The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine was represented in force at the recent 2024 Veterinary Cancer Society conference. The annual conference, one of the premier events for veterinary and comparative oncology, featured presentations from and accolades for CVM researchers, residents, and students, including several members of the Animal Cancer Care and Research (ACCR) Program team.

The ACCR Program is a partnership between CVM and the Masonic Cancer Center that focuses on innovative research to understand how cancers that occur in animals are similar to cancers that occur in humans, and what implications this may have for cancer treatment and prevention in both people and their pets.

At the conference, which took place Oct. 17–19 in Orlando, the program was represented by faculty (Drs. Jaime Modiano and Antonella Borgatti), residents (Drs. Ross Luethke, Caitlin Yung, and Alana Kuzmik—who completed her residency the week prior to the conference), technicians (Kelly Reid), and fourth-year DVM students (Courtney Labé and Caitlyn Callaghan).

Labé and Callaghan (mentored by Dr. Kelly Makielski and Dr. Aaron Sarver, respectively) were among very few students invited to present abstracts at the meeting. Luethke, mentored by Borgatti and Dr. Logan Spector, also presented an invited abstract in the residents' poster section. He was awarded the Dr. Edward Gillette Memorial Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation.

“Ross continues the steady string of residents from ACCR who have been recognized by competitive grants and national awards for their research,” Modiano says.

Also presenting at the conference were Drs. Davis Seelig and Daniel Heinrich, both associate professors in clinical pathology at CVM. Seelig and Heinrich were invited for the eighth year running to lead a session on cytology for veterinary technicians, contributing a valuable continuing education opportunity for Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences attendees.