varela-Stokes, after gathering two decades of research and teaching experience, was appointed professor and chair of Cummings School’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB).

A veterinary scientist, Varela-Stokes has researched parasitology extensively, earned a Ph.D. in infectious diseases, and has worked with tickborne pathogens and other tick-associated bacteria.

Varela-Stokes spent the last nearly 15 years at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a professor and researcher, funded in part by numerous grants, some from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

She has published and presented widely on parasitology and has earned the Pfizer Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, as well as faculty excellence honors at Mississippi State.

In her new role, Varela-Stokes aims to develop and grow the department’s capabilities, she shared. “My goal is to identify new opportunities for CPB to use its areas of expertise to grow our diagnostic capabilities, foster natural collaborations for scholarly activity, and support our members in their efforts to teach effectively while promoting a positive culture where we work together for continued success.”

Andrea Valera-Stokes, V01, with her dog, Stella.

Meet our New Faculty

CUMMINGS SCHOOL CONTINUES to increase our faculty and staff to support our programs. Here are the new additions to our full-time faculty over the past year.

P. Kumari Andarawewa Associate Clinical Professor, Comparative Pathobiology

“I love helping students, to give back what I have learned, and make an impact. I encourage them to think outside the box, to explore, and to pursue what they are passionate about.”

Stefanie Arndt Assistant Clinical Professor, Large Animal Surgery

“The joy of teaching students, interns, and residents intensified my interest to pursue an academic career.”

“Our field [zoological medicine] is vast, and there is a dire need for scientific exploration on many levels. Working in academia gives me the unique opportunity to advocate for my specialty and for my patients while shaping the minds of the next generations of veterinarians.”

Emmanuelle Butty Assistant Clinical Professor, Nephrology

“I wanted to stay in academia because I love trying to help others become veterinarians while trying to move medicine forward. I’ve been trained by talented professionals and now that I’m able to train others, I enjoy that challenge.”

“The opportunity to conduct research, supported by the school, and the collaboration with colleagues from many different fields are pretty unique to universities, and very rare in private practice,” he said. “And I really enjoy working with the students. They’re excited when they get to do new things, and as a recent resident, it’s fun to share what I went through and what I learned from it.”

Claire Dixon Assistant Clinical Professor, Internal Medicine

“I love the clinical side of being a vet, and during my residency I realized I enjoyed teaching as well. Academia allows me to continue to pursue both. I especially love teaching students when they are so keen and enthusiastic; it brightens my day.”

Dr.

Dr.

Dr. Marjorie Bercier Assistant Clinical Professor, Zoological Medicine

Dr.

Dr. Joseph Davis Assistant Clinical Professor, Large Animal Surgery

Dr.

“Being here [at Cummings School] provides me with opportunities to not only collaborate and learn from the renowned experts but also to use the supportive environment to achieve my goals as a new faculty member.”

“I hope to serve as a mentor for veterinary students and radiology residents, guiding them through training and helping them have fun along the way. I find it immensely gratifying to help students master concepts through teaching, and to indirectly enhance the care of animals that those students will later treat.”

“I am quite fond of the culture and community at both the Wildlife Clinic and the school overall. It values people, diversity, equity, the environment, and animal welfare—all of which are highly important to me. I am so happy to be here.”

“The opportunities in a teaching and academic environment will aid in my progression to gain a residency and become a specialist.”

“When I started teaching students as one of my duties in the department of pathology in vet school, I taught students how to do necropsies, and I realized that teaching was very natural for me.”

Dr. Kaustubh Dongaonkar Assistant Clinical Professor, Small Animal Surgery

Dr. Robert Dwyer Assistant Clinical Professor, Equine Ambulatory Medicine

Julia Graham, V09, GBS16 Assistant Clinical Professor, Diagnostic Imaging

Cristin Kelley, V12 Assistant Clinical Professor, Wildlife Medicine

Dr. Gisela MartinezRomero Assistant Clinical Professor, Pathobiology

SPOTLIGHT: FACULTY

Assistant Clinical Professor, Anesthesia

“I am fascinated by eyes and ocular pathology … and eager to educate veterinary students in anatomic pathology.”

Assistant Clinical Professor, Large Animal Surgery

“Transitioning to a role as a faculty member enables me to help develop future clinicians who will lead our profession. The enhanced opportunity for professional development and research are enticing. These opportunities will broaden my clinical acumen and enable me to be an effective, innovative clinical educator.”

“Within anesthesiology, my special interest lies within the large animal species. I love the challenge presented by their size, anatomy, and temperament. I believe there are creative opportunities to explore and improve our care and support of these animals.”

Assistant

“I love the clinical side of ophthalmology, helping patients and performing surgery, but I wanted to make a larger positive impact on veterinary medicine. Being at an academic institution allows me to be more involved in training veterinarians and scientific research, which has the potential to reach a larger population of people and animals.”

“Teaching students helps me to keep learning as well. They ask questions and keep me on my toes. To be an effective teacher you need to keep pushing yourself to improve.”

