News

The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome Dr. Heidi Reesink as a Professor of Veterinary Orthopedics. A board-certified surgeon, Dr. Reesink will have a clinical appointment with the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s (VMTH) Equine Surgery and Lameness Service, as well as a research laboratory within the school’s J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Laboratory.

Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, is caused by a fungus that thrives in moist soils and becomes airborne during drought. Its spores are easily inhaled, leading to infection. Climate change is creating the perfect conditions for it in the Western United States, with increasing heavy rains followed by prolonged drought.

Dr. Pam Clark’s path to veterinary school wasn’t traditional or easy, but it was driven by unwavering determination. As a young girl, Pam dreamed of becoming an “animal doctor,” and growing up in Southern California, UC Davis was the only realistic option for veterinary school as out-of-state tuition was financially impossible. Pam excitedly wrote to UC Davis veterinary school during high school, only to be discouraged when a letter came back telling her, “don’t even bother applying, we don’t take women” (which, in reality, they did—just very rarely). 

The School of Veterinary Medicine brought home the campus’s top placement in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent rankings of professional and graduate programs, published Monday (April 7).

UC Davis again ranked first in the nation for veterinary medicine, consistent with its placement in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, released in March.

U.S. News updated rankings for six disciplines and other specialties in its 2025 edition of the Best Graduate Schools.

Diamond, a 12-year-old pit bull terrier, receives ongoing cancer treatments at UC Davis thanks to support from Petco Love. Diamond was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, an aggressive cancer that formed a mast cell tumor in her right cheek with metastatic disease to her mandibular lymph nodes. She has undergone seven rounds of palliative radiation treatments to reduce the size of the tumor and improve her quality of life. The radiation treatments delay the tumor from becoming larger and more uncomfortable.

As one of the world’s first fetal surgeons, Diana Farmer has long been focused on the smallest of patients.

She specializes in treating birth defects inside and outside of the womb, treating congenital anomalies and cancer and performing airway and intestinal surgeries. In the late 1990s, she became the first woman in the world to perform open fetal surgery.

The Equine Surgical Emergency and Critical Care Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Sandra Valdez as a Clinical Professor. Dr. Valdez brings a wealth of experience from around the world as an equine veterinarian and surgeon for the past 30 years.

“Case of the Month” – March 2025

Ollie, a 7-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever, lives his best life with owners Sarah Christie and Dan York of Sacramento. He enjoys plenty of outdoor activities, especially on hunting trips with York or to the family’s second home in Del Norte County in northwest California. But a recent health scare with Ollie alerted Christie and York to a disease they never knew existed and will make their awareness of Ollie’s outdoor activities keener.

Dr. Carter Judy has joined the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital’s Equine Surgery and Lameness Service as a Clinical Professor. A renowned and well-respected equine surgeon, Dr. Judy has spent the past 22 years as a surgeon at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California. 

At UC Davis, veterinary technicians and assistants play a critical role in the school’s ability to provide the best learning environment for students, exceptional compassionate care for patients, and a thoughtful caring experience for clients. They are vital to the success of the UC Davis William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.  

On March 14, 2025, the UC Davis veterinary hospital hosted the 46th annual Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium (VIRRS). The day-long event featured short presentations of research findings from house officers (residents, fellows, interns) to fellow house officers, faculty, staff, students, and guests.

The global leadership of the University of California, Davis, in the fields of veterinary science, and agriculture and forestry continues to be recognized in rankings released today (March 12).

Quacquarelli Symonds, or QS, considered one of the most influential international authorities on university rankings, placed UC Davis second in the world in both subjects in its QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. The campus was first in the nation in the two subjects.

The nearly 200 participants at the UC Davis Equine Health Symposium clearly agreed on one thing – they learned a lot. For the second year, the event featured tracks in English and Spanish covering topics ranging from equine reproduction to preventive care. It brought equine enthusiasts representing a wide range of age groups and experience levels together for lectures and hands-on learning opportunities.

Los casi 200 participantes en el Simposio de Salud Equina de UC Davis coincidieron claramente en una cosa: aprendieron mucho. Por segundo año, el evento contó con charlas en inglés y en español que abarcaron temas variados desde la reproducción equina hasta el cuidado preventivo. Reunió a entusiastas equinos que representaban grupos diverso de diferentes edades y niveles de experiencia. Este Simposio contó con charlas y demostraciones prácticas interactivas.

Cats are easily susceptible to the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain (bird flu). Cats with the disease should be seen by a veterinarian immediately, as an infection can often result in death. Dr. Jane Sykes, a board-certified internal medicine specialist with a special interest infectious diseases recently discussed bird flu in cats with some leading media outlets. These valuable resources discuss how cats get bird flu, how to prevent your cat from getting it, the symptoms to look for, what to do if you suspect your cat has been infected, and other bird flu-related FAQs.