More than a dozen new interns and two new pharmacy residents are beginning their advanced training in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. The group of interns includes ten veterinarians who are completing a small animal rotating internship and four who are doing a large animal rotating internship. In addition, two pharmacy school graduates are starting the one year Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Residency program, which is jointly offered by the Purdue Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy.
The interns and pharmacy residents completed a two-week intensive orientation program last month, before reporting to their assigned rotations and responsibilities, with the exception of Dr. Paulo Novelo, who just completed an internship at the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital in Shelbyville, Indiana and will be joining the PVH later this summer.
Internship applicants are matched to qualified programs through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program sponsored by the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians. A one year rotating internship provides graduate veterinarians with training and experiences that enhance their veterinary training. After a rotating internship, many of these veterinarians will choose to apply for specialty internships or residency training programs on the path to board certification in a recognized veterinary specialty.
Please help extend a warm welcome to these newest members of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine team.
Small Animal Rotating Interns
Dr. Alex Bruce, University of Arizona (graduating in August 2025)
Dr. Bruce is interested in specializing in neurology, but also loves research and surgery. During free time, Dr. Bruce enjoys reading, crocheting, and hanging out with cats Bonk and Oliver.
Dr. Dylan Burton, Colorado State University (2025)
Born and raised in Alaska, Dr. Burton looks forward to pursuing a residency in diagnostic imaging. Additionally, he is fascinated by working dogs, animal athletes, and exotic species – specifically wild cats. An avid mountain biker and ultimate frisbee player, Dr. Burton is accompanied on all his adventures by his border collie. Together with his wife, he is excited for the opportunities that Purdue offers.
Dr. Wan-Lin (Lyn) Chen, Iowa State University (2025)
Originally from Taiwan, Dr. Chen transferred to the DVM program at Iowa State University after completing a few years of undergraduate coursework. She has a strong interest in cardiology and other medicine-focused specialties.
Dr. Samantha Collins, University of Georgia (2025)
Dr. Collins grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and went to the University of Georgia in Athens for both undergraduate and veterinary school. Her primary areas of interest are cardiology and oncology. She moved to Indiana with her husband, Dylan, and their two dogs, Hops and Misty.
Dr. Anna Grotjahn, University of California, Davis (2025)
Dr. Grotjahn was raised on a small pistachio farm in Davis, California where she completed both her undergraduate and veterinary education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, initially thinking she would work in conservation research, but then realized that for her, veterinary medicine is the right profession. Her professional interests include small animal surgery and zoologic medicine. Even so, she still enjoys searching for snakes and salamanders while hiking with her fiancé and rock climbing.
Dr. Alan Huizar, Ross University/Louisiana State University (2025)
Originally from Southern California, Dr. Huizar has an interest in neurology, with plans to pursue a residency or specialty internship in the future. He uses his free time for exploring new restaurants, golfing, and attending sporting events. He describes his pet as an island cat, named Ahsoka, who follows him everywhere.
Dr. Jessica Payne, Iowa State University (2025)
Born and raised in Carlisle, Iowa, Dr. Payne played soccer collegiately and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. She then moved to Oregon for a zoo internship before earning her DVM degree at Iowa State University. Her primary area of interest is ophthalmology.
Dr. Kathryn (Katie) Vasquez, University of Sydney (2025)
Originally from Pennsylvania, Dr. Vasquez went to veterinary school in Sydney, Australia. After graduating in December 2024, she moved back to the U.S. and since March has been in a mentorship program while working as a small animal/exotics veterinarian at a clinic in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Vasquez is interested in specializing in ophthalmology, but also enjoys emergency medicine and exotic/avian medicine. Her favorite animal is the short-beaked echidna. Her other interests include hiking, running, cooking, baking, traveling, and playing the guitar and piano.
Dr. Beth Zanley, St. George’s University/Louisiana State University (2025)
Dr. Zanley is from Wyandotte, Michigan, near Detroit. She has a strong passion for internal medicine, particularly endocrinology, and hopes to specialize in that field. Outside of work, she loves reading, discovering new cuisines, and traveling.
Dr. Shangyu Zhou, University of Minnesota (2025)
Born and raised in mainland China, Dr. Zhou earned her bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University, before going to veterinary school at the University of Minnesota. She is enthusiastic about now working at Purdue.
Large Animal Rotating Interns
Dr. Devon Anderson, Purdue University (2025)
Dr. Anderson is from Brownsburg, Indiana and earned both his Bachelor’s and DVM degrees at Purdue. After completing his large animal internship, he plans on pursuing a residency in theriogenology. Dr. Anderson has a dog named Archie, two cats, Max & Melon, and two guinea pigs, Latte & Twix. Dr. Anderson uses free time to play pickle ball and run Tough Mudders with friends.
Dr. Kinnidy Coley, North Carolina State University (2025)
Dr. Coley is from Raleigh, North Carolina, and has an interest in both large animal internal medicine and ecology, with hopes of pairing the two in her future. In her spare time, Dr. Coley enjoys cooking, reading a variety of books, and spending time with her family.
Dr. Andrea Messina, Atlantic Veterinary College (2023)
Dr. Messina is originally from Michigan. As she completes her large animal internship at Purdue, she hopes to pursue a large animal surgery residency. In her free time, Dr. Messina enjoys camping, hiking, and taking her pet turtle on walks.
Dr. Paulo Novelo, Autonomous University of Tlaxcala (2015)
Dr. Novelo, who will begin his internship later this summer, is from the city of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, and has been chasing his passion for equine surgery ever since earning his veterinary degree. He completed a surgical internship at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, a rotating internship in equine medicine and surgery at LSU, and spent the past year at Purdue’s Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, gaining hands-on experience in surgery and advanced diagnostics. Dr. Novelo enjoys staying active and describes himself as a huge fan of music and dance. He also likes cooking, watching sports, and regularly video-calling his cat son named Kato back home.
Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Residents:
Kaitlin Fritsche, University of Missouri–Kansas City
With a life goal of visiting all 63 national parks in the U.S., Kaitlin Fritsche says her goals in veterinary medicine involve fortifying relationships between veterinarians and pharmacists, and helping to educate the public about veterinary pharmacy.
Holly Wright, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan
The human companion of a Clumber spaniel and a Samoyed, Holly Wright has a passion for teaching and pharmacokinetics. She also loves dog shows and in particular, participating obedience and Rally.
