News

AI sentinel cameras, a handheld DNA test and a five-state wildlife surveillance network aim to catch the flesh-eating parasite before it takes hold in the United States.

The UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine hosted its annual Alumni Weekend from October 23-25. On Saturday evening, the 2026 Rising Star and Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to our outstanding alumni. Congratulations to this year’s awardees!

Two livestock professors at the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine are taking leadership roles on the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Dr. Munashe Chigerwe is the current ACVIM President. As President, Dr. Chigerwe serves a one-year term that is the second year of a four-year leadership commitment, extending from initial election as President-Elect, and, upon conclusion of service as President, to Chair and Immediate Past Chair.

The American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) annual convention was held recently in Indianapolis, and Dr. Fauna Smith was recognized with the inaugural Innovation in ADGA Leadership Award.

The new award celebrates vision, dedication, and innovation. It recognizes ADGA members ages 25–49 who demonstrate leadership early in their dairy goat careers through service to the ADGA, participation in its programs, and meaningful contributions to education, outreach, or mentorship.

UC Davis continues to emphasize team science in training the next generation of scientists engaged in basic and translational cancer research for animals and humans, thanks to a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) T32 grant.

This is the second time that the UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine and the UC Davis School of Medicine have been awarded $1.9M over five years for its innovative Comparative Oncology Training Program. The first award was made in 2020.

***This article first appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Synergy magazine***

Throughout his academic career, Raffi Miranda was always a non-traditional student, studying part-time while in community college and completing an Animal Science degree at UC Davis. So, it’s not out of the ordinary for him to be on a non-traditional path to veterinary school.

***This article first appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Synergy magazine***

As early as he can remember, Gabe Gil has been around horses and had a passion for them. As a small child in Mexico, he would help his family working with equines as field and transport animals. At 15, Gil worked at a horse racing farm—breeding, training, and even racing the horses. That is when his passion for them truly began. However, obligations with his education and family would delay Gil’s ability to make the animals his career.

***This article first appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Synergy magazine***

Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, John Kirby was always around animals, be it his dogs, the wildlife surrounding him, or at the nearby horse ranch where he worked. One of his father’s close friends was the late Dr. Gerald Heagerty, DVM ’64, who showed Kirby behind-the-scenes activities at his clinic. This was where his first thoughts about a career in veterinary medicine began.

***This article first appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of Synergy magazine***

“The average career length of a veterinary technician is about six years,” said Jody Nugent-Deal, a long-time registered veterinary technician (RVT) at UC Davis. “It’s a shame to see so many talented technicians leave the profession. I want them to realize that there are many avenues they can pursue to improve and lengthen their careers, especially at a place as large as our hospital with so many positions available.”

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Dr. John E. Madigan has released a new book, Awakening at Birth: What the Newborn Foal Revealed About Birth, Consciousness, and Neurodevelopment. With a foreword by renowned animal behaviorist Temple Grandin, PhD, Awakening at Birth tells a medical mystery story that extends well beyond veterinary medicine: a veterinarian investigating newborn foals discovers biological signals that may change how we understand the transition to consciousness at birth, with potential implications for infant care and neurodevelopment.