CVM News

Sep 9, 2026

Former CVM faculty member Horne ’59 passes away at 91

Former Auburn Vet Med faculty member Dr. Robert Dean “Bobby” Horne ’59 passed away on Aug. 31. He was 91 years old. Visitation will be held Monday, Sept. 14, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Parlor at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika followed by a Chapel Service at 2:30 p.m. Dr. Horne earned his veterinary degree from Auburn […]

Aug 25, 2026

Celebrating the life of Dr. Dwight Wolfe

Dr. Dwight Wolfe `77, a professor emeritus in food animal medicine and theriogenology who served the college for more than 35 years, passed away on August 20. He was 81. Wolfe joined the CVM as an assistant professor in 1983, before earning promotions to associate professor and professor in 1988 and 1993, respectively. He also […]

Aug 10, 2026

Auburn Vet Med professor chases excellence far beyond the classroom

Team USA World Cup pentathlete. Autocross national champion. College football official. For most people, any one of these accomplishments would stand out. For Dr. Jordan Towns, they are just a few of the pursuits that have shaped a life dedicated to mastering new challenges.

Aug 7, 2026

Examining house cat habits and health

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, approximately one-third of all American households count at least one cat as companions. Recently, the CVM’s resident “Cat Lady,” Dr. Diane Delmain, delved into house cat health, personalities and habits on Alabama Public Radio’s “Simplified” podcast.

Aug 5, 2026

College of Veterinary Medicine names education center in honor of Dr. Timothy R. Boosinger

Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the official naming of the Timothy R. Boosinger Veterinary Education Center on Friday, July 31, honoring the former dean and provost’s profound impact on the college.

Jun 22, 2026

Cat Considerations: Auburn feline expert shares adoption tips during Adopt-A-Cat Month

While Dr. Diane Delmain fully believes “nothing is cuter than a kitten,” there are other factors to consider when bringing a new cat into your home. June is Adopt-A-Cat Month, an initiative of the American Humane Society to help cats find loving homes during kitten season.

May 18, 2026

From CDC to the classroom: Dr. Nickolas DeLuca joins Auburn’s Public and One Health Program

One throughline has defined Dr. Nickolas DeLuca’s career: public health doesn’t start with data or directives — it starts with people. From neighborhood engagement in metro Birmingham, Ala., during his graduate training to nearly three decades with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DeLuca has worked to build solutions alongside those most affected.

Apr 16, 2026

Fifteen CVM faculty members earn promotion and tenure

Auburn University’s Office of the Provost recently announced newly promoted and tenured faculty members from across the university. Fifteen CVM faculty members earned tenure and/or promotion.

Mar 9, 2026

From Auburn to the Arctic: Veterinary medicine at minus-60

Having competed in marathons and triathlons, Dr. Mary Beth Hannon respects the interplay between proper training, nutrition and sports medicine in athletic performance. As a professor of practice in the College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus on small animal emergency medicine, Hannon has applied her clinical skills and knowledge of endurance sports to help a unique group of four-legged athletes in one of the most extreme competitive environments imaginable.

Feb 23, 2026

Researchers study swine immunity to unlock better flu vaccines

Since September 2025, more than 24 million Americans have come down with the flu. Most of those cases were caused by a highly mutated version of influenza A, the H3N2 K subclade, that showed up last summer, long after the strains of flu used to formulate this year’s flu shot were chosen.

Feb 16, 2026

Minding the gap between hiring manager and Gen Z expectations

When it comes to recruiting newly minted DVMs for private practice openings, specificity matters. Potential hires are unlikely to be persuaded by ambiguous claims about “work-life balance” or “team culture.” But, according to an informal survey conducted by Assistant Clinical Professor Ryan Gibson, they will respond positive to more concrete details about structured mentorship, onboarding, workplace culture, and professional development opportunities.

Feb 10, 2026

A pocket-sized tool with life-saving potential for horses

When a horse becomes suddenly and severely ill, time seems to tighten around each potential decision. A fever. Rapid breathing. An elevated heart rate. Gums taking on a dark red coloration from increased blood flow. For veterinarians and horse owners, these early warning signs point to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition that can result from pneumonia, post-partum complications, abscesses, gastrointestinal issues and other health problems.

Feb 4, 2026

Office space: Ray Wilhite

Ray Wilhite’s office at Auburn University is a cabinet of curiosities — a place where ancient bones, thank-you notes and a signature Australian cowboy hat all tell the story of a scientist, teacher and mentor whose passion for anatomy and paleontology is matched only by his devotion to students. For 18 years, Wilhite has served as both anatomy laboratory coordinator for the College of Veterinary Medicine and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Auburn University Museum of Natural History.

Jan 9, 2026

Global perspectives: Cottingham selected for NCURA fellowship

As the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Director of Research Program Development, Contract & Grant Administration, Erika Cottingham enjoys working “at the center of ideas, people, and systems.” “The college’s research portfolio is broad, ambitious, and impactful,” she said, “and my work allows me to support that mission by helping faculty and leadership navigate the structures that make funded research possible.”

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 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. 

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 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.

Oct 6, 2025

A lasting legacy: Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle honored with El Toro Award for Excellence in Food Animal Science

Soon after learning she would be receiving the 2025 El Toro Award for Excellence in Food Animal Medicine at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Annual Conference, Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle did what came naturally to her. She took the opportunity to ensure others knew how much they were appreciated, sending off an email to her former large animal and food animal colleagues within the college to thank them for their support.

Sep 23, 2025

Tao earns 2025 Alumni Professorship

Awarded annually by the Auburn Alumni Association, the professorship recognizes tenured faculty who demonstrate excellence in research, teaching and service. Recipients are selected on the basis of their leadership and impact across at least two aspects of the university’s core mission areas. Tao will be recognized at the 2025 Endowed Faculty Recognition Ceremony, hosted by the Office of the Provost.

Sep 22, 2025

Auburn’s Cristopher Young testifies before House committee on threats to U.S. agriculture

Cristopher A. Young, an animal disease expert and veterinary professor representing Auburn University’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Economic Development, testified Tuesday before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security.

Sep 19, 2025

Vet Med faculty members honored at Promotion & Tenure Reception

Ten College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members were recognized during Auburn University’s 2025 Promotion & Tenure Reception on September 18.

Aug 28, 2025

Emergency Hope Veterinary medicine professor launches animal rescue team

Dr. Chance Armstrong’s life was forever changed in the aftermath of a fluke storm in Louisiana. Today, he is an associate clinical professor in Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, but in 2016, he was a resident and faculty member with Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge. During that time, an unnamed storm system caused 13 deaths and $10 billion in losses, dumping three times as much rain on Louisiana as the historic 2005 Hurricane Katrina.

Aug 19, 2025

A leg up for giraffes: Auburn researcher explores hoof health

In contemplating the wonder and complexity of the natural world, the late author Kurt Vonnegut found metaphorical utility in stilt-legged, flexible-necked vegetarians capable of balancing 2,500 pounds of body weight on four feet the approximate diameter of dinner plates. “Evolution is so creative,” Vonnegut wrote. “That’s how we got giraffes.”