Vet Cetera 2021

VET CETERA The official magazine of the College of Veterinary Medicine

EYES WIDE OPEN OSU VETERINARIANS GIVE BLOODHOUND NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE

FROM THE DEAN

Greetings from the Dean The College of Veterinary Medicine finalized an agreement with the University of Nantes in France led by the efforts of Dr. Veronique Lacombe, professor and head of the Comparative Metabolism Laboratory. The goal of this transatlantic partnership is to advance one global health medicine (see page 44).

We hosted a small group to meet with Ambassador David Gacheru, deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya. We discussed cooperative activities for instruction and extension to expand the beef cattle industry in Kenya (see page 6).

After several delays, we dedicated the Roger J. Panciera Education Center with Dr. Panciera’s family, Oklahoma legislators, OSU administration, faculty, staff and students in attendance (see page 14).

The veterinary college received a $3 million increase in state appropriations.

We appreciate the support Gov. Kevin Stitt and our legislators have shown the college and the efforts of Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and her team at the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.

Inside the magazine, you’ll meet our new faculty members. A small animal emergency and critical care veterinarian joined our ER team and a much-needed small animal internal medicine veterinarian came on board. We also added an assistant professor in Physiological Sciences, who studies coronaviruses, along with a director of curricular affairs, instructional design and academic technologies/ clinical assistant professor in Veterinary Clinical Sciences. (see page 7).

INTERACT hosted two preeminent speakers — Dr. Philip Dormitzer with Pfizer (story on page 48) and Nobel Laureate Dr. Bruce Beutler (story on page 42). Led

by Dr. Ashish Ranjan, this rapidly growing research mecca recently received a $1 million private donation to continue their important work in small animal cancer research.

Once again, Dr. Erik Clary and his surgical team treated a puppy with upside down front paws. In 2019, Clary performed corrective surgery on Milo, an adorable foxhound puppy whose success story went international. In June 2021, Clary performed a similar, yet more challenging surgery on Siggi to right her upside down paws. Siggi’s success story received international attention and went coast to coast in the United States. (story on page 38.)

The CVM raised nearly $4 million in FY21. Many thanks to our generous donors who continue to give to the veterinary college throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s been a trying year as the COVID-19 pandemic still looms. We were able to hold in-person classes and clinical rotations. Many of our researchers are investigating the different aspects of COVID-19 (see page 50).

We look forward to 2022 and hopefully a time when the pandemic finally weakens its grip on humanity.

Carlos A. Risco, DVM, Dipl. ACT Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine Oklahoma State University

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On the Cover

Panciera Dedication Facility launches new, improved teaching methods.

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14

Back in the Saddle

(Cover photo by Phil Shockley)

OSU veterinarian team brings event horse back from the edge of crisis.

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Helping Juno Brown OSU veterinarians get golden retriever back on track after four surgeries.

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Honored Guest

Nobel Prize Laureate Dr. Bruce Beutler speaks at OSU.

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Lightspeed Journey

Quigley, a 13-week-old bloodhound owned by thirdyear veterinary student Lexi Cart, is slated to undergo an entropian tacking procedure.

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Pfizer’s Dr. Philip Dormitzer tells the story of the COVID vaccine.

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New Faces

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Student Awards

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Class of 1963 Lecture

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Distinguished Alumni

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In Memoriam

VET CETERA OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine Carlos A. Risco, DVM, Dipl. ACT Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Derinda Blakeney, APR

Making Wishes Come True

OSU CVM partners with Make-A-Wish Oklahoma to make 8-year-old Tulsa patient ‘veterinarian for a day’

Alumni Affairs and Events Specialist Sharon Worrell Director of Development Ashley Hesser

Editors Mack Burke, Jordan Bishop Art Director Codee Classen Contributing Writers Derinda Blakeney, APR, Kaylie Wehr, Hannah McCoon, Jordan Bishop Photographers Gary Lawson, Phil Shockley, Derinda Blakeney, Genesee Photo, Marcus Greene, Leslie Mintz, Pfizer Inc.

The College of Veterinary Medicine graduates competent, confident, career-ready veterinarians — a tradition it has proudly carried forward since the day the veterinary college opened its doors 73 years ago. Please join us at the CVM website: vetmed.okstate.edu.

VET CETERA magazine is published each winter by Oklahoma State University, 305 Whitehurst, Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by the Office of Brand Management and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Its purpose is to ­connect the college with its many alumni and friends, providing information on both c­ ampus news and pertinent issues in the field of veterinary medicine. Postage is paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices.

Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 740781035; Phone 405-744-5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies. Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on gender may discuss his or her concerns and file informal or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the College of Veterinary Medicine, was printed by Modern Litho at a cost of $11,946 for 5,850 copies/Dec 2021. #9215

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

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ddie, an 8-year-old cancer patient from Tulsa, dreams of being a veterinarian.

Facilitated by Make-A-Wish Oklahoma, OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine hosted Addie for a day of special activities in April to fulfill her wish.

Addie spent the day with faculty, staff and students at the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital. During the morning, she helped perform wellness exams on kittens and puppies, learned about anesthesia for pets undergoing medical procedures, sutured a wound and splinted the leg of a stuffed dog and saw a variety of exotic pets.

Following lunch at Eskimo Joe’s with restaurant mascots Joe and Buffy, Addie helped the radiology team perform a CT scan on a box full of goodies (which she got to keep) on the hospital’s 64-slice CT scanner. The theriogenology team then let her help with a mock caesarian section on a toy dog that had four puppies, which Addie took home.

A 10-day-old goat kid wellness exam was her next stop in the food animal medicine and surgery service. Her last duty was to help perform a pre-game checkup on Bullet, OSU’s equine mascot. Equine veterinarians showed Addie an echocardiogram displaying Bullet’s heart and watched him trot to make sure he was ready for the spring football game.

Addie’s special day culminated in a “graduation” ceremony at 3 p.m.

In attendance were: former OSU President Burns Hargis and former First Cowgirl Ann Hargis; Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary college; Larry Reece, senior associate athletic director of development for OSU Athletics; Coach Jim Littell and several members of the OSU women’s basketball team; Pistol Pete; Make-AWish Oklahoma president and CEO Brad Barghols; board member Jimmie Cameron; director of program services Katie Iannazzo; volunteers Joshalyn Ocker and daughter Sherrod; and many faculty, staff and students from the veterinary college.

“It was a privilege for us to grant Addie’s wish to be a veterinarian for a day,” hospital director Dr. Jeff Studer said. “Our faculty, staff and students enjoyed showing Addie what it’s like to be a veterinarian.

“Our team are experts at making dreams come true and it was an honor for us to be part of this special day for Addie.”

SEE MORE To see a video of Addie’s special day, go to okla.st/3ntKcaE.

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LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Rep. Dempsey Tours OSU Veterinary College

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tate Rep. Eddy Dempsey (R-Valliant) visited Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in April.

Rep. Dempsey requested a tour following a presentation by Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of CVM, at the Capitol about the college and rural veterinary needs in Oklahoma. Dempsey, an avid supporter of rural issues, understands the value of veterinary medicine to both human and animal health.

Dempsey’s first stop was the college’s ranch, which specializes in equine and bovine breeding and reproduction services. The ranch is equipped to handle all aspects of large animal reproduction, both routine breeding work and more advanced

techniques such as transvaginal oocyte aspiration, semen collection, evaluation and shipment, breeding soundness evaluation, embryo flushing and transfer, and more.

Dr. Jeff Studer, director of the college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, took Dempsey through the different services available to Oklahomans, including the food animal medicine and surgery service, equine internal medicine and surgery service and the Shelter Medicine Program, which partners with more than 30 animal shelters in Oklahoma to spay/neuter dogs and cats, making them more readily adoptable.

The final stop on Dempsey’s tour was the college’s Oklahoma Animal

Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Jerry Saliki, OADDL director, explained the many diagnostic services the lab provides to ranchers and producers as well as veterinarians. OADDL scans for diseases that could threaten the country’s food supply, such as foot and mouth disease.

Saliki showed Dempsey where the COVID-19 human sample testing took place and explained the many changes OADDL made to provide testing while maintaining the lab’s normal animal testing during the beginning of the pandemic.

“We enjoyed hosting Rep. Dempsey,” Risco said. “We appreciate his interest in the college’s activities in teaching, research and outreach.”

From left: Drs. Jerry Ritchey, Rosslyn Biggs, Carlos Risco with CVM, Rep. Dempsey, Drs. Meredyth Jones and Jeff Studer with CVM.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Rep. McBride Visits OSU’s Shelter Medicine Program

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tate Rep. Mark McBride (R-Moore) toured Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in April.

Of particular interest to McBride was the college’s Shelter Medicine Program. Earlier in 2021, McBride authored House Bill 1816. Known as Cali’s Law, the bill designates rescue animals as the state pet.

The Shelter Medicine Program partners with 30 Oklahoma animal shelters. Shelters bring cats and dogs of all ages to the veterinary hospital where — under the guidance of experienced clinical faculty — veterinary students evaluate each animal, anesthetize it, perform spay/neuter surgery, provide pain medication and allow the animal to recover comfortably in a low-stress environment.

Animals then return to their respective shelters ready for adoption.

The hospital relies on donations from PetSmart Charities and private donors so they can offer this service to the shelters without charging a professional fee.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved,” said Dr. Kim Carter, associate professor and section chief of shelter medicine. “Our students apply the surgical techniques they have learned, the shelters get a great service with no professional fees and the animals are returned ready to find forever homes more expediently.”

Carter said veterinary students perform more than 3,000 spay/neuter surgeries, as well as other life-saving surgeries per year, gaining valuable surgical and clinical care experience during this rotation.

During a hospital tour, McBride met Milo, a puppy born with upside down front paws. McBride also met Milo’s owner Jennie Hays, and Dr. Erik Clary, a small animal surgeon at the hospital.

Milo is the puppy that was born with upside down front paws. Dr. Clary performed life-saving surgery on Milo in 2019, rotating Milo’s paws upright.

In the community practice service at the veterinary hospital, McBride’s dog, Cali, experienced a wellness exam.

In the exam, fourth-year veterinary students Holly Richter and Breanne Morrell reviewed Cali’s medical history with McBride and gave the dog a physical exam. Dr. Lara Sypniewski supervised the students. The hospital’s

community practice service sees approximately 4,150 wellness visits a year.

“We appreciate Rep. McBride’s interest in our Shelter Medicine Program,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“In addition to obtaining clinical experience, our students gain an understanding and appreciation of the value that animal shelters have in mitigating the homeless pet problem in many of our communities.”

Dr. Kim Carter talks with Rep. McBride about the veterinary college’s shelter medicine program.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 5

OSU Dignitaries Host Kenya Ambassador at College of Veterinary Medicine

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n June, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine hosted Ambassador David Gacheru — deputy chief of mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya to the United States of America — along with a small group of Oklahoma and OSU leaders.

Gacheru traveled to Stillwater to discuss Kenya’s beef cattle industry and opportunities for collaboration with OSU. He was very interested in the various disease diagnostic tests handled by the veterinary college’s Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) and in beef cattle management best practices to improve production.

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“We had a very productive meeting,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary college. “We discussed cooperative activities for instruction and extension to expand the beef cattle industry in Kenya.”

