Fourth-year School of Veterinary Medicine student Camille Ogdon won first place in the student case presentation category at the Society for Theriogenology (SFT) / American College of Theriogenologists (ACT) annual conference held July 21-24 in Omaha, NE.
The clinical case, “Vulvar discharge associated with exogenous estrogen exposure in a spayed Weimaraner bitch,” presented by Ms. Ogdon, with assistance and mentorship from SVM associate professors Drs. Francesca Ivaldi and Firdous Khan, won against students from renowned schools across the United States.
“It is a huge honor just to be able to attend and participate on behalf of SGU,” Ms. Ogdon said. “Winning the competition has greatly increased my confidence as a professional and inspires me to continue to reach for the stars with my career.”
“Having worked closely with Camille while she served as the president of SGU Student Chapter of the Society for Theriogenology, I have always seen her as a future leader in this field, and her winning the case competition has further solidified that belief,” added Dr. Khan, who is also the faculty advisor for SGU’s chapter. “As her SFT mentor, I couldn’t be prouder of this amazing accomplishment.”
Ms. Ogdon has been an active member of SGU’s student chapter of the SFT for several terms and has also served as its chair. The event provided her with an opportunity to learn from and interact with theriogenologists and veterinary students from other veterinary schools, according to Dr. Khan.
“The exercise of critically evaluating clinical case findings, scientific writing, and case presentation that Camille went through puts her a step ahead of her peers,” he said. “In addition to continued education and professional development, participation in such conferences creates great networking opportunities.”
Ms. Ogdon won $650 for taking first place in the competition as well as a travel grant of $450 from the SFT. Along with her love for theriogenology, Ms. Ogdon has a passion for radiology and hopes to obtain a residency in that field. She expects to graduate from SGU next June upon completing her clinical year at Oregon State University.
“Theriogenology and radiology can overlap, and this presentation was a stepping stone that has helped me to hone the skills needed to chase my dreams of a residency,” she said.
The Society for Theriogenology is a worldwide association of veterinary professionals with a special interest in animal reproduction. This interest encompasses clinical practice in a variety of domestic and exotic species, teaching of veterinary students and research in multiple areas and disciplines.
– Laurie Chartorynsky
