Kayla Fowler Wins Bente Flatland Resident Award

Kayla Fowler, resident in neurology/neurosurgery at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, has won the Bente Flatland Resident Award. 

The Bente Flatland Resident Award was started by Caroll Stephens and John Havran in honor of Bente Flatland, a resident in small animal medicine. In addition to her compassion for clients, Stephens and Havran were impressed with Flatland’s professional expertise during the difficult treatment of their dog and decided to endow a scholarship for other outstanding residents. As such, the Bente Flatland Resident Award is given to residents at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine who exhibit both exemplary scientific knowledge and special compassion when dealing with patients and pet owners. 

“I've heard others say that you go into veterinary medicine to avoid dealing with people — and I think that's the complete opposite. In veterinary medicine, you deal with pet owners just as often as the animals” said Fowler. 

Compassion and medicine go hand in hand for Fowler, who has formed bonds with clients and animals alike during her residency. 

“Neurology is very complex but very rewarding. You can see patients looking very bad from spinal cord or brain disease, but if you’re willing to put the time and work in, you can see some really great outcomes” said Fowler.

Fowler earned her DVM in 2018 from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine where she was taught clinical pathology by Bente Flatland. She is finishing her third and final year of residency, having recently defended a masters thesis that examined a neurofilament biomarker in dogs with epilepsy. After completing her certification in neurology, she will join a multispecialty small animal practice in Pennsylvania.

Written by Sarah Boudreau M.F.A. '21, a writer with the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine