LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred six advanced degrees

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred six advanced degrees on May 19, 2023.

Oliver A. Garden, BVetMed, Ph.D., DACVIM, LSU Vet Med dean, welcomed the graduates and guests. Tammy Dugas, Ph.D., associate dean for research and graduate education, and Juan Martinez, Ph.D., director of graduate education, introduced the graduates and asked their mentors to say a few words about their educational journeys. Mark Mitchell, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (LSU 2001), DECZM, professor of zoological medicine, conferred the degrees on behalf of the LSU Graduate School.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Kalie Beckers, MS, from Independence, La., received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Contribution of the Microbiome on Reproductive Outcomes during Pregnancy.” Her major advisor was Jennifer Sones, DVM (LSU 2008), Ph.D., DACT, associate professor of theriogenology. Dr. Beckers is scheduled to complete her DVM at LSU Vet Med in May 2024.

Ishita Choudhary, BVSc and AH, from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India, received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Cell-specific Roleof IL4Rα Signaling in Allergic Asthma.” Her major advisor was Yogesh Saini, DVM, MSc, Ph.D., associate professor. Dr. Choudhary will begin a post-doctoral fellowship at LSU Vet Med in CBS.

Carolyn Clark, from Lexington, Ky., received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Functional Domains of the HSV-1 UL37 Protein in Virus Infectivity and Retrograde Transport in Neurons.” Her major advisor was Konstantin “Gus” Kousoulas, Ph.D., professor and department head. Dr. Clark is now a patent agent for Choate, Hall, and Stewart LLP in Boston, Mass.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Elise Barras, DVM (LSU 2020), MS, from Baton Rouge, La., received her MS in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her thesis was entitled “Assessing the Nutrional Value of Dubia Roaches (Blaptica dubia) as a Feeder Insect in Reptiles.” Her major advisor was Mark Mitchell, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (LSU 2001), DECZM, professor of zoological medicine. Dr. Barras is completing her laboratory animal residency at LSU Vet Med in July 2023; she will then pursue a career as a clinical laboratory animal veterinarian at an academic institution.

Corinne Mayer, DVM, from Alexandria, Va., received her MS in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her thesis was entitled “Corticorsterone Measurement in a Cryptosporidium-positive Population of Louisiana Pine Snakes (Pituophis ruthveni).” Her major advisor was Javier Nevarez, DVM, Ph.D. (LSU 2001, 2007), DECZM, DACZM, professor of zoological medicine. Dr. Mayer is pursuing a career as a zoo veterinarian and board certification as a herpetological medicine specialist through the European College of Zoological Medicine.

Kathryn “Katie” Metcalf, DVM, from Greenville, S.C., received her MS in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her thesis was entitled “Effect of Furosemide Administration on Plasma Analytes and Urine Enzyme Excretion in Two Reptilian Species.” Her major advisor was Mark Mitchell, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (LSU 2001), DECZM, professor of zoological medicine. Dr. Metcalf is pursuing a career in academia or diagnostic clinical pathology.

About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. The LSU SVM is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.