Veterinary students present capstone presentations at the 2022 National Veterinary Scholars Symposium

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Almost 600 veterinary students from across 3 dozen veterinary schools within the United States, France, Germany, and the Netherlands presented their summer research experience by presenting their findings at the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium at the University of Minnesota. This program gives veterinary students hands-on research experience in laboratories and fields from public and private organizations and government and academic agencies.

According to an organizational release,¹ students were all participants of the Veterinary Scholars Program, where they were mentored by researchers from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institutes of Health, and across academia. Each participant conducted original research that affects human and animal health, looking at fields like emerging infectious diseases, oncology, toxicology, chronic diseases, and conservation and sustainable agriculture advancements.

This is the first year that the scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the USDA mentored students to research diseases affecting livestock and public health as well as advancing sustainable approaches for both food and agriculture production.¹ Joined by Boehringer Ingelheim, this collaboration gave 12 students the chance to spend their summer at 1 of the 9 USDA sites working on research projects with an ARS scientist.

Boehringer Ingelheim and the USDA covered the costs of the event, including a monthly stipend and costs of traveling from their university and back to the USDA center. The program also gave students the chance to present their research at the National Veterinary Scholar Symposium.

"It's clear from the students' presentations that they have learned a great deal from their mentors and their research work this summer. We hope that this summer's experience has introduced them to the many ways that veterinarians are contributing to science, innovation, and the well-being of animals and humans, and that it will inspire them throughout their careers," said Caroline Belmont, head of U.S. Animal Health Innovation for Boehringer Ingelheim, in her welcome address to participants at the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium.

During the symposium, veterinary students and 1 graduate veterinary researcher are recognized with the Boehringer Ingelheim awards, recognizing their early contributions to advancing animal and human health. This year's winners are:¹

• Ashley M. Rasys, DVM, from the University of Georgia, received the 2022 Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians. Rasys research focused on genome editing in reptiles to develop a more efficient and cheaper method to edit chicken genomes. By editing the chicken genomes, she hopes to help mitigate pathogen spread and diseases among birds.
• Sydney Womack from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary medicine was the recipient of the 2022 Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Award For Veterinary students. Her research focused on the exploration of proteomics across species to identify potential biomarkers for osteoarthritis in animals and humans.
• Rosemary Bayless, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM), from North Carolina State University Colle of Veterinary Medicine received the Veterinary Graduate honorable mention. Lauren Ellison from Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Myranda Gorman from the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine both received honorable mentions as Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Scholars.

Reference

Veterinary Students Conclude Summer Research Experience with Capstone Presentations at 2022 National Veterinary Scholars Symposium- Boehringer Ingelheim. News release.Boehringer Ingelheim. August 8, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/veterinary-students-conclude-summer-research-experience-with-capstone-presentations-at-2022-national-veterinary-scholars-symposium---boehringer-ingelheim-301601284.html