Vanna Dickerson
Associate Professor
Soft Tissue & Minimally Invasive Surgery
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences
TAMU Mailstop: 4474
Research and Scholarly Interests
Soft Tissue Surgery:
- Oncologic Surgery
- Feline Surgery
- Urinary and Respiratory Tract Surgery
Biography
"Dr. Vanna Dickerson is originally from Georgia, where she began her veterinary career working as an assistant at a local general practice for nearly 10 years. After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of North Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia for veterinary school and graduated in 2013. She then completed a small animal rotating internship at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC. She returned to the University of Georgia for a research fellowship and completed a master's in veterinary biomedical sciences, followed by a surgical residency. She is currently an associate professor of small animal soft tissue and minimally invasive surgery at Texas A&M University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, where she has worked since completing residency in 2019. She has a passion for all things soft tissue surgery, particularly feline surgery, surgical oncology, and wounds. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, snuggling her cats, and audiobooks."
Education
Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Small Animal Surgery, 2020
University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine | Athens, GA
Small Animal Surgery Residency, 2019
University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine | Athens, GA
Master of Science in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, 2016
Friendship Hospital for Animals | Washington, DC
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Rotating Internship, 2014
University of Georgia, College of Veterinary Medicine | Athens, GA
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 2013
University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, GA
Bachelor of Science in Biology, 2008
Licensure
- Louisiana Veterinary Licensing Board, Veterinary License – active
- Iowa Veterinary Licensing Board, Veterinary License – active
- Texas Veterinary Licensing Board, Veterinary License - 16077
Honors & Awards
| Award/Honor | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Second Place Post-Doctoral Oral Presentation | University of Georgia Symposium | 2014 |
| Senior Student Award | American Association of Feline Practitioners | 2013 |
| Rocky Horton Scholarship | 2012 | |
| Outstanding Contribution Award | Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association | 2011 |
| Sawnee Mountain Kennel Club Scholarship | 2011 |
Professional Organizations
- Veterinary Society of Soft Tissue Surgery – 2018-present
- Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology – 2018-present
- Veterinary Wound Management Society, President-Elect – 2020-present
- American Association of Feline Practitioners – 2019-present
- Texas Veterinary Medical Association – 2020-present
- American Veterinary Medical Association – 2013-present
Select courses taught in:
- VSCS 960, Career-Focus Track II: Companion Animal (3VM)
- VSCS 957, Small Animal Diagnostics and Therapeutics II (3VM)
- VSCS 932, Principles of Surgery (2VM)
I work closely with and am involved in the training of several small animal surgery residents, interns, and students on a daily basis.
Watt M (TAMU Surgery Resident), Bilof J, Ida K, Jeffery N, Dickerson V*. Skin perfusion decreases after dexmedetomidine administration in dogs but remains stable for up to 60 minutes of general anesthesia. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2025;May:1-6. Online ahead of print: doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.02.0057.
Westmoreland C (TAMU 2VM), Lawhon S, Wu J, Jeffery N, Dickerson V*. Subcutaneous lavage at a volume of at least 2.5 ml/cm reduces microbial growth in a subcutaneous lavage model. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2025;May:1-5. Online ahead of print: doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.01.0030.
Hansen G (TAMU 2VM), Bilof J, Watt M, Jeffery N, Dickerson V*. Application of an ice pack to healthy canine skin decreases skin perfusion. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2025;Apr:1-5. Online ahead of print: doi: 10.2460/ajvr.25.01.0023.
Hill M (TAMU Rotating Intern), Lepiz M, Ida K, Rutter C, Thieman K, Dickerson V*. Implementation of a standard perioperative protocol reduces postoperative respiratory distress events in dogs undergoing surgical correction of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2025; 263(5): 590-598.
Hollenbeck D (TAMU Surgery Resident), Knue J (TAMU 4VM), Simon B, Jeffery N, Thieman Mankin K, Dickerson V*. Use of peri-incisional liposomal bupivacaine was not different than placebo regarding pain score or rescue analgesia in a randomized clinical trial of 83 dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 2025; 262(4): 521-527.
