2021 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Innovation Awards
Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Innovation Awards
This award is designed to recognize graduating seniors at each veterinary school accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association in the U.S. and Canada. Awards are given to students in good academic standing who have demonstrated innovation, entrepreneurship, and creative forward-thinking in the development of a project or product that inspires others within the veterinary profession.
Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), has established the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Innovation Awards.
Merck Animal Health, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), has established the Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Innovation Awards.
Congrats, 2021 Merck Animal Health Veterinary Student Innovation Award Recipients!
Colorado State University
Conor Blanchet
Innovation: Conor created ‘digital cytology’ software to transfer images through the cloud to pathologists.
Cornell University
Rachael Strauss
Innovation: Through an Opportunity Block in Veterinary Business project, Rachel developed a “Price Validation Study” to help veterinary teaching hospitals to develop a model for sustainable procedure pricing.
Lincoln Memorial University
Megan Preston
Innovation: Megan created an equine nasogastric intubation model, which helped improve the skills and educate veterinary students.
Michigan State University
Kaity Denney
Innovation: Kaity created the SAVMA Environmental Wellness Committee, the first of its kind in the country to focus on environmental wellness and veterinary medicine.
Midwestern University
Iyaesha Simmons
Innovation: Led the professional mentorship program for students to help pair veterinary students with veterinary mentors.
North Carolina State University
Irina Perdew
Innovation: Developed a novel dynamic compression device (the EQ Press) for horses to promote lymphatic drainage and health.
Texas A&M University
Elizabeth Crowling
Innovation: Developed a business model through an internship with BabelBark and refined a business plan for a new ambulatory veterinary service for pets in urban areas.
Tufts University
Edward Unay
Innovation: Instrumental in the development and success of a peer-based teaching initiative (PACE), where Edward developed a way to make fake silicon skin for practicing suturing.
University of California - Davis
Kayla Sailer
Innovation: Created a Facebook page called “Future Dr. Kayla DVM,” where Kayla provides information on animal care, husbandry, and general wellness of animals.
University of Florida
Sydney Corso
Innovation: Participated in a national competition, developing a 3-5 year business model based on criteria provided by the program.
University of Georgia
Shenise Howard
Innovation: Creator and coordinator of the UGA Professional Speed Networking event.
University of Guelph
Adam Quinlan
Innovation: Contributed to the development of a North American consortium for 3D printing in veterinary medicine.
University of Illinois
Zachary Talbert
Innovation: Founder and CEO of a company called Biosecurity Innovations, where Zachary developed The Biosecurity Box (holds and disinfect items), to support the swine industry.
University of Minnesota
Erendira Amavizca
Innovation: Created an extremely innovative Emergency/Critical Care website with interactive cases to enhance the clinical training of veterinary students.
University of Missouri
Sara M. Van Ausdal
Innovation: Created the first Job and Preceptorship Fair for the University of Missouri.
University of Montreal
Florence Dupuis-Dowd
Innovation: Commitment to open up horizons for the clinical and theoretical teaching of students going into equine practice.
University of Prince Edward Island (Atlantic Veterinary College)
Marco Duguay
Innovation: Through Marco’s research, he was able to establish affordable genetic testing protocols for select canine diseases, which was made available to the Atlantic Veterinary College.
University of Saskatchewan - Western College of Veterinary Medicine
Renee Ewald
Innovation: Innovation and collaboration with Abbotsford Veterinary Clinic and Terrace Animal Hospital in the creation of a large animal mobile clinic.
University of Tennessee
Jessie Erin Richards
Innovation: Developed a novel type of assay to detect parasites in wildlife.
Western University of Health Sciences
Waining Wang Tsang
Innovation: Responsible for administering acupuncture points for each surgery patient after surgery.