Cleverson De Souza,

Dr. Cleverson de Souza earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Universidade Federal do Paraná in 1999. He completed a two-year residency in veterinary clinical pathology at São Paulo State University (UNESP-Botucatu), followed by a Master of Science in Clinical Pathology from the Federal University of Santa Maria. After serving as faculty in veterinary clinical pathology at the University of Passo Fundo, Dr. Souza joined the research team led by Dr. Douglas J. Weiss at the University of Minnesota, where he investigated the molecular pathogenesis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. While at Minnesota, he also completed an accelerated residency in clinical pathology, achieving board certification from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP).

Between 2009 and 2012, Dr. Souza taught General Pathology to medical and dental students at several Brazilian institutions, including the University of Fortaleza, UniChristus, and the Federal University of Ceará. He then joined Washington State University (WSU) in 2013, where he dedicated a decade of service, earning tenure as an Associate Professor. At WSU, Dr. Souza made contributions to clinical diagnostics, innovative educational practices, and research initiatives.

Currently, Dr. Souza is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine at the University of Florida. His professional activities remain deeply rooted in providing high-quality diagnostic service, developing and employing cutting-edge teaching methodologies, and pursuing impactful research dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine and enhancing animal health globally.

Dr. Souza’s research program integrates foundational scientific research, practical clinical applications, and innovative educational methods. Current research includes:

Basic Research: Vaccine Development: Developing peptide-based vaccines targeting Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in cattle to improve disease prevention and management.

Clinical Research: (1) Validating monoclonal antibodies to enhance the detection and classification of canine lymphomas. (2) AI-Enhanced Diagnostics: Applying machine learning and deep learning techniques to improve accuracy and speed of diagnosing canine neoplasia.

Educational Research: Experimenting with AI-driven chatbot systems to create personalized educational experiences, improve knowledge retention, and develop critical thinking skills in veterinary students, aiming to better prepare them for clinical practice.