Dr. Cornelia Peterson Assistant Professor of Anatomic Pathology

Dr. Amanda Prisk

Dr. Caitlin Thorn

Alexandra Uden, A10, V20 Assistant Clinical Professor, Small Ruminant Ambulatory Medicine

Dr. Vanessa Yang

Professor, Ophthalmology

EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATION

Student Research Opportunities Continue to Expand

A COLLABORATION BETWEEN Cummings School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is helping to expand and diversify research opportunities for D.V.M. students.

Cheryl London, V90, associate dean of research and graduate education, shared, “This collaboration has enabled students to become more connected with a true basic science research experience at MIT, with access to laboratories and training in other animal model systems.

“Most students come to veterinary school with the goal of working in the private practice setting,” said London. “This training program is designed to broaden exposure and get them excited about biomedical research.”

Pleased with the first year of collaboration, both institutions hope to expand in the future, according to London. “We’d like to have participation from veterinary schools across the country and increase our footprint with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.”

This new venture supplements the student research celebrated annually for 33 years at Veterinary Research Day, where second- and thirdyear students present the results of self-initiated clinical, basic, and field research projects, mentored by Cummings School faculty members.

Funding needs are met by either the school and its active research laboratories, private funds or gifts, or outside foundations or organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health.

Cummings School’s Veterinary Research Day.

New Professorships

ESTABLISHED IN SUPPORT of Tufts Wildlife Clinic, the Gabriel and Valerie Schmergel Term Directorship in Wildlife Medicine was awarded to Maureen Murray, V03. An associate clinical professor and a board-certified specialist in avian medicine, she has studied anticoagulant rodenticides in birds of prey since 2006.

The Anne Engen and Belle Term Professorship in Clinical Nephrology was created by a dedicated Cummings School friend and supporter to help build Tufts University’s strengths in veterinary clinical nephrology. Mary Anna Labato, V83, course director for the Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, earned the professorship. She is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and director of renal and endourology services.

Established through the estate of a longtime donor, the Elizabeth Arnold Stevens Professorship was awarded to Dr. Amanda Martinot, an assistant professor and board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologist. She specializes in animal models of infectious diseases of global health importance such as tuberculosis (TB), Zika virus, and SARS-CoV-2.

Maureen Murray, V03, and Dean Alastair Cribb.

First Cummings School Student to Earn AASVF Scholarship

RACHEL KANEFSKY, V24, a third-year student in the D.V.M./M.P.H. dual degree program, became the first Cummings School student to earn a scholarship from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians Foundation (AASVF). She was one of four students to receive a $2,500 scholarship award, the secondhighest prize conferred.

Last summer, Kanefsky conducted research with Dr. Bailey Arruda, a research veterinary medical officer–influenza A with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and an associate professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She presented her findings, titled “Mucin 4 is a Marker of Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis in Influenza

A Virus Infection,” in September at Cummings School’s Veterinary Research Day, where she earned a citation from the judges for one of the best presentations.

Encouraged by the recognition, Kanefsky entered the AASVF student research competition, where she was among the top 15 projects selected. She gave an oral presentation at the annual conference to earn the scholarship.

“I think there is a lot we can learn from pigs,” she said. “I want to work in swine medicine and research because it has such a significant impact on human health, global economics, and food security.”

Rachel Kanefsky, V24, a third-year D.V.M. candidate, will work for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service after she graduates.

A Partnership Solution to a Pressing Primary Care Need

OVER THE LAST two decades, dental health and dentistry have advanced significantly in veterinary practice. Dentistry remains a key component of primary care health programs for pets. The most common problem—periodontal disease—appears in most dogs and cats by the age of 3 and is associated with other health problems such as kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes. Therefore, basic dentistry skills are essential for graduating students.

After participating in advanced continuing education events, Gregory Wolfus, V98, discovered a learning model that could be applied to D.V.M. education. The concept brought students and

instructors together over five days to learn the basic dentistry competencies.

Dr. Wolfus, Kate Zukowski, CVT, VTS (dentistry), Bill Rosenblad, V96, past president of the Tufts Veterinary Alumni Association, and Dr. Rich Levine developed the program and established its learning objectives. In spring 2019, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine held its first Dentistry Week.

The organizing team gathered a group of 15 regional veterinarians and taught 100 students veterinary dentistry. Students reviewed charting, scaling, and polishing teeth, then conducted oral exams on pet volunteers. Students practiced taking dental radiographs, performed nerve blocks, and extracted teeth from donated cadavers. They also learned how to communicate with clients about dental health.

Dentistry Week was created so our graduates would be better equipped to respond to the needs of their primary care patients. Its success hinges on a partnership with colleagues from private practice who make it possible.

Bill Rosenblad, V96, provides instruction to a student during Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s Dentistry Week.

CHAMPIONING STUDENT SUPPORT: VSTONE Scholarships

THE STEADILY RISING cost of veterinary education creates a significant challenge for many individuals aiming to complete a degree from one of the nation’s 33 colleges that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

As the only veterinary school in New England, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is fortunate to benefit from the generosity of several organizations and entities that offer scholarship opportunities to veterinary students, most

prominently the Veterinary Scholarship Trust of New England (VSTONE).

