Fall 2026
Message from Dean Mark Stetter
As we launch into an expanding era of translational medicine, the parallels between humans and other animals become more striking. Many naturally occurring diseases in our four-legged companions are the same as those seen in people. Cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular conditions and infectious diseases are common examples.
The overlap of human and animal diseases creates extraordinary opportunities to accelerate research and progress in new therapies and treatments. By studying diseases across species, researchers gain insights that are not always possible through traditional laboratory models. They can also evaluate promising new approaches and bring better diagnostics and treatments to patients more quickly. You will see several examples of translational medicine in action in our cover feature article.
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But the importance of this work is measured not only in discoveries, publications or the time required to develop a new therapy. It is measured in lives—and in the additional time those advances may give us with those we love, whether animal or human.
Our school has a huge advantage in advancing translational medicine, through partnerships with UC Davis Health, UC San Francisco and other academic institutions. We also have champions for this kind of research in Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao, who recently made a $75 million gift that supports translational medicine research, along with a new small animal hospital, student scholarships and accessible veterinary care. We are so grateful to Kathy and Ken for believing in the school as we urgently pursue multiple opportunities which advance our mission (read more here).
In our Clinical Updates, you’ll learn more about the quiet heroes of our veterinary care teams—the talented veterinary technicians who not only prioritize compassionate patient care but pass along their knowledge to others. I also want to highlight the story where Dr. Grace VanHoy shares a week in her life as a large animal veterinarian with a passion for parasitology and teaching.
I’m excited to share the opening of our new Janice K. Hobbs Veterinary Medical Center Southern California this fall, thanks to dedicated supporters like Janice Hobbs and so many others (learn more here). I hope you’ll enjoy reading about our translational research, and other school activities highlighted in this issue. As always, thank you for being part of this incredible community.
Feature Stories
Departments
Click on the department name to read all the stories.
News Bites
A coyote makes a brief mysterious appearance on Alcatraz; tiny kitten makes amazing recovery; dog rescued from landfill; hawk flight maneuver insights; predicting and preventing zoonotic diseases; and screwworm spread causes big concern.
Discoveries
Plastics in petrel chicks; genetic causes found for Addison’s disease in dogs and a fatal foal disease; and understanding vision loss in monkeys and humans.
Clinical Updates
More than 450 staff members help provide compassionate expert care at the UC Davis veterinary hospital. Meet four of these unsung heroes of veterinary medicine.
School Notes
Honoring fallen K9 officers; opening doors to veterinary careers; comprehensive new backyard chicken book; celebrating the Class of 2026 and welcoming the new class of 2030; prestigious NIH T32 grant helps train next generation of clinician scientists; school honored for academic excellence, belonging and community building.
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Advancing the Future of Veterinary Medicine
Kathy Chiao and Ken Hao (pictured with their beloved dog, King King), recently gave $75M to the school toward key efforts to advance translational medicine, accessible care and student scholarships. Their support also accelerates the construction of a new Small Animal Hospital that will bear their name. Photo: Gregory M. Urquiaga/UC Davis