Dr. Trenton Shrader - DVM 2015
2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Dr. Trenton Shrader, Manhattan, Kansas, is a recipient of a 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus Award for his notable achievements since graduating from Kansas State University. The award is presented by the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine during the Alumni Awards Luncheon at the 87th Annual Conference for Veterinarians held June 1.
Dr. Shrader is a Nebraska native, originally from the small town of Elmwood, which is between Lincoln and Omaha. Some of his fondest memories of childhood are raising chickens and rabbits with his dad to show for 4-H at the county fair and giving book reports to his grandma so she could keep tabs on his reading skills. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2012 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2015, both from Kansas State University. He completed a specialty internship in zoo, exotics, and wildlife medicine at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
After his year at USask, Dr. Shrader completed a specialty internship in zoological medicine and surgery at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Following the training program, he was offered the opportunity to stay as an associate veterinarian at the Omaha Zoo, where he worked until being offered the director of medicine and conservation position at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. With the encouragement of Dr. James Carpenter, Dr. Shrader was recruited back to Kansas State University to begin training students as the clinical assistant professor of zoo, exotic, wildlife and avian medicine and surgery in 2022.
“It’s an incredible honor to be selected as the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus,” Dr. Shrader said. “Graduating from the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine prepared me to take advantage of many exciting career opportunities and I’m incredibly grateful to the program. It is humbling to be back as assistant clinical professor and to have the opportunity to work with the great students here.”
“Dr. Shrader has demonstrated tremendous energy and passion at this point in his career,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, Hodes Family Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We have had a chance to personally witness his impact as an instructor and clinician through his work within the college. It’s a great privilege to see his continued growth and dedication to the profession.”
Hodes Family Dean Dr. Bonnie Rush presents Dr. Trenton Shrader with the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award during the Alumni Awards Luncheon.
After practicing zoological medicine exclusively for seven years, Dr. Shrader began to miss relationships with pets and their families and wanted to provide a level of post-doctoral zoo and exotic training to the Omaha community. Together with business partner Dr. Kati Lackovic, he founded Southpaw Veterinary Clinic and Emergency Care in Omaha to create a clinic that provides exceptional care for every pet in the household, no matter the time of day.
He is currently attaining additional qualifications in conservation medicine through a master’s degree in Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal School of Veterinary Medicine. Current areas of research interest include improving safety of sedation and anesthesia protocols utilized in companion exotic medicine and evaluating the impact of neonicotinoid pesticide exposure on wild birds.