Winter 2024

Updates for Practicing Veterinary Professionals

Updated with new referral coordinators since last issue.

UC Davis Welcomes Dr. Michael Mison as

Chief Veterinary Medical Officer

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael Mison has been named Associate Dean for Veterinary Medical Center Operations/Chief Veterinary Medical Officer (CVMO) of the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, effective March 1, 2024. Dr. Mison, a board-certified surgeon, will also serve as a professor in the hospital’s Soft Tissue Surgery Service.

Dr. Mison previously served as the Associate Dean for Clinical Services—Small Animal Operations and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Florida. He has previous experience as Hospital Director at the University of Pennsylvania and has owned a private multi-specialty practice in Washington State. Dr. Mison earned his DVM from the University of Florida and completed his rotating internship and surgical residency at Michigan State University. Throughout his career, he has received additional leadership training through the Wharton Business School and the Harvard Extension School Professional Development Program.

New Strategic Initiatives

In this episode, Dean Mark Stetter discusses the school's new four key strategic initiatives. After discussions with many constituents and leadership from our Academic Council and others, we’re advancing the school in these important areas: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Facilities; People First; and Research.



Subscribe to our YouTube channel to receive the next episode of the newly renamed “Minute with Mark” video series.

UC Davis Veterinary Medicine

75th Anniversary Gala

Please join us at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine 75th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 6 p.m. at the iconic Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. The 75th Anniversary Gala will include an exciting live auction showcasing one-of-a-kind items and experiences, a cocktail hour, dinner, and an engaging program.

UC Davis to Be First Training Site of New Fellowship Program

The UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital will add to its nation-leading house officer program by becoming the first facility to host a training opportunity under the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s (ACVIM) new Fellowship Program. The program will offer a multi-year, hands-on clinical training opportunity in cases specifically within a discipline. The first ACVIM Fellowship at UC Davis will be offered in Infectious Diseases, and fellowships in other areas of interest will be developed by the ACVIM in the coming months.

Center for Advanced Surgery to Open

Due to an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic and a steady increase in caseload, the Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery Service has experienced a continual backlog of patients. To address this unprecedented growth and the need for more surgery space, the UC Davis veterinary hospital will open the Center for Advanced Veterinary Surgery.

Bird Owners Urged to Take Precautions for Avian Flu

The highly contagious avian flu is being spread primarily by migratory birds, putting game birds, and backyard and commercial poultry at risk.

“Poultry owners should take precautions to prevent their birds from contacting waterfowl or the habitat that waterfowl frequent because this strain of avian influenza is highly contagious,” said Maurice Pitesky, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine associate professor of Cooperative Extension.

Infected waterfowl shed the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in their feces and respiratory secretions, where the virus can remain viable for months in the environment.

2023 & 2024 Alumni Achievement and Rising Star Alumni Awards

Each year the School of Veterinary Medicine honors its alumni with Achievement Awards. The Alumni Achievement Award recognizes outstanding contributions by graduates of the school’s DVM, MPVM, and graduate academic (MS, PhD) programs, or individuals who have completed internship or residency programs. The Rising Star Alumni Award honors a DVM graduate of the school who, within 15 years of graduation, has demonstrated outstanding professional achievement.

Dr. Melanie Ammersbach

Clinical Pathology Service

Welcome Dr. Melanie Ammersbach as an associate professor in the Clinical Pathology Service. Dr. Ammersbach earned her DVM (2007) from the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada, where she also completed a rotating small animal internship (2008) and a clinical pathology residency (2012). Dr. Ammersbach completed a fellowship (2023) at UC Davis, where she further developed her expertise in non-domestic and exotic species, which will add unique strength to the Clinical Pathology Service, hospital cases, and research. Dr. Ammersbach is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. Her experience has spanned academic, research, and industry (pharma and private diagnostic labs) sectors.

Dr. Tyler Jordan

Dermatology Service

Welcome Dr. Tyler Jordan as an assistant professor with the Dermatology Service. Dr. Jordan earned his DVM (2014) from Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada and completed a one-year internship (2015) in small animal medicine and surgery at The Ohio State University. He then completed a residency (2019) at UC Davis and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology. He received his PhD (2023) in Comparative Biomedical Sciences at North Carolina State University. Dr. Jordan’s research focuses on the mechanisms and management of allergic, autoimmune, and neoplastic skin disease in companion animal species.

Dr. Jessica Lawrence

Radiation Oncology Service

Welcome Dr. Jessica Lawrence as a professor in the Radiation Oncology Service. Dr. Lawrence received her DVM with honors (2003) from Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada. She completed an internship (2004) at Florida Veterinary Specialists & Cancer Treatment Center and residencies in radiation oncology (2006) and medical oncology (2009) at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Lawrence is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Radiology (Radiation Oncology) (2006), American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology) (2009), and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (Radiation Oncology add on) (2014). Prior to coming to UC Davis, Dr. Lawrence taught and practiced at the University of Georgia, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Minnesota.

Assessing a New Technique to Shrink Liver Tumors in Dogs

When liver tumors in dogs cannot be removed with surgery, treatment options are limited or non-existent. In humans, one of the standard treatments for those cases is transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), which eliminates the blood supply of the tumor and may decrease tumor size. The objectives of this study are to 1) describe the procedure of TACE using a novel treatment agent in a group of dogs with naturally-occurring liver cancer, and 2) evaluate the effect that liver TACE has on clinical signs, size and viability of the tumor.

Assessing and Managing Megaesophagus in Dogs

Megaesophagus literally means large or giant esophagus and refers to a syndrome in which the muscles of the esophagus lose their tone and are no longer able to propel food and water from the mouth into the stomach. This disease is common in large-breed dogs in particular and can occur at any age. While some other diseases can cause megaesophagus, in over 50% of dogs no underlying or treatable cause is identified (known as idiopathic-acquired megaesophagus). As such, no targeted therapy can be implemented. Few advancements have been made in recommendations for disease management with current suggestions documented to be inadequate. We are assessing esophageal and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function to optimize management of megaesophagus (ME) using novel medical therapies.

Evaluation of Vincristine Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Lymphomas in Horses

Lymphoma is the most common malignant cancer seen in horses. It is most commonly diagnosed in mature to geriatric horses and is usually seen in lymph nodes or other locations in the body, such as the skin and throat. It can be a challenging disease to treat and there is preliminary evidence that chemotherapy with vincristine may be an effective treatment in horses as it has been shown in other species. The goal of this study is to evaluate the safety, optimal administration schedule and therapeutic benefit of vincristine for equine lymphoma.

Novel Procedure Relieves Dog of Kidney Stones

Noodle, a 3-year-old male poodle mix, was rescued in 2020 by John and Shannon Cogswell. After noticing blood in Noodle’s urine, they took him to their primary care veterinarian who discovered an abnormality on imaging of his kidneys, most likely the formation of stones. Two years of specialist referrals, medical treatments, and diet alterations followed with no resolution to his kidney stone issue, so Noodle ultimately landed at the UC Davis veterinary hospital in late 2022.

Goat Successfully Treated for Urinary Blockage

Aria Brecheisen, 13, was exercising her 4-H goat Captain America (Cap) when she witnessed him drop to the ground and vocalize in pain. Cap, a 6-month-old Boer goat, continued to lay down straining in pain every few steps as she tried to walk him back to the barn. The family noticed Cap couldn’t urinate, and was lethargic with a decreased appetite, so they took him to the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic.

Exotics and Dentistry and Oral Surgery Teams Collaborate to Treat Snow Leopard’s Fractured Tooth

Caretakers at the Micke Grove Zoo in Lodi recently noticed a fractured canine tooth on their 10-year-old female snow leopard, Trini. With her annual examination approaching, the zoo addressed the dental issue at that appointment with the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service, which provides most veterinary needs for the zoo’s 130 animals.

To ensure Trini would receive the best dental care, the exotics team collaborated with the hospital’s Dentistry and Oral Surgery and Anesthesia Services. Since the zoo has an onsite clinic suitable for surgery, the safest option was to have the UC Davis team travel to Lodi instead of transporting the leopard.

Get Additional News from the School of Veterinary Medicine

Discover Synergy, the School of Veterinary Medicine's biannual magazine highlighting the latest clinical advances, research updates, and other school news.