VIRRS Awards

The Gerald V. Ling Veterinary Intern and Resident Research Symposium (VIRRS) is held every spring at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. This day-long event features short presentations of research findings from house officers (resident, fellow and intern) to fellow house officers, faculty, staff, students, and guests. VIRRS Awards are given in these six categories:

  • Gerald V. Ling Award (for best overall presentation)
  • Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #1
  • Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #2
  • Chris Smith Award for Outstanding Equine Research Study and Presentation
  • Outstanding Large Animal Research Study and Presentation Award
  • Outstanding Avian, Exotics, Laboratory Animal or Poultry Research Study and Presentation Award
Lehman with award

Mallory Lehman, 2024

Gerald V. Ling Award

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  • Previous Gerald V. Ling Award Recipients
  • 2023    Nicole Yang
    2022    Angela Gorney
    2021    Flavio Alonso
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Weihow Hsue
    2018    Anna Massie
    2017    Kate Farrell
    2016    Kerriann Casey
    2015    Kenneth (Tomo) Wiggans
    2014    Andrew Burton
    2013    Daniel Dugger
    2012    Winnie Ybarra
    2011    Debra Tokarz
    2010    Jason King
    2009    Cecilia Villaverde
    2008    Jennifer Luff
    2007    Ira Gordon
    2006    Gabriella Sfiligoi
    2005    Jill Pomrantz
    2004    Liberty Rasor
    2003    Steven Suter
    (first year of award)

Cosaro with award

Emma Cosaro, 2024

Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #1

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  • Previous Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #1 Recipients
  • 2023    Trey Callahan
    2022    Jennifer Chan
    2021    Emmelyn Hsieh
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Ehren McLarty
    2018    Sydney Edwards
    2017    Catherine Belanger
    2016    Ingrid Balsa
    2015    Jessie Sutton
    2014    Brian Leonard
    2013    Katherine Hansen
    2012    Natasha Vapniarsky
    2011    Allyson Groth
    2010    Sara Frazier
    2009    Joshua Eaton
    2008    Anna Paling
    2007    Christine Lim
    2006    Jaromir Benak
    2005    Brad Holmberg
    2004    Celeste Roy
    2003    Kate Hurley
    2002    Kevin Mallery
    2001    Jonathan Werner
    2000    Christopher Adin
    1999    Catherine Outerbridge
    1998    Christopher Adin
    1997    Carol Norris
    1996    Theresa Orgeta
    1995    Denise Elliott
    1994    Ross Lirtzman
    1993    Jon Whitehair

Moeller with award

Courtney Moeller, 2024

Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #2

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  • Previous Outstanding Small Animal Research Study and Presentation Award #2 Recipients
  • 2023    Shirley Kot
    2022    Marcela Machado
    2021    Craig Sutter
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Izumi Toyoda
    2018    Jenna Winer
    2017    Chai-Fei Li
    2016    Daneille Zwueste
    2015    Mikaela Mueller
    2014    Bing Yun Zhu
    2013    Jonathan Stockman
    2012    Ana Nemec
    2011    Ann-Marie Della Maggiore
    2010    Sara Thomasy
    2009    Christine Wu
    2008    Todd Cohen
    2007    Joao Orvalho
    2006    Erin Romansik
    2005    Joseph Vida
    2004    Sarah Miller
    2003    (Two awards were given in Exotics/Lab)
    2002    Seth Wallack
    2001    Kristin MacDonald
    2000    Aaron Wey
    (first year of this award)

Saldinger

Laurel Saldinger, 2024

Chris Smith Award for Outstanding Equine Research Study and Presentation

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  • Previous Chris Smith Award for Outstanding Equine Research Study and Presentation Recipients
  • 2023    Camilla Quattrini
    2022    Tom Bergstrom
    2021    Stefanie Arndt
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Lisa Edwards
    2018    Amy Norvall
    2017    Fauna Smith
    2016    Jacqueline Tanner
    2015    Camilla Scott
    2014    James Prutton
    2013    Tatiana Ferreira
    2012    Sarah Gray
    2011    Tiffany Sarrafian
    2010    Joan Palmero
    2009    Hugo Hilton
    2008    Hugo Hilton
    2007    Jonathan Anderson
    2006    Susanne Dykgraaf
    2005    Betsy Vaughan
    2004    Jennifer Collins
    2003    Margaret Mudge
    2002    Sarah le Jeune
    2001    Carter Judy
    2000    Bonnie Wright
    1999    Christine Smith
    1998    Cheryl Rahl
    1997    Gary Magdesian
    1996    Catherine Renaudin
    1995    Shane Miller
    1994    Lynn Rodger
    1993    Laurie McDuffee

Streb with award

Leah Streb, 2024

Outstanding Large Animal Research Study and Presentation Award

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  • Previous Outstanding Large Animal Research Study and Presentation Award Recipients
  • 2023    Martin Breen
    2022    Cileah Kretsch
    2021    David Sheedy
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Andrew Willis
    2018    Callum Donnelly
    2017    Lisa Gamsjaeger
    2016    Christie Balcomb
    2015    Gabriele Maier
    2014    Kris Flores
    2013    Gema Vidal
    2012    Isabelle Kilcoyne
    2011    Alistair Kenyon
    2010    Tara Marmulak
    2009    Joao Lima
    2008    Elizabeth Doré
    2007    Carrie Finno
    2006    Windy Harless
    2005    Sarah Puchalski
    2004    Ricardo Chebel
    2003    Miram Horowitz
    2002    Michael Fry
    2001    Nicola Pusterla
    2000    Meri Stratton-Phelps
    1999    Jose Santos
    1998    Erica Dueger
    1997    Kim Sprayberry
    1996    Pam Hullinger
    1995    Stephen Angelos
    1994    Laurie McDuffee
    1993    Renee Golenz

Story with award

Brett Story, 2024

Outstanding Avian, Exotics, Laboratory Animal or Poultry Research Study and Presentation Award

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  • Previous Outstanding Avian, Exotics, Laboratory Animal or Poultry Research Study and Presentation Award Recipients
  • 2023    Sara Adelman
    2022    Hali Jungers
    2021    Eric Littman
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Andrea Moffitt
    2018    Christine Parker-Graham
    2017    Mary Thurber
    2016    Noemie Summa
    2015    Andrew Haertel
    2014    Krista Keller
    2013    Matt Kinney
    2012    Kate Freeman
    2011    Jonathan Stockman
    2010    Kristi Kelly
    2009    Torrie Crabbs
    2008    Tracy Peterson
    2007    Denise Imai
    2006    Julio Mercado
    2005    Timothy Affolter
    2004    Tanja Zabka
    2003    Fon Chang
    2002    Martin Busch, Franz Sommer
    2001    Shannon Ferrell
    2000    Keith Benson
    1999    Judy St. Ledger
    1998    Kari Christe
    1997    Lisa Harrenstien
    1996    Mary Denver

  • Previous Jeeves Special Grand Prize Award Recipients

  • From 2018-22, the Jeeves Special Grand Prize Award was given to the best overall presentation. In 2023, the Jeeves Award was discontinued, and the Gerald V. Ling Award transitioned from being the third small animal award to the best overall presentation award.

    2022    Zach Tuner
    2021    Kelly Ramsay, Samantha Darling
    2020    VIRRS was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. No awards were given.
    2019    Krystle Reagan
    2018    Sebastian Carrasco