Many stories of veterinary medicine are told through research papers and posters, but DVM student Courtney Labé had a chance to tell a tale of a different sort this year. 

The Minnesota Veterinary History Museum (MVHM) was seeking a veterinary student to dive into history and tell the story of Dr. Ben Pomeroy, a longtime faculty member of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The piece would be submitted to the J. Fred Smithcors Student Veterinary History Essay Contest. The contest has been held annually by the American Veterinary Medical History Society (AVMHS) since 1991. 

Labé, a third-year student at the College of Veterinary Medicine answered the call, and her work on the subject earned her fourth place in the national competition. 

“I love reading and did quite a bit of writing in undergrad, so I was excited to be able to merge veterinary medicine with some of my other interests,” Labé says. “I had never dabbled in biographical writing, and it ended up being a fun learning experience.”

Pomeroy served the College from 1934 to 1981, starting his academic journey as a diagnostician before working his way up the ranks to full professor and head of the former Department of Veterinary Microbiology. His research accomplishments laid the foundation for the control and eradication of several diseases affecting turkeys. Pomeroy died at age 92 in 2004. The Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center and the Pomeroy Chair in Avian Health are named in his honor.

“One of my first memories of vet school was seeing the Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center, so the impact of his legacy and the importance of his 47-year-long career with the university was already in my mind as I began writing,” Labé says.

Capturing the life and legacy of one of the College’s most prolific faculty members required research and assistance from across the campus. Labé credits College of Biological Sciences professor Dr. Susan D. Jones, retired MVHM director Paul Maravelas, and veterinary librarian André Nault with helping her shape her award-winning piece. 

As one of the placing entries, Labé’s essay is eligible for inclusion in the AVMHS’s journal, "Veterinary Heritage." Entries are being accepted for the 2024 essay contest and are due at midnight on April 15, 2024.

“I would encourage any interested veterinary students to reach out to the Veterinary Historical Museum,” Labé says. “Learning about the history of Ben Pomeroy, the vet school, and our profession itself was both rewarding and inspirational.”