Penn Vet Names Inaugural Cohort of Stamps VMD/VMD-PhD Fellows
Five students from the School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) have been selected as the School’s inaugural cohort of Stamps VMD/VMD-PhD Fellows, a prestigious scholarship initiative through the Stamps Scholars Program that recognizes exceptional veterinary students who exemplify leadership, academic excellence, and service. Penn Vet is one of the first graduate institutions selected to participate in the Stamps Scholars Program, signaling a notable expansion of the program’s impact beyond the undergraduate level.
Penn Vet’s Stamps VMD Fellows are:
Halle Avratin, VMD Class of 2030, majored in Animal Science at Cornell University. Throughout her undergraduate career, Avratin demonstrated a clear and focused commitment to veterinary medicine, particularly equine care. As a member of the Cornell University Equestrian Team, she won first place in the Open Flat Class B competition during the team’s third consecutive Ivy League Show Championship in 2024.
Vernard L. Hodges, VMD Class of 2030, majored in Biology at Morehouse College. While an undergraduate, Hodges conducted feline reproductive research at the Royal Veterinary College in London, exploring in vitro fertilization techniques to support the conservation of endangered big cat species.
The Stamps VMD-PhD Fellows are:
Namju Kim, VMD-PhD candidate, is a 2025 graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology. His academic interests span computational genomics, gene-regulation modeling, and veterinary science. With experience across leading medical and veterinary institutions, including Yonsei Song-Dang Institute for Cancer Research, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, his work investigates genotype-phenotype associations and translational applications in both human and animal health.
Caroline O’Rourke, VMD-PhD candidate, is a 2025 magna cum laude graduate of The College of New Jersey (CNJ), where she majored in Biology. O’Rourke is an emerging scientist whose research spans genetics, bioengineering, and biomechanics, including the effects of space radiation on bone health and the engineering of viscoelastic hydrogels for personalized medicine. At CNJ, she also served as a peer tutor in the biological and chemical sciences and was selected as a United Nations Millennium Fellow in recognition of her contributions to advancing global education initiatives.
Raegan Petch, VMD-PhD candidate, is a 2021 summa cum laude graduate of Colorado State University (CSU) with a BS in Microbiology. Her research interests include host-virus interactions, viral evolution, and zoonotic disease. She is currently working in the laboratory of Paul Bates, PhD, at the Perelman School of Medicine, developing and optimizing vaccine candidates to combat tick-borne viruses with high fatality rates. In addition to her research, Petch serves as a histology teaching assistant, mentoring first-year veterinary students. While at CSU, Petch investigated the spillover of feline leukemia virus from domestic cats to pumas in Susan VandeWoude’s lab.
“We are immensely grateful to the Stamps Scholars Program for their extraordinary investment in our students and in the future of veterinary medicine,” said Penn Vet’s Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Andrew M. Hoffman, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM. “This partnership empowers outstanding VMD and VMD-PhD combined degree students to pursue their boldest, most innovative ideas and career paths in clinical care, research, and public service without financial barriers. Stamps Fellows will not only thrive at Penn Vet but also advance animal and human health, thereby leading meaningful change worldwide. We are very proud to support their journey.”
Founded in 2006 by E. Roe Stamps and his late wife Penny, the Stamps Scholars Program partners with prominent colleges and universities to provide financial support and high-impact educational experiences that empower students with remarkable promise to pursue ambitious academic, research, and leadership goals.
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About Penn Vet
Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 30,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,300 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 22,400 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.