In the competitive world of veterinary medicine, Saumya Gade is carving a unique path as a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia. She is in the Comparative Biomedical Sciences graduate program through the College of Veterinary Medicine. Recently honored with the Doctoral Fellows Award, Gade expressed immense gratitude for the financial support, especially given the award’s competitive nature. “I was shocked and honored to receive it,” she recalls, emphasizing the significant impact it has on her graduate journey.
Currently, Gade is a key member of the SMART Translational Medicine Lab, where she researches patient-derived organoid models of various cancers in canines and other domestic species. Employing a One Health approach, this research aims to enhance therapeutic testing and preclinical models for both humans and animals, ultimately reducing reliance on traditional laboratory animal models.
(photos courtesy of Saumya Gade)
Reflecting on her academic career, Gade credits several remarkable mentors at UGA. “Dr. Karin Allenspach and Dr. Jonathan Mochel have been incredible guides,” she notes, along with faculty from the One Health Certificate program during her undergraduate degree. The skills and insights gained from Dr. Paige Carmichael, Dr. Christopher Cleveland, and Dr. Shannon Hostetter have been pivotal in shaping her expertise.
Having started her journey at UGA as an undergraduate, Gade was drawn to continue in the College of Veterinary Medicine due to the supportive faculty and the invaluable clinical and research training offered through the DVM-Ph.D. program. “The program’s One Health focus aligns perfectly with my aspirations in veterinary pathology,” she explains.
Initially, Gade did not always plan on a research career. “I planned to go into private practice as a veterinarian,” she shares. However, experiences in research at UGA sparked a newfound passion for veterinary pathology.
Highlighting the importance of balance in her rigorous academic life, Gade enjoys spending time in the Trial Gardens or observing the turtle pond on south campus. “Being surrounded by flowers and nature is always invigorating,” she says.