VSTONE offers 14 named scholarships, ranging from $500 book awards to an $8,000 scholarship, with several $5,000 awards.

Founded in 1958 by three veterinarians, VSTONE started as a loan organization for veterinary students, but transitioned to a scholarship trust to better serve students as education costs rose.

According to VSTONE Board of Trustees Chair Richard A. Heller, D.V.M., “Ninetyfive percent of what we raise goes to scholarships. We highly encourage veterinary students to apply for these awards so we can help with the debt they are accumulating.”

At this year’s Dean’s Dinner, VSTONE Board of Trustees Chair Richard Heller, D.V.M. and Dean Alastair Cribb present Trevor Copes, V23, with a VSTONE scholarship.

Equine Dentistry Education Enhanced by Innovative Practice

THANKS TO A generous gift to Cummings School to establish the Roadie Fund for Excellence in Equine Dentistry, Julia Wilkinson, V10, assistant clinical professor in the Department of Ambulatory Medicine and Theriogenology, was able to purchase new training equipment and to increase students’ hands-on learning through a new equine dental elective.

The new dentistry rotation is offered for 8–10 students during clinicals. They conduct routine equine oral exams and equine floats for two days, working on up to 30 horses. Other days are focused on more advanced techniques.

Wilkinson enhanced the dentistry lab by providing a sample of an arcade of horse teeth to teaching technician Joe Popowski. He made molds based on

an online source, then created full arcades of teeth, using cement. Dr. Wilkinson created a skin over the model that made it shine for proper simulation of the procedure.

The arcades were implanted into teaching skulls so students could practice with the power floats (which remove sharp points from the horses’ teeth) and additional equipment.

“I don’t know of any other institutions that have models like these,” said Wilkinson. “This was an exciting addition to our dental instruction.” Student participant Sam Prusak, V23, agrees. “Dental lab was incredibly helpful. … Graduating from vet school with comfort in completing a basic dental exam and float is monumental.”

Fourth-year students Hanna Palanchian, Jessica Danielo, and Samantha Prusak work on a horse during equine dental week.

Evan Griffith, VG17, V21, is joined by Billy Mawindo, a University of Global Health Equity student, and Rwandan veterinarians Drs. Thierry Turibyariye and Rita Kwibuka at the Zipline distribution center, Muhanga, Rwanda.

Delivering Vaccines via Drone

THROUGH THE TUFTS-UGHE-UR One Health Collaborative (a Tufts University collaboration with the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and the University of Rwanda School of Veterinary Medicine (UR), Evan Griffith, VG17, V21, a current Ph.D. student, learned about Zipline, a company that delivers items via drone. The Collaborative offers a fellowship program enabling Rwandan fellows to study in the U.S. while Cummings School students work in Rwanda with UGHE and UR students.

Following a study conducted by Cummings School researchers in collaboration with others and published in a 2023 issue of the journal Vaccines, the government of Rwanda and Zipline partnered to deliver more vaccines to combat the spread of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in the remote Nyagatare District of the African nation.

Griffith served as lead author. After learning about Zipline, he collaborated with J. Hellen Amuguni, VG11, an associate professor in the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health with extensive research experience in eastern Africa as SheVax+ project coordinator; postdoctoral fellow Dr. Janna Schurer; Billy

Mawindo, a master’s degree student at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE); and Drs. Rita Kwibuka and Thierry Turibyariye of the University of Rwanda School of Veterinary Medicine (UR). Together, the team explored the supplementation of health-care supply chains and the provision of last-mile vaccine delivery, which has proved effective in remote locations in recent years.

In 2022, drones delivered 70,000 RVF vaccines to Nyagatare District, up from the 20,000 typically delivered in an annual vaccination campaign. As part of his Ph.D. dissertation, Griffith intends to work with Dr. Amuguni and Zipline to analyze the impact.

Griffith shared, “We want to understand the health and well-being outcomes across the human and livestock space as a result of this One Health drone delivery service.”

Commencement 2023

FORTY-SEVEN MASTER’S DEGREES, 100 doctoral degrees, and three postgraduate certificates were awarded at the 2023 Commencement ceremony. Graduate students earned 14 M.S. degrees in animals and public policy, 21 in conservation medicine, and a dozen in infectious disease and global health.

Ninety-four students received a D.V.M., five earned a dual D.V.M./M.P.H. degree, one completed a Ph.D., and three secured a postgraduate certificate in international veterinary medicine.

For the D.V.M. class address, Raina D’Orazio, V23, said, “Our shared gift is in compassion that is directed inward, toward ourselves, each other, and

the greater veterinary community. … I believe that we can take what we’ve cultivated as V23s and create more compassionate and fun workplaces.”

Presenting the M.S. faculty address, Associate Clinical Professor Emily McCobb, V00, VG02, remarked, “I have hope for the future [which] comes from the inspiration that these graduates have shown me. The students that I work with every day and all of those graduating today have the intelligence, understanding of science, and skill set to secure a future for all of us and the animals and environment we love.”

