CVM Welcomes New Faculty to Mizzou

The University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine recently welcomed new faculty members who are serving in a variety of roles.

Matthew Allen, DVM

Matthew Allen, DVM, is a clinical instructor in emergency and critical care. Allen is an alumnus of the CVM and most recently practiced emergency veterinary medicine in Las Vegas before returning to mid-Missouri in 2020. Allen’s passion for emergency veterinary medicine, paired with his passion for teaching, what made this role a perfect fit. “In addition to teaching future veterinarians, being here also allows me to watch and learn from some of the smartest people in our field,” said Allen. “As a veterinarian you can never stop learning, it is an ever-changing field, which is why it was so important to me have the opportunity to learn even more from the CVM faculty.

Wendy Picking, PhD

Wendy Picking, PhD, is has joined the CVM as a professor of veterinary pathobiology. Picking earned her PhD at the University of Kansas and has completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Texas at Austin, St. Louis University and Washington University. Picking most recently served University of Kansas as a research assistant professor in molecular biosciences. Picking says she is looking forward to continuing her development of subunit vaccines against bacterial pathogens and is excited to join the faculty at the CVM. “I look forward to developing projects with the colleagues that I have come to know over the years,” said Picking. “I also look forward to developing interdisciplinary projects with new colleagues.”

William Picking, PhD

William Picking, PhD, is serving the CVM as a professor of veterinary pathobiology. Picking, who is the husband of Wendy Picking, also attended the University of Kansas for his PhD and attended the University of Texas at Austin for a postdoctoral fellowship. Picking most recently served at the University of Kansas as the Foundation Distinguished Professor at the KU School of Pharmacy in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. William and Wendy Picking were both recruited to Mizzou through the Mizzou Forward program, which is an effort by Mizzou to strengthen innovation in research disciplines around the university. Picking says the CVM provides him the opportunity to continue developing his research with new colleagues. “Joining the CVM allows us to create new collaborations and professional relationships, and to see our research through fresh eyes with the possibility of adapting new methods to our work,” Picking said. “It is also an opportunity to be able to adequately apply the One Health philosophy to our research.”

Bess Pierce, DVM

Bess Pierce, DVM, DABVP, DACVIM, DACVSMR, has been hired as a teaching professor of veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. Pierce earned her DVM from Auburn University and then spent time in variety of roles within the United States Army Veterinary Corps, and most recently worked as a professor of veterinary medicine at Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine. Pierce’s role comes with the newly introduced clinical service and facility in sports medicine and rehabilitation, in which she is board certified. “This is a wonderful opportunity and I’m really passionate about teaching,” said Pierce. “This is a once-in-a-career opportunity, to build up the sports medicine and rehabilitation service and work with a really great group of folks.”

Luis Rivero, DVM

Luis Rivero, DVM, has taken a position as a clinical instructor of food animal medicine at the CVM. Rivero earned his DVM at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and completed his residency at Mizzou. It was that residency training that brought Rivero to Columbia where he honed his expertise in farm animal internal medicine. Rivero is excited to be a member of the CVM faculty while he teaches on cases in the Large Animal Hospital. “I’m joining a great team of clinicians who are passionate about teaching and patient care,” said Rivero. “I hope to contribute to this atmosphere and make it an even better one.”

Kevin Shull, DVM

Kevin Shull, DVM, has joined the CVM as a clinical instructor of both shelter medicine and emergency services. Shull most recently worked as an adjunct instructor of shelter medicine at the CVM, beginning in October 2021. A Mizzou alumnus in both his undergraduate and veterinary studies, with a graduate certificate in shelter medicine from the University of Florida, Shull says that he has found joy in teaching. “I have discovered during my career that I enjoy teaching, and I have been blessed with many great teachers throughout all of my life that have inspired me to pursue this work full-time,” said Shull. “I was drawn to the CVM because it’s my alma mater, and it’s here where the foundation of my career was established.”

Jessica Thiele, DVM

Jessica Thiele, DVM, is serving the CVM as a clinical instructor of shelter medicine. Thiele is an alumna of the CVM and has most recently worked with the Central Missouri Humane Society and Columbia Second Chance. A Columbia, Missouri native, Thiele says this role is a good fit professionally and personally. “Practicing and teaching shelter medicine, in a supportive academic environment, while also doing so much good for the community through MU’s shelter and rescue partnerships is fulfilling work,” said Thiele. “Columbia is also my hometown, which means I have family nearby. Education is incredibly important to me and it’s very meaningful for me to be trusted with helping students gain surgical skills and confidence while also giving them exposure to the unique challenges and rewards of shelter medicine.”

Kile Townsend, DVM,

Kile Townsend, DVM, MS, DACVIM (LAIM) is serving the CVM as an assistant teaching professor in equine internal medicine. Townsend received her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and came to Missouri to pursue further training in equine medicine. She completed a residency at Mizzou in equine internal medicine and is now a board certified equine internal medicine specialist. “I was attracted to the CVM because of the strong equine program and supportive team,” said Townsend. “I’m now working in my dream job as teaching faculty on the clinic floor of the Equine Hospital and teaching veterinary students how to become veterinarians. I am excited to continue to push the boundaries of what we know and can perform in equine medicine and veterinary education.”

Yoshimi Iwaki, DVM, clinical instructor of oncology

Amy Molitoris, DVM, clinical instructor of small animal emergency and critical care

Celeste Morris, DVM, MBA, MPV, assistant teaching professor of food animal ambulatory medicine

 

 

 

 

 

Jerry Toporis, DVM, assistant teaching professor of small animal emergency and critical care

 

 

 

 

 

By Nick Childress