2024 COMMENCEMENT // College of Veterinary Medicine

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.

Adopted by the House of Delegates, July 1969
Amended by the Executive Board, 1999 and 2010

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Welcome

Dr. Timothy Snider
Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs

Introductions

Dr. Leah Cohn
Interim Dean

	Dr. Kent Thornberry Co-founder and Chief Veterinary Officer for CareVet
	Dr. John Middleton University of Missouri Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief of Staff in the Office of the President
	Dr. Kacie Ulhorn President, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association
	Ms. Chris Chinn Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
	Dr. Steve Strubberg Missouri State Veterinarian

Success is not the absence of failure; it’s the persistence through failure.

~ Aisha Tyler

Remarks		Dr. John Middleton Ms. Chris Chinn
Address		Dr. Kent Thornberry
Assisting in the Commencement Ceremony		Dr. John Dodam Chair, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Dr. Tamara Hancock Assistant Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology Dr. Carolyn Henry Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Dr. Jerry Toporis Clinical Instructor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Dr. Colette Wagner-Mann Adjunct Associate Teaching Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
Recognition of Completion of Internships, Residencies and Graduate Programs		Dr. Leah Cohn
Presentation of the BSM and BSVT Degrees		Dr. Brenda Beerntsen, Professor of Veterinary Pathobiology Dr. Cindy Cravens, BSVT Program Director
Presentation of Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates		Dr. Laurie Wallace, Director of Veterinary Online Programs
Presentation of the DVM Degree		Dr. Leah Cohn
Investiture		Dr. Timothy Snider
Conferring of the Degrees		Dr. John Middleton
Veterinarian’s Oath		Dr. Kacie Ulhorn
Response		Dr. Braiden Blatt for the Class of 2024
Closing		Dr. Leah Cohn

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.

~ Theodore Roosevelt

Kent Thornberry, DVM

University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine alum Kenneth Thornberry received his DVM degree in 1988.

He founded both general and specialty practices in St. Louis, Missouri. His general practice grew to a 17,000 square-foot, full service, eight-doctor veterinary practice with boarding, daycare, and grooming services.

His specialty practice grew to a 24-hour emergency and critical care specialty hospital with 11 doctors and six specialties.

In 2018, Dr. Thornberry co-founded CareVet, a national practice management group that owns and operates 200 veterinary hospitals in 30 states. He serves as CareVet’s chief veterinary officer.

In addition, he co-facilitates a business class for second-year veterinary students at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine.

He is a frequent guest lecturer at veterinary colleges, the Veterinary Business Management Group, and practitioner events across the country. He is a member of the Board of Chief Veterinary Medical Officers, advises and consults for several pharmaceutical companies, and works on industry-wide initiatives.

Dr. Thornberry loves spending time with his family, including his six children and three grandchildren. He is active in his community and has been recognized for his academics, leadership, practice, and service.

I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure
the darkness because it shows me the stars.

~ Og Mandino

hley Anderson		Small Animal Internal Medicine
Sidney Bogue		Clinical Pathology
Brittney Byer		Small Animal Surgery
Christa Cheatham		Laboratory Animal Medicine
James Chung		Laboratory Animal Medicine
Shakera Fudge		Laboratory Animal Medicine
Charlotte Gerhard		Small Animal Internal Medicine
Jamie McNew		Laboratory Animal Medicine
Elizabeth Meiman		Neurology and Neurosurgery
Philma Muthuraj		Clinical Microbiology
Ada Naramor		Radiation Oncology
Fern Nelson		Diagnostic Radiology, ACVR Imaging
Amanda Smith		Anatomic Pathology
Shayna Streu		Diagnostic Radiology, ACVR Imaging
Whitney Wyatt		Radiation Oncology