SPOTLIGHT: STUDENTS

Innovative Illustrator Sydney Day, V23, Fills Need with Veterinary Medicine Drawings

When artistically gifted student Sydney Day, V23, found that there was an insufficient supply of accurate images or illustrations to help her understand animal anatomy, she grabbed her pencils and started drawing them.

Sydney learned technical artistic skills and techniques from her mom, a trained artist, while she was growing up. She later took many courses, including some at Rhode Island School of Design. As a visual learner, when studying anatomy as a Cummings School student, she found the available images inadequate. “So I started drawing them from descriptions,” she said. Word of her visual study guide spread, so she shared it on a group Facebook page and later created a website to share it online at www.daydvm.com.

She eventually created a 100-page anatomy guide and has sold more than 500 copies of a digital version online, while working to produce a printed version. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a clinical general practice while doing contract illustration work for veterinary medicine.

An illustration by Sydney Day, V23, of a canine’s skull is included in her self-created anatomy guide.

Alexandra Awad, V24, Earns National Scholarship and Tufts Presidential Award for Civic Life

ALEXANDRA AWAD, V24, a third-year D.V.M. candidate at Cummings School, received the prestigious 2023 Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges and was one of 22 outstanding students to receive a 2023 Presidential Award for Civic Life from Tufts University.

A co-founder of the student chapter of the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA) at Cummings School and a catalyst for Spanish language instruction on campus, Awad was the lone recipient of the $6,000 scholarship among veterinary students from 54 accredited veterinary medical colleges worldwide.

Recognized for “showing exemplary promise as a future leader and for significant contributions to enhancing diversity and inclusion in academic veterinary medicine,” Awad was also one of 18 veterinary students to receive a Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship, a $5,000

award for enhancing diversity and inclusion through various avenues and/or influencing others to be inclusive.

Born and raised in Cranston, Rhode Island, Awad is half Puerto Rican and half Egyptian. “I think that having more diverse individuals receive scholarships is so important for other minority or first-generation students to realize that this is a possibility for them, as well,” she said.

The Tufts Presidential Award recognizes the university’s most remarkable graduate and undergraduate students with its highest honor for outstanding service, leadership, and civic engagement.

“When I created the Spanish courses, my goal was to support students who wanted to better communicate with Spanish-speaking clients,” said Awad. “I’m amazed by the courses’ impact on our community, and grateful that we recognized the need for language learning to improve patient care and outcomes.”

Alexandra Awad, V24, receives her 2023 Presidential Award for Civic Life from Tufts University President Anthony Monaco.

SPOTLIGHT: STUDENTS

Meet Our Graduates

“Because of Cummings School, I made friends that I know I will have forever, got opportunities to work in amazing places like Belize and Kenya, and learned so much about a career that I love.”

“Despite my initial focus on international and conservation medicine, Cummings School helped me develop a love of clinical, companion-animal medicine. … I’ll be moving on to a small animal rotating internship to further explore clinical medicine.”

“Through the program, I learned a real appreciation for the work that researchers do. Research is the foundation of how we advance and improve in veterinary medicine.”

“Because of my time at Cummings School, I know my abilities and strengths—and I’m not afraid to use them. My experience at Tufts has been amazing; I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“The MAPP program is unique … [allowing a] focus on both animals and public policy. It catered directly to the specific thing I know I wanted to do, and I’ve loved exploring all aspects of the program.”

“The master’s in conservation medicine program’s focus on interdisciplinary solutions fostered my desire to combine my tech knowledge and my interest in conservation.”

Cora Evans, V23

Katherine King, V23

William “Bill” Orrico, V23/ MG23 (M.P.H.)

Caroline Bonfield, VG22 (MAPP)

Aaron Lambert, VG22 (MS-IDGH)

Dini Zucker, VG23 (M.C.M.)

EXTRAORDINARY CLINICAL CARE

Offering Rare Dialysis and Extracorporeal Therapy Services

CUMMINGS SCHOOL’S HENRY and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals is one of only two dozen locations in the U.S. with a veterinary dialysis center. In addition to dialysis, a treatment in response to kidney failure, Foster Hospital offers an extracorporeal therapy service, which administers treatments for immune-mediated diseases and toxicities.

In fall 2022, Foster Hospital treated its 400th dialysis patient, a German shepherd from Maine who was suffering from immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

The demand for dialysis and extracorporeal therapy services has increased 200 percent over the past seven years, according to Mary Labato, V83, a veterinary internist at Foster Hospital.

Due to the complexities involved in treating animals who may have more than one ailment, all Cummings School internal medicine residents are required to learn dialysis as a part of their residency.

Among its offerings, Foster Hospital uses therapeutic plasma exchange to address either immune-mediated thrombocytopenia or immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA), as well as hemoperfusion. Therapeutic

plasma exchange filters the blood outside the body to remove a toxin. Without hemoperfusion, treatments for toxicities include inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal orally, and giving intravenous fluids to maintain hydration.

