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This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Synergy magazine

This article first appeared in the June 2026 issue of Southern California VMA's Pulse magazine

Since 2024, certain telemedicine appointments have been available at UC Davis and other veterinary clinics throughout California. This has allowed both specialists and general practitioners to reach underserved areas of the state or areas where specialty care may be scarce.

Researchers at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, led by Dr. Carrie Finno and graduate student Briana Brown, have reported the genetic cause of a fatal neurologic disease, equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), in American Quarter Horse foals. A genetic test is available through the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL).

“I instantly knew that we had to help however we could,” said Hodson.

Reed, a heavy equipment operator at the Potrero Hills Landfill in Solano County, and his co-workers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a dog—since named Fig—crawl out of a trash load that had just been dumped in the landfill.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 who received their degrees from the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine in its 76th Commencement Ceremony held at the Mondavi Center on May 22nd. Among those graduating were 148 DVM students, 36 residents from the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and 18 candidates in the Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine program.

A 2021 outbreak of leptospirosis that sickened more than 200 dogs in Los Angeles County reveals critical gaps in vaccination practices and raises broader concerns about the spread of the disease between animals and people, according to new research led by the University of California, Davis. 

The Center for Animal Locomotion and Innovation, or CALI, at the University of California, Davis, was flying high during its grand opening ceremony on Friday, May 8.  

A gate swings wide at the auction ring at the Yolo County Fairgrounds. A group of goats and sheep hesitate, then shuffle through. They move as a group; their bodies pressed against each other. Beneath it all is their ruminant instinct of wanting to return from where they came. Rancher Nathan Medlar, with NM Ranch in Auburn, has arranged these gates to accommodate that instinct.

UC Davis veterinary orthopedic surgeon Dr. Denis Marcellin-Little has been named the recipient of the 2026 Alan Ruggles Educator Award given by AO North America (AO NA). Presented recently at the annual OneAO event in Tampa, the award was one of several Educator Awards, honoring outstanding educators for their extraordinary contributions to medical education.

Neeru Khosla, a longtime supporter of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and a devoted animal advocate, has been named the 2026 recipient of the school’s El Blanco Award, recognizing individuals who exemplify the human-animal bond and advance veterinary care through service and philanthropy.

“We give this award every year to an individual who really recognizes the human-animal bond and helps us advance,” said Dean Mark Stetter during the ceremony on May 30, held as part of the school's annual Spring Showcase.

Dr. Gregg Cutler, a fourth-generation poultry industry professional and triple alumnus of the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, was recognized on April 30 at the annual Spring Showcase with the school's Distinguished Service Award.

Dean Mark Stetter presented the honor, describing Cutler as someone who has "gone above and beyond for decades,” volunteering, advising, and advocating for the school with a consistency that few could match. "I can't think of anybody more appropriate for this award," Stetter said.

A Founding Voice for Poultry Health

Ben Sacks (a resource quoted in this article) serves as an adjunct professor and director of the Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, a research unit in the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Antonio Maria Tardo has joined the Department of Medicine and Epidemiology as Assistant Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine effective May 1, 2026.

Dr. Tardo received his DVM (2018) from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.  He continued to complete a one-year rotating small animal internal medicine internship (2019), post-graduate researcher (2020) before starting a small animal internal medicine residency (2021-2024).  Concurrently, he completed a PhD program (2021-2024) on canine and feline endocrinology at the University of Bologna.

Dr. Allan Gunn has joined the Department of Population Health and Reproduction as Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction, effective May 2026.

Dr. Gunn received his BSc.Agric degree (1984) from the University of Natal, South Africa and his BVM&S (1993) from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom.