About

Sarah Ho is the CVM Director of Student Engagement at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State University. Her role involves fostering student involvement and supporting their academic and personal growth within the college community. The page emphasizes the college's commitment to student achievement, well-being, and extracurricular development, but does not provide specific details about Sarah Ho's research focus, background, or key contributions.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Psychology
• Internal medicine
• Political Science
• Clinical psychology
• Nursing
• Biomedical engineering
• Family medicine
• Psychiatry
• Cardiology
• Intensive care medicine
• Anesthesia
• Medical education
• Gerontology
• Demography
• Social psychology
• Pathology
• Biology
• Cell biology
• Materials science

Selected publications

• The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic increased caseload and stress in veterinary surgeons, but positive changes to working environments did occur

  American Journal of Veterinary Research · 2026-02-24

  articleOpen access

  Objective: To report the changes in veterinary surgeon schedules, workflow, and job satisfaction associated with the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 through 2021. Methods: A voluntary, nonincentivized, anonymized 40-question internet survey was deployed from November 2021 through February 2022. Veterinary surgeons were surveyed regarding schedule alterations and support implemented by their employers during the pandemic as well as changes in their job satisfaction. Associations between demographics and responses were analyzed. Results: 333 respondents, including veterinary surgeons and residents, participated. Most respondents worked in private clinical practice (211 of 320 [65.9%]), followed by academia (95 of 313 [30.3%]). The pandemic significantly affected the work schedule of 245 of 333 respondents (77%), especially those in private practice and influenced by employment position, such as staff surgeon versus owner. 185 of 245 surgeons (76%) reported a stressful work environment, and 244 of 320 (78%) reported an increased caseload. 244 of 320 respondents (76%) felt management responses were supportive of employees; however, only 195 of 314 surgeons (62%) believed their safety was prioritized. While overall job satisfaction decreased from prepandemic levels, 147 of 247 respondents (60%) reported that at least 1 positive change in their work environment occurred due to coronavirus disease 2019 protocols, including the introduction of curbside care and remote meetings. Conclusions: The pandemic affected the working conditions of veterinary surgeons, increasing caseloads and stress. Respondents generally felt supported by their employers who implemented positive changes. Clinical Relevance: Work environment strategies identified as positive should be embraced as workplace stress and higher caseloads have impacted job satisfaction in veterinary surgery.

  PublisherDOI

• Safety and feasibility of near‐infrared fluorescence imaging with inhaled indocyanine green to assess the pulmonary parenchyma in six normal dogs

  Veterinary Surgery · 2026-04-06

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and feasibility of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging with inhaled indocyanine green (ICG) to visualize normal pulmonary parenchyma in dogs, report clinically useful information regarding dosage and timing of administration, and to evaluate effects on pulmonary function and tissue histology. STUDY DESIGN: Preclinical exploratory study. ANIMALS: Six purpose-bred dogs. METHODS: Dogs undergoing thoracoscopy were randomly assigned to receive inhaled ICG at 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg. Subjective fluorescence was recorded, images were saved to analyze quantitative fluorescence, and a lung biopsy was obtained. Clinical assessment of respiratory function was performed for 14 days. Peripheral lung biopsies were repeated 6 months later. RESULTS: Inhalation of ICG resulted in real-time NIRF of pulmonary parenchyma in all dogs. Administration time ranged from 1 to 10 min and mean time to first fluorescence was 1.5 min. Peak subjective fluorescence was strong in dogs receiving 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg, and moderate in dogs receiving 0.1 mg/kg. Peak quantitative fluorescence was positively correlated with dose, with a three-fold and 10-fold increase above baseline 20 min after administration of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg doses, respectively. No histologic abnormalities or clinical evidence of respiratory compromise following inhalation of ICG were observed. CONCLUSION: Inhaled ICG provided rapid intraoperative fluorescence of normal pulmonary parenchyma, was clinically feasible, and was safe in normal dogs at 0.1-1.0 mg/kg. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Inhaled ICG produced rapid pulmonary fluorescence without detectable adverse effects, supporting further investigation of its effectiveness to identify pulmonary lesions in dogs.

