The Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) hosts graduation and award ceremony, honoring the outstanding achievements of its 2024 graduating class

Press Release

New York, NY – June 28, 2024 – The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC), the world’s largest postgraduate veterinary teaching institution, honored its 60^th graduating class of veterinary interns and residents with a ceremony on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at The Alfred H. Caspary Auditorium at Rockefeller University. AMC is dedicated to training the next generation of veterinary leaders by providing high-quality postgraduate educational opportunities in clinical veterinary medicine. This year’s class included thirty veterinarians, three specialty interns, and twelve residents. 

“Congratulations to our 2024 graduates and their incredible accomplishments this past year,” said Helen M. Irving, RN, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of AMC. “Since 1963, AMC has proudly trained over 2,500 veterinarians through The Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Institute for Postgraduate Education. We are excited to continue to expand this network as these interns go on to become great leaders in their respective veterinary fields.” 

“On behalf of our entire hospital team, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our graduates,” said Katherine Quesenberry, Chief Medical Officer at AMC. “Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence have not only contributed to your personal growth but also to the advancement of veterinary medicine. As you embark on the next chapter of your professional journey, remember that the skills and knowledge you have gained here will serve as a strong foundation for your future success. We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments and confident that you will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and their owners.” 

AMC’s prestigious one-year Internship Program is designed to reinforce, extend, and refine clinical skills and enhance diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. Interns rotate through many of AMC’s 20+ specialties and services, working with a large and diverse caseload and a high level of support from AMC’s board-certified veterinary specialists. The graduates of AMC’s 60^th Internship Class are included here.  

Following a general internship year, The AMC Specialty Internship Program provides advanced training for veterinarians who elect to complete a one-year focused internship under the guidance of board-certified veterinarians in a particular specialty. The graduates of this year’s AMC Specialty Internship Program include Dr. Davia Kot, Avian & Exotic Pet Medicine, Dr. Jacqueline Fusco, Cardiology, and Dr. Daniela Leuthold, Oncology.  

AMC’s Residency Program is a focused, three-year course of study to prepare veterinarians for board certification and expertise in their chosen specialty. The program draws upon the expertise and knowledge of AMC’s specialists and its wealth of case materials for teaching and clinical investigation. AMC Residents conduct original research and benefit from participation at conferences, rounds, and seminars and partnerships with established research institutions, such as New York Hospital/Cornell University Medical College, The Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

The graduates of the AMC Residency Program are: 

• Dr. Atalie Delgado, Emergency & Critical Care 
• Dr. Theresa “TJ” Langlois, Emergency & Critical Care 
• Dr. Samantha Soltau, Diagnostic Imaging 
• Dr. Mariel Covo, Internal Medicine 
• Dr. Zoe Paige Greenfield, Internal Medicine 
• Dr. Jasmine Zaibek, Internal Medicine 
• Dr. Annalis Cigarroa, Neurology 
• Dr. Jennifer Grover, Oncology 
• Dr. Frank C. Tsai, Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation, and Integrative Medicine 
• Dr. Aparna Arun, Surgery 
• Dr. Emalee Marie Blumhagen, Surgery 
• Dr. Christina Fruehwald, Surgery 

At the 60^th Graduation Ceremony, AMC also presented several awards to recognize not only outstanding performance among postgraduate students but also the tremendous contributions of the faculty and hospital staff. 

Special awards and their recipients included:  

• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Licensed Veterinary Technician of the Year Award: Stephen Chan 
• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Veterinary Assistant of the Year Award: Jamie Hughes 
• Connie Leifer Resident Research Award: Christina Fruehwald 
• Clendenin J. “Mike” Ryan Memorial Award for Outstanding Teaching: Molly Pfeifer. Selected by a vote of the intern class, this award represents AMC’s dedication to postgraduate education and recognizes a current staff member who has excelled as an educator and role model to the Intern Class. 
• Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Outstanding Resident of the Year Award: TJ Langlois 
• Donald J. Bruckmann Award for Outstanding Intern of the Year: Ashley Hadala. Donald J. Bruckmann served as Chair of the AMC Board of Trustees. He was an avid and generous supporter of AMC’s research and teaching missions. This award is presented to an individual who demonstrates a combination of skill and clinical excellence as recognized by AMC Staff. 

For more information on AMC, visit www.amcny.org.  

About the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Hospital of New York City 

We are the world’s largest veterinary teaching hospital with NYC’s only level 1 trauma center. Our team of 130+ veterinarians work across over 20 specialties to provide world-class medical care, and we are here for pets and their families 24/7. We are proud to have served the people and pets of New York, and beyond, for over 110 years. More at: www.amcny.org. Follow on Instagram @amcny, on X @amcny, Facebook at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, LinkedIn, and YouTube @TheAnimalMedicalCenter.  

AMC Media Contacts: 

Shin-Jung Hong, ShinJung@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 617-413-7880 
Pia Fischetti, Pia@nicholaslence.com | Cell: 516-287-5815