Dean's Faculty Awards 2025
Several faculty members were honored at the inaugural Stars of SVM Staff and Faculty Award Reception in November. Each of the recipients exemplify excellence in supporting the mission of the school—advancing the health of animals, people and the environment—through educational, research, clinical and public service programs.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
Dr. Carrie J. Finno was honored with the Boehringer-Ingelheim Excellence in Research Mentoring Award. As an internationally recognized leader in equine veterinary genetics, Finno also serves as the Gregory L. Ferraro Endowed Director for the Center for Equine Health. She was nominated by a team of current and former graduate and undergraduate members of the Finno Laboratory. They acknowledged her individualized approach to mentorship and her investment of time in understanding each student’s unique background, goals, and challenges.
Her nominators stated: “She empowers students to think independently, be confident, and take ownership of their projects. Weekly lab meetings, open-door policies, and regular one-on-one feedback sessions ensure that our goals are met and that obstacles, whether academic or personal, are addressed with empathy and practical guidance. Dr. Finno advocates for our well-being and consistently supports work-life balance and mental health.”
Over the past 11 years, Finno has directly mentored seven Ph.D. students, five master’s students, and two postdoctoral scholars. All graduated Ph.D. students remain in research, with one an assistant professor at Cornell, another a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State,
and three in industry roles. Graduated master’s students have gone on to pursue positions in academic research, industry, or veterinary school. Of the thirty-two undergraduate mentees, eleven have been admitted to veterinary school, three to graduate programs, and seven have first-author publications.
Finno fosters a laboratory culture that values diversity, community, and respect among all members, embodying the ideals of the Boehringer-Ingelheim Research Mentoring Award.
She also teaches “Scientific Integrity and Professionalism,” a graduate course in ethical decision-making, data management, authorship and publication, peer review, animal and human subjects, intellectual property, research misconduct, conflicts of interest, collaborations, mentor/mentee relationships, and social responsibility. Her mentorship has transformed the careers of her mentees, fostered a culture of excellence and inclusion, and made significant contributions to the advancement of veterinary science.
Dr. Damian Genetos received the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award for his sustained dedication to teaching and mentorship across the undergraduate, graduate, and professional veterinary curricula at UC Davis for more than 15 years. As a professor in the Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology Department, his teaching is characterized by enthusiasm, and innovation—whether revitalizing the undergraduate APC100 course, leading the renal block in the DVM curriculum, or redesigning the graduate core course PMI-201 into a skill-based, active-learning experience.
Colleagues describe him as a “gifted teacher who relishes student contact,” and students consistently praise his “super clear and organized” lectures and his rare ability to “know over 100 student names, their career aspirations and whether they struggled or sailed through the course.” His commitment to educational excellence is reflected in his leadership roles as Chair of the Graduate Group in Integrative Pathobiology and multiple Instructor-of-Record appointments.
Students and colleagues alike appreciate the impact of Genetos’s mentorship. One student wrote, “Dr. Genetos is the kind of teacher students remember for a lifetime—not only for his depth of knowledge, but for the genuine care he brings to every interaction,” while another called him “the greatest mentor one could ask for.”
Faculty collaborators echo this sentiment, noting that he “uniquely exemplifies teaching excellence” and “fosters an environment that supports students while holding them to the highest standards.” Through his humor, accessibility, and tireless support of learners at every level, Genetos has inspired countless future veterinarians and scientists.
Dr. Amy Kapatkin was awarded the VMTH Faculty Clinical Excellence Award. She has been a pillar of clinical excellence at UC Davis for decades, training more than 30 surgery residents, hundreds of veterinary students, and serving as an exceptional mentor to junior faculty. Kapatkin is internationally recognized for a remarkable collaborative spirit and impactful, well-founded contributions that have advanced orthopedic surgery and improved the lives of countless animals. Her career is distinguished by its longevity, relevance, and commitment to teamwork. She has exceptional abilities to engage, motivate, support, and empower colleagues and students, helping them become accomplished clinicians.
