Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. named intern Jessica Markovich, D.V.M., of Arizona's VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center , as winner of the 2008-2009 Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition Case Challenge.

Her submission, An Evidence-Based Review of Taurine Responsive Cardiomyopathy in a Newfoundland , outlined the case of an adult female Newfoundland with congestive heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite the dog being on a normal dietary regimen, Markovich found the Newfoundland had a taurine deficiency requiring supplementation.

Markovich conducted an evidence-based review of the current research regarding taurine-responsive cardiomyopathy, with the conclusion that nutritional modification of canine cardiac disease may be underutilized.

Markovic's received registration, travel and lodging to the 2009 ACVIM Forum in Montreal, Canada, as her prize for winning the competition.

Left to Right: Todd Tams, D.V.M., DACVIM, Chief Medical Officer, VCA Animal Hospitals; Jessica Markovich, D.V.M., VCA Animal Referral and Emergency Center of Arizona, Todd L. Towell, D.V.M., MS, DACVIM, Senior Manager, Scientific Communications, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.