Participating in the discussion were: Dr. Thomas Coon, vice president and dean of OSU Agriculture; Dr. Rosslyn Biggs, assistant clinical professor, director of continuing education and beef cattle extension specialist; Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur; former OSU President Burns Hargis; State Rep. Mark McBride; Dr. Randy Kluver, associate provost and dean of the School of Global Studies

and Partnerships; Dr. Jerry Saliki, professor and director of OADDL; Risco; Ron Banks, owner of Rendezvous Cattle Inc. and Rendezvous Equine LLC; Emily Cooper, assistant director at OADDL; Dr. Vivian Wang, director of Global Partnerships at the School of Global Studies and Partnerships; and Dr. Akhilesh Ramachandran, associate professor at OADDL. Ambassador Gacheru, Rep. McBride, and Banks also took an extensive tour of OADDL including the receiving, necropsy, serology, parasitology, bacteriology, histology, and molecular sections.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO DERINDA BLAKENEY

New Faces

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Brandy Close, BS, M.Ed., Ph.D., is the director of curricular affairs, instructional design and academic technologies, as well as a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Originally from Stillwater, she earned her BS and M.Ed. degrees from Texas Christian University and her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Close’s research interests include formative assessment and feedback, educational technology and trends, and curriculum and instruction.

Andreza Conti-Patara, DVM, MSc, MBA, Ph.D., is an associate professor of small animal emergency and critical care in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she earned her DVM degree from São Paulo State University, as well as a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of São Paulo. Conti-Patara’s research interests include sepsis, trauma, electrolytes disorders, and analgesia in critically ill patients. In 2019, she completed a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at Washington State University. She has worked with critically ill patients since 2006 when she founded Vet Support, an emergency and critical care clinic in Brazil. Before coming to OSU, Dr. Conti-Patara worked as a small animal emergency and critical care clinical instructor at the University of North Carolina.

Xufang Deng, Ph.D., MS, is an assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences. Originally from a small village in the southwestern part of China, he spent the last 10 years living in Chicago. Deng earned his Ph.D. in veterinary virology at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing and an MS degree in Bioinformatics from Loyola University Chicago. His research interests mainly focus on understanding how coronaviruses infect hosts and cause diseases, specifically investigating what and how viral and host components dictate coronaviral infections and pathogenesis in different organs.

Sudhakar Jha, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences. Originally from Raiyam, Bihar, in India, he earned his Ph.D. from the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He did his post-doctoral training at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on understanding the regulation of chromatin-remodeling complexes and their role in tumorigenesis. Specifically, he studies virus-induced cancers, along with breast, colorectal and blood cancers. Before joining OSU, Jha was the principal investigator at the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore.

Jonjo Reece, DVM, is a clinical assistant professor in small animal internal medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department. Originally from the island of Barbados, Reece completed his bachelor’s degree and DVM at the University of the West Indies.

After teaching several years, he completed a rotating internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, followed by a small animal internal medicine residency at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. His current areas of interest include hepatology, endocrinology and infectious diseases.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 7

FACULT Y CHANGES

Hesser Named New Director of Development OTHER PROMOTIONS Martin Furr, DVM, Ph.D., MA Ed, DACVIM, professor and head of the Department of Physiological Sciences, appointed as assistant dean of professional programs.

This new position has a 25 percent administrative appointment. Furr will report to and advise the dean on an array of veterinary college activities. Furr continues to teach and consult. His research interests include equine neonatal medicine and critical care, equine neurology, equine immunology, faculty development and medical education.

Melanie Boileau, DVM, MS, DACVIM, promoted from associate professor to professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Boileau instructs students in food animal medicine and surgery, serves as food animal service chief and large animal co-section chief at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and holds the McCasland Clinical Professorship chair.

Her research interests include small ruminants and camelid medicine, critical care of sick neonates and pinkeye in cattle.

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shley Hesser was promoted to director of development with the Oklahoma State University Foundation in April.

Hesser joined the foundation in July 2018 and was assigned to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In April 2019, she was promoted to assistant director of development. During her tenure with the foundation, Hesser has raised more than $6 million to benefit the veterinary college.

“This position has offered me the opportunity to meet and work with some wonderful alumni and friends of the College of Veterinary Medicine,” Hesser said. “Raising support for such an exceptional and hardworking group of folks is extremely rewarding.”

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John Gilliam, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DABVP, promoted from clinical associate professor to clinical professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Gilliam teaches fourth-year veterinary students about food animal production medicine and field services at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. His areas of expertise include beef cattle production medicine, internal medicine and bovine theriogenology. His research interests include welfare of production livestock and humane euthanasia.

Lyndi Gilliam, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, promoted from associate professor to professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Gilliam teaches firstthrough fourth-year veterinary students, interns and residents about equine internal medicine. Her research interests focus on envenomation and methods of treatment, thromboelastography and analgesic protocols for chronic pain in the horse.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

Dr. Martin Furr

Dr. Melanie Boileau

Dr. John Gilliam

Dr. Lyndi Gilliam

Dr. Katrina Meinkoth

Dr. Jerry Malayer

Dr. Joao Brandao

Dr. Jill Akkerman

Katrina Meinkoth, DVM, promoted from clinical assistant professor to clinical associate professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Meinkoth teaches students in the shelter surgery program, which includes two classes — junior surgery and surgical fundamentals in shelter patients, a fourth-year required rotation. Her professional interests include helping students overcome anxiety in surgery and understand handeye coordination. She enjoys collaborating with other faculty and doing clinical research projects that can be directly applied to patient care.

Jerry Malayer, Ph.D., named senior associate dean of research and graduate education. Malayer is a professor and McCasland Chair in the Department

of Physiological Sciences and an adjunct professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Division of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources. He is a founding member of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, is a member of the Oklahoma Governor’s Science and Innovation Council and recently served as vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the Coalition of EPSCoR States.

Joao Brandao, LMV, MS, DECZM (Avian), named the Debbie and Wayne Bell Professorship in Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Brandao is an associate professor of zoological medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. His research interests include

development and clinical application of diagnostic tests, assessment of methods to decrease stress (e.g. sedation and anesthesia), coagulation and endocrinology in exotic animals.

Jill Akkerman, DVM, Ph.D., named director of the Clinical Skills Program.

Akkerman is an associate professor of anatomy in the Department of Physiological Sciences. As director, Akkerman will create an innovative clinical skills lab with high- and low-fidelity models and facilities for developing and assessing clinical reasoning and communication skills. The Clinical Skills Program will be a collaborative effort with faculty across departments at the College of Veterinary Medicine to meet competencies for the newly revised DVM curriculum.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 9

RETIREMENTS

Blakeney Set to Retire After 16 Years on the Job, Having Raised Profile of OSU Vet Med

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very year, people would come up to Derinda Blakeney at an annual college conference and ask, “How do you do it?”

She still can’t answer that question, even as she is wrapping up her time at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. This is Blakeney’s final edition of Vet Cetera as she enters retirement.

“I didn’t want to be one of those quarterbacks that plays one season too long,” Blakeney said. “I feel like I am at the top of my game.”

At most other vet schools around the country, entire teams handle their school’s marketing, PR, social media, website, videos and magazine. For the past 16 years, Blakeney has done most of that with just herself and a web designer.

“Some vet colleges have a person assigned specifically to the hospital to just do hospital stories, whereas I am covering the hospital, the college, the lab, the ranch and our research facilities,” Blakeney said. “It makes me busy but also makes the day go by faster.”

It is a day that starts at 4:30 a.m. so she can get her workout in before getting ready and leaving her house in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband, Ray. Blakeney has gone through three cars as she travels 500 miles a week for work, but she doesn’t regret taking the job way back in 2005.

“When I took the job, I thought it would be a good job and it would be worth it, and it was. It was worth every mile,” Blakeney said.

Blakeney was used to traveling for work, as she moved halfway across the country from her home state of New York to Oklahoma City for her previous job.

A native of Phoenix, New York — just north of Syracuse — Blakeney started

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out working for the Miller Brewing Co. and fell in love with public relations at an early age.

Figuring she wanted to make a career out of it, Blakeney started taking more college courses to improve on the associate degree she already had.

A bachelor’s degree from Columbia College and a master’s from Syracuse University later, and Blakeney was more than qualified to work wherever she wanted to.

After working with the small firm Public Strategies in Oklahoma City for a few years, she saw the position at OSUCVM open up and thought it sounded interesting — even though she didn’t know much about veterinary medicine at the time.

“Sometimes now, I will be typing something and I will actually know how to spell it,” said Blakeney as she looked back on her career. “I will think, ‘Man, when I came here, I couldn’t have even told you how to say the word, let alone spell it.’ I have learned a lot.”

Whether it was having to pick up all the different terms veterinarians use, all of their different degrees or all of the different acronyms for associations out there, Blakeney has mastered it.

She has seen the school grow as well as Vet Cetera, which was a 30-page magazine when she arrived and now is a publication nearly three times that size whose awards have almost outgrown Blakeney’s office.

“With the help of the folks in Brand Management, my editor, graphic designer, photographers, we have really raised the level of the magazine,” Blakeney said. “I think it is much more professional looking now.”

It has grown into something alumni and donors look forward to every year as

many order extra copies so they can put them in their offices. Blakeney said she uses it as an annual report so everyone can see the advancements OSU-CVM is making, such as this year’s new Roger J. Panciera Education Center or the tales of impressive veterinary feats like the stories of Milo and Siggi.

Two courageous canines — Milo in 2019 and Siggi this year — were born with upside-down paws but with the help of OSU, were able to get right side up. Both of their stories became global phenomena.

“Milo and Siggi were like manna from heaven,” Blakeney said. “Honestly I just posted the story on the website and it was like, ‘Woosh,’ the media was everywhere. It was hectic. I was getting calls all the time and emails.”

Blakeney has helped advance the profile of the College of Veterinary Medicine every year. Although it is a busy job, she has one wish for whoever comes in to fill her shoes.

“I just hope that whoever takes the position loves it as much as I did,” she said.

STORY JORDAN BISHOP | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Margi Gilmour, DVM, DACVO Margi Gilmour, DVM, DACVO, retired in December after 20 years at the College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned her DVM degree from Michigan State University in 1986 and became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists in 1991.

“Margi has served our college with distinction since 2001 as a professor with the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department and for the past five years as our associate dean for academic affairs,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary college.

Gilmour considers her greatest accomplishment as an ophthalmologist to be sharing her love of patients and ophthalmology with students, and, as the associate dean for academic affairs, helping students in really difficult positions successfully complete the program.

“Her enthusiasm and commitment are apparent in everything she does,” Risco said. “Her vision for improving student learning experiences was instrumental in guiding the college to build the Roger J. Panciera Education Center, develop the student wellness program, revise the curriculum and create new faculty positions. These innovative contributions will undoubtedly improve how we educate future generations of veterinary students at Oklahoma State University.”

Dr. Margi Gilmour

Chris Ross, DVM, Ph.D. After 14 years of service, Chris Ross retired in March. During his tenure, Ross was a professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences, associate dean for academic affairs and interim dean.

He led the initiative to increase class size from 88 to 106. As a result, the college was able to add five or six new positions. His work in this capacity left the college in a better financial position that led to faculty hires. Increasing the number of faculty was one of the major points the college needed to improve on to regain accreditation by the COE. Ross earned his DVM and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Missouri. He came to OSU from Kansas State University where he was on faculty from 1990 to 2007. In retirement, Ross plans to return to Kansas to be with family.

Editor’s Note: As this publication was going to print, we received the sad news that Dr. Chris Ross passed away Dec. 12, 2021.

See his obituary at www.ymlfuneralhome.com/obituary/6823.

Dr. Chris Ross

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 11

2021 VETERANS DAY OBSERVANCE

A Search for a Hero

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ach year, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine hosts a Veterans Day Observance.

Dr. Jerry Ritchey, alumnus (CVM ’91) and professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, shared a story with attendees about his grandfather, who was killed in action in France during World War II. Ritchey didn’t know much about his grandfather and set out on a journey to find out who he was and what he did.

“I wrote to the National Archives and discovered that about 85 percent of our World War II era veterans’ records were destroyed in a 1973 fire in a national archives holding facility,” Ritchey said. “They sent me one piece of paper, which was a company morning report issued by his commanding officer the day after my grandfather was killed.

