2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend
2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend
The school had an incredible time hosting nearly 300 alumni and friends the last weekend in October to celebrate milestone reunions, outstanding achievements, and so much more. Classmates enjoyed reconnecting, hearing stories and memories and learning about all the new and exciting things happening at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
The weekend kicked off with an all-school TG celebration featuring one of our favorite annual traditions—the Canine Medicine Club’s Halloween “Dogstume” Contest. Students, alumni, faculty and staff brought their A-game this year with clever and downright hilarious costumes. P.S. Not all costumed pets were dogs, and a cat nearly stole the show! Watch the video reel.
Saturday morning began with an engaging Oscar W. Schalm Lecture, featuring Dr. Stephen J. McSorley, Ph.D., who spoke on “Immune-alogy - Everyday analogies that help explain immunity to infection." You can catch the recording here if you missed it. He provided a second lecture on Monday to the SVM community titled "The role of basic research in modern biomedicine - personal reflections from a translational science skeptic." Replay here.
The Oscar W. Schalm Lectureship, established in 1988, honors the memory of Oscar W. Schalm, a founding faculty member of the school and an eminent teacher and research scientist in the fields of bovine mastitis, diagnostic veterinary hematology and clinical pathology. The lectureship promotes a tradition of scholarship, service and commitment to veterinary medicine and recognizes the lecturer's distinguished contributions to the profession.
On Saturday afternoon after brunch, alumni had a chance to join tours of the various areas of campus, while the evening was spent celebrating alumni achievement award winners from 2023 and 2024. The Alumni Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by the school. One or more alumni are honored each year for outstanding personal and professional contributions to veterinary science or one of its branches, veterinary practice, or service to humankind and the advancement of human welfare.
2024 Recipients
Dr. Annette Jones, DVM (’98) was recognized for outstanding contributions to enhancing animal health emergency management policies and programs, and for successfully leading multiple disease eradication efforts. Jones received a B.A. (’86) from UC Davis before her DVM. She serves as the State Veterinarian and Director, Animal Health and Food Safety Services, California Department of Food & Agriculture.
Dr. Dan Lewis DVM (’83) was recognized for distinguished service to the veterinary profession through innovations in clinical orthopedic research, passionate teaching, and purposeful mentorship. Lewis also received a B.S. (’79) from UC Davis. He has influenced thousands of veterinary students, veterinary interns, and residents, mentored and coached faculty, many of whom are now considered leaders in the specialty of veterinary orthopedic medicine.
Dr. Susan White DVM (’73) was honored for exemplary service to equine veterinary medicine and veterinary education. White also completed a B.S. (’71) at UC Davis. She has served the veterinary profession with dedication and excellence over the last fifty years. In an era when women were not only a minority in veterinary medicine, but essentially nonexistent in large animal veterinary medicine, White was a pioneer.
Dr. Erik Wisner, DVM (’83), Diagnostic Imaging Residency (’92) was recognized for advancing the specialty of veterinary diagnostic imaging and for his administrative leadership. He has been a pillar of the veterinary diagnostic imaging community throughout his career, contributing to development of new research, embracing new technology, and advancing development of the diagnostic imaging residency training program.
2023 Recipients
Dr. Kate Hopper, Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Residency (’02), Ph.D. (’07) was recognized for outstanding scholarship in companion animal emergency and critical care; and inspired administrative leadership of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Hopper is a ‘global’ tour de force in veterinary emergency and critical care who continues to have an indelible impact on the evolution of the discipline of veterinary critical care through her altruistic leadership, commitment to teaching and experiential training, and clinical scholarship.
Dr. Kate Hurley, DVM (’99), MPVM (’03), Shelter Medicine Residency (’03) was recognized for courage and unshakable vision that has led to saving millions of animals by elevating expectations and providing excellence in Shelter Medicine. The specialty of Shelter Medicine was born at the school, thanks to Hurley’s vision. She has advocated, initiated, and heralded permanent new expectations (globally) to raise every possible facet of care for sheltered animals.
Dr. Grant Miller, DVM (’04) was honored for outstanding leadership in equine welfare, disaster preparedness and response, and support of the veterinary profession in California. Just short of two decades since graduating, Miller has had not only an indelible impact on the veterinary profession in California, but nationally and internationally.
Rising Star Alumni Awards recognize UC Davis DVM graduates who, within 15 years of graduation, have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement. Evidence of achievement includes national or international recognition of scientific, clinical, or veterinary education innovation or accomplishment; leadership of initiatives that promote and achieve innovative change; outstanding service benefitting animal, human or environmental health; and demonstrated leadership within the profession.
2024 Recipient
Dr. Christine Parker-Graham DVM (’14) was honored with the Rising Star Award for outstanding dedication to conservation medicine, tribal partnerships, and the ongoing improvement of aquatic animal health and welfare. A triple UC Davis alumna including a B.A. ('08) and Aquatic Animal Health fellow ('18), she is a veterinary medical officer with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, providing veterinary services to federal and tribal fish hatcheries to support conservation and tribal trust missions.
2023 Recipient
Dr. Brian Leonard, Ph.D. (’12), DVM (’12), Comparative Ophthalmology Residency (’17) was honored with the Rising Star Award in recognition of outstanding contributions to vision science and comparative ophthalmology. Leonard completed a mentored NIH K08 training program in 2022 and joined the faculty in 2019 as a clinician-scientist. He has made substantive contributions to the section of comparative ophthalmology and importantly has expanded and strengthened “cross causeway” ties with the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences in the School of Medicine.
Nominations are open for the 2025 Alumni Achievement and Rising Star Awards and due December 31.
Congratulations to all of the award winners and we look forward to Alumni Weekend next year!