Mar 07 2025 11 mins 1
The gastrointestinal microbiome represents the new frontier in veterinary medicine, with implications reaching far beyond digestive health. Dr. Rachel Pfeifle joins us to discuss her 2024 AJVR Resident Award-winning research examining how misoprostol affects the equine fecal microbiome—a study that elegantly bridges pharmacology with microbial ecology.
Rachel's research journey reflects the perfect blend of personal interest and mentor guidance, as she explains how her desire for clinically applicable research merged with her advisors' ongoing pharmacokinetic studies. The collaboration that followed involved specialists from multiple institutions, demonstrating how contemporary veterinary research increasingly requires diverse expertise to tackle complex questions.
What stands out most in our conversation is Rachel's emphasis on persistence through research challenges. Now a faculty member at the University of Georgia, she offers valuable advice to veterinary residents hoping to publish: develop the grit to weather inevitable setbacks and see projects through to completion. Her journey from resident to award winner to faculty researcher illustrates how recognition can fuel continued scientific curiosity and commitment.
We're proud to showcase exceptional early-career researchers like Rachel through our AVMA Journal Awards program, which recognizes outstanding student, intern, and resident authors. Want to support the next generation of veterinary researchers? Consider nominating a promising author for next year's awards by March 15th, 2025. You can read Rachel's groundbreaking manuscript in AJVR today and discover how microbiome research is transforming equine medicine.
2024 Journal Awards Nominee Research: 2024 Journal Awards Collection
Journal Award nomination instructions: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association | AVMA
AJVR Article: https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.22.09.0161
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