Paws and profits: Pierce College veterinarian named 2026 HPSA Community College Advisor of the Year, and more updates

A community college veterinarian has been recognized nationally for his work mentoring pre-veterinary students, a veterinary teaching hospital has added a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist to its faculty, and, earlier this year, a UC Davis orthopedic surgeon received a national educator award for his decades of contributions to veterinary surgery education. Continue reading to learn more about each individual.

Lu Dao, DVM, 2026 Community College Advisor of the Year, Health Professional Student Association

Lu Dao, DVM, chair of the Agriculture Department at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California, has been named the 2026 Community College Advisor of the Year by the Health Professional Student Association (HPSA). The award, created in 2022 by the HPSA Student Advisory Council, recognizes outstanding advisors. This year's selection was made from 19 nominations representing 13 advisors.¹

Dao earned his DVM from the University of California, Davis in 2013 after transferring from Pierce College which he had grown up across the street from. After working as a large animal veterinarian in private practice and at a local animal shelter, Dao returned to Pierce College at the invitation of a former professor and found his love for teaching, according to UC Davis. Currently, he works with the college as a professor, department chair, campus veterinarian, director of the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program, faculty advisor for the Veterinary Sciences Club, and chair of the Agriculture Advisory Committee.¹

Former students who went on to attend UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine credited Dao with playing a significant role in their paths to veterinary school. "He grounds veterinary medicine and makes this dream attainable for others, especially those who are underrepresented in veterinary medicine," Jennifer Olivia, Class of 2028, said in a news release by UC Davis.¹ "I will always be grateful for his continual support, his commitment to his students and his great sense of humor."

Denis Marcellin-Little, DEDV, DECVS, DACVS, DACVSMR, 2026 Alan Ruggles Educator Award, AO North America

Earlier this year, Denis Marcellin-Little, DEDV, DECVS, DACVS, DACVSMR, a surgeon at UC Davis, was named the recipient of the 2026 Alan Ruggles Educator Award by AO North America (AO NA). The award was presented at the annual OneAO event in Tampa, Florida, and recognizes outstanding educators for their contributions to medical education across specialties including orthopedic trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, and hand surgery.²

Marcellin-Little was selected in recognition of more than 30 years of dedication to veterinary education and mentorship, during which he has trained veterinary students, residents, and fellows in both clinical and research settings. His clinical work focuses on joint replacement and limb deformities, while his research explores surgical planning, bone healing, and the management of chronic pain and disability. He has been a long-standing member of AO VET NA.²

AO NA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in patient care and outcomes for trauma and musculoskeletal disorders through education, research, and clinical development. The 2026 Educator Awards recognized individuals across medicine and veterinary medicine who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to training professionals at every stage of their careers.

Karolynn Ellis, DVM, DACVSMR, assistant professor, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

Karolynn Ellis, DVM, DACVSMR, has joined the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) as an assistant professor. Ellis earned her DVM from Cornell University in 2022, completed a combined small animal rotating and specialty orthopedic medicine and research internship at Colorado State University, and in 2026 finished a 3-year residency in sports medicine and rehabilitation at Cornell.³

Her previous experience includes serving as a clinical instructor teaching physical therapy exercises to law enforcement officers for their working K-9 partners, and as an on-site veterinarian at the Westminster Dog Show and two sled dog races. Her research interests include canine athlete physiology and healthy aging in retired Alaskan sled dogs.³

"UC Davis has an outstanding reputation for clinical excellence, innovation, and collaboration, making it an ideal place to continue my career in academia," Ellis said in a university announcement.³ "I was particularly drawn to the opportunity to help grow a sports medicine program that integrates closely with orthopedic surgery, neurology, and the other specialty services."

References

1. Dr. Lu Dao Named Health Professional Student Association's 2026 Community College Advisor of the Year. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. July 23, 2026. Accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/dr-lu-dao-named-health-professional-student-associations-2026-community-college-advisor-year
2. Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little Wins National Educator Award. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. May 12, 2026. Accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/dr-denis-marcellin-little-wins-national-educator-award
3. UC Davis Welcomes Dr. Karolynn Ellis as Small Animal Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. August 15, 2026. Accessed August 21, 2026. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-welcomes-dr-karolynn-ellis-small-animal-sports-medicine-and-rehabilitation-specialist