VETERINARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, & OUTREACH (VERO) •
Faculty advise the WT Pre-Vet Club. The WT Pre-Vet Club organizes the FFA CDE in Veterinary Science contest events on the WT Campus. Over 550 local and regional FFA high school students participate in CDE Veterinary Science contests. The number of students seeking the WT Pre-Veterinary Specialization degree is 254 students making it the largest undergraduate advisory program at WT.
VERO VETERINARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, & OUTREACH
Highlights from FY22 include: • • • • • • • •
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Completion of the inaugural year of the VMBS 2+2 program and matriculation of the second class of VERO DVM students. 39 rotation students taught in the first year of 4th year VERO rotations in 2020-2021 and 45 rotation students in the second year of 4th year VERO rotations 2021-2022. Dr. Matthew Scott received the Texas A&M VMBS Outstanding Young Faculty Research Award for his record of excellence in research, publications, and funding. Dr. Paul Morley received the Texas A&M VMBS Outstanding Research Leader Award and the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Research Award. VERO Research faculty had 14 new grant awards in 2021-2022 totaling $1.62M in funding. VERO personnel presented 27 research abstracts in 2021-2022. Dr. Benjamin Newcomer received the Texas Veterinary Medical Association Educator Award. Dr. Rebecca Eschmann and Dr. Sarah Capik completed requirements for American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine Diplomate Certification. Dr. Hatem Kittana completed requirements for American College of Veterinary Microbiology Diplomate Certification. VERO faculty presented 12 research abstracts on topics ranging from common diseases in feedlot cattle to the calf microbiome at the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (Dec. 5-7, 2021). Dr. Paul Morley, Professor and Director of Research, named to the Sally Rao McIntosh Endowed Chair. Dr. Dan Posey, Clinical Professor and Director of Student Recruitment & Professional Relations received the Texas Veterinary Medical Association 2022 Distinguished Career Achievement Award and the Distinguished Membership Award.
VERO 2+2 students
Current VERO faculty: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Chrissy Barron, Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Anatomy Kelli Beavers, Clinical Assistant Professor, Equine Veterinary Education Sarah Capik, Assistant Professor, Food Animal Research Hugh Duddy, Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Surgery Susan Eades, Associate Dean, VMBS Canyon Campus Becky Eschmann, Clinical Assistant Professor, Small Animal Veterinary Education Abby Finley*, Clinical Assistant Professor, Anatomic Pathology Jenna Funk, Clinical Assistant Professor, Beef Cattle Lisa Lunn, Clinical Associate Professor, Food Animal Veterinary Education Hatem Kittana*, Clinical Assistant Professor, Microbiology Paul Morley, Director of VERO Research Program BJ Newcomer, Clinical Associate Professor, Dairy Cattle Dan Posey, Director of Student Recruitment and Professional Relations Matthew Scott, Assistant Professor, Microbial Ecology Cathy Sparks, Clinical Assistant Professor, Veterinary Anatomy Robert Valeris-Chacin, Assistant Professor, Epidemiology Yvonne Wikander*, Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Pathology * Faculty with joint appointment to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) and VERO
VERO students conducting research
DVM student at VERO practicing their clinical skills. 2022 VMBS Annual Report • 33