Cummings School is also the first veterinary school in the country to have a new machine to provide dialysis treatments to very small animals (e.g., small cats and dogs, ferrets, or exotic species) weighing 4–22 lbs. According to Labato, just 15 of these machines are in operation elsewhere—14 in children’s hospitals and one in a private practice.

Serena with the leaders of her Foster Hospital care team, Dialysis Center Supervisor Carolyn Tai and Drs. Colleen Bourque and Mary Labato.

Stewardship Initiatives to Make Care

Safer and More Responsible

CUMMINGS SCHOOL CLINICIANS and researchers have assembled two teams to address antimicrobial and fluid stewardship.

The Infection Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Team (ICAST) critically reviews infection control efforts at Foster Hospital for Small Animals and provides a sounding board for stewardship efforts and how those affect clinical practice and patient outcomes, according to Team Co-chair Dr. Ian DeStefano.

The group aims to reduce antimicrobial resistance and develop strategies to counteract the emergence of bacteria

that are resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs.

The Fluid Stewardship Team brought together experts from several areas to develop guidelines to improve fluid management in small animal medical practices. The team’s goal is to move veterinary medicine to a place where fluid therapies are individualized, prescribed like drugs, and reassessed daily.

Team Co-chair Dr. Alexandra Pfaff shared, “Implementation of such fluid stewardship programs at more veterinary institutions would improve care in an area that affects patients and clinicians every day.”

Drs. Claire Fellman and Ian DeStefano serve as chairs of Foster Hospital’s ICAST.

Hospital for Large Animals Provides Specialized Care across the Spectrum

BOASTING THE LARGEST staff of board-certified specialists in New England, Tufts Equine Center at the Hospital for Large Animals (HLA) uses innovative technologies to help horses return to optimal health and performance.

The HLA includes Tufts Equine Center and the Farm and Fiber Service. According to HLA Director Dr. Thomas Jenei, about 85 percent of HLA patients are horses seen in the Equine Center, and 15 percent are alpacas, llamas, goats, sheep, and pigs treated in the Farm and Fiber Service.

“Many farm animals don’t have a primary care veterinarian, so we’re ready and willing to help them,” Jenei said.

All clinicians are Cummings School professors, and all are board-certified in one or more areas of specialty care, collectively providing specialty services across the spectrum.

“The core part of what we do is recognizing that unique relationship between the owner and the horse. We have specialists who are focused to provide care to that team— the rider and the horse,” said Jenei.

A Conservation Success Story

When an avid local bird watcher spotted a bald eagle in a nesting area in March 2022, he reported information from the bird’s identification band to the state’s ornithologist.

Maureen Murray, V03, director of Tufts Wildlife Clinic, was contacted to let her know that one of her former patients had been located.

When the eagle arrived for treatment at the clinic in 2017, it was the first time it had been spotted since it was banded with trackable ID bands in 2006. The clinic treated and managed its extensive wounds, rehabilitated it in the large flight cage, and released it back where it had been found.

In March 2022, the eagle was spotted close to its release location, and it had found a mate.

“This indicates that the treatment and rehabilitation process can successfully reintroduce these birds into the wild and the breeding population,” Murray said.

The Equine Sports Medicine Complex at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

Back to Monkey Business

CONSIDERED THE LOUDEST land animal, black howler monkeys boast a call that can be heard nearly two miles away in the forest.

When Ramone, a 19-year-old black howler monkey residing at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, was diagnosed with early-stage kidney disease, he was treated with medications and fluids. He later developed lameness in his right leg, and pain medications were unsuccessful. An initial surgery revealed a small tear in his femoral artery.

Following consultations with human and veterinary specialists, it was determined another surgery was needed to address the damaged femoral artery. “When we get cases at the zoo that require advanced surgery or a specialist, we usually turn to Tufts,” said Kim Wojick, A01, V05, the zoo’s senior veterinarian.

Zoo veterinarians collaborated with cardiology and surgical teams at Cummings School’s Henry and Lois

Foster Hospital for Small Animals to plan and execute the procedure.

Ramone steadily recovered following surgery and soon returned to the exhibit with his family of five, where he exercises regularly and is back to the business of being a monkey— eating produce, interacting with fellow primates, entertaining visitors, and howling, quite loudly.

Ramone has returned to his family following surgery at Cummings School.

Breakthrough Procedure Relieves Dogs’ Chronic Pain

DR. ELIZABETH PARSLEY, assistant professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, has pioneered the diagnosis of and surgery for canines with tethered cord syndrome.

Following work as a postdoc for a human neurosurgeon specializing in tethered cord syndrome, she has since evaluated dogs with chronic pain and completed the first interoperative canine surgery for this condition using best practices in human medicine.

Experience from her first case of canine tethered cord syndrome showed Parsley what to look for. Proper diagnosis requires a full work-up to rule out orthopedic problems and inflammatory diseases, and includes a neurologic evaluation.