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is
where they should be. Now put foundations under them.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Francess Blake		Equine Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Ryan Chang		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Albert D’Agostino		Comparative Ophthalmology Specialty
Melanie Dittmer		Anesthesia and Analgesia Specialty
Janna Di Vico		Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery and Research Specialty
Jessica Edmeier		Diagnostic Imaging Specialty
Michael Haynes		Cardiology Specialty
Maria Ibanez Vilanova		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Maggie Jensen		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Yujin Joung		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Jamillah Kelly		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Brooke Lee		Orthopedics Specialty
Jessy Maddux		Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Zachary Marcus		Diagnostic Imaging Specialty
Samantha Marzano		Comparative Neurology and Ophthalmology Specialty
Scott Mash		Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialty
Andrea Mastorakis		Small Animal Surgical Oncology Specialty
Madison Naes		Anesthesia, Dental Specialty
Nichole Perez-Nieves		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Jennifer Piatt		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Haley Rauch		Equine Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Bethany Roof		Equine Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Elimar Ruiz Cortes		Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Samantha Rummel		Anesthesia and Analgesia Specialty
Sonya Shaw		Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery and Research Specialty
Sydney Swartz		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Alexandra Unis		Food Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating
Allison Valentijn		Oncology, Clinical Trials Specialty
Savanah Wilson		Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating

Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.

~ Harvey Fierstein

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Gabrielle Hofmann		Doctor of Philosophy, Pathobiology, Comparative Medicine
Barbara Ponzilacqua-Silva		Doctor of Philosophy, Pathobiology Area
Jonathan Williams		Doctor of Philosophy, Pathobiology Area

MASTER DEGREES

Mariah Buxton		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Kerri Edwards		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Tamara Ford		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Shakera Fudge		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Comparative Medicine
Charlotte Gerhard		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and Surgery
Tiara Kimbrough		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Austin Kimes		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
James McNew		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Comparative Medicine
Marissa Mueller		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Alexandra Osterland		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Julia “Carolyn” Patterson		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Natalie Powell		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Bryce Rigden		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, Pathobiology Emphasis
Kathryn Roper		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis
Nicole Scarberry		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Nicole Seilhamer		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Ashley Sturgeon		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
Jessica Topka		Master of Public Health, Veterinary Concentration
McKenzie Wishman		Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go
do it. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive.

~ Howard Thurman

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

Loai Wesam Alanqar		BS in Microbiology
Cooper Riley Barnes		BS in Microbiology
Sarah Anne Bishop		BS in Microbiology
Caroline Renee Bruer		BS in Microbiology, Summa Cum Laude
Ellie Beth Bruere		BS in Microbiology, Magna Cum Laude
Emma Joy Campbell		BS in Microbiology With Honors, Summa Cum Laude
Brynn Ashlee Dockweiler		BS in Microbiology
Eric King Eickmeyer Jr		BS in Microbiology
Ana Nicole Hendrixson		BS in Microbiology
Kolbe James Hicks		BS in Microbiology, Cum Laude
Rachel Virginia Howey		BS in Microbiology
Cristian Keegan-Caro		BS in Microbiology
Sricharan Babu Manchikalapudi		BS in Microbiology
Rachel J. Menz		BS in Microbiology
Savannah Grace Pattridge		BS in Microbiology, Cum Laude
Brennden Jacob Pfaff		BS in Microbiology
Reese Marie Stetina		BS in Microbiology With Honors, Cum Laude
Jennifer Lynn Watson		BS in Microbiology
Paige Marie Willoughby		BS in Microbiology, Cum Laude
Gary Anderson		BS in Veterinary Technology
Jenny Fetter		BS in Veterinary Technology
Carola Morrison		BS in Veterinary Technology
Jamie Ottinger		BS in Veterinary Technology
Ashima Sindhu		BS in Veterinary Technology, Cum Laude
Chaia Vosick		BS in Veterinary Technology
Ginamarie Ybarra		BS in Veterinary Technology

Shih-Yun Chen		PAVE
Hyunji Kim		PAVE
Subin Kim		PAVE
Ching-Wen Lin		PAVE
Aishwarya Pednekar		PAVE
Haeryun Seo		PAVE
Karanveer Singh		PAVE
Junghwan Yeo		PAVE
Clayton “Thomas” Fischer		Ross
Samantha Mintz		Ross
Sina Sadeghi		Ross
Michael Schmitt		Ross
Allison Boswell		St. George
Jessica Oliveira		St. George
Emily Shin		St. George

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN VETERINARY SCIENCES

Alana Shae Frum

Courtney Elaine Harben

Megan Rachel Olmstead

UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN VETERINARY SCIENCES

Emma Marion Bremer

Elizabeth Jane Gwaltney

Chelsie Kaielieya Hogans

Ally Huffman

Samantha Ruth McNealy

Marley Clair Meinking

Beth Roe

Ariel Stroud

Meredith Ellen Wathen

The people who are crazy enough to think they
can change the world are the ones who do.

