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MSU veterinary resident recognized for research
MISSISSIPPI STATE -- A Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary resident has received a national award for neurological research.
The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recently honored Dr. Maria Perez-Hernandez with the ACVIM Knecht Resident Award.
The Knecht award, named in memory of veterinary neurologist Dr. Charles Knecht, is given in recognition of outstanding research that advances veterinary neurology. Perez-Hernandez was awarded for the design, development and testing of an intracranial pressure bolt for use in veterinary patients.
Perez-Hernandez and her colleagues, including Dr. Andy Shores, clinical professor and chief of neurology/neurosurgery at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, developed a bolt to be used in the monitoring of intracranial pressure after an animal suffers a traumatic brain injury. Traditionally, human intracranial bolts are used when treating canine and feline patients, but they often become dislodged.
The MSU team has proposed a novel prototype design for an intracranial bolt that might be adequate for a variety of skull sizes.
“Veterinary patients have thinner skulls, and it is sometimes not possible for the bolt to stay in securely,” Perez-Hernandez said. “We’ve developed a new device that fits dog and cat skulls so that we could better monitor clients’ recovery from traumatic brain injuries and relieve pressure when necessary.”
Perez-Hernandez presented her findings at the ACVIM annual conference.
“I am so thankful for the neurology/neurosurgery team at MSU and the Bagley College of Engineering team, both of whom helped me with the project,” Perez-Hernandez said. “I am especially grateful Dr. Shores directed and supervised my research work. He knew Dr. Knecht personally and remembers him as a wonderful person as well as a great neurologist. It is a special honor for me to win this award.”
Perez-Hernandez earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 2007 at the Faculty Veterinary Medicine at the University of Murcia, Spain. After dedicating five years to small animal rehabilitation, she started a neurology/neurosurgery internship in 2012 and a neurology/neurosurgery residency at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She is certified in small animal physical therapy and animal chiropractic. She has authored a book in Spanish on small animal rehabilitation.
Contact: Karen Templeton, 662-325-1100
