Lifelines Online

USDA-APHIS awards grant to CVM researchers for faster eradication of New World Screwworm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) selected a CVM research project for funding from a total of 40 breakthrough projects to bolster the nation’s defenses against New World Screwworm (NWS). These innovative proposals promise to sharpen detection, accelerate control and eradication tools, and strengthen rapid-response capabilities. Drs. Laura Miller and Hassan Hakimi talk about their project in this exciting video that was presented by K-State President Richard Linton during his State of Our University address Sept. 18.

Exceptional students earn early admission to K-State veterinary college

American Journal of Veterinary Research spotlights article about Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology

The Facebook page for the American Journal of Veterinary Research used the occasion of "Spotlight Saturday," to highlight a recent article about the CVM's Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology. They shared a link to a newly published article titled, "CORE approaches to enhance animal health," written by K-State professors Drs. Natalia Cernicchiaro (pictured at left), David Renter and Elizabeth Davis. By combining advanced analytics with collaborative, multidisciplinary research, CORE transforms scientific evidence into practical decision-support tools.

Third-year student Derrick Goldammer receives prestigious scholarship through Merck and AABP

By American Ag Network

Derrick Goldammer, a third-year veterinary student from Mitchell, South Dakota, was recently awarded the $10,000 Merck Animal Health Bovine Veterinary Student Recognition Award scholarship. The scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate commitment and skills needed to make a difference in the cattle industry and veterinary profession. “[The scholarship] will allow me to have less financial stress and be able to focus on my education, which in turn will make me a better practitioner for my clientele,” Derrick said.

How KVDL rabies testing protects Kansas people and animals

Rabies has long presented a unique challenge to public health. Diagnostic testing can provide the critical answers that determine the next steps for exposed persons, placing laboratories like the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory's Rabies Laboratory at a pivotal intersection of animal, human and public health. Dr. Jamie Retallick, KVDL director, and Dr. Janine Seetahal, director of the Rabies Laboratory, are both dedicated to the mission of identifying rabies-positive animals and understanding the epidemiology of the viruses detected in them.

Making moves in Italy to learn about food safety, public health and aquatic and terrestrial animal health

In June 2026, Drs. Justin Kastner and Ellyn Mulcahy gathered six students from Kansas State University as a cohort of the International Mobility of Veterinary Students and Food Biotechnologists, or iMOVES & FB, program, coordinated through the University of Padova in Italy. This specialized and intensive summer course focuses on a variety of topics that fall under the One Health umbrella including food safety, aquatic and terrestrial animal welfare and public health.

Pet-friendly domestic violence shelters protect survivors at both ends of the leash

By KBIA Public Radio at the University of Missouri

The CVM's Dr. Elizabeth Scarbrough led a group of students to an on-site vaccination event and veterinary clinic at Rose Brooks Center, a domestic violence shelter in Kansas City, Missouri, hosted by Wayside Waifs. The community outreach team provides comprehensive wellness checks and preventative care directly to underserved and isolated populations. Dr. Scarbrough said the clinic is a good opportunity for students to practice their observational and conversational skills, as well as learn how to engage with human and animal survivors that have experienced trauma.

Looking Beyond the Heart in Bovine Heart Disease

By Bovine Veterinarian

For Dr. Brad White, investigating bovine heart disease means looking beyond the heart to understand what is happening throughout the animal. That message is supported by a series of recent studies from Kansas State University researchers examining cardiac morphology, heart scores, concurrent disease and histopathologic changes in beef cattle. The research suggests that while heart size and shape can provide important clues, the heart needs to be interpreted alongside the liver, lungs and other organs.

The Swine it Podcast Show Canada - Dr. Jishu Shi: African Swine Fever Control and Prevention

By Wisenetix

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Jishu Shi, professor of vaccine immunology at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University, discusses African swine fever prevention and vaccine development. He explains why ASF differs from classical swine fever and swine influenza, how the disease threatens trade and pork production, why immunization safety remains a critical hurdle, and what producers can do now to reduce the risk of introduction. Listen now on all major platforms!

No licking. How scientists study Sonoran desert toads.

By Arizona Luminaria

Last summer, exotics and wildlife professor Dr. Gretel Tovar-Lopez headed south on Interstate 35 bound for Oklahoma State University, home to a colony of Sonoran desert toads. She and her colleagues wanted to give each toad a neurological exam to find out whether what’s normal in one species is normal in another. It turns out it’s not. In fact, clinicians know little about what’s neurologically normal for toads, given scant research into the matter.

Birthing Center Offers Firsthand Ag Education

By KWCH 12 News

Visitors packed the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson this year and took in a mix of agriculture, hand-crafted art, and live educational demonstrations as the fair marks its final stretch. Despite late-summer heat, fairgoers have numerous indoor and shaded exhibits to explore across the grounds. For nearly 50 years, the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine has given children and families a front-row seat to agriculture through the fair’s Birthing Center.

Better Diagnostic Samples Start With Better Questions

By Bovine Veterinarian

Veterinary toxicologist Dr. Scott Fritz provides a practical framework for investigating cattle deaths and suspected toxic exposures before the samples ever reach the lab. As a veterinary toxicologist and assistant professor at Kansas State University and section head of toxicology for the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr. Fritz shared a practical framework for investigating suspected toxic exposures during the 2026 AABP Annual Conference. His advice centers on a simple principle: the diagnostic question should drive the samples.

More news from the college

The American Associate of Bovine Practitioners 59^th Annual Conference took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aug. 27-29. Several Clinical Sciences faculty members spoke at the conference, including: Dr. Todd Gunderson, who presented, "Flexible Scheduling: Guidelines for navigating the demands of rural practice" and "Restraining feet in a squeeze chute: why they made you take physics to get into vet school." Dr. Matt Miesner presented "Field Surgery Topics in Calves," "Field Surgery Topics in Cows" and "Field Cow Surgery." Dr. Brad White presented "Bovine heart disease: practical insights from feedyard data." Five graduate students with the Beef Cattle Institute — Jordana Zimmerman, Caroline Wingert, Taynah Franca, Eric Lorenz, and Katherine Shirly — presented their research.

Dr. Justin Kastner was spotlighted this past month in Kansas State University's "People With Purpose" profiles.

In honor of International Cat Day, Dr. Susan Nelson, a Cat Friendly Veterinarian certified by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, was featured by the K-State Alumni Association in a special article, "Paws, purpose and purple pride: How Susan Nelson ’89 is helping train the next generation of veterinarians."

Dr. Hatem Kittana recently visited Wildcat Vet Services in Manhattan to present information on antibiotic resistance and fungal cultures. With ringworm, one of his suggestions is to shave off the hair to allow it to heal faster.

Dr. Gregg Hanzlicek went to Comanche County at the end of August for an outreach event to present helpful information on Bovine Anaplasmosis and Theileriosis.

Meet the new class of student ambassadors

Beef Cattle Institute records podcasts on-site at Kansas State Fair

Find episodes of the BCI's Cattle Chat Podcast!

Fourth-year students surprised with scholarship reveal at Kind Heart celebration