Director's Message - Summer 2023
To say that it is an honor to know and work with Dr. Sue Stover would be an understatement. She is a world-renowned expert on equine orthopedics and musculoskeletal injuries and has made significant contributions to these fields over the years. It has been a privilege to witness the breadth of her research program and all that she has accomplished during her career.
Dr. Stover was the Frank J. Milne State of the Art Lecturer at the 2022 American Association of Equine Practitioners Annual Convention, one of the highest honors bestowed on equine veterinarians. Her presentation highlighted her research on racetrack surfaces, as well as her work to understand fractures and catastrophic injuries in racehorses and sport horses, with a focus on providing knowledge to improve equine welfare. We have captured some of the important points from Dr. Stover’s lecture to share with you in this issue.
In addition to being a legendary researcher, Dr. Stover has trained an impressive list of clinicians and researchers who have made their own significant marks in the world of equine veterinary medicine. Her passion and dedication have set an extraordinary example for all of her mentees, especially the women that have chosen careers in equine research.
I am grateful to Dr. Stover for stetting the bar and the standard as high as she did. We can all aim to reach that level with our research and hope to come somewhere close to following her example.
Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Stover, and thank you for all that you have done to advance equine veterinary knowledge!
Best wishes,
Featured In This Issue
Susan Stover, DVM, PhD, DACVS is a professor in the Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences and director of the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory (VORL). After earning her veterinary degree at Washington State University and working in private practice, she completed a surgical residency at UC Davis and a PhD in comparative pathology. She is internationally recognized for her research on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and biomechanics of repetitive, overuse injuries in equine athletes.
Her wide-ranging research in musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses has contributed to knowledge on detection and prevention of catastrophic breakdowns. She is currently the chair of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) Racetrack Safety Standing Committee.
Dr. Stover’s celebrated career has been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Lifetime Excellence in Research Award, a Founders Award from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and induction into the University of Kentucky Equine Research Hall of Fame.