Zong P, Dickerson V, Fajt V, Gould E, Droog M, Thieman K. Serum amikacin concentrations in dogs with naturally occurring open wounds treated with topical amikacin in carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel. Veterinary Surgery 2025; 54(3):453-460.
Rein G (TAMU Rotating Intern), Voges A, Snipes M, Frey K, Sombrio M, Schmiedt C, Dickerson V*. Dogs and cats with prepubic hernia often have concurrent injuries and good short term outcome. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2024; 263(4):1-9. Doi: 10.2460/javma.24.09.0593.
Hillier T (TAMU Rotating Intern), Watt M, Grimes J, Berg A, Heinz J, Dickerson V*. Dogs receiving COX-2 selective NSAIDs and/or non-physiologic steroids at recommended doses are at risk of severe gastrointestinal ulceration. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2024; 263(3):1-8.
Lourenco B, Brown S, Brown C, Rissi D, Dickerson V, Schmiedt CW. Development of a feline model of tubulointerstitial fibrosis using transient unilateral renal ischemia and delayed contralateral nephrectomy. Comparative Medicine, 2024; 74(4):274-283.
Carillo A (TAMU Rotating Intern), McCord M (TAMU 3VM), Dickerson V*. Clinical features and outcomes of dogs with attempted medical management for discrete gastrointestinal foreign material: 68 cases (2018-2023). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2024; 262(9):1251-1258.
McAlexander H (TAMU Surgery Resident), Grimes J, Ullman S, Lai G, Davis M, Darrow B, Dickerson V*. Diagnostic and surgical treatment for traumatic bile peritonitis in dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2024; 262(7):1-6.
Hollenbeck D (TAMU Surgery Resident), Simon B, Scallan E, Thieman-Mankin K, Miller D, Dunn A, Dickerson V*. Sedation with dexmedetomidine decreases skin perfusion in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2023; 84(12):online.
Traverson M, Zheng J, Tremolada G, Chen C, Culp W, Gibson E, Oblak M, Dickerson V, Lopez D, Maxwell E, Ansellem P, Skinner O, Selmic L. Adrenal tumors treated by adrenalectomy following spontaneous rupture carry an overall favorable prognosis: retrospective evaluation of outcomes in 59 dogs and 3 cats (2000-2021). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2023; 261(12):1-9.
Dickerson V, Poses B (TAMU 4VM), Hyndman P, McPhetridge J, Scharf V, Matz B, Singh A, Grimes J. Outcome in 38 dogs surgically treated for hepatic abscessation. Veterinary Surgery, 2023; 52(1):127-133.
Sterman A (TAMU Surgery Resident), Dickerson V*, Voges A, Milliron S, Wiener D, Thieman Mankin K. Carotid pseudoaneurysm in a kitten after accidental puncture with a needle. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports, 2022; 8(2):online.
Wallace ML, Grimes JA, Edwards L, Lux C, Tam C (TAMU Rotating Intern), Dickerson V*, Carroll KA, Scharf VF, Colberg V, Kudej R, Otomo A, Singh A, Miller A, Regier P, Curcillo C, Holt D, Ogden J, Arai S, Upchurch D, Eicher L, Howard J, Hardie R, Zellner E, Milovancev M, Bennett B, Heape N, Matz B, Schmiedt CW. Dogs >5 years of age at the time of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt diagnosis have better long-term outcomes with surgical attenuation than with medical management alone. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2022; 260(7):758-764.
Billas A, Grimes J, Hollenbeck D (TAMU Resident), Dickerson V*, Wallace M, Schmiedt CW. Incidence of and risk factors for surgical site infection following canine limb amputation. Veterinary Surgery, 2022; 51(3):418-425.
