More than 30 students at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine participated in the school’s second annual Student Research Day on Jan. 23. The event is an opportunity to promote and celebrate student-led research. The posters were judged by nine RUSVM faculty members representing a variety of clinical and biomedical expertise. Judges evaluated the posters on the criteria of appearance, clarity, analysis and student’s day-of presentation and responses to questions. The winners: First Place — Streptococcus agalactiae vaccine in nile tilapia (RUSVM student Maria Zayas and RUSVM faculty members Drs. Esteban Soto, Oscar Illanes, Michelle Dennis, Fortune Sithole) Second Place — Separation anxiety prevalence and severity in the typical St. Kitts “island dog” (RUSVM students Elizabeth Kost and Erika Bebout and RUSVM faculty member Dr. Maziel Arauz) Third Place (tie) + Gross and histopathological lesions of renal stephanuriasis in St. Kitts swine (RUSVM student Danielle Morosco and RUSVM faculty members Drs. Oscar Illanes and Carmen Fuentealba) + Validation of an in vitro culture method for cestodes (RUSVM students Kathleen Neuville, Janel Cawthra and Chele Lathroum and RUSVM faculty member Dr. Jennifer Ketzis) The day also included a presentation of awards and a guest lecture from Richard Goldstein, DVM, chief medical officer from the Animal Medical Center in New York. He emphasized that it is possible for students to have a tremendous contribution to research regardless of the discipline they choose. “Veterinary Medicine does lead the way, and can lead the way in research,” Dr. Goldstein said. “You can and will play a huge role no matter what area of veterinary medicine you go into.” Sean Callanan, MRCVS, Ph.D., concluded the day with a discussion of the variety of research opportunities for both DVM students and formal postgraduate programs offered at the school. Dr. Callanan is director of postgraduate studies, professor of anatomic pathology and director of the Center for Integrative Mammalian Research at RUSVM.