From that slip of paper, I was able to get my grandfather’s unit — Company B, 48th Tank Battalion of the 14th Armored Division—and I was able to figure out when he was killed — Nov. 22, 1944 — and where — in the Vosges Mountains Campaign in southeastern France. What I didn’t realize was that little slip of paper was going to take me on a fantastic journey.”

Ritchey tracked down the reunion organization for the 14th Armored

Division and received a printout of all the living veterans who served in his grandfather’s company and began calling them but to no avail. Call after call, no one knew his grandfather. A conversation with Col. Bob Elder, the company commander, revealed that a week after Ritchey’s grandfather was killed, Company B was ambushed by the Germans and nearly the entire company was killed.

“He told me there were only about 12 out of the 120 that survived that battle and most everyone in the company, including him, was a replacement.

And my heart just sank,” Ritchey said.

“Now my pool of people who would have known my grandfather was even smaller.”

Elder sent Ritchey to the supply sergeant, who was with the original company. While the supply sergeant knew Ritchey’s grandfather, he didn’t know him well. However, he gave Ritchey the name of a combat soldier who was part of the original unit – Paul Van Dyke.

“I called Mr. Van Dyke and by this time I had the line memorized.

‘Hello sir. I’m Dr. Jerry Ritchey from Stillwater, Oklahoma. I’m looking for someone who may have information on my grandfather, Staff Sergeant Samuel Eberly Boyden, who served in Company

“They do it for us so that we don’t have to. Not once have I ever come to work and worried if my parachute was going to open.”

DR. JERRY RITCHEY

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B of the 48th Tank Battalion. Do you by any chance happen to know my grandfather?’” Ritchey said. “There was a pause and then in this trembling voice, Mr. Van Dyke said, ‘Yes, I know Sam Boyden. He was my tank commander.’ I just can’t tell you what that was like. The ironic thing was that Mr. Van Dyke lived just a couple hours north in Kansas. He had returned from the war and became a very successful Kansas businessman.”

That weekend, the University of Kansas was playing OSU. Ritchey and his oldest son, Caleb, who was 10 at the time, drove to Kansas and spent the entire weekend with Van Dyke.

“He told me everything that I wanted to know about my grandfather. What kind of man he was, what he did, how he was killed, what they were doing,” Ritchey said. “As it turned out, my grandfather was a hero. I had gone on this journey intending to find out something about my grandfather. But I got so much more. I did not find just one hero, but I found hundreds, each with their own stories of sacrifice and service. Not only the men that I talked to along the way but the names and faces of many that I had learned and read about as I was trying to fill the gaps.

“All of my children serve in the U.S. military. I’ve seen first-hand the commitment and the sacrifice they make to serve, to deploy sometimes in combat zones and to have to leave their wife and children or to just go to work on a day by day basis and be put in harm’s way during live fire exercises or like my oldest son, who has to jump out of perfectly good airplanes. They do it for us so that we don’t have to. Not once have I ever come to work and worried if my parachute was going to open.

“Our college got great press for our high volume COVID testing that was performed at OADDL. We were performing over 2,000 tests a day during

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

OSU Army ROTC provided a Color Guard for the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterans Day Observance.

Front row (from left): Cadets Joshua Henley, Thomas Mauk and Fred Ross.

Back row (from left): Master Sgt. Nathan Purdy; Dr. Jerry Ritchey, guest speaker; Dr. Carlos Risco, dean; and Cadet Mason Glover.

the peak of the pandemic. We could not have done that without the guardsmen who, while away from their families and their jobs, drove to all the county health departments to collect those samples and then deliver them to us here. They were critical in our success story.

“I have two take-home messages today. No. 1, for particularly the young people, seek out the contribution of your veteran relatives now. Hear their stories. Do not wait like I did until it’s too late and there is nobody left to tell it. Every time a veteran dies, it’s like a library has burned down. So check out the book before that happens. And then for all of us, we owe our men and women service members, both living and dead, so very much. They never ask anything

in return. So we have to learn to give. For them, be the best person that you can be.

Be the best citizen that you can be. God bless all of our veterans and God bless the United States of America.”

Ritchey joined the faculty at OSU CVM in 1997. He currently teaches veterinary and graduate students and rotates through necropsy and biopsy services as attending pathologist for the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Ritchey also serves as the director of the Immunopathology Core Program for the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases.

The Center provides immunology and pathology support for infectious disease research.

Ritchey’s military connection comes through his three children: Caleb is a West Point graduate who serves as a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Carolina married a U.S. Army pilot and they are currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas; and John is a senior cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

LEARN MORE For a video on Dr. Ritchey’s search, go to okla.st/3kP1ihJ.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 13

Attending the dedication were (from left) Dr. Andrew McCabe, CEO of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges; Sara Forhan and Michael Panciera, son of Roger; Dr. David Panciera, son of Roger; Yule and mom Susan Panciera, grandson and daughter of Roger; and Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

OSU Vet Med Dedicates Roger J. Panciera Education Center Facility launches new, improved teaching methods

S

tudents at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recently moved into a state-of-the-art building, the Roger J. Panciera Education Center.

The college’s Aug. 13 dedication for the building both honored its namesake, Dr. Roger Panciera, and launched a new, improved way to teach veterinary students at OSU. The Panciera building features the latest technology, natural light and high ceilings for a feeling of space as well as mobile furniture to allow for countless configurations. For the first time in the

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history of the college, classes in years one through three will be housed in one building on one floor to help break down barriers between classes and allow third-year students a greater opportunity to mentor first- and secondyear students.

Each classroom features monitors on all four walls to allow students to see, no matter how seats are arranged. Each room also features one large screen in case instructors need a forwardfacing type of presentation. Classrooms are open all the time. One room is designated as a “quiet room” for those

who like to study in a quiet area. Two more rooms are available for students to configure anyway they like. All rooms have numerous white boards and furniture on wheels for easy movement.

Many tiny microphones are located in the ceilings to make sure any question asked is picked up —as well as the instructor’s answer — for the recorded lecture. This means any student who misses a class can still hear all that was said. Students can bring a plug-in device to project something to their study group, or an instructor can have two inputs into the monitor. This allows

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

Dean Dr. Carlos Risco welcomes attendees, including the Panciera family, Oklahoma legislators, OSU administration, alumni, donors, faculty, staff and students.

the main slide to remain on one monitor while a demonstration video is shown on another.

“As an instructor, it’s a great feeling when you are able to walk among the students and see them eye to eye, show them something and converse with them without barriers like standing behind a big podium,” said Dr. Margi Gilmour, associate dean for academic affairs. “You are moving and talking and engaging students in the discussion.

Team teaching has been shown to be very effective. We can have students in groups of six, eight or whatever works best for the subject and instructor. This is great for case studies where students work together and then come back as a whole to discuss the case and what each group discovered. This leads to a better learning experience.”

Students had input in the design of the building as well.

“Students were given three options of chairs to select from. They voted and that’s the style of chair we purchased so they had a voice in what they would sit in,” Gilmour said. “The high ceilings,

OSU President, Dr. Kayse Shrum

natural light and carpeted rooms are visibly appealing and make it a nice place to be in.

“Medical education is evolving. We have competencies we test for that make sure students have the knowledge they need. We are instilling in them a sense of collaboration. It’s not just anatomy and physiology; it’s learning teamwork and collaboration not just during their fourth-year clinical rotations, but from their very first day of class. That’s a shift in how we teach, how we train and buildings like the Roger J. Panciera Education Center support that.”

The building honors the late Panciera (OSU CVM ’53), professor emeritus and a world-renowned veterinary pathologist. He spent his entire career at OSU teaching veterinary students, doing groundbreaking research and performing diagnostics to find answers to questions.

His leadership advanced the discipline of veterinary pathology and inspired generations of veterinarians to enter the field of veterinary pathology.

“The new classroom will be a testimony to Dr. Panciera’s distinction as an outstanding educator and mentor of veterinary students and have a transformational change in how we educate the next generation of veterinarians,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

The building was funded by OSU administration and countless donors and alumni whose lives were positively impacted by Panciera.

SEE MORE A rebroadcast of the entire dedication is available at okla.st/3oFVKqM.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 15

Oklahoma Veterinary Diagnostic Lab Receives Donation from DetectaChem

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he Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine received a $20,000 donation from DetectaChem in April.

Based in Texas, DetectaChem is a privately held company and manufacturer of rapidly deployable, handheld, intelligent, and easy-tooperate detection systems.

Specifically, OADDL worked with DetectaChem last year in the development of the company’s rapid COVID-19 test kit, which DetectaChem team members presented the veterinary college’s Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab received emergency use with a $20,000 donation. Pictured above in the front row (left to right) are: Katie Gaffney, Courtney Powell, authorization (EAU) by the Dr. Jerry Saliki and Emily Cooper. In the back row (left to right) are: Dr. Akhilesh Ramachandran, Chris FDA for COVID-19 testing in Gaffney, Travis Kisner and Dr. Carlos Risco. humans.

“OADDL has a great team other sporting events to perform with extending the company’s detection and has been integral in the fight against a sense of security. It also helped costly technology to animal diseases.

COVID through large scale testing rocket launches avoid delay, multiple “The partnership with DetectaChem and validation. They have worked movie sets to continue with filming, provides a great opportunity for OADDL tirelessly and we definitely appreciate correctional facilities to operate as to contribute its expertise towards the the partnership,” said Travis Kisner, needed, and many other examples of development of diagnostic test kits, chief operating officer, on how OADDL getting the world safely back to normal, some which could be implemented assisted his company. because of rapid and accurate testing. at OADDL to enhance its diagnostic DetectaChem partnered with All of these achievements can be capabilities,” Saliki said.

OADDL in the summer of 2020 to linked back to the original validation OADDL is a member of the National run validation testing for the MD-Bio testing that was done by OADDL, a Animal Health Laboratory Network and BCC19 Test Kit. The kit is a 30-minute hard-working savior in the fight against performs diagnostic tests for targeted isothermal molecular assay that COVID-19 during this pandemic surveillance programs and emergency detects the presence of SARS-CoV-2. through mass testing and the validation response testing for foreign animal The validation testing done at OADDL of the DetectaChem COVID-19 test diseases including: avian and swine helped DetectaChem achieve FDA EUA platform. influenza virus; Avian Paramyxovirus-1; approval.

Kisner, along with his team members African swine fever; classical swine Since the kit received authorization, — Courtney Powell, Chris Gaffney and fever; and foot and mouth disease virus. it has helped the specific market of Katie Gaffney — visited OADDL in April During the onset of the COVID-19 high volume COVID-19 testing with to continue technical and development pandemic, OADDL was approved to run quick turnarounds. The kit contributed discussions with Dr. Jerry Saliki, COVID-19 testing on human samples and was instrumental in helping OADDL director, and his team on how and handled a significant portion of universities have in-person classes, OADDL can assist DetectaChem with Oklahoma’s testing until September the Super Bowl halftime show, and 2020.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO DERINDA BLAKENEY

Class of

2020 Of the 88 graduates in the class of 2020, approximately half were able to return to Stillwater to officially walk across the stage to be hooded.

FINISH the Chapter Dr. Brenna Brawner

Members of the class of 2020 return to Stillwater for commencement

In March 2020, the world came to a screeching halt when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States.

Veterinary students in clinical training at Oklahoma State University’s College Dr. Kyre Larrabee

of Veterinary Medicine were sent home to finish the last few weeks of their fourth and final year remotely. Those who were away at externships could not return to campus. No goodbyes, no plans to reconnect with friends and no in-person graduation ceremony.

