2026 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. Four manuscripts were selected from those published in Veterinary Surgery. Three posters were selected from those presented.
Large Animal Residents’ Forum Presentation
Overall Highest Scoring Presentation
Justine Cianci, VMD, University of Pennsylvania, Chondroprotective Effects of EVs Produced by IFN-y Primed BM-MSCs
Highest Clinical Impact
Bianca Ruspi, DVM, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington KY, Polyacrylamide Hydrogel Effect on Equine Joint Inflammation and Nociception
Best Presentation Quality
Alexandra Grobman, BS, DVM, Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Endoscopic Lavage Versus Needle Lavage for Equine Synovial Sepsis
Creativity of Design or Approach
Mana Okudaira, DVM, Auburn University, Equine Midline Closure with Standard or Small Bites Technique
Small Animal Residents’ Forum Presentations
Overall Highest Scoring Presentation
Camille Andrews, VMD, University of Florida, CT and Interoperative Lymphangiography and Outcome in Cats with Chylothorax
Highest Clinical Impact
Stephanie Meilleur, DVM, Michigan State University, Minimally Invasive Tele-robotic Repair of Cadaveric Sacroiliac Luxations
Best Presentation Quality
Kristin Reichert, DVM, Purdue University, Cyanoacrylate Reinforcement of Sutured Porcine Cadaveric Intestines
Creativity of Design or Approach
Eva Ruzics, BS, DVM, University of Florida, Detection of Pharyngeal Reflux in Dogs Via Dual-Channel pH Monitoring
Veterinary Surgery Publication
First Place
Dimitrios Bekiaridis, DVM, Antonio Pozzi, DVM, MS, DACVS (Small Animal), DECVS, DACVSMR, ACVS Founding Fellow, MIS (Small Animal Orthopedics), Frank Steffen, DVM, DECVN, Julian Guevar, PhD, DECVN, Lucas A. Smolders, DVM, PhD, DECVS. Biportal endoscopic foraminotomy of the L7-S1 neuroforamen in dogs: Description of surgical technique and ex vivo comparison with conventional open dorsolateral foraminotomy. Veterinary Surgery Volume 55/Issue 4:837–855. (Research)
Second Place
Machiel P. Ysebaert, BVetSci, MVetMed), James Johnson, BS, PhD, Ulrika Marie, DVM, Arian Campos, DVM, DECVS, Anouk Vercherin, DVM, Norm G. Ducharme, MSc, DVM, DACVS, Fabrice Rossignol, DVM, DECVS, Lauren K. Luedke, DVM, DACVS (Large Animal). Biomechanical testing of three constructs for prosthetic laryngoplasty in horses demonstrates advantages of differing metallic implants in the arytenoid cartilage. Veterinary Surgery, Volume 55/Issue1: 69–77. (Clinical)
Third Place (tied)
Brónach McClean, MVB, MRCVS, DECVS, Turlough P. McNally, MVB, DACVS (Large Animal), DECVS, MRCVS, Antonio Pozzi, DVM, MS, DACVS (Small Animal), DECVS, DACVSMR, DECVSMR, PhD, Richard Evans, PhD, PSTAT, Laura C. Cuddy, MVB, MS, DACVS (Small Animal), DECVS, DACVSMR, DECVSMR, MRCVS. Accuracy and safety of stifle arthrocentesis and injection based on two established and two new landmarks: Ex vivo study in dogs. Veterinary Surgery Volume 55/Issue 2: 298–308. (Clinical)
Third Place (tied)
Bianca D. Ruspi, DVM, Larry R. Bramlage, DVM, MS, DACVS, Alan J. Ruggles, DVM, DACVS, Stacey A. Sloan, MS. Short- and long-term survival, complications, return to racing, and racing performance of 150 racehorses with medial condylar fractures of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone treated by internal fixation (2000-2020). Veterinary Surgery Volume 54/Issue 6: 1176–1184. (Clinical)
Scientific Poster Presentation
First Place
Rachel Butler, DVM, University of Illinois, Evaluation of Synovial Fluid pH in Non-Septic Inflammatory Joint Disease
Second Place
Natalie Greco, DVM, Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center, Waukesha, WI, Generation and Characterization of Canine Cutaneous Cell Suspensions
Third Place
J. Coleman Wahlborg, DVM, Auburn University, Disarticulation Versus Transfemoral Amputation in 128 Dogs
