Veterinary college welcomes new clinical assistant professor in Equine Field Services

Amy Santonastaso M.S. '16 recently joined the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine as a clinical assistant professor in the Equine Field Service.  

The Equine Field Service is housed within the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. It provides on-the-farm care to horses within a 35-mile radius of the college, offering emergency, routine, and preventative care. Services range from dental work to diagnostic and imaging services to specialized foal care.

In this position, Santonastaso will treat clients’ horses and guide students. She is particularly interested in treating and studying equine metabolic diseases.  

Santonastaso earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. After an internship at Texas A&M University, she completed her residency with the Equine Field Service. She earned her master's degree from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She then spent five years working as an associate veterinarian at Quakertown Veterinary Clinic in Quakertown, Pennsyvlania.

She is currently working toward a certification in equine acupuncture.  

“I’ve always wanted to get back into academia because I really like teaching, but I also like the collegiality and the collaborative atmosphere. I like the mindset of doing the best for the patient while advancing student learning and the future of veterinary medicine,” she said.

Santonastaso said she is excited to return to the beauty of Southwest Virginia and to the Equine Field Service. She added that she admires how the service involves students in the decision-making process and how students communicate with clients and get hands-on experience in the field.