Two veterinarians join parasitology program
Two residencies were awarded this year at the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology.
The NCVP, launched in February 2009, conducts research, trains graduate veterinarians in clinical and applied veterinary parasitology, and provides science-based consulting expertise on parasite treatment and prevention strategies. It is based at Oklahoma State University.
Dr. Jessica Rodriguez (TEX ‘09), a graduate student at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, has been selected as the first Merial Resident in Veterinary Parasitology.
Dr. Rodriguez is researching Heterobilharzia americana, an important trematode pathogen of dogs. In addition to her doctoral research, Dr. Rodriguez will gain clinical parasitology experience and training toward board certification in parasitology. She will be working under the direction of Dr. Karen Snowden, professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at the CVMBS and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists.
Dr. Yoko Nagamori (ISU ’13) was selected as an NCVP Resident in Veterinary Parasitology.
She will complete her program at Oklahoma State. Dr. Nagamori worked in the parasitology diagnostic laboratory while a veterinary student at Iowa State and is interested in diagnostics and zoonotic and tropical diseases.
The NCVP resident program awards funding to veterinarians for salary and benefits while they are pursuing their doctorate and residencies in veterinary clinical parasitology. Drs. Rodriguez and Nagamori will each receive $100,000 for two years and will be eligible for a two-year renewal.
There are now four NCVP residents and two affiliate residents nationwide.