CVM Faculty, Staff and Student Accolades

The Theriogenology Foundation honored Robert S. Youngquist, DVM, DACT, with the Career Excellence in Theriogenology Award for his contributions to the field of reproductive veterinary medicine. Youngquist, who retired from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. He served the college as a professor and section head for theriogenology, chairman of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, and associate dean for the Office of Academic Affairs.

He was recognized for “major and significant contributions to the field of theriogenology in research, teaching and service activities during his career at the University of Missouri.” He was the editor of Current Therapy in Large Animal Theriogenology published in 1997 by W.B. Saunders, and has also served on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Veterinary Research and Theriogenology. Youngquist was the founding editor and editor for the past 10 years of the Clinical Theriogenology Journal.

He received his DVM in 1971 from Iowa State University and earned the status of Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists in 1976. Since earning his Diplomate status, he has been heavily involved with the American College of Theriogenologist, serving on the examination committee, and as secretary from 1980-1983 and president from 1984-1985. He received the award for Theriogenologist of the Year in 2001. In addition, Youngquist has been active in the Society for Theriogenology and was recognized in 2001 as the recipient of the Dr. David E. Bartlett Award.

His interests include all domestic species, but his research has focused on normal and abnormal ovarian function in cattle. Youngquist had a keen interest in working with students and served as chairman and on the committee for numerous master’s students. He has twice received the “Norden Award for Distinguished Teaching in Veterinary Medicine” and in 1996 received the “Dean’s Impact Award.”

He continues to be active with the CVM Mule Team.

Aida Vientos-Plotts, DVM, DACVIM, a postdoctoral fellow in the CVM’s Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, received the Joan O’Brien Research Award for her oral abstract entitled “Respiratory dysbiosis in cats with spontaneous asthma,” at the 37th annual Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society symposium in Caen, France, in September 2019.

Joan O’Brien was a 1963 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed an internship in 1964 stayed on the faculty at Pennsylvania until her retirement in 1989.  The Joan A. O’Brien Research Award is named in recognition of O’Brien’s many accomplishments and contributions, both clinical and research, to veterinary respiratory medicine. It is given at the annual Symposium of the Veterinary Comparative Respiratory Society for the best research abstract presentation made by a resident, professional or graduate student.

The American Association of Veterinary Anatomists elected David Cross, PhD, DVM, associate teaching professor in the MU College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Biomedical Science, as its president-elect. He began the term as president-elect in August and will become the AAVA president in two years. He has been a member of the organization since 2014.

Cross said his priorities as president-elect and president will be educating the public and lawmakers about the continued need for cadavers to be available to educate future veterinarians and getting more people involved in the AAVA.

Cross earned a PhD in animal science specializing in reproductive physiology from the Ohio State University in 1991. He went on to earn his doctor of veterinary medicine at the MU CVM in 2000. He taught undergraduate anatomy at MU for four years before entering private practice. He returned to Mizzou 10 years ago and teaches veterinary students small- and large-animal anatomy and reproductive physiology.

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.