Dr. Tanner Leon

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GENESEE PHOTO

ING More than a year later, the class of 2020 was given an opportunity to ‘walk’ at the 2021 OSU CVM Commencement Ceremony. About half the class was able to make the journey back to Stillwater with the remainder unable to come due to internships and work schedules.

Three class members reflected on what it means to be officially hooded.

“I was devastated to not be able to walk in 2020 as ‘the class with perfect vision.’ I have been working toward this milestone in my life since I was 10 years old,” Dr. Brenna Brawner said. “Being a veterinarian is the only career endeavor I ever had. I never faltered from the path. Through college and vet school my family was counting down the days until they could call me ‘Doc.’ “This ceremony, even a year delayed, represents such an accomplishment and significant transition in my life that I could not miss it. It means everything.

It means four years of high school decisions revolving around setting myself up for success in vet school, eight years of collegiate training and too many sacrifices to mention in order to achieve my goal of becoming a doctor and a voice for the voiceless.

“This is the day I have been looking forward to for almost 20 years. I am entirely honored to share this walk with the amazing class of 2021 and finally get the day my classmates and I have been looking forward to. I have nothing but gratitude for the university and the

governing bodies who are putting forth so much effort to make sure the class of 2020 has their day in the light. We are truly grateful.”

The first year out of veterinary college, Dr. Brawner completed an internship in a private practice in Edmond, Oklahoma. She will be moving to Tulsa to start a new job after graduation.

“I wanted to come back and graduate because we worked so hard for four years to get our moment of the coveted hooding that we deserve,” Dr. Kyre Larrabee said. “Besides graduating, I dearly want to see my best friends and classmates. Because of COVID, we never had the opportunity to have an official goodbye and I miss them so much. I can’t wait to be reunited with them for this experience. This is a moment I’ve been waiting for for a long time.

“Being hooded will help bring a close on a very important chapter in my life. I can’t thank OSU College of Veterinary Medicine enough for giving the class of 2020 the opportunity to graduate. This is such a special time for us, so thank you!”

Dr. Larrabee finished an equine internship in Colorado and accepted a job at a rural, mixed animal practice in Texas.

“I came back to graduate after this year because I felt like doing this would give me some closure on this chapter of my life,” Dr. Tanner Leon said. “I

wanted to see my friends that I have built lifelong friendships with during my four-year journey. I think overall, I am very excited for my loved ones to watch me be hooded and receive my diploma after such a long, challenging but yet satisfying experience. I feel that earning my doctorate of veterinary medicine has been the biggest accomplishment of my life.

“I also wanted to be able to thank my friends from my class one last time for everything they have done for me.

It means that I can finally come back to Stillwater, Oklahoma, and close the chapter of feeling like I am still in school. It means I can come back as an official alumnus like all my other friends I went to undergraduate with many years ago. I am just ready to finally walk on the stage and feel like it all totally paid off. I want to continue to grow in this profession and do all the things I love when it comes to veterinary medicine and say that oath with my classmates and say we finally did it.”

Dr. Leon finished his first year working in a mixed animal practice.

He now plans to focus on small animal surgery relief work and part-time work in the Oklahoma City area and on beef cattle consulting work in the central and northwest Oklahoma regions.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 19

Bradway Receives Gentle Doctor Award

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ach year, the graduating class selects one member who exhibits the qualities of the Gentle Doctor — concern, affection, love and respect for the significance of life for all God’s creatures, great and small.

The class of 2021 selected Dr. Chloe Bradway of Oologah, Oklahoma.

“It’s truly an honor to receive this award,” Bradway said. “It’s an experience that I’m going to cherish forever because I really look up to my classmates. Not only because I’m 5-foot2, but because during this fourth year, they have just shown exemplary patient care. I want to hold myself to a high standard where in the future, if they ever transfer a patient to me, there is no question, no concern about the care that I’m going to show that patient.”

Bradway decided to become a veterinarian after participating in mission trips to Central and South America while she was in high school.

“On those mission trips we worked with communities that were primarily agrarian,” Bradway said. “I realized that if I wanted to help these people, I really needed to help their animals first.

I chose Oklahoma State for my DVM degree because I’m from the northeast part of the state. I have a lot of aging family members both of the human and animal variety. I really wanted to be close to home so I could visit them as often as possible. Also, in-state tuition is a significant factor. I wanted to graduate with as little debt as possible.

“My favorite memory of veterinary college was hosting the Veterinary Business Management Association Career Day. I was president of the VBMA a few years back. Getting to meet my future colleagues and network with them and help pair classmates with hiring clinics was an incredible opportunity.

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“Veterinary medicine is a profession but it’s also a lifestyle. It’s something where you are going to need to be practicing compassion and kindness and showing concern for both your patients and clients. You are also going to be a life-long learner and teacher. That’s something that before you step into this role, you need to be prepared for.

“I asked a couple classmates what else aspiring veterinarians should know. They said something that really struck home with me because the Gentle Doctor Award is all about showing concern and compassion for our patients. You can’t care more about your patients than the owner does. As a veterinarian, we work with patients that aren’t always in the greatest situations.

Owners can’t always financially or emotionally afford to hold onto their pets for a long time. So when we’re working with them as their doctor, I think the best way to think of it is they walk into our lives, but we can’t hold on to them with closed fists. We need to keep our hands open and as long as they are with us, we are going to do the best job we possibly can, but we also have to be willing to let them walk out.”

In addition to the Gentle Doctor Award, Bradway received a Robert G. and Karen F. Beach Scholarship and a Dr. Michael J. Wiley Endowed Scholarship to assist with educational expenses.

She is the daughter of Lorrie and Mark Bradway of Oologah. Following graduation, Bradway began working at a mixed animal practice in Skiatook, Oklahoma.

SEE MORE Watch Dr. Chloe Bradway describe winning the Gentle Doctor Award at okla.st/3DBetKj.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Dr. Yoast Earns Dean Clarence McElroy Award

I

n May during the class of 2021 commencement, Dr. Gregory Yoast was announced as the recipient of the coveted Dean Clarence H. McElroy Award, the highest honor an Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine student can achieve.

The recipient is selected by the graduating class and fourth year instructors.

“As I was sitting there listening to Dean Risco describe this prestigious award, I was thinking, ‘Man, I hope we picked someone good to get this award,’” Yoast said. “Next thing I know, my name gets announced, my picture is on the big screen and I’m just overwhelmed with excitement as I get up and start to walk up on stage. It means a lot to me to win this award. As I started here at

Oklahoma State College of Veterinary Medicine, I learned who Dean McElroy was and also how prestigious this award is to the school and to the past award winners. So I am truly honored to receive this award and hope to accomplish great things in the future.”

Yoast knew at a young age that being a veterinarian was what he wanted. He was born in southern California and grew up in Cleveland, Oklahoma.

“I decided to become a veterinarian when I was a kid,” Yoast said. “I remember my family always had animals. They were a part of my family and I wanted to continue to strengthen that animal bond with my family and for other families. That decision was influenced by my family, the veterinarians who treated my animals throughout my life, and also my wife. She had a very important role in helping me focus and getting me on this path to become a veterinarian, so I thank her.

“Growing up in Cleveland, I was only 45 minutes away. I did my undergrad here. I love Oklahoma State University and I couldn’t think of a better place to come to get my veterinary degree. My favorite memory would be all the great times I had with my friends that I made here in vet school. We had so many great times doing different things – wet labs, get togethers, parties. I’ve built so many friendships, lifelong friendships, that I can’t wait to see where life takes us.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

“If you are thinking about being a veterinarian, the advice I would give is to work hard and never give up on your dream. If you do those two things, you’re going to go very far. This journey is difficult but it’s well worth it in the end.

“Again, I am truly honored to receive this award and want to thank my family, my wife and everyone here at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine for their help and continued support throughout my career.”

In addition to the Dean McElroy Award, Yoast received an Alumni and Friends Endowed Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine in recognition of his academic achievements and participation in student organizations and college activities and an Ambassador Award for being an excellent ambassador for the veterinary college.

Following graduation, Dr. Yoast plans to complete a small animal rotating internship at Oklahoma Veterinary Specialists in Tulsa.

Yoast is married to attorney Lindsay Grisamer of Stillwater and is the son of Virginia Yoast of Mannford, Oklahoma, and Douglas Yoast of Springfield, Missouri.

WATCH HERE Dr. Gregory Yoast discusses receiving the Dean Clarence H. McElroy Award at okla.st/30IlM4N.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 21

Keeping It Family in the

Dr. Kristin Kerce welcomes sister, Dr. Ashley Kerce, into the profession of veterinary medicine

Drs. Kristin Kerce and Ashley Kerce

Since she was old enough to talk, Ashley Kerce of Edmond, Oklahoma, wanted to be an “animal doctor.”

When she was in high school, working as a kennel technician at a clinic solidified this dream.

During the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s commencement ceremony on May 7, Dr. Kristin Kerce hooded her sister, Ashley, making that dream a reality.

“It means the world to me to share the title of Dr. Kerce and have the support from Kristin that I do,” Ashley said. “Kristin has been a great resource during my education.”

A veterinarian at Corinth Veterinary Clinic in Corinth, Texas, Kristin earned her DVM degree from OSU in 2013, the

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same year that Ashley started at OSU. The two have never had the chance to work together in the veterinary field.

“Ashley is a very hardworking, intelligent and dedicated student,” Kristin said. “I’m sure those strengths will carry over into her career as a veterinarian. I feel very honored that Ashley asked me to be a part of her graduation experience. I have not forgotten how difficult vet school is and what an amazing feeling it is to be finished and setting off to start your career. I really admired how well she balanced her education and being a new mom to her twins. I’m proud to play a small part in introducing such an enthusiastic new veterinarian to the world.”

Being from Oklahoma, Ashley chose Oklahoma State University for her veterinary education.

“I had always heard about the quality of veterinarians from OSU,” Ashley said.

“My favorite memory from veterinary college was the surprise baby shower my classmates threw for me. I had twin boys during our third year. It was so special to spend time with great friends. I am very grateful for all the support they gave me.

Veterinary medicine is a tough road, but one definitely worth taking if you truly love this profession.”

Having practiced veterinary medicine for eight years, Kristin offers advice to the class of 2021 that seemed to take a few years for many of her classmates to figure out, “Don’t be afraid to leave a job if it is not a perfect fit for you and your family. As veterinarians, we are very fortunate to have the education and training to allow us to pursue countless opportunities in the field. Be open to change. What you think you might want right now as you begin your careers, could be completely different in a few years.”

Following graduation, Dr. Ashley Kerce will practice veterinary medicine at a small animal clinic in Oklahoma.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

Dr. Michael Atha honors his niece, Dr. Madeline Atha, at hooding ceremony

Drs. Michael Atha and Madeline Atha

Madeline Atha took a day off in middle school to job shadow her uncle, Dr. Michael Atha, learning what it was like to be a veterinarian and tucked that memory away.

Even though Madeline grew up around cattle and horses in Arnett, Oklahoma, she wanted to try something different when she went to college. In her freshman year, she realized she remembered that the day with Uncle Michael was one of the best days off school and that she wanted to live in a rural area and be part of the agricultural community.

Being a veterinarian was the perfect way to do so.

“I didn’t think about going anywhere else other than Oklahoma State University for my DVM degree,” Madeline said. “I earned my bachelor’s degree here and couldn’t imagine moving farther away from my family.

Also, I was able to use my scholarships from undergrad for the first year of veterinary school and I paid in-state tuition.

“I have enjoyed my time so much in veterinary school. Second year, I volunteered for the foal team. I was only called once and it was for a baby camel.

I had never touched a camel until that night. She had such a sweet personality and her feet were so soft. I helped stand her up and sling walk her when it was needed. I quickly jumped on the cria bandwagon.”

Dr. Atha hooded Madeline during her commencement ceremony on May 7.

