Honoring three 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients
March 16, 2026
LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has announced three recipients of the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award: Dr. Alma Roy, Dr. Mustajab Mirza, and Dr. Phillip Pickett. These awards celebrate alumni who exemplify outstanding achievements in veterinary medicine, research, education, and public service.
The Distinguished Alumnus/Alumna Award, open to all graduates of Louisiana State University, acknowledges individuals whose contributions to veterinary science and community service reflect the highest standards of professional excellence and compassion.
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Tammy Dugas with Distinguished Alumna Alma Roy
Dr. Alma Roy, PhD award recipient
Dr. Roy is an alumna of LSU, having earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology in 1968, followed by a master’s degree in healthcare administration from College of St. Francis in 1990. In 2000, she obtained a PhD in veterinary medical sciences from LSU Vet Med.
Dr. Roy is a credentialed clinical laboratory scientist and holds a board certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathology. She has delivered exemplary service to the Department of Pathobiological Sciences and to the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LSU Diagnostics) in several roles, including as director of the Arboviral Surveillance Laboratory, section chief of microbiology, associate director and later executive associate director of the entire enterprise. More recently, she has served as director of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. Since 2024, she has served in the role of interim director of LSU Diagnostics and was named director of LSU Diagnostics in 2026.
Dr. Roy has devoted more than 50 years to LSU Vet Med, not only accomplishing her goals with a calm determination and resolve that translates into impressive actions and outcomes, but also positively advancing the careers of countless students, staff, and faculty. She has impacted the lives of more than 3,600 alumni, as well as hundreds of staff and faculty.
Distinguished Alumnus Mustajab Mirza with Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education Tammy Dugas
Dr. Mustajab Mirza, MS award recipient
Dr. Mirza graduated from veterinary school in Lahore, Pakistan, in 1992 before continuing his training at LSU Vet Med, where he earned a master’s degree from the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences in 1998. After serving as an equine specialist in Florida, he returned to LSU Vet Med in 2006 as an assistant professor of equine surgery.
Throughout his career at LSU Vet Med, Dr. Mirza has focused on equine emergency and critical care, a demanding specialty that requires rapid decision-making and long hours caring for some of the hospital’s most critically ill patients. In addition to helping horses in the veterinary hospital, Dr. Mirza has also played an important role in veterinary education. He teaches and mentors DVM students during the preclinical phase of their training and works closely with interns and residents pursuing advanced clinical training. His commitment to mentorship and hands-on learning has helped shape the clinical skills and professional development of many future veterinarians.
Dr. Mirza has also contributed to LSU Vet Med’s research mission through collaborative studies focused on equine health. His work has included research on intestinal ischemia and reperfusion injury, as well as investigations into therapies that support recovery from soft tissue injuries in equine athletes. Through his clinical expertise, research contributions, and dedication to teaching, Dr. Mirza continues to make a meaningful impact on the advancement of equine medicine and the training of the next generation of veterinarians.
Distinguished Alumnus Phillip Pickett
Dr. Phillip Pickett, DVM award recipient
Dr. Phillip Pickett graduated with his DVM from LSU Vet Med in 1980 before heading to University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Veterinary Medicine to complete a residency in comparative ophthalmology. A board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist, he spent much of his career at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, where he served as a professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences.
During his decades on the faculty, he contributed significantly to the advancement of veterinary ophthalmology through both clinical practice and scholarly work. His research focused on improving understanding and treatment of ocular diseases in animals, and he authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and other scholarly contributions, advancing the field of veterinary ophthalmology.
In addition to his research and clinical responsibilities, Dr. Pickett is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. Over his 35 years at University of Wisconsin and VMCVM he taught over 3,400 students. Of the 594 members of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Dr. Pickett taught 33 of them. Following his retirement from active teaching, he was honored with emeritus status in recognition of his many years of service, scholarship, and leadership in veterinary education. His career reflects a lasting commitment to advancing animal health, supporting veterinary students, and strengthening the profession through research, clinical excellence, and mentorship.
About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.