LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred four advanced degrees

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine conferred four advanced degrees on May 24, 2024.

Oliver A. Garden, BVetMed, Ph.D., DACVIM, LSU Vet Med dean, welcomed the graduates and guests. Tammy Dugas, Ph.D., associate dean for research and graduate education, and Juan Martinez, Ph.D., director of graduate education, introduced the graduates and asked their mentors to say a few words about their educational journeys. Dr. Martinez conferred the degrees on behalf of the LSU Graduate School.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Kimberly Boykin, DVM, MS (LSU 2019), from Winston Salem, N.C., received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Characterizing the roles of bacterial and viral agents in house crickets (Acheta domesticus) at commercial rearing facilities in the United States.” Her major advisor was Mark Mitchell, DVM, MS, Ph.D. (LSU 2001), DECZM, professor of zoological medicine. Dr. Boykin is an instructor of zoological medicine at LSU Vet Med and will continue her work with our Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana and her research on feeder insects.

Jacqueline Elizabeth Elliott, DVM, DACVP, from Crittenden, Ky., received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences. Her dissertation was “Describing the Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Louisiana White Spot Syndrome Virus in Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).” Her major advisors were John Hawke, Ph.D., professor emeritus of veterinary microbiology and parasitology, and Rebecca Christofferson, MApSt, Ph.D., associate professor. Dr. Elliott plans to continue her career in veterinary pathology with a special interest in aquatic animal medicine and infectious disease.

Weiqiong Rong, BS, MS, from Shanghai, China, received her Ph.D. in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences. Her dissertation was entitled “Molecular mechanisms of impaired osteogenic differentiation during in vitro expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells.” Her major advisor was Shaomian Yao, Ph.D., associate professor. Dr. Rong will begin a post-doctoral fellowship at UCLA.

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Saige Holland Annison, from Denham Springs, La., received her MS in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Her thesis was entitled “The Potential Role of mTOR and STAT3 Signaling Pathways in Equine Laminitis.” Her major advisor was Britta Leise, DVM (LSU 2002), Ph.D., DACVS, associate dean for staff and faculty advancement and associate professor of equine surgery. Annison will begin the dual DVM/Ph.D. program 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. The LSU SVM 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.