“Uncle Michael has always been there for any questions, issues and celebrations I had,” Madeline said. “I remember one particularly rough day where I basically burned out during second year. Uncle Michael gave me a call and we just visited about life and what being in vet school is like. It was really good to have someone so close who had been through it all before. It feels full circle to have him hood me.

He’s always been one of my fun uncles who cracks all the jokes and now we’re peers. I can remember being so nervous going to work with him as a middle schooler and here I am years later, ready to start practicing.”

“Mattie has been out to work with me a few times at my rural mixed animal practice, Twist Junction Veterinary Service, in Dalhart, Texas,” Michael said. “She is intelligent and driven but the traits that will serve her best are her

compassion and interpersonal skills. I am honored to participate in Mattie’s hooding ceremony. To add a shared educational experience to a family bond is very special. Twenty-five years ago I watched Mattie take her first steps just a few weeks before I started veterinary school. I now have the privilege of seeing her first steps as a DVM.” If you’re thinking about becoming a veterinarian, both Drs. Atha have some advice.

“There are so many options within veterinary medicine, just about anyone can find their niche,” Madeline said.

“However, work in a clinic before making up your mind to see if it’s something you want to spend a lot of time and money pursuing. Not every day is going to be wonderful and believe it or not, animals have owners that you will be dealing with. If you’re getting into the profession just because you love animals, make sure you have enough people skills to be successful.”

“Put the needs of your patient first,” Michael said. “This great profession will provide a lifetime of fulfillment.”

In June 2021, Madeline Atha, DVM, joined Hansford County Veterinary Hospital in Spearman, Texas, a mixed animal clinic in the Texas Panhandle.

“I am beyond excited to start my career as a rural mixed practice veterinarian but it’s bittersweet to be done with school,” Madeline said. “I’ve gained so many life-long friends and made too many memories to count. I can’t imagine what life will be like but I am glad to have so many people to lean on.”

However, before she started her career, Madeline married Cody Kendall.

“Careers are important but the relationships we build in life are much more important,” she said.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 23

Dr. Joe Landers starts daughter, Dr. Jamie Finnell, down the veterinary path

Drs. Jamie Finnell and Joe Landers

Jamie Finnell grew up watching her mom, Dr. Julie Merrick-Landers, and her dad, Dr. Joe Landers, work in their companion animal practice, Heritage Veterinary Hospital in Tulsa.

Since Finnell was 5, her career path and veterinary college of choice were set.

“Seeing the love they have for their jobs and how they help animals lead healthier lives, as well as strengthen the bond between humans and companion animals, influenced my decision to become a veterinarian,” Finnell said. “My dad was one of my role models and my biggest fan. He supported me through the tougher moments of vet school and offered me the unique opportunity to come home to my parent’s clinic to practice my clinical skills. He, my mom, and their associate veterinarians helped grow my surgical skills, as well as my client communication and clinical knowledge.”

“Jamie spent several summers and one of her internships during her senior year working in our clinic,” Landers said. “These will be some of my most cherished memories forever. Jamie is very intelligent and a very hard worker.

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She is kind, compassionate and handles stress well in emergency situations. She always finishes strong!”

Landers hooded his daughter during the 2021 commencement ceremony.

“It means the world to me to have my dad hood me,” Finnell said. “Having my mentor usher me into veterinary medicine is incredibly special. He has always been in my corner, so having him at the finish line of my vet school career is an amazing feeling.”

“It is one of the proudest moments of my life to see Jamie achieve this goal,” Landers said. “My wife and I both know what it takes to earn a DVM degree first hand. It is probably every parent’s dream to see their child succeed and for me, it is just that much more special she followed in our footsteps of veterinary medicine.”

Finnell’s parents both earned DVM degrees from Oklahoma State University.

“I grew up listening to their vet school stories,” she said. “I knew that OSU would always have a special place in my heart and working toward my DVM here was always my plan. My favorite memory from veterinary college is late night studying in the anatomy

lab during first year. Having a career in veterinary medicine will change your life and how you work with others.

Compassion is a must for this field.

Make sure you love what you are doing and if at any point you waver, reach out to the others in your field. Veterinary medicine is a team sport, so trust your team and do not give up.”

Landers offered this advice to his daughter and the class of 2021: “Never stop learning and relearning. Your education is not static. We can and should learn something new every day; your degree is the starting point. Try to always know how and why ‘it’ works; that will help to treat ‘it’ and explain ‘it.’

Take a thorough history; it can often tell you as much as any lab test. Always treat your staff and clients with respect as we are a team and all members are important. Congratulations to all members of the graduating class of 2021 and welcome to the greatest profession on Earth!”

Following graduation, Dr. Jamie Finnell will be working as a companion animal and exotic animal general practitioner in the Madison, Wisconsin, area.

Class of

2021 The 93 members of the class of 2021 were excited and grateful to have an in-person hooding ceremony.

Orr Scholarship Recipients Thankful to Donors

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abriela Iribar of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Layla Shanehsaz of Dover, Delaware, are the 2021 recipients of the Dean Harry W. Orr Memorial Award scholarship.

The Dean Orr Award honors the college’s second dean and goes to the top-ranking third-year veterinary student or students.

“It is hard to put into words how much this means to me,” Shanehsaz said. “Veterinary school can be a hard transition from high school or undergrad because you really have to work for it and it is easy to get lost in the day-to-day of exams and studying.

Receiving this scholarship meant a lot because it reminds me that all the long nights and early mornings meant something and were noticed.”

Iribar was also thrilled to be recognized.

“It was very exciting to be recognized for my hard work these past three years in vet school,” she said. “Receiving this award means everything to me.”

Both Iribar and Shanehsaz knew from a young age that veterinary medicine was their future.

“I have always been surrounded by animals and known I wanted to be a veterinarian,” Iribar said. “My father is a human internist and he inspired me to combine my love of animals with medicine. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else career-wise.”

Shanehsaz said, “I have always loved animals and science, so becoming a veterinarian was my little kid dream.”

Even though it was her dream, Shanehsaz became discouraged as she began to research veterinary school.

“I saw that there are only 32 veterinary schools in the country and considered what the chances are of getting into one and changed course; I spent my first three years of undergrad

26 V E T C E T E R A 2 0 2 1

“The long hours can be very difficult at times, but it has been an amazing experience so far.”

GABRIELA IRIBAR

preparing for medical school,” she said.

“The day before I was scheduled to take the MCAT, I kind of had an existential crisis and said, ‘I don’t think I can do this. I think I am going to regret it for the rest of my life if I don’t at least try to do what I’ve wanted to since I was young.’ I ended up doing an extra year of undergrad, completed all the prerequisites and applied to vet school. I am so, so fortunate I was able to come to vet school.”

Neither Shanehsaz nor Iribar suspected they would end up at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Iribar began her journey at Ross University and transferred to OSU for her second year after learning more about the CVM’s program.

“I heard great things about OSU and their NAVLE pass rate is really high, which I believe is really important,” she said. “The fact that Oklahoma has very little snow is also important since I am from Florida. Transitioning from Ross to OSU was difficult, but worth it.”

Shanehsaz, on the other hand, had her sights set on staying on the East Coast until she learned that OSU has an education contract seat with Delaware. This contract provides access to veterinary medical education for residents since Delaware does not

have a veterinary school. It allows for substantial tuition-fee waivers for the student who is the top competing applicant from that state.

“When I got the call that I had gotten the contract seat, I had never been to Oklahoma,” she said. “So, I came to visit campus and was given a tour from one of the current students and I just knew right away. The campus was beautiful, and I felt a sense of family and comfortability. The students were comfortable with the professors, and there was a sense of community between the students.”

As both were finishing their third year and preparing to begin clinicals, things changed quickly with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OSU announced that the spring 2020 semester would go completely online following Spring Break, forcing faculty and students to abruptly adjust to online learning.

“It was definitely an adjustment,” Shanehsaz said. “We went from seeing our classmates every day to being split into A and B groups and not really seeing them anymore. It was really easy to feel cut off from everyone and it was also really easy to fall behind on your classes.”

Iribar also struggled with the new normal.

STORY KAYLIE WEHR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

From left: Layla Shanehsaz and Gabriela Iribar received Dean Harry W. Orr Memorial Award scholarships.

“It was difficult at times to stay focused on Zoom,” she said. “There were times where I did get behind due to connection failure or distractions at home. It was also difficult being in the classroom wearing a mask all day.”

Iribar and Shanehsaz were excited to be back in person for their final year.

“Clinical rotations have been great so far,” Iribar said. “The long hours can be very difficult at times, but it has been an amazing experience so far. I am looking forward to being pushed out of my comfort zone. Hopefully I will make lasting connections, improve on my clinical skills, and become more comfortable making decisions for my patients.”

Shanehsaz said, “I am looking forward to the variety OSU has to offer for clinicals. Seeing things I never have before and might not see again after school.”

After graduation, Iribar plans to either enter general practice or pursue an internship with the intent of specializing in internal medicine or ophthalmology. Shanehsaz plans to head back to the East Coast to be a small animal general practitioner, ideally at a multi-clinician practice.

Wherever they end up, both will always be grateful for the generosity of the donors that make this scholarship possible.

“I want to extend my thank you to the donors and let them know that these are making a huge impact,” Shanehsaz said. “We really wouldn’t be able to get the most out of this education without these scholarships.”

“I am really grateful to the donors for their support, and I cannot thank them enough for recognizing my achievements during my time in veterinary school,” Iribar added.

“We really wouldn’t be able to get the most out of this education without these scholarships.”

LAYLA SHANEHSAZ

In 2021, the College of Veterinary Medicine awarded a total of $541,860 to 158 different students.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 27

OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Welcomes Class of 2025

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klahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine officially welcomed 106 veterinary students in the class of 2025 at an induction ceremony held on Aug. 13 in The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts located on the OSUStillwater campus.

Two of those students shared their thoughts on the journey ahead to earn a degree in veterinary medicine.

Alexandra Bingham of Mesquite, Texas, is a first generation college student and Will Shelby of Madill, Oklahoma, is the son of OSU College of Veterinary Medicine alumnus, Dr. Michael Shelby.

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“I’ve always wanted to become a veterinarian and I’ve never had a plan B,” Bingham said. “As a kid the animals influenced that decision. As I got older and worked under amazing doctors in my hometown, I saw the difference they made in people’s lives and in the world in general. Going through my own health challenges with lymphoma and a kidney disease, I just love medicine and that’s what pushed me. Seeing human doctors work really hard to make sure I’m healthy and living my best life but I still have the biggest heart for animals, so why not mix the two. It’s just the best career for me.”

Shelby said, “Growing up I was active in 4-H and FFA. I showed a lot

of animals and developed a passion for taking care of them. Also my dad is a large animal veterinarian. I got to see the difference that he made not only for the cattle industry but also for our state and community. When you match those two things up, it seemed like a pretty straight forward decision that I wanted to be a vet.

“I went to undergrad at OSU. I think there are plenty of places to go get any type of degree and that’s great. But to me, not only in undergrad but especially in the vet school, it seems like something more than getting a degree. It seems almost like a family feeling. There’s a brand to ride for and growing up that always meant a lot to me. I saw the

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GENESEE PHOTO

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history of this school and it was one of my goals since a young age. Starting this journey, I would be lying if I didn’t say I was a little anxious, but I’m definitely excited. I’m ready to get started, get to know my classmates and really grow and learn with them through the next few years.”

Bingham said, “I chose to come to OSU for my DVM because it’s still close to home. I’m a family gal but it’s still the opportunity of a new adventure, new experiences and I’m pretty excited for that. You work so hard towards a goal your entire life and once it’s finally in your grasp, you don’t know what to do with it. You’re like a kid on Christmas;

it’s like a dream. I’d like to give a shout out to my husband and my family who have really helped make this dream a reality and the amazing doctors I worked for back home. I hope I make everyone proud.”

