Welcome to the Herd: Vanessa Yang

“It was clear as early as the interview process that Cummings School [of Veterinary Medicine] was a warm and welcoming community,” professes Dr. Vanessa Yang (she/her) appointed in August as an assistant professor of veterinary ophthalmology in the Department of Clinical Sciences.

“I felt that I would be well-supported as a junior faculty member here. My husband, Joe Davis, did his residency here and he really enjoyed New England. We are excited to explore this area together.” Davis was recently appointed as a clinical assistant professor of large animal surgery at Cummings School.

Yang was drawn to the School’s opportunities to make an impact. “I love the clinical side of ophthalmology, helping patients and performing surgery, but I wanted to make a larger positive impact on veterinary medicine,” she says. “Being at an academic institution allows me to be more involved in training veterinarians and scientific research, which has the potential to reach a larger population of people and animals.”

Eager to make connections, Yang participated in the “Scaredy-Cat 5K” on campus this fall, sponsored by the student chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association, to help become more oriented to the campus. 

“I’m excited to get to know all my new colleagues, to make new friendships, to help teach the upcoming ophthalmology course for veterinary students, and to establish a productive research program,” she shares. “I’d also love to see more horses and Dr. [Stephanie] Pumphrey, V08, and I hope to start building our equine caseload in the Hospital for Large Animals.”

Yang holds a B.A. from the University of California Riverside, a D.V.M. from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, and completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.