Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine Theriogenology Program Receives Resident Support from AKC

For a third time since its association with the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Canine Health Foundation and the Theriogenology Foundation have funded a residency program in companion animal theriogenology.

In a recent announcement, the AKC has awarded a $100,000 grant to support a third residency in Auburn’s theriogenology program. Only two veterinary medicine theriogenology programs received this AKC grant, Auburn University and the University of Pennsylvania.

“This is a huge show of support for our program,” said Dr. Robyn Wilborn, who leads the small animal theriogenology program at the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital.

Theriogenology is the branch of veterinary medicine dedicated to reproduction, including the physiology and pathology of male and female reproductive systems and the clinical practice of veterinary obstetrics, gynecology and andrology. The AKC board of directors recognized an unmet need for additional veterinarians with knowledge in this field, and launched a competitive grants program to provide funding for veterinary residency programs providing specialty training in all aspects of companion animal reproductive medicine and surgery, clinical genetics and clinical practice related to male and female reproduction, obstetrics and neonatology.

“By training this next generation of veterinary specialists, we will provide increased clinical competency in the veterinarians serving companion animal owners and accelerate improvements in canine health and breeding programs,” said Dr. Charles F. Franz, executive director of the Theriogenology Foundation.

The theriogenology residency is a three-year program at Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Post-graduate doctors of veterinary medicine who want to specialize in reproduction compete for the positions, which exist among only a small number of veterinary education institutions.

As the world’s largest registry of purebred dogs, the AKC strives to advance the study, breeding, exhibiting and maintenance of purebred and purpose-bred dogs.

“Clinicians trained in reproductive medicine are critical to the health of our individual dogs and breeding programs,” said Mari-Beth O’Neill, AKC vice president of Sport Services and head of Veterinary Outreach.

“This is our third residency position funded by the AKC, and we are thrilled to be able to continue and grow the program with this tremendous support,” Dr. Wilborn said. “The training of theriogenology residents is a team effort and an interdisciplinary approach, and we are fortunate to have a dedicated team here at Auburn.”

Auburn investigators on this grant include Drs. Wilborn and Aime Johnson with the Department of Clinical Sciences; Dr. Xu Wang, Department of Pathobiology; and Drs. Craig Angle and Paul Waggoner, Canine Performance Sciences.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Sep 4 2018. Filed under Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.