“An MRI is where we find abnormalities consistent with tethered cord syndrome. With a tethered cord, the abnormal tension does not allow normal movement of the spinal cord, typically resulting in lower spine discomfort and pain with tail manipulation,” she said.

Since 2019, Parsley has overseen nearly a dozen cases, with eight treated via surgery. All of Parsley’s surgical tethered cord cases are doing markedly better.

“It’s been a fascinating, translational One Health-type of approach,” she explained. “We have involved the human neurosurgeon in all of the cases to confirm my diagnosis.”

Finn, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, has recovered well after innovative surgery to address tethered cord syndrome.

Challenging AAHA Accreditation Secured

CUMMINGS SCHOOL OF Veterinary Medicine passed its American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) reaccreditation evaluation in 15 specialties in 2022. Only approximately 15 percent of veterinary practices in the U.S. and Canada achieve this designation through a voluntary assessment and evaluation on stringent quality standards encompassing all aspects of veterinary medicine.

“The practices that achieve this accreditation prove that they’re committed to a higher standard of care for their patients and clients, and better staff training and clinician development,” said former Hospital Technician Development Coordinator Mike Santasieri, B.S., CVT, LVT, FFCP.

The school’s AAHA-accredited specialties are anesthesia, avian, behavior, emergency and critical care, exotic companion mammal, internal medicine (cardiology, neurology, oncology, and small animal), nutrition, ophthalmology, radiation oncology, radiology, surgery, and zoology. In addition, the internship program at Cummings School has been accredited by the AAHA.

AAHA-accredited hospitals are the only animal hospitals that regularly pass onsite evaluations based on more than 900 standards of care.

Members of the Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance Committee (L–R: Mike Santasieri, Mary Milewski, Jessie Boyle, Shari Beaudry, Lauren Golato, Sara Seremet, and Kayla Verdecchia. Missing: Dr. Ian DeStefano and Alison Mangan).

SPOTLIGHT: STAFF

Cummings School

Histotechnologist Wins National Art of the Stain Contest

KATELIN MURPHY, HT (ASCP), a histotechnology professional at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, won the 2023 Art of the Stain Contest, sponsored by the National Society for Histotechnology, in celebration of Histology Professionals Day.

“Veterinary histology comes with its own challenges, since there is such a wide variety of species from which we see samples. The histotechs and pathologists on our campus work hard to ensure your pet receives the best possible care. If your pet has had surgery at Cummings School, the tissue was most likely handled by our histology team,” said Murphy.

Histotech Katelin Murphy poses with her winning image from the National Society for Histotechnology’s Art of the Stain Contest.

Eric Richman and Barbara Berman Receive Tufts Distinction Awards

EACH YEAR, TUFTS University recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of its faculty and staff by selecting recipients of the Tufts Distinction Awards from individuals nominated by their coworkers.

Cummings School’s Clinical Social Worker

Eric Richman and former Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Barbara Berman were among the 13 individuals and two teams to receive this prestigious honor, from 230 nominations.

Berman was honored after more than 36 years of service to Cummings School of Veterinary

Medicine. She retired in August 2022. “Barbara has exhibited leadership, integrity, and respect for diversity,” said Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Nicholas Frank. “For over 25 years she has helped students to be successful. She’s been a source of good advice, support, and wisdom … and we all appreciate what she has given to Cummings School.”

Richman was recognized for providing essential services and mental health support for all campus community members, and for demonstrating innovation and collaboration while developing mental health and wellness programs.

Tufts Distinction Awards with (left to right) Cummings School Dean Alastair Cribb, Barbara Berman, Eric Richman, and Tufts University President Tony Monaco.

Tending and Teaching

For over 25 years as a veterinary technician at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals, Jean Kaseta has cared for both animals and people. She has been called skilled, compassionate, thoughtful, thorough, patient ... the list goes on. Jean teaches how to teach. And she has a special way with our feline friends.

“It is incredible to think that in the 25 years at Tufts, Jean Kaseta has passed her wisdom and skills on to not only the technicians who have been lucky enough to work alongside her but to hundreds of veterinarians who have graduated from Cummings School.”

Lauren Golato Assistant Director of Veterinary Nursing, Inpatient Services

demonstrates how to draw blood from a cat.

Jean Kaseta

Meet our Staff

Dr. Chad Argotsinger Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

“My role at Cummings School is to support students, helping them find success within and beyond the classroom. My favorite part is connecting directly with students, usually one-on-one, to help them explore solutions to overcome an obstacle.

“Professionally, I find joy when I see students connecting and enjoying their experience. This might be the sound of students laughing in Elms Cafe over lunch, smiling as they suit up for clinical skills, studying together in McGrath [Veterinary Teaching Lab], or dancing the night away at Furball [an annual community celebration].”

Rick Rego Senior Coordinator, Veterinary Anatomy, McGrath Veterinary Teaching Laboratory

Stephanie Bertrand Farm Manager, Department of Animal Resources

“My job includes every aspect of farming on campus: caring for livestock (cattle, sheep, llamas, and chickens), raising crops that feed our livestock and keep the campus beautiful, and instructing veterinary students about livestock and farming. The best part of my job is working outside every day, regardless of the weather.

