(April 1, 2011 Stillwater, OK) – The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences hosted the 15th Annual Phi Zeta Research Day on Thursday, Mar. 31, 2011. The aim of Phi Zeta is the constant advancement of the veterinary profession, through higher educational requirements and scholarship. The Society recognizes and promotes scholarship and research in matters pertaining to the welfare and diseases of animals.

At Phi Zeta Research Day, veterinary students, graduate students and residents and interns presented in these categories: basic science, applied or clinical research, and clinical case presentations.

Top honors in each category went to these recipients:

• Melissa Cordero, DVM – overall grand prize winner
• Aaron Herndon, DVM – graduate student, basic science research
• Satyanarayana Achanta, BVSc – graduate student, applied or clinical research
• Jason Duell – veterinary student, basic science or applied research
• Danielle Dugat, DVM – resident/intern, applied or clinical research
• Kelci McKeirnan, DVM – resident/intern, 1st place clinical case presentation
• Sarah Cramer, DVM – resident/intern, 2nd place clinical case presentation
• Lauren Schlutermann, DVM – resident/intern, 3rd place clinical case presentation

Approximately 70 people attended the banquet Thursday evening where the awards were presented and the following were initiated into the Nu Chapter of The Society of Phi Zeta, the honor society of veterinary medicine:

• Honorary Membership – Pamela Lloyd, PhD
• Full Faculty Memberships – Keith Bailey, DVM; Sonia Crochik, DVM; Drew Hanzlicek, DVM; and Kimberly Reeds, DVM
• Resident/Intern Memberships – Clemence Chako, DVM; Kelci McKeirnan, DVM; and Shasta Smith, DVM
• Graduate Student Memberships – Satyanarayana Achanta, BVSc; Pradyumna Baviska, BVSc; and Melissa Cordero, DVM
• Class of 2011 Memberships – Lauren Aderholdt, Bryan Eason, Amy Hinkle, Jill Houk, Kelley Johnson, Melissa Lowry, Garrett Metcalf, JoAnna Roath, Jeffery Skaggs, Clayton Smith, Tori Smith, Michelle Stives and Kelly Triana
• Class of 2012 Memberships – Jason Duell, Laura Douthit, Kathryn Downie, Dustin Leck, Jennifer Murphy, Brittany Koontz, Adriana Robbins, Ben Shrauner and Jessica Wolf

Special thanks to sponsors of the Phi Zeta Research Day and the Nu Chapter Awards Banquet—Pfizer Animal Health, Novartis Animal Health, Dual-Boarded, Inc., Purina Mills, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and the veterinary center’s Office of Research and Graduate Education.

The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center's Boren Veterinary Medial Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24 hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.

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