D.V.M.-Ph.D. Program Alumni

Julita Ramirez
Julita Ramirez

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Jennifer Nyborg
Ph.D. Degree: Biochemistry
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2007; D.V.M. 2008
Research Focus: Molecular characterization of HTLV-1 Tax interaction
Current Position: Assistant Doctoral Fellow, University of Tennessee

James Perry
James Perry

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Anne Avery
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2008; D.V.M. 2007
Research Focus: Antigen presenting cells in malaria infection
Current Position: Co-Founder, CASTR Alliance

April Davis
April Davis

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Richard Bowen
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2007; D.V.M. 2007
Research Focus: Pathogenesis and immunity of rabies virus infection in bats
Current Position: Director, New York State Department of Health, Rabies Laboratory

Tim Kurt
Tim Kurt

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Ed Hoover
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2011; D.V.M. 2011
Research Focus: Molecular determinants for cross-species transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD)
Current Position: Senior Vice President of Environmental Research, Dairy Management Inc.

Ram Head
Katrina Easton

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Chris Kawcak
Ph.D. Degree: Bioengineering
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2011; D.V.M. 2011
Research Focus: Development of a finite element model of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint
Current Position: Relief Veterinarian, Salt Lake Area Veterinary Clinics

Jack Muth
Jack Muth

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Richard Bowen
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2012
Research Focus: Pathogenesis of avian influenza virus in poultry
Current Position: Public Medical and Education Director, Dakin Humane Society

Ashley McGrew
Ashley McGrew (Linton)

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Lora Ballweber
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2013
Research Focus: Intestinal Macroparasites and Mercury (Hg): The chemical ecology within the alimentary tract of a piscivore host
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Colorado State University

Kathy Benedict
Kathy Benedict

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Paul Morley
Ph.D. Degree: Clinical Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2013
Research Focus: Surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in feedlot cattle
Current Position: Researcher, Epidemiology Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control

Liza Pfaff
Liza Pfaff

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Dawn Duval
Ph.D. Degree: Clinical Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2011; D.V.M. 2013
Research Focus: Biomarkers of Metastasis and Resistance to Chemotherapy in Canine Osteosarcoma
Current Position: Associate Veterinarian, Critter Care Animal Hospital, Centennial, Colo.

Heidi Pecoraro
Heidi Pecoraro

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Gabrielle Landolt
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2014
Research Focus: Epidemiology, Ecology, and Evolution of Canine Influenza Viruses H3N8 in U.S. Dogs
Current Position: Veterinary Pathologist, North Dakota State University

Patti Kiser
Patti Kiser

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Anne Avery
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2014
Research Focus: CD4+ T-cell derived IL-10 mitigates malarial anemia
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Western University

Katherine Gates
Katherine Gates (McBroom)

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Russ Anthony
Ph.D. Degree: Biomedical Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2012; D.V.M. 2014
Research Focus: The role of proline rich 15 in trophoblast cell development
Current Position: Veterinarian/Owner, Ponderosa Veterinary Hospital, Kallispell, Mont.

Justin Lee
Justin Lee

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Sue VandeWoude
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2013; D.V.M. 2015
Research Focus: The molecular ecology and evolution of puma lentivirus in bobcats and mountain lions in North America
Current Position: Team Lead, Genomic Sequencing Laboratory, Centers for Disease Control

Kelly Kirkley
Kelly Kirkley

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Rob Tjalkens
Ph.D. Degree: Environmental Health
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2013; D.V.M. 2015
Research Focus: The role of neuroinflammatory NF-KB signaling and glial crosstalk in neurodegeneration
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Colorado State University

Jeanette Shoneman
Jeanette Shoneman

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Doug Thamm
Ph.D. Degree: Cell and Moleculary Biology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2014; D.V.M. 2016
Research Focus: Effects of survivin and survivin inhibition in canine models of lymphoma and osteosarcoma
Current Position: Postdoc, Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora, Colo.

professional portrait of Genevieve Forster
Genevieve Forster

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Ryan
Ph.D. Degree: Clinical Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2015; D.V.M. 2017
Research Focus: Dietary Modulation of Canine Metabolism: Implications for Cancer Risk Reduction
Current Position: Relief Veterinarian, Northern Colorado Area

Jennifer HIggins
Jennifer Higgins

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Richard Bowen
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2015; D.V.M. 2017
Research Focus: Characterization of Immune Response and Pathological Changes Following Brucella Infection in Various Host Species
Current Position: Veterinarian, All West Veterinary Hospital, Bozeman, Mont.

Katy Swancutt
Katy Swancutt

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Susan Larue
Ph.D. Degree: Radiological Health Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2015; D.V.M. 2017
Research Focus: Quantification of tumor perfusion changes following single high dose radiation therapy and subsequent effects on tumor hypoxia, tumor cell repair of radiation-induced DNA damage, and overall tumor control in canines
Current Project: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

professional portrait of Noelle Noyes
Noelle Noyes

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Paul Morley
Ph.D. Degree: Clinical Sciences
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2016; D.V.M. 2018
Research Focus: Metagenomic and Epidemiologic Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance in Food Production Settings
Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Mia Smith
Mia Smith

Ph.D. Mentor: Drs. Steve Dow and John Cambier
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2017; D.V.M. 2019
Research Focus: Mechanisms of mesenchymal stem cell protection in asthma
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Julia Labadie
Julia Labadie

Ph.D. Mentor: Drs. Anne Avery and Sheryl Magzamen
Ph.D. Degree: Environmental Health
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2017; D.V.M. 2019
Research Focus: Environmental and genetic risk factors for canine lymphoproliferative disorder
Current Position: Senior Scientist, Statistical Genetics, Kinship

Kristen Davenport
Kristen Davenport

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Ed Hoover
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2017; D.V.M. 2019
Research Focus: Characterizing the role of protein structure in prion species barriers
Current Position: Senior Clinical Research Scientist, IDEXX

Chloe Stenkamp-Strahm
Chloe Stenkamp-Strahm

Ph.D. Mentor: Drs. Craig McConnel and Steve Reynolds
Ph.D. Degree: Clinical Science
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2018; D.V.M. 2020
Research Focus: Risk factors and ecology of pathogen shedding in cattle on US dairy operations
Current Position: Mixed Animal Veterinarian, Blacksmith Fork Veterinary Clinic, Hyrum UT

professional portrait of Elliott Chiu
Elliott Chiu

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Sue VandeWoude
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2019; D.V.M. 2021
Research Focus: Research impact of endogenous retroviruses in diseases of domestic and non-domestic fields
Current Position: Anatomic Pathology Resident, University of California, Davis

Nora Nealon
Nora Nealon

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Ryan
Ph.D. Degree: Cell and Molecular Biology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2019; D.V.M. 2021
Research Focus: The roles of rice bran synbiotics in the prevention and treatment of enteric diseases
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, The Ohio State University

Enrique Doster
Enrique Doster

Ph.D. Mentor: Claudia Wiese, Ph.D.
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2019; D.V.M. 2022
Research Focus: Epidemiological investigation of antimicrobial resistance in beef production using metagenomic sequencing
Current Position: Postdoc with Dr. Paul Morley with the Texas A&M Veterinary, Education, Research and Outreach Program at West Texas A&M

Elena Pires
Elena Pires

Ph.D. Mentor: Dr. Paul Morley
Ph.D. Degree: Pathology
Graduation Years: Ph.D. 2020; D.V.M. 2022
Research Focus: In vitro and in vivo characterization of RAD51AP1 in homologous recombination DNA repair
Current Position: Faculty Fellow, University of Colorado Anschutz