Anatomic Pathology Residents
Arthur Cheng, DVM
Dr. Cheng is originally from Brazil. He earned his DVM in 2019 from the Universidade Federal do Paraná – Campus Palotina (UFPR), where he also completed a residency in anatomic pathology in 2022. Throughout his academic journey, Dr. Cheng actively participated in various research projects focused on Brachyspira spp. and Chlamydophila sp., demonstrating a keen interest in infectious diseases and their impact on animal health. To further enrich his knowledge and gain experience, he completed multiple externships at veterinary schools in the United States. Dr. Cheng has diverse interests in veterinary pathology, including infectious diseases, ophthalmic pathology, and poultry diseases. He joined the combined Residency/Avian Diseases PhD program in 2023. Cheng enjoys spending time with family and friends, doing outdoor activities, and cooking with his wife.
Erica Juszczyk, DVM
Dr. Juszczyk is originally from Michigan, where she completed her BS in Biology at Oakland University in 2017. She received her DVM from St. George’s University and completed her clinical year at Michigan State University. Prior to her residency, she practiced as a small animal clinician in Detroit, Michigan. She has a strong interest in pursuing a career in Toxicologic Pathology and has worked with the Digital Pathology team at Charles River Laboratories. Her hobbies include houseplants, collecting bones, and spending time with her two dogs Wanda and Patricia. Dr. Juszczyk joined the combined anatomic pathology residency-PhD program in 2024.
Jessica Lambert, DVM
Dr. Lambert is originally from Cherokee, North Carolina. She completed her BS in Biology, Pre-Vet at Western Carolina University in 2017. She then received her DVM at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus in equine medicine in 2023 and completed multiple advanced anatomic pathology rotations before pursuing her residency position. She has a strong interest in equine and large animal pathology and hopes to pursue a career in diagnostics. Her hobbies include horseback riding, visiting craft breweries, and hanging out with her two dogs Luna and Nova and cat Dumbledore. Dr. Lambert joined the combined anatomic pathology residency-Master’s program in 2023.
Carlos Lopes, DVM, MS
Dr. Lopes was born in Ceará, Brazil. He received his DVM from the Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE, Brazil) in 2018. In 2014 he was an exchange student at Colorado State University (CSU), where he performed multiple externships in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (2015). Dr. Lopes completed a previous residency in anatomic pathology at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG, Brazil) (2021). His master’s degree was obtained from the same university and was focused on detecting lymph node diseases from slaughtered cattle for human consumption (2023). He has a strong interest in infectious diseases and equine pathology. Dr. Lopes joined the combined anatomic pathology residency-PhD program in 2023.
Nikhil S. Rao, DVM, MVSc, PhD
Dr. Rao is originally from India, where he completed his DVM in 2017 and Master of Veterinary Science (MVSc) in 2019. He pursued his PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Iowa State University, graduating in 2025. His doctoral research focused on the neurobiology of epilepsy and the evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies in experimental animal models. Following his PhD, Dr. Rao joined Auburn University as a resident in the Anatomic Pathology program. His diagnostic interests include oncology and neuropathology, while his research interests include translational pharmacology, digital image analysis, and the application of artificial intelligence in pathology. Dr. Rao enjoys hiking, camping, and playing badminton.
Paula Reis Ribeiro, DVM, MS, PhD
Dr. Ribeiro was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil. She earned her DVM from Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) in 2019, followed by a master’s degree from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 2021, where her research focused on metastatic mast cell tumors in dogs. She completed her PhD in Veterinary Pathology at UFRGS in 2024, which included a six-month split-site program at Louisiana State university, focusing on feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection and lymphoma. Dr. Ribeiro primary interests lie in small animal pathology, with a particular focus on oncopathology. Outside of pathology, she enjoys playing volleyball, exercising, and spending time with her family, whom she considers her greatest blessing. She joined the combined anatomic pathology residency – Master’s program in 2025.