Students spent 2½ days completing their orientation process sponsored in part by Nestlé Purina. Activities included team building exercises, ExamSoft demonstrations, and presentations about available wellness resources, financial aid and more.

“We are delighted to welcome the class in person,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary college. “These students will join second- and thirdyear veterinary students in our recently dedicated Roger J. Panciera Education Center, a state-of-the-art classroom building equipped with the latest technology and equipment to provide a great learning environment for our students and our faculty.”

OSU veterinary graduates are well prepared for the many career options that a veterinary degree offers, whether in private practice, the pharmaceutical industry, military service, academia or comparative biomedical research.

The class of 2025 is comprised of 13 males and 93 females. Fifty-eight are Oklahoma residents and 48 represent the states of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Virginia.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 29

Giving Darkwatch New Light

OSU veterinarian team brings event horse back from the edge of crisis

A championship horse named Darkwatch has a bright new future, thanks to experts at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Late November 2020, Darkwatch was traveling from California to the Fall Championships in North Carolina.

Near Amarillo, Texas, the 13-year-old developed a fever.

“My coach was transporting Darkwatch and noticed that he wasn’t feeling well,” said owner and competition rider Erin Hofmann from Park City, Utah. “Our veterinarian at home, Dr. Jordan Hammer, is an Oklahoma State alum (’06) and recommended that we call OSU’s Veterinary Hospital. He knows Drs. Todd Holbrook and Lyndi Gilliam and recommended Oklahoma State for great care.”

Both Gilliam and Holbrook are board-certified equine internal medicine specialists.

“Darkwatch had developed a condition we call pleuropneumonia, which horse owners know as shipping pneumonia or shipping fever,” Gilliam said. “He had a lot of fluid around his lungs on both sides of his chest. He was having a really hard time breathing and getting oxygen.”

OSU’s care encompassed several components, she said.

“We did several diagnostics on him to determine what bugs were causing his pneumonia so we could

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find effective antibiotics to fight his infection,” Gilliam said. “We used diagnostic imaging to map his chest to see exactly where the problems were so we could follow his improvement. In addition to the antibiotics, we did nutritional care with him, which is important for his healing. He didn’t have a great appetite so we had to get creative to keep him eating.

We used a lot of supportive care to keep his whole body healthy while his lungs were healing.”

Four weeks later, just before Christmas, Darkwatch Darkwatch looks at a portrait of himself went home. done by Megan Dulle.

“I work for a medical As an event horse, Darkwatch does device company so I’m in dressage, cross country jumping and hospitals for humans all over the show jumping all in one weekend. He country and see that level of care,” must be an all-around horse, good at Hofmann said. “This is above and multiple things that require much beyond anything I have ever seen athleticism. anywhere, for veterinary or human care.

“At this point, his prognosis is good,” The conversations we were having when Gilliam said. “He has one piece of lung we arrived were that he might not leave. that hasn’t quite healed. It will probably “It’s just been amazing how much be 30 to 60 days before he’s back to effort everyone has put into him and where we want him to be. We expect him making him better. It’s definitely a to continue to heal. collaborative environment with much “Being an eventer requires a lot of discussion going on between the cardiovascular fitness so he will have to veterinarians and finding solutions. get back in shape. He’s been out of work It’s been very impressive being here. for a while. I wouldn’t expect him to be He’s healthy and happy and making a back to full competition for a year.” recovery.”

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS MARCUS GREENE, LESLIE MINTZ AND DERINDA BLAKENEY

Throughout his hospital stay, Darkwatch’s owners visited regularly.

“His owners have been extraordinarily committed to his care,” Gilliam said. “One of the concerns with horses that have to be on antibiotics and hospitalized is antibiotic-induced diarrhea. Exposing them to grazing in the natural environment, getting those natural bugs back in their system as much as possible, helps prevent that. His owners literally stayed in Stillwater and took him out multiple times a day just so he could graze. They helped us make his food just exactly how he likes it and took him on walks. I feel like that was key in helping him get better.”

Holbrook added details about Darkwatch’s care, offering credit to all.

“It was a team effort for sure,” Holbrook said. “Darkwatch also received intensive care around the clock from technicians, residents and students after hours. Horses that develop this condition can get seriously ill very quickly and require intensive management that honestly is quite expensive. We appreciate all that his owners have done. Our ability to offer round-the-clock care makes a big difference in these guys because they can change rapidly.”

His owners are thrilled with the horse’s treatment.

“We will be eternally grateful for the people here who have taken care of him and had a vested interest in his recovery,” said Beth Lendrum, Hofmann’s mother. “It’s amazing that he survived the illness; pleuropneumonia takes so many. When we pulled in with the trailer, an entire team in white coats, filled with genuine concern, came out to meet us. It was like ‘here comes the team to save the day,’ and they did.

They saved this amazing athlete and family member. Thank you to everyone who helped. It will never be enough to express our gratitude.”

Darkwatch will continue under the care of his veterinarian in Utah.

“Darkwatch will have seamless care as he transfers back to Dr. Hammer’s care,” Gilliam said. “We have been in contact all along the way, and I think that’s made a huge difference in us being able to know his history and Dr. Hammer being able to know what we’ve done here.”

From left: Beth Lendrum and Erin Hofmann, Darkwatch’s owners; Darkwatch; Dr. Todd Holbrook; Judy Branson, RVT; and Zach Arnold, fourth-year veterinary student.

Erin Hofmann competes on Darkwatch.

WATCH HERE A video on Darkwatch’s recovery can be found at okla.st/3HGdWsX.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 31

Eyes WIDE Open Hound undergoes eye surgery

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Quigley, a 13-week-old bloodhound owned by

third-year veterinary student Lexi Cart, will undergo an entropion tacking procedure.

Quigley’s lower eyelids roll inward allowing the hairs on his eyelids to rub on the eye, which is painful and can cause corneal ulcers. The hospital’s ophthalmology team will put a few sutures (four to six depending on the dog’s size) in each lower lid to tack his lids in place.

The eyelid tacking procedure is done on puppies with entropion as a temporary measure to allow them the possibility of outgrowing the condition without needing a permanent corrective surgery.

Between the tacking procedure and permanent surgery for entropion, the ophthalmology team performs on average one a month.

Entropion is common in certain dog breeds (chow chow, shar pei, bloodhounds), sheep, goats, newborn foals and is occasionally seen in cats.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Dean Carlos Risco and Purina Veterinary Communications Manager Lauren Stump cut the ribbon of the Purina Nutrition Center. Also pictured are OSU interim provost Jeanette Mendez, students, staff and faculty of OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine as well as representatives from Purina.

OSU Vet Med Opens Purina Nutrition Center

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klahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine opened the Purina Nutrition Center on Sept. 14 at the college’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Thanks to a generous donation by global pet care leader Purina, the renovated space provides better visualization of the different pet foods available today on the market.

“The pet food industry has changed a lot in the last decade or so,” said Dr. Jeff Studer, hospital director. “Our pet food kitchen was not a place where students could learn about all the changes that have occurred. Purina approached us and asked if they could help us remedy that, which resulted in this fantastic new space. The Purina Nutrition Center provides a great learning opportunity

for our students and also a much cleaner space to prepare food for our patients.”

The state-of-the-art Purina Nutrition Centers allow students, staff and faculty to have exposure to therapeutic and maintenance diets across a variety of brands, ensuring they are better prepared on the optimal nutrition choices for their patients upon graduation.

“This is another example of the partnership between industry and academia,” Studer said. “It has provided us an opportunity to not only upgrade our facility, but also upgrade the learning experience for our students and we are extremely grateful to Purina.”

Purina has invested in nutrition centers at more than half of the U.S. veterinary schools. Each nutrition

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

center is custom designed to fit the space and needs of the university, and the committee at each school works directly with a Purina-hired architect.

“At Purina, we’re committed to improving the lives of pets every day through best-in-class nutrition that is rooted in science and our deep understanding of pets,” said Lauren Stump, DVM, veterinary communications manager for Purina.

“As a veterinarian at Purina, I have the honor of helping improve the clinical nutrition education of veterinary students.

“We believe that nutrition education and expertise is critical for today’s veterinarians to provide the highest quality of care to their patients.”

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 33

Bad, Bad Year for

Juno Brown

OSU veterinarians get golden retriever back on track after four surgeries

The year got off to a rocky start for Juno Brown, a 5½ year-old golden retriever owned by Mary Nelson and Rodney Brown of Oklahoma City.

In January, she underwent emergency surgery for a kidney stone in the first of four surgeries she would have before the end of May. “While many dogs develop urinary stones, Juno was a very unusual case because she developed such large kidney stones that one tried to pass, just like people try to pass a stone,” said Dr. Laura Nafe, a small animal internal medicine specialist. “In the process, the stone blocked her ureter [the path from her kidney to her bladder], causing her ureter to tear and leak urine. Juno arrived at the hospital with free urine in her abdomen, which is a surgical emergency.”

Rodney Brown knew something was wrong on Jan. 2 when Juno started throwing up and acting lethargic.

“We took her to an emergency vet who said they needed to open her up and take a kidney out. After talking with a friend, who is a veterinarian in Florida and an OSU alumnus, we decided to get a second opinion. They determined what the problem was but didn’t have the capability to do the procedure. We were lucky that Oklahoma State was able to do it. On Jan. 5, we discharged her at noon, drove up to Stillwater at a pretty good clip and met with Dr. Danielle Dugat, a small animal surgeon. We went over the procedure, they worked Juno up, and she was on the table that evening.”

Dugat and her team placed a subcutaneous urethral bypass system in Juno.

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From left with Juno: Dr. Laura Nafe, Mary Nelson, Rodney Brown and Kaci Merk, a fourth-year veterinary student assigned to Juno’s case.

“We do this procedure more frequently in cats,” Nafe said. “It’s fairly rare to use a SUB system in a dog, but we had no choice since the ureter was no longer intact. The device re-routed the flow of urine from Juno’s kidney to her bladder.”

Shortly after Juno’s initial surgery, she became lethargic. It turned out her SUB system had pulled out of her bladder, requiring a second emergency surgery to replace it, Dugat said.

“Juno’s second SUB system seemed to be working, but she kept developing these consistent UTIs,” Rodney Brown said. “They discovered that she had an anatomical abnormality, which had been driving these urinary tract infections probably for years. The best course of action for Juno long- term was an episioplasty, which they did. Juno’s third surgery was very successful.”

“Juno’s vulva was recessed or hidden in her skin so we did the episioplasty to

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

PREVENTING KIDNEY STONES According to Dr. Laura Nafe, internal medicine specialist, kidney stones are actually fairly common.

make it stand out more since the vulva should not be covered by skin,” Dugat said. “She did great.”

However, the UTIs continued.

“As an internal medicine specialist, I was very involved in the management of her UTIs associated with her SUB system,” Nafe said. “We were able to clear the infection on antibiotics but as soon as we came off antibiotics, the infection would return. My suspicion was that because the device was still implanted, we weren’t removing the nidus or breeding ground for the infection.”

So a fourth surgery was planned for Juno on May 31 to determine if Juno’s right ureter could be salvaged and repaired.

“Our initial plan was to place a ureteral stent using a scope, which is a minimally invasive procedure, and then remove the SUB system,” Nafe said. “In surgery, to our surprise, we discovered her right ureter — the one that had been torn — had repaired itself. It was completely intact, flowing normally with no leakage. So we were able to remove her SUB device, getting rid of that source for infection. Her ureter is working normally, Juno has no devices, and her stones have either been removed or dissolved, which is fantastic news for Juno.”

Rodney Brown verified that, saying the dog has recovered brilliantly.

