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Cassie Wedd Receives
Mitchell A. Essey Veterinary Public Practice Scholarship
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The
Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine,
Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine (VMRCVM) is pleased to announce that Ms.
Catherine (Cassie) Wedd has been selected as the first
recipient of the Mitchell A. Essey Veterinary Public
Practice Scholarship.
Ms. Wedd was selected from a strong field of veterinary
students with remarkable backgrounds and experience in
epidemiology and public practice. Ms. Wedd is a dual
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Public
Health student, who also holds a degree in nursing.
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Ms. Wedd has worked in a wide range of public health arenas
including with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the Wyoming State Veterinary office in brucellosis
control, and by coordinating the first World Rabies Day Event at VMRCVM. She plans on continuing her career in public health with
interest in completing the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service
training.
Dr. Mitchell A. Essey received his DVM from Michigan State
University in 1953. He practiced veterinary medicine in Michigan
and Colorado before joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture
in the early 1960s. While working as a field veterinarian
conducting disease eradication activities in Colorado, Dr Essey
developed a keen interest in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium
bovis. He moved to California and earned a graduate degree in
epidemiology from the University of California’s College of
Veterinary Medicine at Davis, California and continued working
for USDA as the regional bovine tuberculosis epidemiologist. He
quickly developed special skills in identifying, tracing and
eradicating tuberculosis from cattle and elk herds and his
expertise was nationally recognized. He taught and mentored
federal and state veterinarians and epidemiologists throughout
the United States. He also presented and explained the United
States animal disease control methods to animal health officials
and veterinarians in several foreign countries.
Dr. Essey served as the National Tuberculosis Epidemiologist for
USDA’s National Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Program until
his retirement in 2002. During his long and distinguished career
Dr. Essey’s work contributed greatly to the dramatic reduction
in the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in the United States.
“We are honored and privileged to be able to award a scholarship
that is both a tribute to Dr. Essey and a continuation of his
lifelong commitment to public health and the development of
veterinarians” says Dr. Valerie Ragan, Director, Center for
Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, VMRCVM, “Dr. Essey
served as a mentor to many during his career and helped me
personally when I was a new USDA veterinarian, and now through
the generous contributions of the Essey family we can continue
his legacy. I know that Dr. Essey would have been proud that the
first recipient of the scholarship in his honor is Ms. Cassie
Wedd”
Donations in Dr. Essey’s memory will be greatly appreciated
and will help ensure the continuation of the scholarship. If you
wish to donate to this scholarship which has been established by
the Essey family, please
click here. |
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