UGA VetMed is grateful to generous donors who fund faculty studies advancing the practice of veterinary medicine.
Dr. Stephen Divers
Foundation Chair in Small Animal Studies
Divers serves on the Small Animal Medicine and Surgery and the Zoological Medicine services at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London with his Certificate and Diploma in Zoological Medicine from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and is a recognized Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of both the American and European Colleges of Zoological Medicine (Herpetology and Zoo Health Management).
Recognized internationally as a leader in developing minimally invasive endoscopic and endosurgery techniques for use in reptiles, birds, small mammals and fish, he has worked collaboratively with biologists and ecologists in the Galapagos Conservancy, LaVanille Nature Park Mauritius, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Army Corps of Engineers, as well as with veterinarians from Zoo Atlanta, The Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and Georgia Southern Raptor and Wildlife Center. The chair position will allow him to further his research into care of exotic animals.
“I was delighted to be awarded the Foundation Chair in Small Animal Studies,” Divers said.“In my two-plus decades at UGA I have been fortunate to be supported in developing numerous zoological medicine and research endeavors, specifically in diagnostic and surgical endoscopy. In addition to providing some relief from clinical duties to complete a number of research projects and publications, I am looking forward to sharing these developments nationally and internationally.”
Dr. Michelle Coleman
Dr. Steve Fisch Professor in Equine Medicine and Surgery
Coleman serves on the Large Animal Internal Medicine Service in the Large Animal Medicine Department of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. An alumna of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, Coleman returned to UGA to serve on the faculty after a decade at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Her research focus in Texas was on laminitis, a condition affecting the feet of horses, and the management of obesity as a risk factor for the condition.
“Being appointed to a chaired position in research is an honor that provides a unique opportunity to lead and inspire the next generation of veterinary trainees and graduate students, empowering them as clinician-scientists to drive innovation and discovery that advances the health and well-being of horses,” Coleman said. “Our work specifically focuses on the study of endocrine and respiratory diseases in horses, and I am committed to facilitating and supporting the ideas and contributions of these future leaders in veterinary medicine.”
Dr. Steve Fisch is an alumnus of CVM who made a substantial gift to the UGA Foundation to establish this equine professorship. Fisch founded the AVS Equine Hospital in Tallahassee, Fla., where he hosts UGA CVM students on externships in equine medicine and surgery.
Dr. Canaan Whitfield-Cargile
Crosswell Chair in Large Animal Medicine
Whitfield-Cargile is an associate professor of Large Animal Medicine at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. He is board-certified in both large animal surgery and equine sports medicine and rehabilitation, bringing more than 15 years of experience in equine surgery, clinical care, and translational research. He previously served as the Dr. Steve Fisch Professor in Equine Medicine and Surgery.
Whitfield-Cargile earned his DVM from UGA in 2006, followed by a residency in large animal surgery at Texas A&M University, where he later completed his Ph.D. in biomedical science. His clinical interests focus on advanced surgical techniques, gastrointestinal health, and the management of complex equine conditions, including dynamic upper airway disorders, orthopedic injuries, and gastrointestinal diseases.
His scholarly work integrates equine gastrointestinal health, host-microbiota interactions, wound healing, and the impacts of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) on the equine gut.
The Crosswell Chair was established by Nancy Laird Crosswell in 1994 to support large animal studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine. A competitive equestrian who contended for a spot on the 1960 U.S. Equestrian Team, Mrs. Crosswell became a trainer and owner of hunter-jumper horses in later life. In the 1990s, she experienced a comeback riding sidesaddle on Harvard Yard and winning two divisions at the 138th Annual Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Mrs. Crosswell died on Feb. 28, 2021.
Dr. Lisa K. Nolan, dean of the UGA CVM, said the generosity of such donors makes it possible for researchers at the CVM to advance veterinary medicine in meaningful ways.
“We appreciate the generosity and vision of the donors, who created these endowed positions,” Nolan said. “These positions will fuel the creativity of our clinician scientists, helping them develop improved approaches to animal care. For all of us that love animals, we cannot thank these donors enough for partnering with UGA CVM to support these outstanding faculty.”
