Council Advances Excellence in Veterinary Medicine
As a world-renowned leader in veterinary medicine, the school educates medical professionals and scientists, develops innovative treatments and makes key research discoveries related to animal, human and environmental health. The Dean’s Leadership Council (DLC) members partner with the school by serving as key advisors to the dean and helping us achieve that excellence.
For the past 10 years, whenever the UC Davis football team kicked off, the crowd wasn’t focused on just the players. Their eyes were also glued to Pint — a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever poised on the sideline, ready to sprint onto the field and retrieve the tee.
Pint patrolled the sidelines at Aggie Stadium since the 2012 season, before hanging up his duties in November to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.
Dr. Joe Gaydos has served as the SeaDoc Society’s science director since its inception 20 years ago, when conservationists Kathy and Ron McDowell brought their idea for the science-based program to a team of wildlife researchers at the school. Friel is the filmmaker behind the SeaDoc Society’s adventure series, Salish Sea Wild.
As a clinical ophthalmologist educated in South Korea, I was able to pursue my dream of advanced training at UC Davis, a world-renowned leader in veterinary medicine. The philanthropic support I received through the Marigold Johnson Ophthalmology Endowed Residency Award allowed me to gain critical specialty training. I look forward to continuing my career in this field as I join the faculty in our Ophthalmology Service this summer. I am truly grateful to the Johnson family.
– Dr. Soohyun Kim, DVM, PhD
Comparative Ophthalmology Resident
Second-year veterinary student Bryce Westbrook has a talent for bringing people together. As part of “the COVID class” — students that began their first year during the COVID-19 pandemic — Westbrook knows he was fortunate to find a small group of friends early on, despite remote learning and other challenges. Once in-person instruction resumed, he made a point of getting to know more of his classmates and helping them connect with each other, both in and out of the classroom.
When Kevin, a 3-year-old cat, was attacked by a dog, his injuries required advanced imaging to determine the extent of his maxillofacial injuries. A CT scan helped oral surgeons successfully develop a complex surgical plan to repair his fractured mandible. The CT process was then repeated postoperatively to ensure complete healing.
Boaz Arzi, DVM, DAVDC, DEVDC, FF-AVDC (OMFS), was recently recognized as a world expert in the fi eld of temporomandibular joint research by Expertscape. He serves as chief of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service, as well as director of the school’s Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures.
Training to become a veterinary specialist is an intense and rigorous time in a young veterinarian’s career. Interns, fellows, and residents — collectively referred to as “house officers” — spend one to four years concentrated on a specific area of veterinary medicine, with most seeking to become board-certified. However, those years can be filled with long hours and challenging cases, often taxing a veterinarian’s well-being.
Dr. Dave Jessup ’85 knew when he graduated with his DVM from Washington State University in 1976 that he wanted to work with wildlife, but at the time, there wasn’t an internship or residency program available in that field. Instead, he came to the school for a residency in pathology. But 10 months later he was hired by what is now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) as its first wildlife veterinarian.
Pet Travel. Pet-friendly services are high priorities for the travel industry, and our companion animals are racking up more miles than ever. Modern travel can be stressful though, so just because Fluffy can go with you does not always mean that she should.
