LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred eight advanced degrees

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred eight advanced degrees on May 20, 2022.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Parker Kelley, BA, BS, from Baton Rouge, La., received his PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences. His dissertation was entitled “Evaluation of Hippocampal Allostatic Load-Associated Factors in Animal Models of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Relevance to Human PTSD,” and his major advisor was Joseph Francis, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, associate dean for research and graduate education and professor in Comparative Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Kelley started a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatriatry at the University of California San Francisco and the San Francisco Veterans Administration Hospital.

Cassan Pulaski, DVM (LSU 2013), MPH, from Mandeville, La., received her PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Drug Resistance in the Canine Filarial Parasite, Dirofilaria immitis: Emergence and Clinical Epidemiology in the Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley.” Her major advisor was John B. Malone, Jr., DVM, PhD, professor of Veterinary Parasitology. Dr. Pulaski is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Diagnostic Pathology Laboratory at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Ifeanyi Kinglsey Uche, BS, from Imo State, Nigeria, received his PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was entitled “The Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) VC2 Live-Attenuated Vaccine Strain Induces Robust Antitumor Immune Responses and Ameliorates Intra-tumor Immunosuppression in an Immunocompetent B16F10-derived Murine Melanoma Model.” His major advisor was Konstantin G. Kousoulas, PhD, professor and head of Pathobiological Sciences. Dr. Uche will enroll at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine.

Timothy White, AB, from Hilton Head Island, S.C., received his PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. His dissertation was entitled “Novel Roles for Viral GPCRs in CMV Latency and Immunity.” His major advisor was Rhonda Cardin, PhD, professor in Pathobiological Sciences. Dr. White has accepted a position as a scientist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) and will begin working on Plum Island studying animal pathogens.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Gabriel Castro-Cuellar, DVM, from Bogota, Columbia, received his master’s degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. His thesis was entitled “Intra-articular Buprenorphine in Horses.” His major advisor was Jeannette Cremer, DVM, Dr.med.vet., DACVAA, associate professor of veterinary anesthesiology and analgesia. Dr. Castro-Cuellar will join the faculty at LSU Vet Med as an assistant professor of veterinary anesthesiology and analgesia in the fall of 2022.

Lawrence Kadic, BVM, MVM, from Diest, Belgium, received his master’s degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. His thesis was entitled “Biomechanical Comparisons of Metacarpophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis Techniques in the Horse.” His major advisor was Laura Riggs, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR, associate professor of equine surgery. Dr. Kadic will be finishing his equine surgery residency at LSU Vet Med and then plans to work as an equine surgeon in private practice.

Daniel McCarthy, DVM, from Lebanon, Tenn., received his master’s degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. His thesis was entitled “Accuracy of a Sacral Drilling with a Custom 3D Printed Drilling Guide or Free-hand Technique in Canine Experimental Sacroiliac Luxation.” His major advisor was Alberto Gines, DVM, DECVS, assistant professor of small animal orthopedic surgery. Dr. McCarthy is moving to Jacksonville, Fla., to join Capital Veterinary Specialists as a small animal surgeon.

Alissa St. Blanc, DVM (LSU 2016), from Shreveport, La., received her master’s degree in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her thesis was entitled “A Novel Endo GIA™ Staple Cartridge for Canine Lung Lobectomies.” Her major advisor was Karanvir Aulakh, BVSc & AH, MS, DACVS, associate professor of small animal surgery. Dr. St. Blanc is currently an assistant clinical professor of companion animal surgery at LSU Vet Med.

About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.