News

RUSVM Student Presents Green Sea Turtle Research

04/07/10

Kirsten Thomas stands next to her poster at the Morris Animal Foundation Conference in San Francisco, CA. (Photograph courtesy of Kirsten Thomas.)

In 2009, Kirsten Thomas became the first RUSVM student to become a Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) Student Scholar—an award that is only given to top veterinary students to conduct short-term animal health study projects. With the award, Kirsten received a MAF Veterinary Student Scholar Grant for the project entitled, "Measuring the effect of human interaction and feeding on green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Barbados."

As a result, this past February Kirsten had the opportunity to present her findings at the MAF Conference in San Francisco, CA. Kirsten conducted the field work in Barbados with the guidance of Dr. Kimberly Stewart (RUSVM), Dr. Julia Horrocks (University of the West Indies), and Dr. Terry Norton (Georgia Sea Turtle Center). She was also one of three veterinary students to be given the honor of speaking at a dinner attended by MAF donors and board members about her experience applying for the grant, her involvement with the project, and her experience as a student at RUSVM.

For more information about the Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholars Program, please visit: http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/professionals/veterinary-students.