The Anatomic Pathology Residency Program at the University of Minnesota is designed to provide broad exposure to basic and applied aspects of veterinary pathology and to prepare the trainee for a career in veterinary pathology and diagnostic medicine. Residents successfully completing the program are qualified to take the ACVP Board examination.
Pathology residents develop skills in gross pathology and histopathology by participating in a busy diagnostic laboratory service. These basic pathology skills are supplemented by training in clinical and comparative pathology, as well as population-based diagnostic medicine.
Residents also participate in pathology teaching for the veterinary student pathology laboratories and instruct senior veterinary students on necropsy rotations. Residents are expected to actively participate in weekly seminars in gross, microscopic, and clinical pathology; and other specialty pathology rounds.
Our faculty
A diverse faculty comprised of 12 ACVP certified anatomic or clinical pathologists and 6 production animal diagnosticians support this program.
Caseload
The caseload includes a wide variety of domestic, wild and exotic animals, and birds submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
Opportunities after completing the program
After completion of the residency program, qualified individuals may pursue focused research training leading to the PhD degree through the institution’s NIH-funded T32 post-doctoral training program in Comparative Medicine and Pathology.
Current residents
Steven Debrincat, BAnimSc, BVSc
Dr. Debrincat graduated with a bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne in 2009. While completing his degree, he also undertook a year of research at the Adelaide Zoo studying antioxidant capacities in a population of wild wombats and continued to volunteer at the zoo for a couple of years after completing his degree. He worked in Australia and abroad as a small animal practitioner in emergency and referral hospitals and also as a primary care clinician, before joining the University of Minnesota anatomic pathology residency program in July 2020. His interests include diagnostic pathology for companion animals and investigating wildlife health to aid in conservation.
Katie McDermott, DVM
Dr. Katie McDermott graduated from the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine in May 2021. Prior to veterinary school, Katie spent several years living and working on the premises of an exotic animal/ wildlife reserve in central Florida where she developed a deep interest in wildlife conservation, particularly of avian species. Her interest in the diseases of wild birds brought her to the University of Minnesota where she worked at The Raptor Center while completing her veterinary degree. Katie joined the University of Minnesota anatomic pathology residency program in July 2021 with plans of pursuing her interests in infectious diseases of wildlife and diagnostic pathology.
Hilary Ward, DVM, MPH
Dr. Hilary Ward attended the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine where she graduated in May of 2020. She will also completed her Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health. Prior to veterinary school, Dr. Ward worked as a Certified Veterinary Technician in small animal general practice and shelter medicine. She joined the University of Minnesota anatomic pathology program in July of 2020. Her professional interests include diagnostic and toxicologic pathology, infectious and foreign animal disease and production animal herd health management.
Caylie Hake, DVM
Dr. Caylie Hake graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2019 and began work as a primary and urgent care veterinarian in Pennsylvania. She moved to Minnesota in late 2020 and proceeded to explore an array of potential career pathways through relief and volunteer work, including small animal general practice, small animal emergency medicine, shelter medicine and surgery, and regulatory work with the West Virginia Racing Commission. She has always been interested in wildlife, and most recently completed an internship at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. Caylie joined the University of Minnesota anatomic pathology residency program in November 2022, and is looking forward to developing a greater understanding of disease processes in domestic and wild animals with goals of contributing to wildlife conservation and management research.