2025 Outstanding Surgery Residents’ Awards

The ACVS established the Outstanding Surgery Residents’ Awards competition to encourage the development of clinically important research and the dissemination of the results of these investigations, particularly those conducted by surgery residents. Congratulations to each of the award recipients.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

1. Large Animal Residents’ Forum Presentation

  • Overall Highest Scoring Presentation
  • Highest Clinical Impact
  • Best Presentation Quality
  • Novelty of Design or Approach

2. Small Animal Residents’ Forum Presentation

  • Overall Highest Scoring Presentation
  • Highest Clinical Impact
  • Best Presentation Quality
  • Novelty of Design or Approach

3. Veterinary Surgery Publication

4. Poster Presentation

Eight oral presentations (four from the large animal and four from the small animal categories were selected from those presented. Three manuscripts were selected from those published in Veterinary Surgery. Two posters were selected from those presented. 

Large Animal Residents’ Forum Presentation

Overall Highest Scoring Presentation 

Emily McKinley, DVM, The Ohio State University, Mechanics and Degradation of SDFT Elastin 

Highest Clinical Impact 

Maria Granello, DVM, University of Minnesota, Post-op Peritoneal Fluid Analysis in Horses 

Best Presentation Quality 

Rachel Hilliard, DVM, Michigan State University, Comparison of Ileal Closure Techniques 

Creativity of Design or Approach  

Julia Gaida, DVM, Oregon State University, Radiation During Equine Fracture Fixation 

Small Animal Residents’ Forum Presentations

Overall Highest Scoring Presentation 

Alison Pankowski, DVM, Texas A&M University, Assessing OR Cleanliness Using Settle Plates 

Highest Clinical Impact 

Lauren Meneghetti, DVM, Michigan State University, Use of AS-ILNs in Juvenile Femoral Fractures 

Best Presentation Quality  

Rachel McKay, DVM, North Carolina State University, Material Effects of 3D-Printed Guide Accuracy 

Creativity of Design or Approach  

Annellie Miller, DVM, MPH, University of Florida, Foreign Body Obstruction: NIRF Quantification  

Veterinary Surgery Publication

First Place 

Daniel Low, BVetMed, CertAVP(GSAS), PGCertVPS, MRCVS, Laura Costa, DVM, MRCVS, James Hawkesby, MA, VetMB, MRCVS, Ludovica Nardulli, DVM, MRCVS, Adelina Proteasa, DVM, PhD, PgC(SAS), PgD(AdvOrtho), MRCVS, Vasileios Vallios, DVM, MRCVS. The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systemic review and meta-analysis. Veterinary Surgery Volume 54/Issue 2: 254–267 (Clinical) 

Second Place 

William C. Chung, VMD, DACVS (Small Animal), Loïc M. Déjardin, DVM, MS, DACVS, DECVS. Mechanical comparison of straight and pre-bent interlocking nails used for the stabilization of a tibial gap fracture model. Veterinary Surgery Volume 53/Issue 7: 1302–1312 (Research) 

Third Place 

Panagiotis Kokkinos, DVM, MSc, Kevin Parsons, BVSc, PhD, AFHEA, DipECVS, Alex Belch, BVMS, MSc, CertAVP(GSAS), DipECVS, Nicolas Barhelemy, DVM, DipECVS. The influence of age at total hip replacement on perioperative complications associated with a press-fit cementless stem with lateral bolt in dogs. Veterinary Surgery Volume 54/Issue 3: 581–593 (Clinical)  

Scientific Poster Presentation  

First Place   

Carlos Aguilar-Miranda, MVZ, MC, Louisiana State University, Bone Mineral Density in Equine MCIII Bone 

Second Place 

Natalia Rosa-Padilla, DVM, University of Florida, Recurrent Hypercalcemia in Canine PHPT