About Nicole
Nicole is joining the team as a large animal rotating intern for the 2026-27 year. She recently completed a surgical internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute after graduating from UC Davis in 2025. Her primary interests are large animal surgery, soft tissue physiology, and stem cell research. She's also passionate about teaching the next generation of equine veterinarians and engaging in community outreach. Outside of work, she's an avid outdoor enthusiast, a self-proclaimed coffee shop critic, and a dedicated line dancer!
Education
Bachelor of Science, University of California, Davis, 2021Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 2025
Publications
Gonzales, N.L., Garrity, C., Rivas, I., McEligot, H., Vapniarsky, N. Auricular Chondrocytes as a Cell Source for Scaffold-Free Elastic Cartilage Tissue Engineering. 2024. Tissue Eng Part C Methods. 30(7):314-322. PMID: 38946581. doi: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2024.0106.Mienaltowski, M.J., Callahan, M., Gonzales, N.L., Wong, A. Examining the Potential of Vitamin C Supplementation in Tissue-Engineered Equine Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon Constructs. 2023. Int J Mol Sci. 24(23):1-19. PMID: 38069418. doi: 10.3390/ijms242317098.Mienaltowski, M.J., Gonzales, N.L., Beall, J.M., Pechanec, M.Y. Basic Structure, Physiology, and Biochemistry of Connective Tissues and Extracellular Matrix Collagens. Progress in Heritable Soft Connective Tissue Diseases, Second Edition. 2021. Springer ebook
ISBN: 978-030-80614-9
Research Specialty
Large animal surgerySoft tissue physiologyStem cell research