MSU Breathitt Veterinary Center

08/21/2026

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Arashi (Ash) Nakashima, BS, DVM, MSc, to the Breathitt Veterinary Center and Murray State University!

Dr. Nakashima is a Veterinary Anatomic Pathologist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Murray State University’s Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. In this role, he provides comprehensive diagnostic services for regional veterinarians—bringing a specialized proficiency in avian, poultry, and waterfowl pathology to the center—and integrates his passion for diagnostic pathology with teaching in an academic setting.

He earned his BS in Animal Sciences and Industry from Kansas State University and his DVM from St. George’s University, completing his clinical year at the University of Missouri. Dr. Nakashima then completed a residency in anatomic pathology and obtained his MSc in Pathobiology from the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL). His advanced training emphasized high-volume diagnostic pathology service and research focused on infectious diseases, wildlife, and fish pathology.

Dr. Nakashima is deeply engaged in veterinary education. During his academic tenure at UConn, he instructed undergraduate laboratory sections in systems pathophysiology and anatomy and physiology, earning the CAHNR Graduate Student Teaching Award for excellence in student mentorship. His ongoing contributions to the field include peer-reviewed diagnostic research, having recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation.

Outside of education and research, Dr. Nakashima stays active with golf, pickleball, and running. He also spends his free time cooking, playing video games, and is patiently waiting for the right opportunity to finally adopt a cat.

Welcome to BVC, Dr. Nakashima! We are glad to have you on the team!

08/13/2026

Dr. Karen Salas, Section Head of Immunology at the Breathitt Veterinary Center, served as a speaker at the American Society of Virology (ASV) meeting, held July 27–28, 2026, at the University of Minnesota.

During her presentation, “Whole-Genome Analysis of Bovine Alphaherpesvirus 1 Associated with Abortion in a Vaccinated U.S. Cattle Herd,” Dr. Salas highlighted her research on the genomic and serologic investigations of bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) linked to cases of abortion in a vaccinated cattle herd.

Her work demonstrates the important role of veterinary diagnostic laboratories in advancing understanding of emerging and complex infectious disease cases and translating diagnostic findings into meaningful information that supports animal health and disease investigation.

Congratulations, Dr. Salas, on this important contribution to veterinary science and for representing the Breathitt Veterinary Center and Murray State University at the ASV 2026 meeting!
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08/04/2026

Dr. Brian Parr, Dean of the Hutson College of Agriculture, and Dr. Laura Hoffman, Founding Dean of MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, recently spoke at the Christian County Agri Business Association Meeting, sharing exciting updates on the new College of Veterinary Medicine and its vision for advancing veterinary education and animal health across the region.

The Breathitt Veterinary Center was proud to have seven faculty and staff members in attendance to support the next generation of veterinarians, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Christian County Agri Business Association.

Together, we are helping build a stronger future for veterinary medicine and the agricultural communities we serve.

07/02/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we are officially transitioning from the Hutson School of Agriculture to the Hutson College of Agriculture, and we couldn’t be more excited to step into this next chapter with all current and future students! ✨

This moment has been years in the making, built on the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and community. Decades of history have laid the foundation for this incredible moment.

Stay tuned as we update our social media pages and website to reflect our exciting new identity. The best is just getting started!

06/30/2026

06/30/2026

In observance of the 250th Anniversary of our Independence Day, we will be closed this Friday, July 3rd. We will resume normal business hours of operations on Monday, July 6th.

As we celebrate this historic milestone and spend time with family and friends, we encourage everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Independence Day weekend!🇺🇸

06/16/2026

In honor of the Juneteenth federal holiday, MSU Breathitt Veterinary Center will be closed this Friday, June 19th, 2026.

04/23/2026

Our University President, Dr. Patterson. Always available! Thank you for visiting with us!

04/06/2026

Dr. Ron K. Patterson, President of Murray State University, visited Hopkinsville today for a Town Hall Meeting. Dr. Patterson began the meeting by introducing his motto: "Students First. Murray State Always. Racers Forever." Then he presented Murray State's accomplishments, achievements, campus improvements, and future plans. Some topics of local interest focused on the Hopkinsville Regional Campus, the Breathitt Veterinary Center, cooperative programs at the local high school, the proposed School of Veterinary Medicine, and giving back to the community. Community programs are important to Dr. Patterson. So he addressed the local Men 2 Be program directly by saying, “Listen to your guardians, let go of your pride, and accept help from local leaders.” Afterward, Dr. Patterson answered questions and posed for photos.

04/06/2026

📣 ANAB congratulates these organizations on renewing their to ISO/IEC 17025:2017:

- Materion Corporation Buffalo Analytical Laboratory
- Pace Labs – Oakdale, MN
- Unytite Inc.
- Lucideon M+P – Schenectady, NY & Greenville, SC
- Latrobe Specialty Metals Company, LLC
- Marmon Foodservice Technologies
- Productos Paraíso del Perú S.A.C.
- MSU Breathitt Veterinary Center
- SGS Oil, Gas and Chemicals Division – Montreal, Quebec
- QS Equipos de Calidad S de R.L. de C.V.

ANAB also congratulates CT Cubed, Inc. and Pluralsight, LLC on achieving ANSI/ASTM E2659-18 accreditation; Hawthorne Police Department on achieving ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accreditation; Pace Analytical Services, LLC dba BC Laboratories, Inc. on achieving ISO/IEC 17025:2017, U.S. Department of Defense Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program, and U.S. Department of Energy Consolidated Audit Program; Shenzhen BCTC Technology Co., Ltd. on achieving ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Recognition of Telecommunications Testing-Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, and U.S. Federal Communication Commission EMC and Telecommunications Testing Designation Program; Coherent Corp. on renewing their accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1; and Quality Control Consultants, LLC dba IAPMO Quality Control Consultants on renewing their accreditation to ISO/IEC 17020:2012!