Gettin’ Piggy with It
“I think there is a lot we can learn from pigs,” says Rachel Kanefsky, V24 (she/her), a third-year student at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. “I spent my summer focusing on swine influenza and learned a lot about the disease process and how much human interaction with swine is important to public health.”
Kanefsky earned a double bachelor’s degree in dairy science and animal and poultry science with an emphasis in swine from Virginia Tech. Apparently not intimidated by a challenge, she is one of few Cummings School students pursuing food animal medicine, and nearing completion of the DVM/Master of Public Health dual degree program.
“It has been difficult,” she admits. “Vet school is not for the weak.” With an interest in food, animal, and public health, Kanefsky realizes she is among many individuals who want to go into the small animal field, so she has searched for every opportunity to gain a wide variety of experiences.
Last summer, Kanefsky conducted research with Dr. Bailey Arruda, a research veterinary medical officer–Influenza A with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and an associate professor at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She presented her findings, titled “Mucin 4 is a Marker of Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis in Influenza A Virus Infection,” in September at Cummings School’s Veterinary Research Day, where she earned a citation from the judges for one of the best presentations.
Encouraged by the recognition, Kanefsky entered an annual student research competition sponsored by the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV). Students submit their research in abstract form for grading and Kanefsky was selected among the top 15 for an oral presentation, which requires a 12-minute oral seminar that is judged by veterinarians in the field.
“I was shocked to be selected for an oral presentation because the type of work I did isn’t often recognized by the oral seminars,” she explains. “They need to see relevancy and I was presenting some hard bench histopathology.”
Kanefsky developed a slideshow and presented it at the AASV annual conference—the first Cummings School student to do so. She was one of four students to receive a $2,500 scholarship award, the second highest prize conferred. “It was a massive honor to present at the conference, and I’m floored by the recognition and scholarship,” she says.
After spending three months in Senegal as an undergrad working for 4H, she decided to apply to Cummings School. On campus, she has found a pathway to her future, supported by several mentors.
“Dr. Meera Gatlin, VG16, V16, [assistant teaching professor, Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health] has been an amazing leader for the MPH students and provides an example of how to do everything I want to do outside of school,” she explains. “And Dr. Arruda’s mentorship for this project taught me so much about the many challenges of science and how research really happens.”
Kanefsky is thankful for the support of several other strong, capable, and inspirational women, especially her mother. “My mom has always found a way to support me, whether it was a trip to Senegal or a drive to Iowa,” she says.
Her determination and achievement helped Kanefsky to land a position to begin after she graduates next spring. Kanefsky will serve the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as a Saul T. Wilson Scholar.
“I want to work in swine medicine and research because it has such a significant impact on human health, global economics, and food security while allowing me to work with amazing people and the cutest animals ever,” she shares. Beyond the USDA, Kanefsky thinks that completing a Ph.D. is a possibility in her future, but she’s eager to keep an open mind and see what’s next.