CVM Faculty, Staff and Student Accolades

Rajiv R. Mohan, MSc, PhD, FARVO, the Ruth M. Kraeuchi Missouri Endowed Chair Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and a professor of ophthalmology and molecular medicine, was recently elected to a three-year term on the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting Program Committee. ARVO is the world’s largest international eye research organization. Mohan was elected from among six candidates with 12,000 organization members from 80 countries casting votes.

Mohan followed up that honor by also being selected to serve as associate editor on the editorial board for the ARVO journal, Translational Vision Science & Technology. His term as associate editor became effective May 14. Associate editors are involved in the peer review process for the publication. They also serve as the editor for manuscripts in their area of expertise. Associate editors are responsible for evaluating recommendations, providing decisions to the editor-in-chief, and instructing authors if revisions are necessary.

MU College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Biomedical Sciences Assistant Professor Shawn Bender, PhD, has added another honor to his credentials. He was recently elected a Fellow in the Cardiovascular Section of the American Physiological Society. He was previously chosen as a Fellow of the American Heart Association. The mission of the Cardiovascular Section is to further cardiovascular disciplines by supporting and promoting scientific programming at the annual Experimental Biology meeting, encouraging the activities of younger members and recognizing the achievements of members with an active awards program.

Fellowship in the section is an elected position open to members who have demonstrated continuous, meritorious research in cardiovascular physiology. To be selected, a prospective Fellow must be a regular member of the American Physiological Society, have their primary or secondary affiliation with the Cardiovascular Section, publish meritorious physiological research in the cardiovascular field and be an established investigator.

Tamara Hancock, DVM, MS, DACVP, PhD, an assistant teaching professor in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and the college’s coordinator of curriculum and student outcomes, is the recipient of the inaugural Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The award recognizes alumni who have excelled in the veterinary profession and provided service to their community 10 year or less after receiving their doctorate of veterinary medicine.

Veterinary postgraduates and students across North America were honored for their leadership and dedication to veterinary medicine during the 91st Annual WVC Conference Feb. 17-20. Pia Gomez, a third-year student at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, joined more than 14,000 veterinary leaders for the WVC Conference at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Gomez was recognized as one of 37 third-year veterinary students and two veterinary technician students to receive the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award. She was chosen by the MU CVM for this prestigious honor based on her leadership skills and service to the veterinary profession.

Kari Chesney and Catherine “Katie” Chambers, graduate fellows in the University of Missouri Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, and Chunye “Cherry” Zhang, a graduate student in veterinary pathobiology, each earned honors during the 2019 MU Life Sciences Week activities. Life Sciences Week is a university-wide event that brings together researchers across scientific disciplines at Mizzou, highlights life sciences research by undergraduate, graduate, professional students, faculty and staff, and fosters collaboration.

Chesney’s poster presentation on her research, “Modeling Crohn’s Disease: Identifying Environmental Triggers in a Genetically Susceptible Atg16l1 Rat Strain,” captured first place in the Comparative and Translational Medicine category. Her advisor is Elizabeth Bryda, MS, PhD, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology.

Chambers received honorable mention in Comparative and Translational Medicine with her poster, “L-1 is Protective in a Murine Model of Neonatal Meningitis-Associated E. coli Infection.” Her advisor is Jerod Skyberg, PhD, assistant professor of veterinary pathobiology.

Zhang received honorable mention in the Life Sciences Innovation category for her poster on “The Influence of Gm Richness and Transfer Method on Disease Susceptibility in an Animal Model.” Her advisor is Aaron Ericsson, DVM, PhD, assistant professor in veterinary pathobiology.