  PublisherDOI

• Gender disparity in the impact of COVID‐19 on childcare responsibilities and professional standing among specialty small animal surgeons

  Veterinary Surgery · 2025-03-31 · 1 citations

  article

  OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to report the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on childcare responsibilities, mental health, and professional relationships of small animal surgeons. STUDY DESIGN: Voluntary, non-incentivized, anonymized 40-question internet survey deployed November 2021-February 2022. SAMPLE POPULATION: A total of 333 completed surveys from veterinary surgeons and residents in the USA. METHODS: Respondents provided information regarding demographics, family composition, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on childcare, impact of work-life balance changes on mental health, and interpersonal work relationships. The influence of variables such as age and gender on these data was analyzed. Associations between demographics and responses were analyzed (p < .05). RESULTS: Families were most commonly categorized as "children and a partner" (139/312, 44.6%), followed by "partner and no children" (100/312, 32%). A total of 46.5% (67/145) of respondents reported disruptions in school schedules affected their work schedule. Female respondents were most likely affected (OR = 2.2, p = .047). Respondents experiencing stress due to disruptions in work-life balance reported three or more feelings of mental distress and were more likely to be female (p < .001). Female gender was associated with a delay in promotion, adverse effects on relationships with colleagues, and negative effects on relationships with administration (p = .016, p < .001, p = .01). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic affected childcare responsibilities, professional standing, and the mental health of veterinary surgeons. Female gender was the most common variable associated with dysregulation of work-life balance. CLINICAL IMPACT: Identifying variables assists in creating strategies that improve job satisfaction and serve as a foundation for enhancing the profession's preparedness for future disruptions.

  PublisherDOI

• Retrospective Evaluation of Complications Associated With Surgically Placed Gastrostomy Tubes in Dogs (2010–2020): 133 Cases

  Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care · 2025-03-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequencies of in-hospital complications and survival to discharge in dogs with surgically placed gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) and to assess the association between G-tube complications and primary disease, serum albumin concentration, and plasma total protein concentration. DESIGN: A retrospective multicenter study was performed at two university teaching hospitals between January 2010 and December 2020, including 133 dogs with surgically placed G-tubes. RESULTS: Nine dogs (6.7%) experienced a complication associated with the surgically placed G-tube. The most common complication was stoma site infection/inflammation (8/133 dogs [6%]), which was managed with topical therapy alone. One dog had septic peritonitis secondary to gastrointestinal leakage (1/133 [0.75%]). There was no association between primary etiology, serum albumin concentration, or plasma total protein concentration and complications. No dog died or was euthanized as a result of G-tube complications. CONCLUSIONS: A low in-hospital complication frequency was found to be associated with surgically placed G-tubes in dogs with a variety of primary disease processes. Stoma site infection or inflammation was the major complication noted. Surgically placed G-tubes may be useful in patients undergoing abdominal surgery that are likely to need ongoing nutritional support.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Factors Affecting Sleep Among Dogs and Cats in a Veterinary Intensive Care Unit

  Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care · 2025-05-01 · 6 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the amount of sleep obtained by hospitalized dogs and cats in an intensive care setting and to identify factors that may impact veterinary patients' sleep. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study spanning a 4-week period in June of 2020. SETTING: Academic teaching hospital. ANIMALS: A total of 96 dogs and 16 cats hospitalized in the ICU during the 4-week study period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient activity was categorized as active, resting, or asleep and was recorded along with ICU environmental data on an hourly basis. Environmental data consisted of subjective assessment of noise level, ambient lighting, number of people present, and number of hospitalized patients. The median observed time asleep was 40% and 11% for dogs and cats, respectively. During natural nighttime hours (9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.), the odds of a patient being asleep were 1.7 times higher if lights were dimmed (p < 0.001). Patients were also less likely to be asleep with higher noise levels (odds ratio 0.66 for each increase in noise level, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized dogs and cats experience sleep disturbances similar to those reported in human ICU patients. Ambient noise and light are significant factors contributing to sleep disruption in cats and dogs hospitalized in a veterinary ICU. The findings of this study support implementing efforts to promote patient sleep through environmental modifications in the veterinary intensive care setting. Additional research is needed to establish objective means of assessing sleep in hospitalized dogs and cats, to determine sleep patterns of hospitalized veterinary patients, and to quantify the impact of sleep disturbances on veterinary patient convalescence.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Indocyanine green near-infrared fluorescence imaging shows promise for intraoperative fluorescence of parathyroid tissue in dogs

