Dozens of veterinary pathologists, trainees, and students attended the 42nd annual meeting of the Midwest Association of Veterinary Pathologists (MAVP), held at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine on August 24 and 25.
MAVP members include veterinary pathologists from academia, private industry, diagnostic laboratories, and training programs. Their annual meeting, hosted on a rotating basis by organizations across the Midwest, offers a chance for members to share cases, network, supplement training programs, and provide continuing education.
Focus on Oncopathology
The 2024 meeting marked the first time the University of Illinois served as host in more than 10 years. The meeting’s theme of oncopathology highlighted the outstanding cancer-related clinical and research activities across the Illinois campus. The College of Veterinary Medicine recently endowed two faculty members with named chairs in oncology. Its Veterinary Teaching Hospital is building a new wing devoted to cancer care and discovery, slated for completion in 2025.
The meeting started with keynote presentations from Dr. Rohit Bhargava, director of the Cancer Center at Illinois, and Dr. Joanna Schmit, a board-certified veterinary oncologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Next came 56 case presentations, of which 15 were presented by University of Illinois veterinary students, pathology residents, and faculty.
Hannah Vander Ploeg, a third-year veterinary student at Illinois, was one of the student presenters. “It was a great opportunity as a veterinary student to engage in public speaking and to present to a large group of pathologists and mentors,” she said.
Cases often included perspectives from both clinical pathology and anatomic pathology across numerous species, including dogs, cats, exotic animals, wildlife, pocket pets, production animals, and humans.
‘A Unique Opportunity to Network’
In addition to case presentations, attendees enjoyed networking and catching up with colleagues, mentors, classmates, and students during breaks, lunch, and an evening social.
Other institutions represented at the meeting included Iowa State University, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Tennessee, The Ohio State University, Colorado State University, Purdue University, Kansas State University, Indiana University, and Eli Lilly and Company.
“MAVP is one of my favorite meetings because the veterinary students and pathology trainees do an amazing job presenting and learning from really interesting cases,” said Miranda Vieson, DVM, PhD, DACVP, clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois and the moderator of the meeting.
“The meeting offers students and trainees a unique opportunity to network with other students and with professionals working in academia, diagnostics, and industry in a relaxed and encouraging environment.”