~ Steve Jobs

Kaylin Albin		Victoria Rose Kehler
Tyler Dewayne Anderson		Christine A. Kemmerly * SCL
Anne Marie Anibal		Mackenzie Katherine Keown
Bailey Elaine Armentrout-Shoaf		Austin Dale Kimes
Kayla Bannister		Sophia Faith Landers
Haley Gloria Bauer		Vincent Leong
Andrew J. Bell		Hannah Renee Lewis *
Cassandra Maria Berlin *		Bryce Harrison Long
Sara Ellen Black		Abigail Deanna Ludwig
Nicole LeAnn Blackwill *		Kayla Sue Martin
Braiden Miranda Blatt * MCL		Camron Dean Matteson * CL
Hayley Ashcraft Booth * SCL		Caroline Andrea McDermott
Kelsey Boswell		Beverly Meena
Sarah May Brackett		Tatiana Melvin
Elly Nicole Bray		Amanda Christina Moore
Derek W. Brucker		Michael Morgan *
Lucas Robert Burchfield * MCL		Marissa Irene Mueller * SCL
Ailyn Guadalupe Campillo		John M. Murray
Madeline Sarah Capodanno		Madison Taylor Nystrom
Taylor Marie Chasteen		Kelsey Lynn O’Dowd
Taylor Cameron Cook * MCL		Alexandra Polk Osterland
Leigh Erin Coonelly		Erica Lea Payne
Tye Brooks Cooper		Camden Thomas Pollihan * SCL
Jennifer Marie Corrigan * MCL		Madison Audry Pope
Jainee Lynn Cowen		Natalie Anne Powell
Levi Jacob Coyle		Sarah C. Ramsey
Cole David Crumpacker		Elizabeth Kate Rand
Alexis Darnstaedt		Miranda Leigh Reynolds
Jeffrey Gage Dixon		Kaylee Elizabeth Robinson
Jacob W. Dunham		Bridgette Michelle Rogers * MCL
Wyatt Daniel Eaton		Haley Marie Rosser
Kerri Ann Edwards * CL		Rachel Denise Rothlisberger
Kathryn Egelhoff		Kayla Louise Sadler * SCL
Morgan Jean Elsinger		Nicole Elizabeth Scarberry
Riley Emmons		Autumn Lynn Schatz
Hannah Falwell		Josef Schlueter-Walsh
Tamara Dawn Ford * CL		Jocelyn Schnobrich
Samantha Lee Fox * CL		Katie Schupbach
Marissa Garretson		Nicole Ann Seilhamer * CL
Jenny Lee Gibbs		Lainey C. Selkirk * CL
Christopher John Gilliand		Ashley Jordan Silvey
Courtney Lyn Gilmore		Emily Grace Smith * SCL
Monica Marie Gevers Glick * SCL		Clayton M. Stull
Emma Marie Gober * MCL		Montana Sky Stump
Tucker Dwight Graham * MCL		Ashley Marie Sturgeon
Nicole T. Greco		Hannah Jill Sweetwood * SCL
Ben Thomas Andrew Greer		Anna Rose Tarpey
Austin Frederick Haeker		Kennedy Marne Tool
Ashra Lee Hall *		Jessica Lynn Topka
Olivia Kathryn Harris		Ashley Naomi Torres Saez
Sydni Noelle Hendricks * CL		Caroline Grace Treadwell * SCL
Victoria Allison Herron * MCL		Ashley Elizabeth Tremain
Regan Leona Highsmith		Kevin Thomas Waitkevich *
Hailey Elizabeth Hilfiker		Victoria Renee Wayne
Madeline Elizabeth Homoly Parker		Amy Elizabeth Wilhelm
Jennifer Kay Hoover		Elyse Wilhoit
Briana Le Isakson		Hadley Dean Williams
Paige Katherine Isensee		Caroline Gabriela Winiarski
Remie Johnson		John Thomas Wray
De’Shonna Jeanne Jones		Sarah Zelli

* Phi Zeta is the honor society of veterinary medicine
SCL – Summa Cum Laude, MCL – Magna Cum Laude, CL – Cum Laude