The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has presented its 2016 Lifetime Excellence in Research Award to Susan M. Stover, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, of the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine.

Stover, who received the award at the 2016 Merial-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, was recognized for her lifetime achievement in applied and clinical research, which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, predominantly in horses, but also in small animals.

“Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Stover has played a pivotal role in improving our understanding of performance-related injuries in racing horses,” said Joe Kinnarney, DVM, AVMA president. “She is an accomplished researcher whose work has been recognized across the globe and has had far-reaching effects across the veterinary profession.”

Stover’s research has substantially improved horse welfare, as evidenced by the industry-wide adoption of evidence-based recommendations to enhance racetrack surfaces, augmented training methods, and refined surgical treatments.

“Dr. Stover’s work spotlighting how fatal injuries develop in racing horses has led to changes in veterinary practice, to the racing industry in general and, ultimately, to new and sustained improvements in the welfare of performance horses,” said Roberto Alva, DVM, MS. PhD, executive director of the Merial Veterinary Scholars Program and head of Clinical R&D, Americas East. “Her dedication and commitment to this important research area make her an ideal recipient of this award.”

Stover is a professor of veterinary anatomy, director of the UC Davis J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, and member of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group. Her primary research focus is the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and biomechanics of repetitive overuse injuries in equine athletes. Her second research focus is silicate-associated osteoporosis in horses, a disease that involves both the lung and bone organ systems. Stover received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Washington State University, Pullman, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in comparative pathology from UC Davis.

Story originally posted here:  http://www.thehorse.com/articles/37934/stover-receives-avma-lifetime-excellence-in-research-award