pegasus press the official newsletter of the college of veterinary medicine at msu - AUGUST 2025

2025 Huddleston Rural Veterinary Scholarship Recipients Announced

Marley Thornton, of Raleigh; and James Neill, of McCarley; both of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 2029, have been named recipients of the 2025 Dr. Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinary Scholarship.

CVM Psychological services honored by national publication

Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Maggie Freeman-Bishop Office for Health and Wellness received the 2025 Excellence in Mental Health and Well-Being award from Insight Into Academia magazine.

Dean's Message

Dear Friends,

Firstly, I would like to extend a heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 winners of the Dr. Mac Huddleston Rural Veterinary Scholarship from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine class of 2029: Marley Thornton and James Neill. This scholarship, which pays full tuition and fees for all four years of veterinary school, was established by the Mississippi legislature in 2024. Students receiving the scholarship agree to spend at least four years working in a large or mixed animal practice in a rural area of Mississippi. Only two Huddleston scholarships are awarded each year. Marley and James should be applauded not only for earning this scholarship, but also for their dedication to their home state.

I would also like to announce that Dr. François-René Bertin has accepted the position of professor, research chair, and Director of the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center. This follows an international search for a leader of the new center.

Speaking of the new center, we will begin construction on this building and our new clinical facilities at the end of September. With funding provided by the state of Mississippi, the College is building a new farm animal hospital and outdoor cattle handling facility. These facilities support clinical services, as well as the Center for Rural Veterinary Practice. We will meet with the faculty and staff of the CVM later this month to provide more details on construction plans, and you can expect to see more in a future edition of Pegasus Press.

Finally, our Alumni Weekend is just around the corner (September 19-20), and it looks to be a wonderful event, so if you haven’t yet purchased your registration for the alumni events, you can do so by clicking here.

All the best,

Nicholas Frank, Dean

Our people: tina hay eichelberger

For Tina Hay Eichelberger, a lifelong love of animals led to a career that has taken her from hands-on veterinary practice to an integral role with Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine’s diagnostic labs in Pearl.

Dr. kelsie giles: pt for k9s

When you walk into the Animal Emergency & Referral Center in Flowood, you may spot a dog walking across balance beams, maneuvering through an obstacle course or even exercising on the underwater treadmill. This is the world of canine rehabilitation, and a key player is Dr. Kelsie Giles, a clinical instructor at Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the only certified canine physical therapist in the state of Mississippi.

Support the Vet School

We can't do the amazing work we do without support from people like you. To learn how you can ensure the College of Veterinary Medicine continues leading the way in animal care, public safety and research, please consider giving.

The Vet Med Cast

This month, on the "Vet Med Cast," Drs. Wendy Byrd and Seth Kettleman discuss an exciting procedure recently performed at the CVM, and we interview Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jack Smith.