Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine welcomes Jane Marie Manfredi, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS-LA, DACVSMR (Equine) as the new Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine.
The Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair was established in 1997 through the generosity of Mary Anne and Walter McPhail. The chair's objective is to foster research that will enhance performance and soundness of sport horses, particularly elite dressage horses, and to ensure that the research results are conveyed to those who will use them.
Manfredi plans to leverage her experience as a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist and current FEI level dressage competitor to continue her research on horse/rider/tack interactions in order to enhance horse welfare. Further, her experiences growing up with horses have led her to focus her research on the inflammation at the intersection of equine endocrine and orthopedic disease, where she is a recognized leader of this emerging field. Manfredi has received numerous grants funded by national governments, state governments, foundations, industry, academic institutions, and private donors and is the head of the ENCORE (Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Rehabilitation and Endocrinology) Laboratory at MSU.
As the McPhail Chair, Manfredi also plans to engage the dressage community in her continuing research. “I will be reaching out to dressage riders, trainers, judges, farriers, equine veterinarians, and others integral to the sport to hear about what they think are important research questions for improving horse welfare, athletic longevity, and performance.”
Just as important as the research the McPhail Chair performs is the ability to share the results with the equine community so they can be put into action. Manfredi employs audience-centered, active learning teaching techniques during her frequent outreach talks for dressage GMO’s, the MSU Dressage Club (where she serves as Faculty Advisor), pony clubs, 4-H, and other sport horse groups, while also contributing to various lay horse publications, podcasts, and webinars. She or her group members have given over 85 oral research presentations at international, national, and state veterinary conferences.
Manfredi is the recipient of many awards including the MSU Teacher-Scholar Award, the SCAVMA Excellence in Teaching Award, and the EQUUS Foundation Research Fellow Award; however, she is most proud of the accomplishments of her >45 undergraduate, graduate, DVM student, and resident mentees. Mentoring the next generation of equine clinicians and clinician-scientists during her time as McPhail Chair is a passion and a priority for her.
Before her appointment as the new McPhail Chair, Manfredi was an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation at MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed a PhD at MSU in Comparative Medicine and Integrative Biology investigating different field tests to assess metabolic status in the horse in order to allow earlier detection of insulin dysregulation. She did an internship at Mississippi State, followed by a surgery residency and a MS from the University of Minnesota investigating osteoarthritis and earned her DVM from the Atlantic Veterinary College (University of Prince Edward Island). She has a Post-Graduate Certificate in Veterinary Medical Education from the Royal Veterinary College and is a boarded specialist in Large Animal Surgery and Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
“This chair was established by someone who loves horses,” adds Doug Freeman, interim dean of the College. “Mary Anne McPhail is an accomplished rider, judge, and trainer, and she has such enthusiasm for dressage. I am thrilled to see someone equally passionate step into this role. Dr. Manfredi’s outstanding research, teaching, and service exemplify why she’s the perfect person to carry forward the McPhail legacy.”
Manfredi’s appointment as the Mary Anne McPhail Dressage Chair in Equine Sports Medicine begins August 5, 2024. At that time, updates about her lab and research can be found at:
Manfredi ENCORE Laboratory | College of Veterinary Medicine at MSU