2013 Clinician-Scientist Fellowships Awarded

The AKC Canine Health Foundation announces today the establishment of the Clinician-Scientist Fellowship Program.  Five promising veterinary residents were selected by their colleges of veterinary medicine as the inaugural class of Fellows and will receive support from the AKC Canine Health Foundation for their training and research efforts.

To sustain future advancements in canine and human health, the AKC Canine Health Foundation makes it a priority to encourage and support the next generation of canine health researchers. CHF understands the impact of the present fiscal restraints on research and development. To help diminish this impact, the AKC Canine Health Foundation Clinician-Scientist Fellowship Program has been established to support young scientists. Through these efforts the AKC Canine Health Foundation’s ongoing mission to prevent, treat and cure canine disease will endure for years to come.

CHF’s top five most productive Colleges of Veterinary Medicine were asked to select a young scientist to participate in this fellowship program.  In the inaugural year of the Fellowship program North Carolina State University, the University of California at Davis, The Ohio State University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania were invited to participate. The colleges were selected based on their track record of turning CHF funding into high impact publications that have significantly contributed to canine health. 

The students were selected by leaders in veterinary medicine based on their promise and enthusiasm for pursuing a career in canine health research.  These young investigators represent the best-of-the-best and will be the people to watch as they develop their careers. 

The 2013 AKC Canine Health Foundation Clinician-Scientist Fellows are:

Kristin Manning, DVM (Internal Medicine) North Carolina State University.  Dr. Manning’s research project will evaluate regenerative medicine approaches to the treatment of urinary incontinence.

Guillaume L. Hoareau, DVM (Emergency and Critical Care) University of California at Davis. Dr. Hoareau aims to develop tools for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and the severity of OSAS in dogs.

Lance Visser, DVM (Cardiology) The Ohio State University. Dr. Visser will study right ventricle (RV) systolic function in dogs to improve risk assessment for heart and lung disease.

Jill Schappa, DVM (Clinical Pathology) University of Minnesota. Dr. Schappa’s research concerns the protective effects of exercise on the bone marrow after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.

Melanie Hezzell, VetMB, PhD (Cardiology) University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hezzell is conducting a multicenter study that will determine if the use of blood markers improves the standard of care in dogs with mitral valve disease.

Importantly, all research performed by these residents will be in line with the AKC Canine Health Foundation's mission and will be consistent with  the foundation’s  policies and guiding principles. 

Adopt a Researcher by making a donation to support one of the 2013 Clinician-Scientist Fellows.