  American Journal of Veterinary Research · 2025-03-21 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Objective: To evaluate IV indocyanine green (ICG) near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging to identify normal canine parathyroid tissue. Methods: A cumulative effect study followed by a dose evaluation study with 8 purpose-bred dogs was performed from February through April 2023. Dogs were randomized to receive IV ICG at 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4 mg/kg after the thyroid and parathyroid glands were exposed. A NIRF endoscope positioned 8 cm above the thyroid-parathyroid complex obtained images. Subjective and objective measures of fluorescence were recorded and compared for the thyroid gland, external parathyroid gland, and internal parathyroid gland. Results: Repeated ICG administration did not affect time to peak fluorescence but increased peak parathyroid gland fluorescence. Subjective fluorescence scores of the parathyroid glands were significantly higher in monochromatic modality compared to other ICG-NIRF modalities. Initial fluorescence was immediate for all glands. Mean time to peak objective fluorescence was 0.2 to 1.9 minutes. Higher ICG doses generally had higher peak fluorescence than lower ICG doses. Indocyanine green-NIRF did not consistently distinguish normal parathyroid glands from thyroid tissue. Conclusions: ICG-NIRF at 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg effectively fluoresces normal parathyroid glands in dogs, although the subjective fluorescence achieved in the parathyroid glands is similar to fluorescence in the adjacent thyroid glands. Parathyroid fluorescence varied substantially between ICG-NIRF modality, with the highest fluorescence observed in the monochromatic modality. Clinical Relevance: ICG-NIRF may aid in intraoperative localization of parathyroid glands, particularly the identification of ectopic parathyroid tissue. Further evaluation of ICG-NIRF for the identification of pathologic parathyroid tissue in clinical patients is indicated.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Gastroduodenal ulceration and erosion occurs in dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts prior to and following percutaneous transvenous coil embolization

  Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2025-03-28 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Objective: To describe the syndrome of suspected gastroduodenal ulceration/erosion (GUE) in dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (IHPSS) before and after percutaneous transvenous coil embolization (PTCE). Methods: In a multi-institutional, retrospective case series, medical records from 7 specialty hospitals were reviewed to identify dogs with IHPSS diagnosed with suspected GUE prior to or following PTCE from July 31, 2013, to August 1, 2023. Eleven client-owned dogs were divided into 2 groups based on ulcer grade as determined by the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events guidelines for gastric ulceration. Factors were evaluated for association with GUE severity. Results: At the time of GUE diagnosis, the median age and weight of dogs were 20 months (range, 2 to 48 months) and 20.9 kg (range, 6.6 to 36.5 kg). Five and 6 dogs were diagnosed with suspected GUE before and after PTCE, respectively. High- and low-grade suspected GUEs were diagnosed in 6 and 5 dogs, respectively. Common clinical signs included vomiting with or without hematemesis (n = 8), lethargy (7), and inappetence (6). Dogs were receiving omeprazole (n = 2) and a steroid (1) or NSAID (5) at the time of suspected GUE diagnosis. No dogs receiving an NSAID were concurrently being treated with omeprazole. No factors evaluated were significantly associated with increased severity of suspected GUE. Conclusions: Dogs with IHPSS experience GUE despite prophylactic medical management and treatment via PTCE. Clinical Relevance: Cautious use of medications associated with GUE should be considered in dogs with IHPSS. The pathophysiology of GUE in dogs with IHPSS remains incompletely understood.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Laparoscopic Treatment of Peritoneal-Pericardial Diaphragmatic Hernia

  Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animal Practice · 2024-03-21 · 1 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Intercostal thoracoscopic pericardiectomy in left lateral recumbency: A cadaveric study of feasibility, efficiency, and extent of pericardial resection