“She comes in for checks every couple of months. She’s really thriving,” he said. “It’s just an absolutely amazing outcome.”

“Juno’s prognosis at this point is very good,” Nafe said. “We’re watching her closely for signs of infection.

Every three months, we monitor her

kidney values and urine for evidence of infection. Periodically, we ultrasound her urinary tract to determine if she has recurring stones. A lot of pet owners may not have gone as far and wide as the Browns did, but Juno was an otherwise young, healthy dog, and she did great through all of her procedures. Many of her procedures were considered minimally invasive and, therefore, did not bring on a lot of pain or stress to Juno’s body.

“Honestly, if she hadn’t had such dedicated owners, I don’t know if we would be here talking now. If you don’t know if there’s something that can be done for your pet, try to investigate what the options are. Many veterinary clinics are performing minimally invasive procedures similar to the way it’s done in human medicine, which I think has really advanced our field.”

Brown said the ordeal taught him there are never too many questions when it comes to your pet’s health.

“Advocate for your pet because they can’t talk,” Brown said. “What I learned from this is to be curious. Ask questions and ask what are the worst case scenarios. For us, it was a 60-minute drive from our driveway to Stillwater.

If you’re ever curious, please get in your car and drive here. The care is incredible. You’re going to get access to specialists and technologies that you’re just not going to have at your family vet, which is understandable. That’s why we have a teaching university here. I want people to know that we have an amazing resource at Oklahoma State Boren Vet Hospital.

“Don’t hesitate to come and get a second set of eyes and possibly avert a situation like Juno’s.”

“There are two types of stones — calcium oxalate and struvite,” Nafe said. “There are urinary-specific diets made by the big food companies that are available by prescription. They are fairly similar in their characteristics and their goal is two-fold. One is to neutralize the urine pH because we know if the urine gets too acidic, pets are more likely to form calcium oxalate stones. If the urine gets too alkaline or too basic, they’re more likely to form struvite stones. The second thing these diets do is increase the pet’s need to drink water. Having dilute urine is a good thing for stone formers because it reduces their chance of forming stones.

“Stones always start with crystals and then they begin to conglomerate together. The more concentrated the urine, the more likely multiple crystals will start to stick together and form a stone. If dogs don’t have evidence of urinary stones, these diets aren’t needed. If your pet has evidence of stones, it’s important to determine which type of stone it is if you can. It’s also important to try to prevent infection so that the pet won’t develop secondary stones to a urinary tract infection.”

WATCH HERE See how Juno responded to surgery at okla.st/3qU6qVq.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 35

Agitated Alpaca Owners’ sharp eyes save camelid’s life

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erriam-Webster lists “cloud nine, ecstasy, and elation” as possible synonyms for the word rhapsody.

However, this Rhapsody, a 15-month old alpaca owned by Debbie and Charlie Ashley of Gainesville, Texas, was feeling anything but on cloud nine, ecstatic or elated.

“We noticed Rhapsody had been ‘off’ for a few days and we were watching her closely,” Debbie said. “Then we noticed she was bloated. We tried some things that we knew to treat bloat and called our vet. He suggested one more treatment. Since he didn’t have the equipment to do anything for an obstruction, which is what he suspected was the problem, he suggested we take her somewhere else if the treatments didn’t help. Even though we live in Texas, we have a relationship with the ranchers in Oklahoma. In fact, I’m

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president of Alpacas of Oklahoma.

We’ve also had several encounters with the vets at OSU. They’ve done some seminars for our Alpacas of Oklahoma so we were familiar with Dr. Meredyth Jones and Dr. Melanie Boileau. I felt real confident and that was our next step — to call and tell them we were on the way.

They were just great. They greeted us and took Rhapsody’s history and took her on back.”

Dr. Boileau said Rhapsody was in serious distress when she arrived.

“When she arrived, Rhapsody had a distended, round abdomen, lacked fecal output and was moderately dehydrated,” Dr. Boileau said. “Her clinical signs and blood work pointed to an obstruction. We did an exploratory surgery and found that her intestines were not moving like they should, however, there were no obstructions.

Internal parasites were found on a fecal

egg count processed at our Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

We gave Rhapsody some IV fluids, pain medication for her incision, antibiotics to fight off infection, dewormers and medicine to improve movement in her bowels. During her stay in the hospital, Rhapsody became slightly agitated.

Alpacas are a very social animal.

Rhapsody was trying to get to another alpaca two pens down from her. We hung a small mirror in Rhapsody’s pen.

Once she saw her reflection, she thought it was another alpaca and immediately calmed down. Six days after she arrived, Rhapsody was discharged.”

As prey species, alpacas tend to not show obvious signs when they are sick.

In the case of Rhapsody, the Ashleys were quick to recognize that she was off. They sought veterinary care in a timely manner, which contributed to Rhapsody’s positive outcome. OSU’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital has several board-certified veterinary specialists in its food animal medicine and surgery service who can assist with camelid needs.

“We were happy that we made the choice to go to OSU,” Debbie said. “We received twice daily updates in the beginning and then as she improved, we got an update every morning. We network with ranchers so everybody shares their experiences and what they’ve done for certain ailments and problems. It’s important that alpaca owners try to do the things we have been trained to do first but not let it go too long. If you don’t see any improvement, make the trip. For us it’s a 3 1/2 sometimes 4-hour drive to Stillwater, so you don’t want to waste any time. Dr. Boileau’s team came out pretty quickly with what they thought the issue was.

They treated her with IV fluids and medications and then waited to see if they had any improvement. But they didn’t wait a long time either. The next

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

REMOVING THE STONE The zoological medicine service at the Oklahoma State University veterinary college’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital treated a rare case recently that involved removing a stone from a salamander’s stomach.

Alumnus Dr. Paul Welch of Forest Trails Animal Hospital in Tulsa referred the case to OSU. Axel, an albino pet salamander or axolotl, accidentally ingested a rock in his aquarium which became stuck in his stomach. Axel was anesthetized by adding doses of tricaine to his water.

The veterinary team monitored his heart rate and used an endoscope to find the rock, grasp it with a wire snare and pull it out. Axel recovered in clean, fresh water aerated with oxygen and is doing fine.

From left, pictured with Rhapsody are Dr. Melanie Boileau, Stephanie Pilkenton, class of 2022 and Dr. Laura May, food animal medicine and surgery resident.

day, they did the exploratory surgery.

The entire time I knew she was in good hands and she was being monitored, things that I couldn’t do here at the farm.”

Rhapsody is one of 20 alpacas in the Ashley’s herd. During the last year, they have sold approximately 16 to 18 alpacas to people who want to start a small herd of their own.

“Alpacas are becoming more popular,” Debbie said. “We really want

to encourage more veterinarians to go into the field of camelid care. We need experienced vets who can treat and help farms take care of their animals. I was very happy that the students were out there helping me load Rhapsody when I picked her up. They seem like they really enjoyed her and hopefully that will spark their interest in alpacas.”

In the wild, axolotls are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as critically endangered with a decreasing population of less than 1,000 mature individuals found in north central Mexico. Captive animals are bred in a multitude of colors. Axel is albino lacking all color.

To watch the removal of Axel’s stone, visit okla.st/axel.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 37

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Siggi

MILO2.0

Second case of upside down paws treated at Oklahoma State’s Veterinary College In early 2019, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine made international headlines with its treatment of Milo, an adorable foxhound puppy who was born with the rare condition of front paws facing upward instead of downward.

At OSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Milo met Dr. Erik Clary, a small animal surgeon, who performed corrective surgery that proved quite successful. Months after surgery, the public interest in Milo’s situation remained intense to the point of prompting a news conference at OSU to report Milo’s recovery to his fans far and wide.

So when, this past May, a Dallas animal rescue group came into possession of Siggi, a sweet rat terrier puppy also with front paws upside down, they knew where to turn. At 13 weeks of age, Siggi made the trek to Stillwater with her caregivers to meet Dr. Clary.

“As with Milo, Siggi’s problem looked like it was in the paws but it was actually in her elbows,” Clary said. “For reasons not fully understood, these patients’ elbows come out of joint early in life and the result is severe rotation of the lower front limbs and an inability to walk. At most, they might muster a crawl that seems most uncomfortable and is poorly suited for a dog’s life.”

At the VTH, little Siggi, who weighed only four pounds at the time, received a 64-slice CT exam that gave Clary and his team important information on the shape and alignment of her limb bones.

“Unlike Milo, Siggi had significant deformity of the bones in the lower part

of her elbow complicating the joint issue,” Clary said.

“The CT helped us plan a more complex procedure that would require an intentional break high up in her ulna bone to de-rotate the limb.”

On May 12, Clary performed the surgery to bring Siggi’s paws into proper orientation. The elbows were protected with splints and an orthopedic fixator device while Siggi’s ulna bones took the necessary time to heal.

On June 29, Siggi returned to the VTH for a scheduled checkup.

“With that checkup, we confirmed the bone healing with X-ray exam and then removed Siggi’s splint for good,” Clary said. “At that stage, the task then became one of teaching her how to walk and she proved a fairly quick learner. Lorraine, her medical foster with Dallas Dog RRR, did a fabulous job implementing an incremental rehabilitation regimen that now has Siggi doing many things that puppies like to do, including chasing a ball in the yard. Truly, I could not be more pleased with Siggi’s progress.”

Reflecting upon Siggi’s care and Milo’s impact, Clary commented, “Siggi found care and came to OSU’s VTH because Milo’s story was shared beyond our walls. Back in 2019, I learned firsthand what ‘going viral’ meant as Milo’s story was picked up from the OSU newswire and distributed across the globe. I never expected anything like it,

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

but once it was unfolding, I purposed to deliver the message that as severe as a pet’s condition may seem, it may still be within the reach of veterinary care.

“Milo has brought much joy to many people and I expect the same will be true of Siggi thanks in part to the efforts of the veterinary college’s public relations and marketing coordinator, Derinda Blakeney, Jennie Hays (Milo’s owner), and many others who helped tell Milo’s story to a wide audience.”

Clary is an associate professor of small animal surgery and bioethics.

He is a board-certified surgeon and a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

WATCH HERE For video on Siggi’s amazing story, go to okla.st/siggi.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 39

Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU president, Dr. Erik Clary and Dean Dr. Carlos Risco visit with Gabriela Iribar, fourth-year veterinary student assigned to Siggi’s case.

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PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

Roxanne Wooden, Siggi’s forever mom, holds the puppy for the first time as ownership is transferred to Wooden.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 41

An Honored Guest

Nobel Prize recipient delivers keynote at INTERACT research symposium

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or the first time in the veterinary college’s 73-year history, a Nobel Laureate — Dr. Bruce Beutler — gave the keynote address at INTERACT’s Research Symposium presenting, “Random Germline Mutagenesis and Cancer Resistant Mice.”

“It’s something that you have to get used to,” said Beutler on winning a Nobel Prize. “Of course, I was just

overjoyed the day that I learned about it.

I still think it’s very helpful. It gives you a certain measure of credibility that you lacked before even though you were the very same person. That’s helpful to the work I do.”

The director of the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, Beutler has spent the majority of his career in research. Encouraged

by his father — a physician and biomedical scientist — Beutler went to medical school to study biology, the whole organism and how it functioned, physiology and pathology.

“I followed my father’s advice and never regretted that,” Beutler said.

“I think it helped a lot to learn about medicine. It helps me even today to understand what’s going on with certain

From left: Drs. Jerry Malayer, senior associate dean of research and graduate education; Carlos Risco, dean of the CVM; Bruce Beutler, Nobel Laureate; and Ashish Ranjan, professor, Kerr Foundation Endowed Chair and director of the Institute for Translational and Emerging Research in Advanced Comparative Therapy.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

mutations we create in the course of our work with mice.”

