LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Mission: Improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care.

03/20/2026

KLSU Radio’s “Tiger Talk” podcast has launched a new monthly series featuring LSU Vet Med experts, sharing insights on animal, human, and environmental health. The series debuted with Dr. Taylor Strickland, who explored the vital connection between animal and human health in Louisiana and beyond. Access the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, and LSU’s official channels to hear the latest in veterinary medicine, research, and clinical care. Check out Dr. Strickland's video link in comments.

When Zatanna, a great dane, arrived to our ER, she was unable to stand or walk due to weakness in all four limbs. She wa...
03/20/2026

When Zatanna, a great dane, arrived to our ER, she was unable to stand or walk due to weakness in all four limbs. She was diagnosed with both cervical disc disease and an inflammatory condition affecting her brain and spinal cord.

Her case became critical when she developed aspiration pneumonia, requiring ventilator support. A collaborative team across multiple specialties (see comments) worked quickly to get Zatanna the care she needed. The presence of multi-drug resistant E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa made treatment especially challenging. Immunosuppressive therapy was carefully timed and initiated alongside antibiotics to balance infection control with prevention of neurologic decline.

Despite a guarded prognosis, Zatanna, her devoted owners, and her team never gave up. After two weeks, she was able to go home—and today, she is walking again and continuing treatment for her inflammatory disease, with hopes of tapering her off.

The LSU Vet Med community is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Dan Burba, former professor of equine surgery, who ...
03/19/2026

The LSU Vet Med community is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Dan Burba, former professor of equine surgery, who died on March 17 following injuries sustained at his farm in Oklahoma.

Dr. Burba joined the LSU Vet Med faculty in 1990 and served our students and hospital for more than two decades before retiring in 2014. A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and a graduate of Auburn University, he was a respected surgeon, teacher, researcher, and mentor to countless veterinary students, interns, and residents. Many will also remember Dr. Burba for his leadership during LSU Vet Med’s response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when students, staff, faculty, and alumni worked tirelessly to care for animals displaced by the storm.

In keeping with his wishes, Dr. Burba’s organs were donated—an act that reflects the compassion and generosity that defined his life and career.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his work and kindness. To honor his legacy and contributions to LSU Vet Med, the school plans to place a plaque in his memory in the LSU Vet Med Serenity Garden.

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine honors its latest Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, Dr. Alma Roy, Dr. Mustajab Mi...
03/17/2026

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine honors its latest Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, Dr. Alma Roy, Dr. Mustajab Mirza, and Dr. Phillip Pickett, three leaders whose careers reflect excellence in veterinary medicine, research, education, and service. Dr. Roy, a longtime leader at LSU Diagnostics, has dedicated more than 50 years to advancing diagnostic medicine, mentoring generations of professionals, and strengthening the laboratory’s impact across Louisiana and beyond. Dr. Mirza, an equine surgeon and educator, has built a career centered on emergency and critical care for horses while shaping future veterinarians through hands-on teaching, mentorship, and research that improves outcomes for equine patients. Dr. Pickett, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and professor emeritus, has spent decades advancing the understanding and treatment of ocular diseases, educating thousands of students, and mentoring future specialists who continue to influence the field worldwide. He spent much of his career at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, where he served as a professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. Together, these distinguished alumni exemplify the highest standards of professional excellence, compassion, and lasting impact in veterinary medicine.

Read more:  https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/blog/2026/distinguished_alumni_awards.php

Bonnie Brocato, assistant director of facility operations, has been named LSU Vet Med Community Champion of the Month fo...
03/16/2026

Bonnie Brocato, assistant director of facility operations, has been named LSU Vet Med Community Champion of the Month for February. The Community Champion of the Month program acknowledges the amazing work our students, staff, and faculty do every day and celebrates extraordinary individuals. Congrats, Bonnie!

During Women's History Month, our Palpation Team is making history as the school’s first all-women team! Selected throug...
03/13/2026

During Women's History Month, our Palpation Team is making history as the school’s first all-women team! Selected through a competitive exam led by Dr. Clare Scully, the third-year veterinary students spend months honing their bovine reproduction skills—traveling every Saturday to the LSU AgCenter Southeast Research Station Dairy in Franklinton, La., to perform pregnancy checks and practice re**al palpation while also studying advanced theriogenology.

The team is now at the Student American Veterinary Medical Association Symposium 2026, hosted by North Carolina State University, where they are competing in challenges that test their knowledge and precision in bovine reproduction. As the true trailblazing women they are, they have already advanced beyond the first round. If they place among the top five teams, members will advance to palpate cattle in the final round—an exciting opportunity to showcase the precision, knowledge, and dedication they have developed all year long. Way to represent LSU Vet Med! We celebrate you and wish you much success as you compete for honors this weekend!

Welcoming the more than 400 pre-veterinary students for their annual conference at for a jam-packed day of education...
03/07/2026

Welcoming the more than 400 pre-veterinary students for their annual conference at for a jam-packed day of education and networking! Excited and proud to share our space and expertise with these future colleagues.

425 future veterinarians and 24 advisors from around the country are on campus this weekend as LSU Vet Med proudly hosts...
03/07/2026

425 future veterinarians and 24 advisors from around the country are on campus this weekend as LSU Vet Med proudly hosts the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association Symposium. It is a full weekend of learning, networking, and exploring the veterinary profession.

Thank you to Dr. Gretchen Delcambre, the LSU Vet Med organizing committee, and the LSU Pre Vet Club for their leadership in bringing this remarkable event to LSU.

Professor Fabio Del Piero of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has been recognized with LSU’s prestigious Rainmaker ...
03/05/2026

Professor Fabio Del Piero of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has been recognized with LSU’s prestigious Rainmaker Award, honoring his outstanding contributions to research and scholarship.

An internationally respected comparative pathologist whose work advances the One Health approach, Dr. Del Piero has authored more than 170 peer-reviewed publications and four books while helping deepen scientific understanding of zoonotic and epidemic animal diseases. He emphasized that the award reflects the collective impact of LSU Vet Med’s comparative pathologists whose work in science, service, and teaching advances both human and animal health.

Read the story: https://www.lsu.edu/blog/2026/03/lsu_honors_rainmakers.php

Once a waitress, a singer, and a pre-law student, Gabrielle Acquaviva took an unconventional route to veterinary medicin...
03/04/2026

Once a waitress, a singer, and a pre-law student, Gabrielle Acquaviva took an unconventional route to veterinary medicine. Now a third-year student, she reflects on the twists, pivots, and moments of courage that led her to LSU Vet Med, where she has finally found the purpose, passion, and career she knows she was made for. Pull up a chair and read her captivating personal essay. It is so vivid and insightful that we believe she could have a dual career in writing!

https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/blog/2026/acquaviva.php

Dr. Alma Roy (Ph.D., LSU, 2000) has been named the 2025 LSU Vet Med Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in the Ph.D. categ...
03/04/2026

Dr. Alma Roy (Ph.D., LSU, 2000) has been named the 2025 LSU Vet Med Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in the Ph.D. category. The award recognizes graduates for excellence in research, contributions to One Health, and service to LSU Vet Med and the broader community. Dr. Roy currently serves as director of LSU Diagnostics (Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory) at LSU Vet Med and was recently celebrated by LSU for achieving 50 years of service to the university. Congratulations, Dr. Roy!

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