“For me, it’s about the animals”

Students who produce outstanding scholarly work are nominated for a semester award. The winners are honored every year at the Tag der Lehre (Day of Excellence in Teaching). In this series, we look at a few examples to show what makes an excellent thesis, how it can benefit teaching, what motivates students to produce outstanding work, and how they are supported and guided by teaching staff.

“What motivated me during my Master’s thesis and what got me through the tough times was the opportunity to contribute to the latest research on equine surgery,” says Natalie Miller-Collmann with a beaming smile as she rolls down the sleeves of her pale blue scrubs.  The semester award winner has just come from the stables at the University Animal Hospital. Her two supervisors – Anton Fürst, professor of equine surgery, and Stefanie Ohlerth, professor of diagnostic imaging – are also taking part in the interview. Both attest to the excellence of Natalie Miller-Collmann’s scholarly work. Her research was also met with interest by the veterinary community, and she had the opportunity to present her findings on equine cervical vertebrae at a specialist conference.

One of the reasons for the great response was the fact that the subject of the thesis is a hot topic at the moment. Many experts hold the view that if the last two equine cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 deviate from the norm, they should be classified as pathological and described as a malformation. Meanwhile, others see the anatomical variation in the two vertebrae as natural variability. They argue that there are many genetic and environmental factors that can influence equine vertebral anatomy, and that slight variations are not necessarily abnormal. 

“The basic question of whether the variation in cervical vertebrae is anatomical or pathological affects everyday clinical practice as pathologically deformed vertebrae require treatment,” says Anton Fürst. And there’s an economic aspect too, as the prices of jumpers, riders and stud horses can easily exceed CHF 100,000. If the cervical vertebrae are considered deformed, the animal’s economic value diminishes.

When approving topics for Master’s theses, Anton Fürst is careful to ensure that the subject is technically relevant, but also that there is time to cover it properly in a Master’s thesis. “Because we conduct applied research, the topics aren’t usually abstract, but affect issues that students are directly confronted with in their everyday clinical work.” Miller-Collmann says that this was hugely motivating for her: “For me, it’s ultimately about the animals. It was a powerful incentive for me to be able to play a part in improving animal welfare through my Mather’s thesis.”

Anton Fürst advised his student to start by preparing a short presentation outlining her approach. “This enables me to intervene in time if I feel that one of my Master’s students hasn’t thought a subject through properly.” Students’ expectations of their supervisor vary a great deal. While some ask a lot of questions and are uncertain, others try to do everything on their own. “I try to strike the right balance between encouraging autonomy and providing methodological support,” says Fürst. One of the goals is to boost students’ self-confidence and problem-solving skills. “Regular feedback and open, trust-based communication are important to allow students to ask questions and discuss challenges, while encouraging them to find their own solutions.”

Natalie Miller-Collmann showed a particularly high level of autonomy. Of her own accord, she questioned the current received opinion on equine vertebral anatomy. “I did a lot of research and reading, and I saw that while there are already lots of publications on cervical vertebrae C6 and C7, they tended to endorse the deformity theory. Over time I realized that all these studies were one-sided in a specific respect: they only studied sick horses. That’s what gave me the idea to statistically analyze the vertebral anatomy of healthy horses as well.” It takes courage to pursue a new and independent path, but she received encouragement from her fellow students and supervisors, she says.

With the support of Anton Fürst, Natalie Miller-Collmann contacted veterinarians all over Switzerland who carry out health checks on racehorses, jumpers and stud horses when they are put up for sale. These routine pre-sale examinations also include x-rays of the cervical vertebrae. The veterinarians therefore provided Miller-Collmann with anonymized data for her thesis: she received x-ray images of 324 horses’ necks showing the anatomy of C6 and C7. 

To answer her research question, she was able to use the imaging equipment at the Vetsuisse Faculty. “That’s when I started to drill down into the detail,” she says. This involved interpreting the images effectively. To this end, she developed a model against which she could compare the vertebrae. “I looked at the x-ray images again and again,” recalls Miller-Collmann. You need to work very precisely to classify the variations accurately, contextualize them and statistically analyze them. “Over time she became something of an expert,” lauds Stefanie Ohlerth.  

Imaging techniques such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), x-ray, scintigraphy and CT (computed tomography) are available at the University Animal Hospital, including for large animals. They play a key role in veterinary medical research as they allow a precise diagnosis and the detailed examination of anatomical structures and of pathological changes in animals, says Ohlerth. “This is a good opportunity for Master’s students in veterinary medicine to familiarize themselves with the latest diagnostic methods. They can learn how imaging techniques are used, interpreted and integrated into research.” These skills are not only important for students’ academic careers, but also for practical application in clinical settings, says Ohlerth.

In her thesis, Natalie Miller-Collmann convincingly argues that slight variations in equine cervical vertebrae are not necessarily pathological. On the basis of her findings, she proposed a new nomenclature for cervical vertebrae variations that moves away from the explicit pathological view. The new term Equine cervico-thoracic variation (ECTV) classifies the variants in the C7 and C6 as variation and not as explicitly pathological.  ECTV could be the result of selective breeding.  A follow-up study involving a population of original breeds with shorter necks could show whether this assumption is correct.

Natalie Miller-Collmann always wanted to be a vet. She says that her studies have empowered her to be able to acquire knowledge independently and on that basis, to make responsible decisions. At the end of the interview, she slips back into her blue scrubs and makes her way to the stables, where a horse needs an expert examination.