Recognition Ceremony Honors VCS Residents, Graduate Students, and Purdue Veterinary Hospital Interns

Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences residents and Purdue Veterinary Hospital interns were recognized at a ceremony June 26 at Lafayette’s historic Duncan Hall for completing their training programs. (Left) Outgoing residents gathered for a group picture. (Right) A group of outgoing small animal interns paused for a photo with Dr. Christopher Fulkerson (at left), chair of the Small Animal Intern Committee.

More than 100 faculty and staff of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) and the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital (PVH) gathered at Lafayette’s Thomas Duncan Hall on Thursday, June 26 for the 2025 Resident and Intern Recognition Ceremony. The historic venue was a wonderful place to host this annual event that honors and celebrates the accomplishments of the VCS and PVH residents, interns, and graduate students who are completing their programs this summer.

Dr. Jessica Linder was honored as the recipient of the Katie McCallister Compassion Award, which was presented by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kathy Salisbury, just before her June 30 retirement.

Dr. Tim Lescun, interim head of VCS Department, opened the program by recognizing each of the graduating residents. As part of the ceremony, the audience was treated to stories and comments shared by the residents’ mentors, which kept everyone entertained. As they were honored, the residents received their recognition documents and parting gifts from their mentors.

The program then continued with the presentation of special awards. Dr. Kathy Salisbury, associate dean for academic affairs, presented the Katie McCallister Compassion Award to Dr. Jessica Linder, a third-year neurology resident. Next, Dr. Lescun presented the Graduate School’s Teaching Academy Graduate Teaching Award to Dr. George Munguia, a third-year emergency and critical care resident. The final award of the evening was presented to Dr. Alexandra Usamaki, who received the Johnson & Hoffman Residency Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding teaching by a resident.

Dr. Tim Lescun, interim head of the VCS Department, presented the Graduate Teaching Award to Dr. George Munguia.

The VCS portion of the ceremony concluded with special recognition of Dr. Salisbury on the occasion of her retirement from the department and college, effective June 30, after a more than 40-year Purdue career dedicated to excellence in teaching, mentoring, scholarship, research, service and administration. Thank You, Dr. Salisbury!

The spotlight then switched to the Veterinary Hospital interns. First, the new class of interns, who are just beginning their one year post-DVM training program, were introduced. Then Dr. Christopher Fulkerson, internship advisor, clinical associate professor of veterinary medical oncology, and chair of the Small Animal Intern Committee, introduced the small animal interns in the graduating intern class along with their mentors, and Dr. Sandy Taylor, chair of the Large Animal Intern Committee, introduced the outgoing large animal interns with their mentors. All of the outgoing interns also received their certificate of completion and a gift from the veterinary hospital.

Congratulations to all of the outgoing residents and interns!

Outgoing residents, listed with their specialty and location where they are headed next:

Dr. Maxime Derre (Small Animal Internal Medicine) – Private Practice, Switzerland
Dr. Yumi de Barcelos Hayasaka (Large Animal Internal Medicine) – Undecided
Dr. Martyna Jargielo (Large Animal Internal Medicine) – Returning to Poland
Dr. Bianca Lara (Small Animal Internal Medicine) – BluePearl Pet Hospital, Olympia, Washington
Dr. Jessica Linder (Neurology/Neurosurgery) – Purdue Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department (Faculty)
Dr. George Munguia (Emergency and Critical Care) – Auburn University (Faculty)
Dr. Ori Nagasaka (Diagnostic Imaging) – Purdue Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department (Visiting Faculty)
Dr. Anna Reuter (Cardiology) – MedVet, Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Reed Hal Schultz (Large Animal Surgery) – Purdue Veterinary Hospital (Emergency Clinician)
Dr. Michael Sliman (Small Animal Surgery) – Private Practice, Indianapolis
Dr. Levi Smith (Comparative Ophthalmology) – Med Vet, Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Rebecca Weiske (Comparative Oncology) – BluePearl Pet Hospital, Olympia, Washington
Dr. Conor Williams (Comparative Oncology) – Thrive Pet Healthcare, Chicago, Illinois

Outgoing interns, listed with their areas of focus:

Dr. Irene Dobles (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Hope Fenton (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Emily Halsmer (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Rachel Illgen (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Jamie Libow (Large Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Tori Martin (Large Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Alexus Meadows (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Leopoldo Montero Espinosa (Specialty Internship – Neurology/Neurosurgery)
Dr. Stephanie Smick (Large Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Madeleine Swindell (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Janice Viary (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Ben Walter (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Aaron Webster (Large Animal Medicine/Surgery)
Dr. Courtney Westcott (Small Animal Medicine/Surgery)

Photos courtesy of Abby and Lucas Media

Writer(s): Tressa Bowman | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

PVM Clinical Pathologist Elected to Viticus Group (WVC) Board of Directors

Dr. Craig Thompson, clinical associate professor of clinical pathology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, now is a member of the Board of Directors of Viticus Group – formerly WVC. Dr. Thompson was elected to the board when votes were cast in the board election held in conjunction with the 2026 WVC Annual Conference (formally known as the Western Veterinary Conference) earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we are pleased to share a colleague’s words of appreciation for Dr. Erin Paul-Stewart, who is a medical oncology resident in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Veterinary Boilermakers on the Road: Purdue Veterinary Alumni Reconnect and Celebrate at National Conferences

The veterinary profession is built on lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to animal and human health. This winter, those values were on full display as Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine alumni, faculty, students and friends gathered at two of the profession’s premier events—the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando, Florida, and the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The GOAT Named Oreo Captures Attention for PVM at Annual Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry

Purdue Veterinary Medicine joined in the festivities as the annual Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry earlier this month celebrated alumni and friends who have shaped Purdue Agriculture's legacy and will help define its future. In particular, this year’s event on February 7 at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds provided an opportunity to highlight the longstanding partnership between the College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we’re giving a big high-five to Micah Black, who is a veterinary nursing assistant in Large Animal Surgery.

Research accomplishments of CPB’s Uma Aryal featured in ASBMB Today Article

A recently published article in ASBMB Today, the member magazine of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, details groundbreaking research led by Uma K. Aryal, research associate professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

PVM Associate Dean S. Kathleen Salisbury Receives IVMA President’s Award

Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury, Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate dean for academic affairs, was honored recently by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association as the recipient of the association’s annual President’s Award.

Three PVM Alumni Receive IVMA Awards for Achievements and Volunteering

The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) honored three Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni with awards for significant achievements and volunteering during the association’s recent Crossroads Veterinary Conference. The awards were presented January 30 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Noblesville, Indiana.

In Memory – Dr. Thomas A. Bryan, Retired Purdue Avian Diagnostician

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community mourns the passing of a dedicated poultry veterinarian and esteemed avian diagnostician, Dr. Thomas A. Bryan.