CVM Faculty, Staff, Student and Alumni Accolades

The Morris Animal Foundation recently selected Jainee Cowen, a VM4 at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, as a recipient of a Veterinary Student Scholar Program Grant. The $5,500 grant will go toward funding Cowen’s research, “Characterization of Serpentine Fecal Microbiota.”

Cowen’s mentors for the study, which is under way, are Craig Franklin, DVM, PhD, DACLAM, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at Mizzou, and David Penning, PhD, an associate professor of biology and environmental health at Missouri Southern State University.

The Morris Animal Foundation is a global leader in supporting studies to find solutions to serious health threats to animals and has donated nearly $150 million to improve the health and quality of life for dogs, cats, horses and wildlife since its founding in 1948. The Veterinary Student Scholar Program provides veterinary students with the opportunity to conduct mentored research to advance the health and well-being of animals.

“Receiving this award means so much to me,” said Cowen. “Not only will it help me conduct the research that I plan to publish in the future, but it also helps me with cost of living while in veterinary school. I want to thank the people that have helped me in the research setting, as well as the Morris Animal Foundation for this opportunity.”

By Nick Childress

Elizabeth Giuliano, DVM, MS, DACVO, professor of ophthalmology at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine and section chief of the Ophthalmology Service at the Veterinary Health Center, was recently named the recipient of the 2023 Jordan Hoyt Memorial Tribute to Women Award by the MU Status of Women Committee. The award honors Jordan Hoyt, a Mizzou alumna and 2016 recipient of the Tribute to Women Award, who passed away in 2019 at 37 as the result of a car accident.

Lynn Martin, DVM, MPH, DACVIM, an assistant teaching professor of equine internal medicine, and Mila Piva, a VM4 and Giuliano’s mentee, nominated Giuliano for the award. Awardees are selected annually for their work above and beyond expectations to create an equitable, fair and just environment for women at Mizzou, as well as their demonstrated respect for the diversity of women’s experiences and their promotion of the advancement of women through education, advocacy, support and activism. Giuliano was unable to attend the award ceremony, but in her written statement commented, “These women took the time and effort to nominate me for this award and I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”

Giuliano came to Mizzou as an ophthalmology resident and graduate student in 1999. In 2001 she became a faculty member and sought to become a role model for women at the university. “The field of veterinary medicine, while presently female dominated, still has a paucity of women in administrative and leadership roles nationally,” said Giuliano. “As I diligently worked toward tenure and full professor, I looked across the landscape of our university, the largely conservative field of veterinary medicine in general, and even within my specialty of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and realized something; It was abundantly clear to me that women needed other women as role models and advocates for each other, particularly within the LGBTQ community.”

Giuliano expressed her feelings about receiving the award. “As I reflect on being selected for this award, named after such an outstanding woman who contributed so much to our community, I keep thinking I should do more, be more and help more,” said Giuliano. “To all the women who may be listening and wondering if they can pursue their dreams in the face of adversity and bigotry, I say you can and you must, for you will never know how your life can help pave the way to a better, more equitable future for those that follow. You have my sincere gratitude, love and support.”

By Nick Childress

Michael Joyner, DVM, a 1984 graduate of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently announced as the recipient of the 2023 Companion Animal Practitioner of the Year Award by the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. Joyner accepted the award during the TVMA Annual Conference on March 4, 2023, in The Woodlands, Texas.

According to the TVMA, the Practitioner of the Year Award pays tribute to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of veterinary medicine. Award recipients are nominated by their colleagues and selected by the TVMA Awards Committee.

During the past three decades, Joyner has served the Killeen, Texas, area through his work as a companion animal practitioner. Joyner has also served the TVMA as a past president and executive committee member, as well as a member of the TVMA Practice Management Committee and Texas Group One, a group of veterinarians whose philosophy is to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit through private practice ownership.

By Nick Childress

The Society for Veterinary Medical Ethics recently named Barry Kipperman, DVM, DACVIM, DACAW, as the 2023 Lifetime Shomer Award Winner. Kipperman is an adjunct associate teaching professor and an instructor in veterinary online programs at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as a CVM alumnus. The Shomer award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the field of veterinary medical ethics.

Kipperman, a member of the CVM Class of 1987, is a board-certified veterinary specialist in internal medicine and the founder of a 24-hour emergency practice in the San Francisco Bay Area. Kipperman served the clinic from 1997-2020, while also earning a master’s degree in animal welfare, ethics and law from the University of Edinburgh in 2017 and a board certification as a veterinary specialist in animal welfare in 2019.

Kipperman teaches veterinary ethics at the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, as well as animal welfare and ethics at Mizzou. At the CVM, Kipperman is a two-time recipient of the Harrison Kaplan Online Graduate Teaching Award for excellence in online graduate student engagement, course development and course management and delivery. He also serves on the Animal Welfare Committee of the California Veterinary Medical Association, is a member of the board of directors for both the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and MightyVet, an organization devoted to veterinary wellness. Kipperman is the co-author of the book, Ethics in Veterinary Practice: Balancing Conflicting Interests, and frequently speaks on veterinary ethics at conferences.

Included with the Shomer Award, he received a personalized plaque, as well as a cash prize of $1,000 at an awards ceremony held in conjunction with the SVME Ethics Sessions during the Veterinary Meeting and Expo in Orlando, Florida, in January.

By Nick Childress

Ratnakar Tripathi, PhD, an assistant research professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, was recently named a recipient of an Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Travel Grant. The grant comes in the form of $750 to support travel expenses to the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Taking place on April 23-27, the meeting is the largest vision science meeting in the world. Tripathi will present his research at the meeting.

Tripathi’s co-investigators in his research were Nishant Sinha, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Praveen Balne, PhD, an assistant professor of research of veterinary medicine and surgery, Suneel Gupta, PhD, an assistant research professor of veterinary medicine and surgery, Nathan Hesemann, MD, an ophthalmologist and chief of eye services at MU Health Care, Prashant Sinha, a senior research specialist in veterinary medicine and surgery and Rajiv Mohan, MS, PhD, a professor of ophthalmology and molecular medicine.

By Nick Childress