Her lifelong dedication to managing simple and complex orthopedic cases has helped the VMTH establish a world-class orthopedic surgical center. Her initiative and leadership ensure smooth clinic operations; she is unconditionally available to residents and faculty and promptly responds to consultations. Her communication is clear, timely, and effective, especially with patient treatment advice.
Students deeply value Kapatkin’s teaching. Her supportive learning environment encourages hands-on skill development and intellectual curiosity. Consistently high student evaluations reflect her reputation as an inspiring and respected educator who motivates even the most hesitant learners. By integrating evidence-based methods and real-world clinical cases, she ensures students graduate with strong, practice-ready skills. She continually refines her teaching approach to meet evolving student needs.
Kapatkin’s mentorship has played a defining role in the success of UC Davis surgical residents, many who seek her guidance years later. As a pioneering female surgeon in a traditionally male-dominated field, she passionately advocates for equity and diversity, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. Her leadership in advancing surgical education is evident in her initiatives—such as implementing the SIMPL app used to provide formal resident feedback and active participation in orthopedic resident rounds, emphasizing evidence-based medicine. She freely shares expertise with faculty colleagues, ensuring continuous growth and innovation of the orthopedic service.
Dr. Michael Kent received the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Companion Animal Health (CCAH) and Co-Leader of the Comparative Oncology Program within the UC Davis NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—roles that reflect his leadership at the intersection of clinical medicine and translational cancer research.
Kent is an international leader in veterinary and comparative oncology, widely recognized for his innovations in radiation therapy for various companion animal cancers and for advancing the scientific foundations of cancer diagnosis and treatment. His contributions are evident across multiple dimensions: the caliber and influence of his publications, his success in research fundraising, his strategic collaborations with esteemed investigators, and his critical role in advancing scientific understanding and application.
A prolific scholar, Kent has authored over 140 peer-reviewed publications, many of which are highly cited and published in top-tier journals. His work exemplifies team science—driving discovery through close collaboration with immunologists, clinicians, and translational researchers. Kent’s collaborative work not only lays the groundwork for future canine clinical trials but also enhances the translational relevance of the spontaneous canine model in immuno-oncology.
Kent’s research excellence is further demonstrated by his outstanding success in securing funding across both basic and clinical research domains. He is MPI on the first-ever NCI T32 Comparative Oncology Training Grant, which provides over $2 million in support for training DVM students and fellows in translational cancer research.
The Zoetis Award honors outstanding research contributions relevant to veterinary medicine. Kent epitomizes these ideals—not only through his scientific productivity and innovative research—but also through his selfless mentorship, collaborative ethos, and his exceptional role in supporting the success of countless colleagues and trainees. His work has advanced both animal and human health and has strengthened the foundation of comparative oncology on a national scale.
Dr. Jodi Westropp was honored with the inaugural SVM Champion in Philanthropy Award.
More info to come.
Dr. Grace VanHoy was awarded the Faculty Distinguished Teaching Award and serves as an Assistant Professor of Livestock Medicine and Surgery. She received her DVM and Master’s degrees from The Ohio State and joined the UC Davis faculty in 2022. In less than four years here she has made a significant mark. This award takes into consideration her teaching ability and effort as well as her early leadership qualities.
VanHoy can be found teaching across all four years of our curriculum, from physical exams in year 1 to complex surgeries in year 4. She has accumulated more than 100 contact hours in the veterinary curriculum and her reception by the students is nothing short of stellar. In fact, she was student-selected to serve as the faculty commencement speaker in 2025.
Her evaluations are peppered with words like positive and welcoming, and phrases like ‘(she) carved out a comfortable place for us to ask questions’ and ‘Dr. VanHoy is a ray of sunshine.’ Another student said: “Dr. VanHoy is freaking awesome. I am so thankful to see her anywhere. She is beyond kind, inclusive, sweet, hilarious, educated and great at teaching. Thank you for teaching us the whats/hows/whys so seamlessly.”
In addition, VanHoy has endeavored to review all the content in the parasitology discipline, benchmarked our learning outcomes to the day one competencies recommended by the ACVM Parasitology members, and brought a proposal for curricular improvement to the Curriculum Committee.
We are lucky to have such a bright rising star.