This May, the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated its newest group of graduates from their degree programs, sending off the newly minted veterinarians, scientists and public health professionals to the next step of their career journeys.

Hooding honors new veterinarians

Students receiving their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) degree this year congregated at Bailey hall on May 23 for the time-honored hooding ceremony where family, friends and mentors looked on to celebrate the milestone. Lorin D. Warnick, D.V.M., Ph.D.’94, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine, congratulated the Class of 202, and then gave a brief overview of the college’s history, how changes in technology and society shaped veterinary medicine, and how scientific research has always been the bedrock of the field.

“I am inspired by the history of those pioneering veterinarians at Cornell and other universities, who established our profession.  And I am grateful they grounded veterinary medicine on the foundation of scientific discovery and with an understanding of ‘One Health’ — the interconnection of the health of people and animals,” Warnick said. “While much has changed in our profession, I hope you as our newest veterinary doctors, continue and build on this legacy. And my aspiration for our college far into the future is to continue to be an engine of discovery and advancement through innovative scientific research.”

After his remarks, Warnick welcomed New York State Veterinary Medical Society president, Dr. Joseph D’Abbraccio to the stage, who led the class in taking the Veterinarian’s Oath, after which Jai Sweet, Ph.D. ’96, assistant dean for veterinary student services and admissions, took to the podium to call each graduating student by name to be formally hooded and to receive their degree.

Meredith Miller ‘03, D.V.M.’07, associate clinical professor of small animal medicine, was this year’s recipient of this year’s Alexander de Lahunta teaching award, and gave the charge to the class. “I hope you’ve all learned that being a veterinarian is about far more than mastering a list of diseases or knowing the perfect treatment plan,” she said. “It’s about showing up to the best of your ability for our patients who can’t speak for themselves and for the people who love and care for them, it’s about holding space for grief, for joy and for uncertainty.”

Next, associate dean for education Jodi Korich D.V.M.’97 presented the following awards to student recipients:

• The Horace H. White Prize, given to the student with the highest record during the veterinary training, to Gabrielle Rebmann.
• The Malcolm E. Miller Award, awarded to a fourth-year student who in the judgement of the dean, demonstrated perseverance, scholastic diligence and other personal characteristics that will bring credit and distinction to the veterinary profession, to Laura Mishell Abreu Nicolas
• Leonard Pearson Veterinary Prize, awarded to a fourth-year student who most successfully demonstrates the potential for professional and or academic leadership in veterinary medicine, to Alexandra Nichole Yiambilis.

After this, the college Acapella group, Ultrasound, sang the evening song, and welcomed faculty to join them on the stage to sing the Cornell Alma Mater.

Recognizing Ph.D. grads

On May 14, the Biomedical and Biological Sciences graduate program celebrated their graduating Ph.D. students in the college atrium, where Dr. Paula Cohen, associate dean for research and graduate education, congratulated the group and announced noteworthy awards and fellowships, including:

• The Foundation for the Horse Young Investigator Research Grant: Elizabeth Williams Louie
• The Grayson Jockey Club Storm Cat Award: Erica Secor
• The NSF GRFP 20205: Brenda Ramos Villaneuva
• The Liz Hanson Graduate Fellowship Program: Laura Frazier
• The NSF GRFP 2024 Honorable Mention: Emma Kosmeder and Alivia Ishee
• 10^th Cornell University Three-Minute Thesis winner: Syndey Womack

Celebrating new public health practitioners

The college also celebrated the graduation of the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) students, who stood before colleagues, classmates and loved ones to mark the milestone as Warnick greeted and congratulated them on their accomplishment. “It is wonderful to see the positive impact all of you as students are having through your projects, and your work after graduation,” he said. “ I thank you for having been an important part of our college community during this part of your education and hope that you will stay connected as alumni far into the future.”

Next, Rob Lawlis, CEO of Cayuga Health Partners and senior vice president of Centralus Health, gave the keynote address, and Justin Han, Maryam Maqsood Ahmed and Danielle Inge Yerdon received the 2025 Sustainability, Equity and Engagement (SEE) award, which is given out by faculty and staff to the student that best representing Cornell Public Health’s programmatic pillars. 

In the culmination of all Cornell’s graduation celebrations, college grads gathered at Schoellkopf Field on May 24, where President Michael Kotlikoff acknowledge the challenges the country and university is undergoing, and the values that make both great. “‘Any person, any study’ is the ethos and the greatness of Cornell,” Kotlikoff said. “But it is also, in deep and fundamental ways, the greatness of this nation.”

Written by Lauren Cahoon Roberts