“I manage/coordinate the McGrath Laboratory, and I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the entire facility. My job is to ensure an adequate supply of quality specimens for teaching the first-year small and large animal anatomy course, preparation of materials for the course, adding and building our specimen collections, and collaborating with both university and outside partners and entities to benefit the program and its content.

“My favorite part of this job is the students! They come here with the goal of becoming a veterinarian from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Getting to know them and learn from them is rewarding. Teaching them something new, or helping them to master a new skill, such as dissection, is also a rewarding part of my job. I know this will help them as they journey through veterinary school.”

“Farming and caring for livestock are my passion and the ability to do it daily is a dream!”

Mike Santasieri Manager, Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory

“I love the resources we have as a Tufts University school, but the small community feel that comes from our own small campus. It really is the best of both worlds. The people here are incredibly smart, driven, and always willing to share their knowledge, which allows me to keep learning every day.

“I genuinely find joy in seeing students learn a new skill or competency, and watching the look of confusion on their face transition to one of understanding. There’s nothing better than helping someone get to that ‘aha!’ moment and watching them succeed at something that recently seemed so insurmountable. Their enthusiasm keeps me enthusiastic too. It’s infectious.”

Kate Zukowski

Certified Veterinary Technician, Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic

“Tufts at Tech is a student-run clinic. The fourth-year D.V.M. students and the Worcester Tech High School students are learning what it takes to work in a busy vet clinic. I am there to support them, whether it’s filling a prescription or putting a pet under anesthesia and everything in between. My favorite part, and where I spend most of my time, is helping them perform a dental procedure. Most go into it saying that they hate teeth. By the end, they say how fun and rewarding it was.

“I work with the most amazing team of people. The faculty, staff, and volunteers at Tufts at Tech are the heart of the clinic. I count myself lucky to work with them through the highs and lows that come with veterinary medicine.”

SUSTAINABLE CULTURE

COMMITTED TO COMMUNITY: Student Organizations

WITH MORE THAN 30 organizations on campus, students unite through common academic interests, service-oriented groups, or local chapters of national organizations under the umbrella of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association. Among the options, Cummings Gather aims to strengthen the campus community through social activities and networking events, including a fall mixer; karaoke, salsa, and trivia nights; and Springfest, featuring food, lawn games, and a live band.

Meanwhile, members of Gap Junction help local middle school students explore science and veterinary medicine through biology-based labs. Up to 120 students visit campus, where Gap Junction members make presentations to introduce the middle schoolers to veterinary medicine and the sciences.

In 2014, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine created the Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity (TVCD) to serve as the umbrella organization for the student chapters of its national diversityrelated organizations. Today, the Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP), Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LVMA), Pride Student Veterinary Medical Community (PrideSVMC), and Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative (WVLDI) comprise this group.

TVCD includes representatives from each group, in addition to faculty and staff members, and gathers monthly to address issues and work together to create an environment where all individuals are respected and feel like they belong. Membership in TVCD and each affiliate group is open to all students.

Cummings Gather: Current and former Cummings Gather E-Board members enjoy the 2022 Springfest. Front row (L–R): Lauren Boggs, V23, Sam Dolan, V23, Megan Gulsby, V25, Cora Evans, V23, and Raina D’Orazio, V23.

Back row (L–R): Marc Klepacki, V25, Jenise Carter, V25, Tom Lampl, V25, Adrienne Barber, V23, Bill Orrico, V23, and Dr. Rafael Senos.

Local middle school students explore science and veterinary medicine using microscopes.

Helping Train EMS Personnel in Massachusetts under Nero’s Law

CUMMINGS SCHOOL’S DRS. Sean Majoy and David Schwarz, president of the State of Massachusetts Animal Resource Team, are working with the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) and area veterinarians in 2023 to train the trainers under the newly enacted Nero’s Law, supported by a generous grant from The Stanton Foundation.

Nero’s Law was passed in response to the line-of-duty shooting in 2018 that killed Yarmouth Police Sergeant Sean Gannon and severely injured his K-9 partner, Nero. The law allows EMS personnel to triage and transport working dogs injured in the line of duty to veterinary hospitals.

Veterinarians were provided with instructions and materials to train Massachusetts Emergency Medical Services staff on providing first aid and humane transportation to K-9 partners in need. The veterinarians then worked with local first responders to train them on what to look for with an injured working dog, safety for both EMS personnel and the K-9, always partnering with the handler, and transporting the injured animal.

(Left to right) Dr. Sean Majoy, adjunct assistant professor, Denise Morency Gannon, Officer Sean Gannon’s mother and Nero’s Law advocate, and Dr. David Schwarz, adjunct lecturer and president of State of Massachusetts Animal Resource Team.

Mike Santasieri, manager of the Joseph Kelley, D.V.M. Simulation Laboratory, demonstrates how to administer CPR, using a simulated dog.