Enright D (TAMU Rotating Intern), Dickerson V*, Grimes J, Townsend S, Thieman Mankin K. Short- and long-term survival after adrenalectomy in 53 dogs with pheochromocytomas with or without alpha-blocker therapy. Veterinary Surgery, 2022; 51(3):438-446.
Tam C (TAMU Rotating Intern), Dickerson V, Vallone J, Thieman Mankin K. Traumatic rectovesicular fistula in a dog. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2022; 58:309-313.
Stokes R, Coleman M, Rogovskyy A, Dickerson V, Thieman Mankin K. Comparison of bacteriologic culture results for skin wound swabs and skin wound biopsy specimens. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2021; 259(12):1416-1421.
Thieman Mankin K, Cornell K, Peycke L, Dickerson V, Scallan E. Adaptation of a hands-on veterinary surgical training course during a global pandemic. Veterinary Surgery, 2021; 50(3):494-506.
Dickerson V, Ruby J, Grimes J. What’s Your Diagnosis? Chronic ectopic ureter in a male dog. In press, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2022; 260(11):1294-1296.
Dickerson V, Dillard C, Grimes J, Wallace M, McAnulty J, Schmiedt CW. Dorsal offset wedge resection rhinoplasty for treatment of stenotic nares in 34 brachycephalic dogs. Veterinary Surgery, 2020; 49(8):1497-1502.
Dickerson V, Grimes J, Hill T, Bartges J, Schmiedt CW. Management of a feline urethral tear with porcine small intestinal submucosa augmented urethroplasty and balloon dilation for subsequent stricture. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2021; 258(2):186-191.
Berns C, Schmiedt CW, Dickerson V, Murphy S. Single pedicle advancement flap for treatment of feline stenotic nares: description of technique and results in 5 cases. Accepted by the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery in February 2020.
Dickerson V, Grimes J, Hill T, Bartges J, Schmiedt CW. Management of a feline urethral tear with porcine small intestinal submucosa augmented urethroplasty and balloon dilation for subsequent stricture. Accepted by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in December 2019.
Prudic R, Wallace M, Bartges J, McLear P, Dickerson V, Perez-Ramirez G. Lateral rhinotomy and bipolar radiofrequency ablation treatment of a nasal hamartoma in a dog. Accepted to the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association in April 2019.
Dickerson V, Grimes J, Secrest S, Wallace M, Schmiedt CW. Effect of thoracic duct ligation combined with cisterna chyli ablation on abdominal lymphatic drainage in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2019;80(9): 885-890.
Brown C, Rissi D, Dickerson V, Davis A, Brown S, Schmiedt CW. Chronic renal changes after a single ischemic event in an experimental model of feline chronic kidney disease. Veterinary Pathology, 2019;56(4):536-543.
Dickerson V, Grimes J, Vetter A, Colopy S, Duval J, Northrup N, Schmiedt CW. Outcome following cosmetic nasal reconstruction after nasal planectomy in 26 dogs. Veterinary Surgery, 2019;48(1):64-69.
Dickerson V, Wallace M, Grimes J. The Neutering Controversy: Understanding Data on Hormones, Behavior, and Neoplasia. Today’s Veterinary Practice, May/June 2018 Issue, Volume 8, Number 3.
Dickerson V, Rissi D, Brown C, Brown S, Schmiedt CW. Assessment of acute kidney injury and renal fibrosis following renal ischemia protocols in cats. Comparative Medicine, 2017;67:1-11.
Rosselli D, Mumaw J, Dickerson V, Brown C, Brown S, Schmiedt CW. Efficacy of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell administration in a model of acute ischemic kidney injury in cats. Research in Veterinary Science, 2016;108:18-24.
Dickerson V, Coleman K, Ogawa M, Saba C, Cornell K, Radlinsky M, Schmiedt CW. Outcomes of dogs undergoing limb amputation, owner satisfaction with limb amputation procedures, and owner perceptions regarding postsurgical adaptation: 64 cases (2005-2012). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2015;247:786–792.