  Veterinary Surgery · 2024-12-09

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Objective To describe the feasibility, efficiency, and extent of thoracoscopic pericardiectomy (TP) on a ventilated dog with an intercostal approach in lateral recumbency (ILR), in comparison with the traditional transdiaphragmatic paraxiphoid approach in dorsal recumbency (PDR). Study Design Randomized experimental study. Animals Twenty canine cadavers ( n = 10 per group). Methods Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy was performed on mechanically ventilated cadavers to remove the largest pericardial fragment possible using either the ILR or PDR technique. Approach and procedure time were recorded, and surgical extent (cardiac exposure/exteriorization, pericardial fragment area) was assessed. Procedural difficulty and intraoperative visibility were also assessed to evaluate feasibility. Results Total surgical time (sum of approach and pericardiectomy time) did not differ between groups, although PDR pericardiectomy took longer ( p = .045) by an average of 5.2 min. Exteriorization of the heart from the pericardial sac was achieved for all trials. Pericardial fragments from PDR trials were larger than those of ILR ( p = .004), with a mean difference of 23.21 cm 2 . Cardiac exposure and operative visibility scores were greater for PDR procedures. Conclusion The ILR approach with bilateral ventilation was a feasible alternative for performing partial pericardiectomies, which did not require more total surgical time when compared with the PDR approach. Clinical significance The ILR approach for TP warrants further evaluation in live dogs as it may hold promise for treating causes of pericardial effusion that do not require subtotal pericardiectomy and improving efficiency when paired with other ILR procedures such as thoracic duct ligation.

  PublisherDOI

• Retrospective evaluation of the prevalence and risk factors associated with red blood cell transfusions in cats with urethral obstruction (2009–2019): 575 cases

  Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care · 2024-05-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and factors associated with the need for transfusion in cases of feline urethral obstruction (FUO). Secondarily, to compare survival to discharge in cats receiving an RBC transfusion versus those that did not. DESIGN: Retrospective, multi-institutional study from 2009 to 2019. SETTING: Four university teaching hospitals. ANIMALS: Six hundred twenty-two total occurrences of FUO in 575 cats. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for pertinent information. The overall prevalence of severe anemia (PCV < 0.20 L/L [<20%]) at presentation was 1.0% (6/622). The prevalence of RBC transfusions during hospitalization was 2.1% (13/622). Cats that received an RBC transfusion weighed significantly less than those that did not (4.9 vs 5.8 kg; P = 0.034) and had a lower PCV at presentation (0.30 L/L [30%] vs 0.41 L/L [41%]; P < 0.001). Hospitalization time (240 vs 72 h) and indwelling urinary catheter time (168 vs 48 h) were significantly longer in cats receiving a transfusion compared with those that did not (P < 0.001). Creatinine concentrations were not significantly associated with transfusion administration, while BUN was higher in cats receiving a transfusion (15.35 mmol/L [43 mg/dL] vs. 11.78 mmol/L [33 mg/dL]; P = 0.043). Transfusion rates were significantly higher in cats undergoing perineal urethrostomy (5.5%) compared with those that did not undergo surgery (0.97%; P < 0.001). The overall survival to discharge rate was 96%. Cats not receiving an RBC transfusion were significantly more likely to survive to discharge than those that did (odds ratio: 14.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.8-37; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: FUO is rarely associated with severe anemia and the need for RBC transfusions. In this study, cats receiving an RBC transfusion were less likely to survive to discharge; therefore, requiring a blood transfusion may be associated with a worse prognosis. In addition, the need for surgical intervention was associated with a higher prevalence of RBC transfusions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Nicole J. Buote

  New York State College of Veterinary Medicine

  76 shared

• Marije Risselada

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  65 shared

• Michele A. Steffey

  University of California, Davis

  65 shared

• Helia Zamprogno

  Western University of Health Sciences

  64 shared

• Dominique J. Griffon

  Cornell University

  64 shared

• Alexandra L Winter

  Western University of Health Sciences

  61 shared

• Mandy L. Wallace

  University of Georgia

  38 shared

• Janet A. Grimes

  University of Georgia

  33 shared

Labs

• CVM Main BuildingPI

Awards & honors

• Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons