Dr. Nicole Mikoni, a resident in the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service, was awarded the 2024 American Association of Veterinary Clinicians (AAVC) Resident Award. The recognition is given annually to a resident in their final year of training who has achieved a high degree of excellence in their chosen specialty.

In nominating candidates, faculty mentors take into consideration activities, awards, and productivity of the resident during their training process.

“Dr. Mikoni has been an outstanding clinician, exceeding our expectations, and has shown outstanding knowledge for a resident mastering diagnostic and surgical skills involving fish, amphibian, reptile, small mammal, and avian species,” stated the service faculty in their unanimous nomination. “She dedicates full attention into her patient’s well-being. Her thorough approach and gentle patient care is evident to everyone involved in her cases and appreciated by the clients.”

Items for consideration include the nominee’s sustained excellence in clinical service (including performance evaluations and any service awards won), clinical teaching (including student teaching evaluations), client communications (including positive follow-up correspondence to the nominee or hospital), and research (including accepted publications).

Dr. Mikoni is one of 139 house officers (residents, fellows, interns) at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. With the largest post-graduate training program in the nation, UC Davis faculty offer veterinarians advanced clinical experience and mentorship in 41 specialty disciplines. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Mikoni will qualify to complete extensive examinations to become board certified in her specialty.

The AAVC was established in 1958 to enhance the quality of veterinary instruction and advocate for veterinary clinical teaching, service, and research. AAVC members are veterinary clinicians engaged in teaching and/or research at the professional, graduate, or postgraduate level at veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Mikoni is the eighth UC Davis resident to win the award since its inception in 1998.