Monica Aleman, MVZ Cert., PhD, Dipl. ACVIM (LAIM, Neurology)

Academic Background

Dr. Monica Aleman obtained her veterinary degree at the University UNAM-Mexico. She completed residencies in large animal internal medicine (equine emphasis) and neurology and neurosurgery at UC Davis; and achieved board certification for both specialties by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Dr. Aleman has received awards for outstanding work in clinics, research, and service from both residencies with recognition by the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians for excellence in neurology. Dr. Aleman completed a PhD in comparative pathology in neuromuscular disorders at UC Davis which led to the discovery of a genetic mutation of the ryanodine receptor 1 gene (RyR1) that causes malignant hyperthermia in Quarter Horses. This mutation is located at a locus on which humans have 6 different mutations causing disease and a novel mechanism of defective RyR1 activation was discovered. Dr. Aleman’s research and clinical interest have focused on neurology, neuromuscular and muscle disorders in all species with equine emphasis. She is a full professor of the equine internal medicine and neurology services, chief of service of equine internal medicine, and co-Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory and the Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory at UC Davis which studies disease in several species including human disease. Dr. Aleman is one of the founding members of the Equine and Comparative Neurology Research Group. Dr. Aleman is author of over 140 peer reviewed medical publications, over 100 proceedings and abstracts, and over 30 book chapters; and is a regular speaker in national and international continuing education and research meetings. Dr. Aleman has served as a reviewer for multiple scientific journals and research grants in both human and veterinary medicine; and is currently an associate editor for Frontiers in Veterinary Science in Neurology. Dr. Aleman is regularly consulted in challenging cases with neurologic and muscle disease throughout the world. Currently, she works in the investigation of neurologic and neuromuscular disorders in multiple species including humans. Dr. Aleman was recently appointed the Terry Holliday Presidential Endowed Chair in Comparative Neurology by the University of California at Davis, awarded for neurology research and clinical work by UCD at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), and awarded an alumni recognition for Excellence in teaching, research, and service by the National Autonomous University of Mexico.