Professor of Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Susan Stover is a professor of veterinary anatomy at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and director of the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory. One of the focuses of her wide-ranging research is musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses, particularly catastrophic breakdowns. Her identification of risk factors has resulted in improved early detection and changes to horse training and surgical repair methods.
Dr. Stover earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Washington State University in 1976. She then completed an internship and residency in equine surgery at UC Davis. After working in private practice in Washington State, she returned to UC Davis where she became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. In 1987, she earned her Ph.D. in comparative pathology, doing orthopedic research into dorsal metacarpal disease in Thoroughbred racehorses, colloquially known as “bucked shins”.
In 2013, UC Davis honored her with the 2013 Alumni Achievement Award “for her contributions to veterinary orthopedic research, particularly toward understanding musculoskeletal injuries of racing horses and improving racetrack safety.” In 2014, she received a Founders Award from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) in recognition of her wide-ranging orthopedic research, from studies of equine and small animal surgery, to basic bone biology, musculoskeletal diseases and human orthopedics. On July 30, 2016, Stover received the Lifetime Excellence in Research Award from the American Veterinary Medical Association. In August 2016, she was selected for induction into the University of Kentucky Equine Research Hall of Fame.
Dr. Stover has over 200 research publications. Dr. Stover had provided clinical training to 26 ACVS residents, was a research advisor for 37 ACVS residents and was an orthopedic research supervisor of 79 graduate academic and 36 DVM students. Of her trainees, 29 went on to hold faculty positions.