Nominations now open for
2026 SVM Alumni Achievement Awards
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Do you know an outstanding UW School of Veterinary Medicine graduate? Nominate them for an SVM Alumni Achievement Award by June 1. Launched in 2019, the awards recognize fellow alumni who've made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers honor the legacy of excellence at the school. Three award categories provide opportunities for alumni of both the DVM and graduate degree programs to be recognized.
A list of previous honorees can be found here.
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Remembering Dr. Bernard C. Easterday
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We are sad to share the news that Founding Dean Emerit Bernard C. Easterday (MS’58 PhD’61) passed away earlier this month. He was 96. Dr. Easterday joined UW in 1961 and became an internationally recognized educator and virologist who deepened our understanding of how influenza viruses are transmitted between animals and humans. He served as founding dean of the UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) between 1979 and 1994.
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During that time, he led the creation of our school, hiring outstanding faculty and staff, overseeing curricular design and the evolution of our teaching hospital, and ensuring that we had modern facilities. More broadly, Dr. Easterday established the SVM as a community highly focused on making significant impacts in education, innovation, and outreach while also ensuring that collaboration and teamwork are core to our shared experience.
The SVM plans to hold an on-campus event for Dr. Easterday celebrating his legacy and contribution to the school. More details about the event to come. Read his obituary here.
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Legislative update: Rural loan repayment program awaits floor votes
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The state Legislature last month approved a plan that could provide game-changing financial assistance for some Wisconsin veterinary medical students and recent graduates. The proposal offers up to $100,000 in student loan repayments for veterinarians employed in designated rural counties, helping tackle provider shortages while providing students significant financial assistance. UW Vet Med leaders worked with campus partners to provide testimony in support of the legislation.
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(Photo by Jeff Miller / UW–Madison)
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Under the plan, fourth-year DVM students and veterinarians who have graduated in the past seven years (from the UW School of Veterinary Medicine or other accredited schools) would be eligible for the repayments, so long as they meet the following criteria:
- Be employed in (or will be employed in) designated rural counties for at least a year.
- Spend at least 50% of their time caring for farm animals.
In exchange, the state would provide $25,000 in loan repayments annually for up to four years.
The proposal has been approved by the Legislature and now heads to Gov. Tony Evers for his consideration. However, even if he signs the bill into law, a key hurdle remains: The bill does not currently contain funding for the loan repayment program.
One of the plan’s lead authors, Rep. Joel Kitchens, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he expects funding for the program to be included in the next state budget. Lawmakers will take up that spending plan in summer 2027.
We will continue to provide updates on this important issue as well as other related topics as they arise.
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Save the date: 2026 alumni reunion on June 27
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Save the date for one of our favorite gatherings of the year: Our annual alumni reunion will be held on June 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the school’s courtyard — a lovely space for outdoor gatherings that is the heart of our expanded facilities. While all alumni are invited to the event, we will be celebrating the classes of 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021.
Additional details about registration will be shared next month. Information about a hotel block for the event can be found here.
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We are sad to share that long-time supporter Art Meinholz passed away unexpectedly in January. Since 2004, Art and Lori Meinholz of Blue Star Dairy-Middleton have graciously welcomed the first-year veterinary students annually to experience a working dairy farm and made sure that everyone left the farm with stomachs full of cheese. Art also collaborated with the Food Animal Production Medicine group and The Dairyland Initiative on research and farm improvements. Opening up the farm to students and staying in touch with graduates as they entered practice brought Art a lot of joy. More information about Art’s legacy can be found here.
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Wanted: Input on potential WVC Nashville reception
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We are considering expanding our alumni reception calendar to include a brand-new destination. While we traditionally host popular gatherings at AAEP in December, VMX in January, and WVC Las Vegas in February/March, we are looking ahead to the inaugural WVC Nashville (Aug. 15–18, 2026).
Since this is the first year of the Nashville conference, we want to see if our SVM community will be represented. Are you planning to attend? If so, would you be interested in joining us for an alumni reception?
Your feedback will help us decide if we should be present in the Music City. To share your plans or express interest, please contact Kristi Thorson at kristi.thorson@wisc.edu or (608) 265-9692.
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Bolstering public health in the South Pacific
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When a dengue outbreak swept through neighboring Western Samoa in the summer of 2024, American Samoa braced for the worst. With memories of past outbreaks still fresh, local health officials called on the CDC for support. That call brought Maj. Sam Emmerich (’13 DVM’18) — a UW School of Veterinary Medicine graduate and CDC “disease detective” — to the islands, where he and a small team embarked on an urgent mission to strengthen surveillance systems, implement rapid diagnostics, and take the fight directly to the mosquitoes spreading the virus.
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Over two months, Emmerich worked side-by-side with local partners to transform public health readiness: clearing breeding sites, improving insecticide spraying, installing new diagnostic tools, and helping modernize the territory’s outbreak response plan. But the real success, he says, came from building trust and collaborating as equals. What unfolded is a behind‑the‑scenes look at how science, teamwork, and community can come together to strengthen a nation’s defenses — and how a veterinarian found his calling at the front lines of global public health.
Read the full story here.
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Wanted: Input on early clinical experiences for students
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The UW School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) continues to integrate early clinical experiences (ECE) into our new OnWard curriculum. These opportunities allow students to apply foundational concepts in real-world settings, deepening their understanding of primary care, communication, and the impact of pet health on families.
Starting in August 2027, the goal is for all third-year veterinary students to rotate through weeklong early clinical experiences in settings outside of the UWVC teaching hospital. We are still seeking feedback from students, alumni, and past participants in our career fair to help shape these new opportunities. If you haven't already, please take our brief survey to share your thoughts by clicking the button below.
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The SVM Alumni Association (SVMAA) will hold its next meeting virtually on Monday, April 6, 7 p.m. central. The agenda includes an appearance from Starr Cameron (MS’21), the school’s assistant dean for clinical and translational research, about how alumni can get involved in clinical trials.
If you are an alum who is not an SVMAA member, there are two ways to join. You can make a gift and be automatically enrolled, or sign up here without making a gift.
Membership benefits:
- All members who make a $60 minimum gift will receive a special SVMAA branded gift upon initial enrollment (IRS rules require this gift amount)
- Invitation to attend the school’s annual Dean’s Luncheon (held in September)
- Invitation to attend SVMAA meetings
- A great way to have a voice in supporting the school, alumni, and the students
For questions and meeting access information, please contact Kristi Thorson at kristi.thorson@wisc.edu or (608) 265-9692.
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Wanted: Dogs scheduled to have cataract surgery for clinical study
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The study is recruiting dogs scheduled to have cataract surgery within the next three months. Participating owners will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their dog’s behavior prior to surgery, and then a second survey about their dog’s behavior within six months after the procedure.
This work will help dog owners and veterinarians have better, evidence-based discussions about the predicted outcomes of cataract surgery and determine how cataract surgery in older dogs impacts quality of life.
Owners and their dogs living anywhere in the United States are eligible to participate. Participants who complete the survey will receive a $10 gift card.
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June 27, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
UW Vet Med courtyard
2015 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
Registration details to come
September 2026
Alumni tailgate
More details to come
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