AAVMC announces inaugural AAVMC Dr Catherine A. Knupp Scholarship

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The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) awarded the first AAVMC Dr Catherine A. Knupp scholarship, thanks to a grant from the Zoetis Foundation. The inaugural winner of this scholarship is Rachel Woodfint, a fourth-year dual DVM and PhD student at the Ohio State University of Veterinary Medicine.

The scholarship, named after Catherina A. Knupp, MS, DVM, sheds light on a veterinary student who is making the veterinary profession more inclusive and supporting research career paths. Knupp served as the President, Research & Development at Zoetis until her retirement in 2021 after a career in both human and animal health pharmaceutical industries for 35 years.¹

According to an organizational release, Woodfint completed her Master of Science Degree with a focus on functional genomics before attending veterinary school.¹ She then pursued her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Ohio State and then found that combining training in veterinary medicine would help prepare her for a career in basic research. She then went on to work with faculty and administrators at the college to establish the DVM/PhD program at Ohio State.

Woodfint’s current research is focusing on mucosal immunology and vaccination development, where she hopes to complete postdoctoral training and then go on to hold a faculty position at a veterinary college after graduating. By becoming a faculty member, she hopes to teach future research veterinarians, perform innovative research, and contribute impactful data to the fields of both biomedical and veterinary research.

Reference

American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges awards inaugural AAVMC Dr Catherine A. Knupp Scholarship with a grant from the Zoetis Foundation. News release. American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. May 19, 2023. Accessed May 22, 2023. https://www.aavmc.org/news/american-association-of-veterinary-medical-colleges-awards-inaugural-aavmc-dr-catherine-a-knupp-scholarship-with-a-grant-from-the-zoetis-foundation/