CVM News
Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine News
Dec 17, 2025
Roots in horse capital inspire Auburn DVM student
In and around Figueroa’s hometown of Ocala, Florida, more than 1,200 horse farms feature over 50 breeds. While Marion County’s sprawling green pastures are known for producing thoroughbreds, including six Kentucky Derby winners and 26 Breeders’ Cup champions, Figueroa focused on a breed descended from Andalusian, Spanish Barb and Spanish Jennet horses imported by Christopher Columbus over 500 years ago.
Dec 17, 2025
CVM to create professorship focusing on feline, canine nutrition
Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is among five leading veterinary colleges nationwide to receive donations from Purina aimed at advancing scientific and nutritional breakthroughs in pet health.
Dec 8, 2025
Hope in action: Veterinary medicine professor launches emergency rescue team
In the summer of 2016, a slow-moving storm devastated southern Louisiana. Unleashing more rainfall than historic Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the unnamed storm mercilessly killed 13 people and left behind a staggering $10 billion in damage. Among those caught in its path was Dr. Chance Armstrong. Although today he is an associate clinical professor in Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in 2016, he was in the eye of the storm as a faculty member at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dec 1, 2025
Horzmann earns Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Researcher Award
Dr. Katharine Horzmann, associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology, recently earned the 2025 Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Researcher Award. Horzmann is one of only a handful of faculty members nationwide who blend biomedical research and clinical-diagnostic service in the discipline of toxicologic pathology.
Nov 20, 2025
Horse owners urged to take precautions against EHV-1
Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is closely monitoring the recent and ongoing outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. While no cases of EHV-1 have been reported in Alabama at this time, EHV-1 is highly contagious and is primarily spread though horse-to-horse contact via respiratory secretions, aerosolized droplets or indirect contact with contaminated equipment, feed, tack, water buckets and human hands or clothing.
Nov 19, 2025
Doctoral student earns national recognition for diagnostic bacteriology research
Biomedical sciences doctoral student Nneka Vivian Iduu earned high honors at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and the 129th Annual Meeting of the United States Animal Health Association held in October in Aurora, Colo.
Nov 19, 2025
From rescue to release: Raptor Center manages growing caseload of injured and ill birds of prey
They have arrived from all corners of Alabama, in all manner of containers. Turkey vultures wrapped in blankets and towels, burrito-style; bald eagles and hawks caged within pet carriers. Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) Director Robyn Miller even remembers a golden eagle with lead toxicity being delivered to the center in a pair of taped-together packing boxes [the AURC offers preferable guidance on how Good Samaritans can transport a wild bird that is injured or ill].
Nov 17, 2025
Research spotlight: New directions of parasitology
The newest issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research highlights the parasitology research of Auburn CVM faculty members Jeba R. J. Jesudoss Chelladurai and Kathryn E. Reif.
Nov 17, 2025
Eyes on the sky: The technology that safeguards an Auburn tradition
Working with wild animals — even human imprinted ones — can offer unpredictability. The Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC) works carefully to build trust with its raptor ambassadors, but also relies on technology as an additional precaution when it takes to the skies for “War Eagle Flights” before Auburn football games.
Nov 17, 2025
Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day highlights students’ spirit of inquiry
In addition to celebrating academic excellence, Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day also underscores the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s commitment to offering “One Health” solutions through research. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, The Society of Phi Zeta featured 87 platform or poster presentations by undergraduate, veterinary and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral students, research fellows and faculty members.
Nov 13, 2025
Crafting a flight plan: An eagle’s eye view of raptor training
Ever wondered how a bald or golden eagle can calmly soar around a football stadium filled with nearly 90,000 noisy fans and nail its landing at midfield without deciding to take a detour for a fishing trip at the nearest lake? Our video series with the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC), a unit of the College of Veterinary Medicine, offers a bird’s (and trainer’s) eye view of the process that makes War Eagle Flights possible before Auburn football games.
Nov 12, 2025
CVM opens doors to future veterinary technicians
In October, the CVM welcomed nine students and two instructors from Jefferson State Community College for a large animal lab focused on equine and bovine care. Hosted twice a year by the college, the lab is part of a collaborative effort led by Chief Veterinary Nursing Officer Erin Allen, Veterinary Nurse Training Manager Stephanie Mitchell, Large Animal Research Coordinator Jessica Brown and Dairy & Herd Manager Simon Taylor.