Hosting a Scholar at Risk from Ukraine

SCHOLARS AT RISK is a network of institutions that matches intellectuals facing danger in their home countries with temporary positions abroad. Vladlen Ushakov, a veterinary surgeon from Ukraine, joined Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in August 2022.

An associate professor at Ukraine’s Vinnytsia National Agrarian University and president of the Ukrainian Small Animal Veterinary Association (USAVA), Ushakov operated a private practice in Odesa.

As the war began in February, he worked with colleagues to vaccinate and microchip domestic animals, then stayed to sterilize the stray animals left behind. While collaborating with Cummings School and other foreign institutions, he worked to identify doctors who could relocate from Ukraine and establish animal sterilization clinics at the county’s Polish and Czech borders.

In August he came with his wife, Nataliia, and their 5-year-old son to Cummings School, where he is an international veterinary fellow in the dean’s office. Nataliia is a patient coordinator at Henry and Lois Foster Hospital for Small Animals.

In addition to teaching at Cummings School and completing rotations in Foster Hospital, Ushakov is administering a multipronged USAVA program that he helped launch, which supports veterinarians (including with education), animals, and veterinary clinics in Ukraine.

“Our community protects 2,500 doctors of small animals, and about 15,000 [veterinarians] in all, and everyone needs support,” he said.

He is thankful for the assistance he has received for his Ukranian citizens and their pets. “The help of Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is a source of hope for Ukrainian veterinary universities.”

Dr. Vladlen Ushakov, international veterinary fellow.

SPOTLIGHT: ALUMNI

Peter Brewer, V98 President and Head Veterinarian, Southwick’s Zoo

FROM HIS EARLY days of caring for animals, Peter Brewer, V98, was drawn to veterinary work. “I always had an interest in animals and wanted to go to vet school.” He was mentored by the late Dr. Charles Sedgwick, a pioneer of zoological medicine, who taught at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine from 1983 to 1995 and served as the first director of Tufts Wildlife Center.

“I was working at the zoo and had a good working relationship with Cummings School, so going to the vet school was a natural fit for me, especially with it being so close. We had a diverse class, including some older members like me, which I enjoyed.”

Paula Castano, VG12 (M.C.M.) Native Species Manager, Island Conservation

“While islands collectively represent only 5 percent of Earth’s landmass, 41 percent of all endangered vertebrates live on islands, and 75 percent of animal extinctions since 1500 have occurred on islands.

“And 86 percent of those cases are due to invasive species. We’re losing species. On Floreana, one of the Galapagos archipelago’s 18 main islands, we’ve already lost around 12 species. When you lose one species, you potentially lose a resource that’s sustaining the ecosystem as a whole.”

Casey Connors, V15 Medical Director, Community Medicine Department, ASPCA Los Angeles

DURING HIS FIRST year, Casey Connors, V15, met Greg Wolfus, V98, director of Tufts at Tech Community Veterinary Clinic, who quickly became his mentor.

“I spent all of my free time and every elective rotation I could there. We had great conversations centered around the idea that every animal deserves care. I learned practical medicine, decision making, and the importance of communication and understanding each person who walked through the door. Our friendship has strengthened as each of us has continued in our work to help people and animals.”

Castano Illustration by Pierre Mornet

SPOTLIGHT: ALUMNI

Gabrielle Reisner, VG22 (MAPP)

U.S. Food Business Manager, Compassion in World Farming

Colin Gillin, V98 Senior State Veterinarian for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

WHEN IT COMES to wildlife conservation, Colin Gillin, V98, the state wildlife veterinarian for Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, aims to “manage upstream” by building resiliency and sustainability into wildlife populations before a crisis occurs.

“We are experiencing global disease events affecting not only humans, but also wildlife, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Acting for wildlife health now before another cascading problem occurs will take a coordinated effort among state, federal, academic, and private partners. Keeping wildlife healthy and maintaining biodiversity requires thinking out of the box and on a larger and broader scale.”

“I was serving guests lobsters every day and understanding the detrimental effects of mass-caught seafood on the environment. I then realized that my work didn’t align with my beliefs. ... The M.S. in Animals in Public Policy program enabled me to focus my studies on my interests—farmed animals and factory farming issues, and the public policy side of it.”

Cynthia Smith, V99 President, National Marine Mammal Foundation

“One of Tufts’ signature programs at the time was aquatic biomedicine. As I reviewed the information, I remember telling my husband with certainty that I wanted to go to Tufts, join the aquatic biomedicine program, and become a marine mammal veterinarian.”

“I thought I was going to work as a veterinarian in an animal hospital, but the world of biotech opened for me through this degree.”

Remya Nathan, VG17 (MS-IDGH) Keros Therapeutics

Gillen Illustration by Pierre Mornet

200 Westboro Road

North Grafton, MA 01536

Photography: Alonso Nichols, Tufts University. Jodi Hilton, Paul Rutherford, Mike Ritter, Bethany Versoy for Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Milton Levin/Permit #NMFS 21719-01. iStock. Various Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine community members.

Illustrations: Pierre Mornet