LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine

09/10/2026

Meet Our White Coat Ceremony Speaker!

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Tori Shamblin Lefevers, DVM, back to LMU-CVM as the featured speaker for our upcoming White Coat Ceremony!

A graduate of the Lincoln Memorial University-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Shamblin currently serves as a partner and Human Resources Manager at Shenandoah Veterinary Hospital in West Virginia. Her professional interests include preventative care, internal medicine, geriatric care, ultrasonography, surgery, and especially teaching.

Dr. Shamblin has a passion for helping the next generation of veterinarians succeed and credits LMU-CVM’s emphasis on communication skills as an important part of her own clinical practice.

From LMU-CVM student to practicing veterinarian, mentor, and now White Coat Ceremony speaker, we’re thrilled to welcome one of our own back to campus.

Join us as we celebrate the Class of 2029 and officially welcome them into the veterinary profession!

09/09/2026

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Nyla Bent, DVM ’22

We’re proud to celebrate LMU-CVM alumna Dr. Nyla Bent, who is making an impact in veterinary medicine as an internal medicine specialist at MSPCA-Angell in Boston.

Dr. Bent recently helped save the life of Zico, a 3-month-old Bernedoodle diagnosed with a severe case of leptospirosis that resulted in kidney failure. Working alongside her team, Dr. Bent utilized hemodialysis, an advanced treatment that helped give this young patient a second chance.

After intensive treatment and care, Zico is now back home—and back to being a happy, playful puppy.

Stories like Zico’s are a wonderful reminder of the knowledge, skill and compassion our graduates carry with them from LMU-CVM into their careers.

We’re proud to call Dr. Bent one of our own!

Read the full story from WWLP:
https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/massachusetts-vet-saves-bernedoodle-puppy-from-deadly-infection/

09/08/2026

LMU-CVM's Dr. Ashutosh Verma Awarded USDA Grant

Lincoln Memorial University-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to announce that Dr. Ashutosh Verma, Associate Dean of Basic Sciences and Research, has received a competitive USDA-NIFA AFRI equipment grant to support the acquisition of a LYNX 4000 Superspeed Centrifuge. This award will strengthen LMU-CVM’s research infrastructure and expand the College’s capacity to support high-quality studies in animal health, infectious diseases, and equine research. The addition of advanced shared instrumentation will also support collaborative research across disciplines and help position LMU-CVM investigators for increasingly competitive federal and extramural funding opportunities.

Continued investment in research infrastructure is an important component of building a sustainable and productive research enterprise, and this award represents another step forward in the growth of research capacity at LMU-CVM.

Congratulations to Dr. Verma on this important achievement and on his continued efforts to advance the College’s research mission.

09/06/2026

🐾🏅 A day of wagging tails, friendly competition and giving back!

The 5th Annual Tri-State Doggie Olympics brought together LMU veterinary students, the community, and their four-legged friends for a day of fun - all while raising money for local animal shelters.

Organized by Paws of Valor, SVECCS, and Hill’s Pet Nutrition, with support from student volunteers, this year’s event raised more than $3,000 for three local shelters:
🐶 Paws of SWVA (People For Animal Wellness and Safety of Southwest Virginia)
🐶 Bell County Animal Shelter
🐶 Claiborne County Animal Shelter

And for the first time, all three shelters joined us at the event, bringing their organizations into the celebration and seeing firsthand how much this event has grown.

From paw-print painting and obedience competitions, to the beginner and advanced agility courses, there was something for every pup.

The event also featured local vendors, pet photography, food, and plenty of opportunities for students and community members to come together… including a special addition this year: LMU-DCOM!

Bringing veterinary and human medicine students together reflects the spirit of One Health - recognizing that the health of animals, people, and our communities are all connected.

A huge thank-you goes to the student organizers, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, animal shelters, LMU staff, and everyone who came out to support the event.

Special thanks to Hill’s Pet Nutrition, whose generous sponsorship helped provide event T-shirts and food from Adorno’s food truck for our veterinary students.

What started five years ago as a student-led fundraiser continues to grow, and this year’s record-breaking fundraising total is proof of what can happen when LMU and our community come together for a good cause.

We can’t wait to see what next year brings! 🐾

09/04/2026

08/28/2026

Nominations are now open for the 2026 LMU-CVM Alumni Awards! 🏆

Do you know an LMU-CVM graduate who is making a meaningful impact in veterinary medicine or veterinary medical technology?

Each year, the Lincoln Memorial University-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine celebrates graduates who have demonstrated professional achievement and meaningful contributions to their field through three alumni awards:

🔹Jason Johnson Early Career Achievement in Veterinary Medicine Award - Recognizing an LMU DVM graduate within 10 years of graduation who has demonstrated noteworthy professional achievement.

🔹Mary Hatfield Early Career Achievement in Veterinary Medical Technology Award - Recognizing an LMU VMT graduate within 10 years of graduation who has demonstrated noteworthy professional achievement.

🔹Randy Evans Veterinary Medical Technology Merit Award - Recognizing an LMU VMT graduate more than 10 years post-graduation who has demonstrated significant professional impact.

Think about the LMU-CVM graduates you’ve worked with, taught, mentored, or simply had the opportunity to know. Who is making a difference? Who is advancing their profession? Who deserves to be celebrated?

Last year's honorees, Dr. Megan Preston (pictured here), Jena West, and Candace Bean, represent the kind of professional excellence and dedication these awards are designed to celebrate.

Nominate a deserving LMU-CVM graduate by Friday, September 11th, 2026.

👉 Learn more about the awards and submit a nomination:
https://www.lmunet.edu/college-of-veterinary-medicine/about-cvm/alumni/alumni-awards

Award recipients will be recognized during the LMU-CVM Homecoming Continuing Education luncheon on Saturday, October 10th, 2026.

08/21/2026

We are incredibly grateful to the Yarbrough Family Foundation for investing in our students and helping LMU-CVM shape the future of veterinary medicine.

This is more than new technology. It’s a new approach to how we prepare the next generation of veterinarians.

With 13 high-resolution ultrasound systems integrated throughout the curriculum, our students will have repeated opportunities to build the skills, confidence and clinical experience they need to use point-of-care diagnostic imaging from day one in practice.

Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) will transform the way future veterinarians learn diagnostic imaging through a new Veterinary Ultrasonography Education Initiative made possible by a $500,000 gift from the Yarbrough Family Foundation. The initiative will establish a fully integrated diagnostic training environment within the Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM), giving every student hands-on experience with advanced ultrasound technology before entering clinical practice.

(Full Article Link in Comments)

08/18/2026

Before earning his DVM, Connor Mesler is already helping advance scientific knowledge.

A 2023 LMU Veterinary Health Science graduate and current LMU-CVM student, Mesler recently became the first author of a peer-reviewed publication detailing a previously undocumented parasitic infection in birds. It's the kind of hands-on research experience that empowers LMU students to make a real impact.

08/15/2026

We’re proud to give back to the schools and families in our local community! Thank you to everyone who contributed to our school supply drive and helped us make a difference. 📚💙

Thank you to LMU’s College of Veterinary Medicine for their generous donation of school supplies! ✏️📓

08/10/2026

Find your people. Find your passion. Get involved! 🐾

Our newest DVM students recently had the opportunity to connect, explore, and learn more about the many student clubs and organizations available at LMU-CVM during our CVM Meet & Greet!

From professional and special-interest organizations to groups centered around service, leadership, wellness, and community, there are so many ways for our students to get involved beyond the classroom.