For Joseph A. Cacioppo, the University of Illinois has been the foundation for his future career in veterinary medicine and it provided opportunities for him to expand his undergraduate research experience into a series of successful scientific endeavors.
“The University has been the source of incredible opportunities, long-lasting friendships, unique career trajectories, and above all, cutting-edge education. My transformation from a sophomoric undergraduate in 2011 to a doctor and veterinary scientist over the past seven years has been a profoundly joyful metamorphosis, comprising challenges and hardships as well, none of which I would trade or modify,” says Cacioppo.
Cacioppo was accepted into the competitive DVM/PhD program. After completing his first year of veterinary school, Cacioppo went on to pursue a PhD in reproductive sciences and physiology with Dr. Jay Ko in the Department of Comparative Biosciences. Upon successfully defending his PhD in 2015, he returned to the veterinary school to finish the remaining three years of his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.
Additionally, he has been involved in a research project on zoonotic avian pathogens with Dr. Matt Allender’s epidemiology lab in the college and the Cornell University ornithology department through Dr. Emma Greig. The research involves looking at blood samples from small desert birds and analyzing their DNA and white blood cells counts for the presence of pathogens.
“I think the most interesting parts of my work were genetically modifying a mouse stem cell line to have a genetic defect, using those stem cells to create chimeric mice with that defect, and studying differences in their reproduction from young healthy mice. Because the stem cells were from black mice and they were implanted into albino mice, the chimeric mice were a gorgeous mixture of white and black fur patches, sometimes in an almost checkerboard-pattern,” says Cacioppo.
Outside of classes and labs, Cacioppo has been involved in the Omega Tau Sigma veterinary service fraternity since 2011. He has held multiple positions, including alumni committee chair, vice president, and president.
After graduation, Cacioppo plans to join Louisiana State University as a rotating veterinary intern. He hopes to gain further experience by engaging in an intense curriculum while working on his residency applications for next fall.
“It is bittersweet to be leaving the University of Illinois this spring and embarking on to the next step in my career. I am incredibly proud of all the upcoming veterinary graduates, and current veterinary students, whom I have had the pleasure of working with for the past several years, and I’m excited to hear about all of their amazing accomplishments in the future across our diverse field,” says Cacioppo.
—Da Yeon Eom
