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Cornell leads the way at annual equine conference

AAEP Orlando conference center exterior

Numerous Cornellians attended the annual event for equine practitioners. Photo: AAEP

The annual meeting of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, held last month in Orlando, Florida, featured key talks and recognitions from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) faculty and students as well as Cornell-trained equine practitioners and researchers, exemplifying the impact of the CVM on the field of equine health.

“Cornell is incredibly active in providing leadership in the equine industry as marked by their prominent roles at the top equine conference in the country and largest in the world,” says Dr. Mandi de Mestre, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine and director of Cornell Equine.

The keynote speaker was Richard Lesser ’77, D.V.M. ’81, whose talk, “Live Your Whole Life,” shared stories of his life and career, highlighting the crucial balance veterinarians must achieve between supporting their patients and colleagues and attending to their own needs. This side of a veterinarian’s life is often neglected, and he had the audience captivated both by his important messages and his exceptional story telling. 

Other Cornellians led talks throughout the conference, including CVM alumna and AAEP immediate past-president Katie Garrett, D.V.M. ’03, alumna Kyla Ortved, Ph.D. ’14, who did the famous Kester News Hour, and faculty members Dr. Kelly Knicklebein, assistant professor of ophthalmology, Dr. Kathryn Mitchell and Dr. Gillian Perkins, clinical professor and associate director of the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, who led talks along with Cornell resident Dr. Pamela Velarde.

Numerous Cornellians attended the event, including Amy Johnson, D.V.M. ’03; Liara Gonzolez, D.V.M. ’06; and Nathaniel White, D.V.M. ’71, a prominent member of the AAEP, who spoke in the general session. Cornell veterinary students were also in attendance, including Hadley Rahael, Class of 2027; Lucia Younger ’21, Class of 2026; Ella Bellin, Class of 2026; and Alexandria Davis, Class of 2027, who presented her poster on emergency equine dystocia and congenital malformation.

Lisa Fortier with a horse at the Cornell Equine Park
Lisa Fortier, Ph.D.’98, the James Law Professor of Surgery, gave this year's Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture at the conference. Photo: Platinum Performance, LLC./Provided

Finally, the most prestigious recognition at the event, the Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture, was given by Lisa Fortier, Ph.D.’98, the James Law Professor of Surgery. Her talk, outlining her successful career as an equine researcher and clinician was entitled “The Equine Community Leading the Way in Orthobiologics,” discussed the cutting-edge regenerative medicine subdiscipline, and how it can be used to restore biological function.” She was introduced by Lauren Schnabel, D.V.M. ’04, Ph.D. ’13, professor of equine orthopedic surgery at NC State University.

“It’s exciting to see our researchers and practitioners setting the standard for care and discovery in equine health,” says de Mestre. 

Written by Lauren Cahoon Roberts