VETERINARY PATHOBIOLOGY (VTPB

Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB) focuses on advancing animal and human health through innovative research, preparing next generation veterinary and biomedical professionals and scientists through impactful teaching, and supporting animal health care through expert clinical laboratory service.

Our faculty teach in the undergraduate, graduate, and veterinary professional programs of the college. The department is home to post-DVM residency programs in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and laboratory animal medicine. The department has a T32 NIH training grant for post-DVM doctoral students. The research emphases of our faculty and students are in the areas of infectious diseases & immunology; genetics & genomics; wildlife health & conservation; and pathology. Research programs of the faculty are supported by extramural funding from several federal and state agencies such as NIH, USDA, NSF, DTRA, and Texas Parks and Wildlife, as well as from industry and nonprofit research organizations/foundations.

Highlights from FY21 include:

New Faculty

• Dr. Abigail Finley, Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology • Dr. Hatem Kittana, Assistant Professor, Clinical Microbiology • Dr. Meriam Saleh, Assistant Professor, Parasitology • Dr. Robert Valeris-Chacin, Assistant Professor, Food Animal Epidemiology

Awards/Honors/Activities

Faculty

• Dr. L. Garry Adams: ACVM Distinguished Microbiologist • Dr. Angela Arenas: Scialog Fellow, Research Corporation for Science Advancement • Dr. Don Brightsmith: Fellow of American Ornithological Society • Dr. Scott Dindot: Chancellor's EDGES Fellow • Dr. Sarah Hamer: Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence • Dr. Yava Jones-Hall: 1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America • Dr. Sara Lawhon: Bridges Teaching and Service Award • Dr. Mary Nabity: Scientific Advisory Research Network Member, Alport Syndrome Foundation • Dr. Raquel Rech: AFS College Level Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching • Dr. Artem Rogovskyy: VMTH Clinical Service Award • Dr. Chris Seabury: CVMBS Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award • Dr. Chris Seabury: Expert testimony on proposed rules regarding Chronic Wasting Disease, Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee, Texas House of Representatives • Drs. Neha Dabral, Gonzalo Rivera, and Catherine Silkwood: ACUE and ACE Certificate in Effective College Instruction • Dr. Guan Zhu: Professor Emeritus

Staff

• Joe Luksovsky: CVMBS Staff Recognition Award

Graduate Students/Trainees

• Mohammad Al-Mahmood & Kaitlin Casanova-Hampton: John Paul Delaplane Award • Candice Chu: CL Davis Foundation Scholarship Award • Dr. Samantha St. Jean: L.P. Jones Pathology Award • Yifei Liao: Outstanding PhD Student Award • Logan Thomas: Houston Safari Club Dan L. Duncan Scholarship • Drs. Alex Aceino, Carmen Lau, Samantha St. Jean, and Brianne Taylor: Diplomate of ACVP in anatomic pathology • Drs. Carolina Azevedo and Candice Chu: Diplomate of ACVP in clinical pathology • Kaitlin Casanova-Hampton: First Prize in Genetics Session, Texas A&M Student Research Week

Faculty Promotions

• Dr. Angela Arenas: Promoted to Associate Professor with tenure • Dr. Sara Lawhon: Promoted to Professor • Dr. Chris Seabury: Promoted to Professor Dr. Abigail Finley

Dr. Meriam Saleh Dr. Hatem Kittana

Dr. Robert Valeris-Chacin

Dr. Scott Dindot