Nov 12, 2025
Ayomide representing CVM as Graduate School ambassador
Aderemi Morenikeji Ayomide, a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Science, will represent the College of Veterinary Medicine as an Auburn University Graduate School 1887 Society Ambassador. Ambassadors provide guided campus tours to prospective students, assist with special events and engage in professional development.
Nov 6, 2025
CVM welcomes Narayanan as Pathobiology department head
Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed Dr. Sanjeev Narayanan as its new head of the Department of Pathobiology in October. Narayanan joins the college from Purdue University, where he had served as professor and head of the Department of Comparative Pathobiology since 2017. He also held the position of interim associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine from 2024-2025. Narayanan led college-level initiatives in artificial intelligence in education and served as an academic lead for Purdue Online.
Nov 5, 2025
Phi Zeta forum places focus on student research
From a gene therapy-based vaccine for non-surgical sterilization in cats to the potential impact antibiotic residue in pollen may have on honey bees, Auburn University undergraduate, graduate and veterinary medicine students are exploring a wide range of research interests touching animal, human and environmental health.
Oct 31, 2025
Auburn’s Raptor Center and College of Veterinary Medicine unite conservation, education, and rehabilitation through one of the university’s most beloved traditions. At Auburn football games, the iconic pre-game eagle flights aren’t just a spectacle—they’re a soaring tribute to the mission of the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC).
Oct 29, 2025
Going the distance: HumaneVMA scholarship represents milestone on Johnson’s professional journey
In each of the last two years, Johnson, a veterinary assistant in the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s shelter medicine program, laced up her running shoes to help raise money for Chicago’s Anti-Cruelty animal shelter. She tackled the Chicago Half Marathon in 2024 (her first 13.1-mile race) and chased it with her first 26.2-mile test of endurance at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Oct 23, 2025
Behind the flights: Students, recent grads help advance Auburn University Raptor Center’s mission
While fulltime staff and veterinarians anchor the Auburn University Raptor Center’s rehabilitative care and educational programming, an army of volunteers plays a vital role in training and caring for the center’s resident birds of prey.
Oct 23, 2025
Passion for endangered species propels Auburn DVM student to Smithsonian externship
When Eli Morrow hung up his helmet, cleats and shoulder pads after playing football at the University of Utah, he had initially expected his educational and professional journey to continue with medical school. Instead, his attention shifted to cheetahs, red pandas, rhinos, black-footed ferrets, and other exotic and endangered species.
Oct 22, 2025
Tick Threat Tackled: Auburn faculty member wired into tick research
“Ticks are an omnipresent threat, and they’ve been around for millions of years, since before the time of the dinosaurs,” said Reif. “Many of the most common tick species are equal opportunity biters, so they can be a problem for pets and livestock animals as well as people. They also can carry serious diseases such as ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.”
Oct 22, 2025
Tillson earns Pratt endowed eminent scholar chair
Dr. Michael Tillson has earned the Bruce G. Pratt, DVM Endowed Eminent Scholar Chair in Small Animal Surgery. This endowed chair honors excellence in clinical service, teaching, and research in small animal surgery. It was established by Dr. Bruce G. Pratt (AU DVM ’53), a devoted veterinarian and philanthropist whose legacy continues to shape our college.
Oct 21, 2025
From lab to leash: Sullivan’s genetic research offers hope for ending dachshunds’ spinal struggles
Dachshund breeders and owners have long faced a painful reality. The beloved breed’s signature short legs can come with an elevated risk of painful and debilitating spinal disease.
Oct 16, 2025
Horse Course offers ideal learning opportunity for equine owners, enthusiasts
Horse owners and enthusiasts will have an opportunity to learn from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine experts during the 2025 Horse Course on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Veterinary Education Center.
Oct 16, 2025
Three CVM faculty selected as 2025-26 Research Communications Fellows
Faculty members Jeba R J Jesudoss Chelladurai, Amanda Gross and Katharine Horzmann are among the 21-member cohort for Auburn University’s 2025-26 Research Communications Fellows program.