Following medical school, Beutler worked with patients for a couple of years before returning to laboratory science. Early in his career, he isolated a protein called cachectin, commonly known as tumor necrosis factor.

“I understood that tumor necrosis factor, or TNF, was involved in inflammatory processes,” he said. “I

developed inhibitors that would block it and some of them were used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.

I then wondered how this molecule was induced so my work became oriented toward innate immunity.

I set out to isolate the receptor for lipopolysaccharide knowing that was a trigger that microbes used to activate innate immunity. It was that work that led to a Nobel Prize for me.”

Beutler made the process of finding a receptor much faster.

“Through methods we set up, if we induce a phenotype in a mouse with the germline mutagen, we know immediately which mutation caused it. It’s instantaneous.

Then we can turn this system around to look for mutations that suppress disease.”

Beutler’s work aligns with Oklahoma State University’s promotion of One Health and One Medicine.

“Very definitely one can use animal models and even plant models and expect relevant outcomes where human health is concerned,” he said. “If graduate students and clinicians are considering a research track career, they should work on something that really excites them. I find too often people are a little bit paralyzed by indecision. When you come to a fork in the road, take it. It really isn’t so much important that you make the right choice, but choose something that interests you and then work on it with all your energy. Make it a big part of your life.”

It is advice Beutler lives every day.

“The most exciting thing we’re doing now is to create mutant mice that are resistant to cancer. It’s very surprising the extent to which one can do that with just one or two nucleotide changes in the whole genome, even though the mouse has 2.6 billion nucleotides,” he said. “You can make an animal that’s really quite normal and yet, if you inoculate it with a lethal tumor to wild type mice, it will completely resist that tumor. I can see ways that this can be applied to humans as well. We hope we can use this as the basis of therapy.

“To me the most exciting thing about research is the exploratory component.

We use a random process to create opportunities for discovery. Every day when I go to work, I know it might be the day that we find the wonderful mutation that leads to a cure for cancer, let’s say, or for some of the other interesting problems we work on. That can be really exciting.”

Beutler spent his day at OSU listening to the research symposium presentations made by faculty and graduate students from across the university. He also visited with graduate students during lunch learning about the many projects they are investigating.

“It was an honor for INTERACT and OSU to host Nobel Laureate Dr. Beutler,” said Dr. Ashish Ranjan, professor and director of INTERACT at the veterinary college. “We are very fortunate to hear him and surely he will motivate and inspire our researchers to do nextgeneration science.”

You can listen to the rebroadcast of the INTERACT Research Symposium morning and afternoon sessions, including Dr. Beutler’s keynote address at video.okstate.edu.

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Transatlantic Partnership between OSU Vet Med and University of Nantes to Advance One Global Health Medicine

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new international partnership between Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Nantes in France will lead to exciting opportunities for faculty and students under the umbrella of One Global Health Medicine.

The collaboration aims to promote cooperation in instruction, research and outreach including various forms of exchange (both in person and remotely) among students and faculty within the two institutions. The partnership will utilize complementary strengths, including unique state-of-the-art expertise and institutional resources, to tackle multifaceted disease problems and develop novel therapeutic strategies to enhance the wellbeing of animals, people and the environment.

This transatlantic partnership was fostered by the individual initiatives and research collaborations of internationally recognized faculty,

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including scientists and clinicians with a successful track record of independent research — Dr. Veronique Lacombe from OSU and Drs. Benjamin Lauzier and Yannick Guilloux from UN. A veterinarian/scientist, Lacombe is a professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the OSU CVM. She leads the Comparative Metabolism Laboratory, which investigates glucose metabolism during metabolic diseases and novel metabolic therapeutic strategies that could be beneficial to both veterinary and human patients.

She also teaches at the professional and graduate levels.

“The pandemic has highlighted the critical need for One Health Medicine, and I am excited to work on such a global initiative with European leaders in biomedical research and medicine,” Lacombe said. “While visiting the University of Nantes, I have been impressed with the rich environment that UN offers, including

research centers of excellence. I hope this international partnership will also inspire other faculty, as well as students and postdoctoral trainees, to join and develop this transatlantic academic network of excellence.

“In addition to using digital technology, faculty and graduate students from both institutions could travel abroad to enhance and share their knowledge and research skills while being exposed to a diverse environment and culture, including the beautiful lakes in Stillwater and the vibrant city of Nantes.”

Guilloux and Lauzier are faculty at the College of Sciences and Technology of UN and graduate program coordinators. They are also wellestablished scientists at the Research Center of Oncology and Immunology and the Thorax Institute, respectively.

“The COVID-19 situation gave us an incredible opportunity to demonstrate that working remotely (from any

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PROVIDED

distance actually) was possible,” Lauzier said. “We have established a strong and lasting working relationship with professor Lacombe’s team that will lead to joint funding requests, hosting of master and Ph.D. students, and much more. I hope that these relationships will serve as a springboard for other teams and that the relationship between our two institutions will be fruitful.”

This partnership will also provide high-impact international experiences for the next generation of scientists, as illustrated by the ongoing research/ teaching activities between the research teams of Lacombe and Lauzier. OSU CVM graduate students have already been beneficiaries of such exchanges.

“I highly anticipate our biweekly virtual journal club/seminar series with the University of Nantes,” said Matthew Rochowski, a graduate research assistant in Lacombe’s lab. “The exchanges with faculty, scientists and students are always very stimulating and will help me become a well-rounded scientist. In addition, the research collaboration with Dr. Lauzier’s lab at the Thorax Institute gives me a great opportunity to be exposed to unique research methods and novel medical research. In particular, they are able to perform a state-of-the-art experiment that I am unable to do myself that will be instrumental toward the successful

completion of my Ph.D. dissertation. In return, I will perform a unique experiment to measure glucose transport that Dr. Lacombe’s lab has mastered. I also hope to have the opportunity to visit Europe as part of these scientific exchanges.”

Lauzier said, “At the academic level, we will also be able to be innovative by allowing students to benefit from the expertise of the different universities. This is very motivating!.”

This is germane to the fact that both institutions are among the top institutions worldwide based on Isabelle Richard, vice president for European affairs and indicators linked to research international relations at the University of Nantes. and innovation.

“I am impressed that This international partnership professor Lacombe and my colleagues with a European peer institution will Drs. Benjamin Lauzier and Yannick contribute to OSU’s land-grant mission Guilloux took the initiative to develop and will build on OSU’s proud legacy a cooperation on a subject that is key to of extensive international outreach for both our institutions. I trust this MOU is more than 50 years. the first step towards a Memorandum of “We welcome this new partnership Agreement whereby we will implement with the University of Nantes, as we exchange programs for our students think this type of partnership extends and faculty in the One Health field in our passion for addressing global needs, the near future,” said Isabelle Richard, as articulated in the UN’s sustainable vice president for European affairs and development goals,” said Dr. Randy international relations at the UN. Kluver, associate provost and dean

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of OSU’s School of Global Studies and Partnerships. “We look forward to partnering with this prestigious university to further our mutual goal of advancing global health.”

OSU provides a supportive and collaborative interdisciplinary research environment with excellent access to infrastructure and offers excellent training opportunities.

“With our available graduate studies and research programs, collaborating

with the UN will enhance the academic and research interchange between our two institutions,” said Dr. Jerry Malayer, senior associate dean of research and graduate education.

“Many of our centers of research excellence overlap with research themes undertaken at the UN including, but not limited to, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and oncology.”

OSU CVM Dean Dr. Carlos Risco said, “We are excited for the opportunity

to collaborate with the University of Nantes in research and instructional activities in One Health to promote global well-being. This partnership will allow faculty and students from both institutions to combine their strengths and experience to accelerate scientific innovation, productivity and discovery.

This partnership will also support our college vision, which is to be innovative world leaders in health care, research and professional education.”

From left: Chantal Gauthier, dean of the College of Sciences and Technology at UN; Véronique Lacombe, professor at OSU CVM; Benjamin Lauzier, associate professor of UN College of Sciences and Technology; Yannick Guilloux, professor of UN College of Sciences and Technology; Jérémie Bourdon, associate dean of research at the UN College of Sciences and Technology.

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On the virtual call from Humanimal Trust in the United Kingdom were (top to bottom) Drs. Tracey King and Roberto La Ragione.

Representing Oklahoma State University were (left to right) from the College of Veterinary Medicine Drs. Ashish Ranjan, Carlos Risco, and Jerry Malayer, senior associate dean of research and graduate education, professor and McCasland Chair, and from the School of Global Studies and Partnerships Vivian Wang, director of Global Partnerships.

OSU Veterinary College’s INTERACT Partners with Humanimal Trust

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klahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Institute for Translational and Emerging Research in Advanced Comparative Therapy (INTERACT) recently inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Humanimal Trust. The United Kingdom based charity drives collaboration between veterinarians, physicians and the allied health/ scientific disciplines.

Launched in December 2020, INTERACT aims to promote One Health research by developing new therapeutics and diagnostic platforms for both veterinary and human medical settings.

“News of the launch of INTERACT inspired Dr. Tracey King, research and outreach manager with Humanimal Trust, to contact me about collaborating with OSU,” said Dr. Ashish Ranjan, Kerr

Foundation Endowed Chair, professor in Physiological Sciences and director of INTERACT. “This partnership will give both entities an opportunity to support One Health initiatives and learn the approaches that each country is applying to improve the lives of animals and humans globally. When international travel resumes, we hope to promote faculty and student exchanges for cross-country research projects.”

Dr. Roberto La Ragione, professor and Humanimal Trust’s Chair of Trustees, said his organization is thrilled to be partnering with INTERACT. “This is a pivotal moment for both Humanimal Trust and One Medicine and highlights the fact that when we work together, we are truly stronger together and can, therefore, deliver equitable benefits for both humans and animals,” he said.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PROVIDED

Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, thanked Humanimal Trust for their interest in OSU and willingness to partner with INTERACT. “This Memorandum of Understanding provides ample opportunities for both of us to work together and stimulate research that will drive medical progress and discovery in One Health to improve the lives of both people and animals, which I feel is our mutual mission,” Risco said.

King is excited about the partnership.

“The concept of One Medicine is much further ahead in the U.S. than in the U.K.,” King said. “We’re very excited about our partnership with INTERACT and working together to bring both human and veterinary medicine together as one.”

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A Remarkable Lightspeed Journey

As OSU veterinary college’s inaugural INTERACT Eminent Speaker, Dr. Philip Dormitzer tells the story of the Pfizer vaccine

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fizer’s chief scientific officer of vaccines gave an exclusive deep dive into the full process of developing a vaccine during an Oklahoma State University lecture.

Dr. Philip Dormitzer, a Pfizer vice president and chief scientific officer of viral vaccines and mRNA vaccines, spoke at the College of Veterinary Medicine’s inaugural INTERACT Eminent Speaker Series, offering insight into the warp speed pace that his company and German partner BioNTech embarked on for the COVID19 vaccine.

“This has been a collaboration with BioNTech,” he said during the March event. “Much has been said about how rapid the development was, and that’s part of the story. But I think the other part is how the sprint to develop this vaccine during the pandemic was built on research that actually started many years earlier.”

Pfizer began working with BioNTech in 2018 to make an RNA-based influenza vaccine, Dormitzer said.

“One of the things that appealed to us about RNA as a platform for flu was the ability to swap antigens in and out.

Because with flu, you are constantly changing the vaccine so the ability to change rapidly and readily could make for better strain matches, which is one of the determinants of how well flu vaccines work. That ability proved very useful in January 2020.

“When cases appeared in the U.S. in March 2020 that could not be traced to any known cause, Pfizer realized that a vaccine would be needed and that Pfizer’s capability of large-scale development and large-scale production was going to be needed for a global

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PFIZER INC.

immunization campaign,” he said.

“We added to our collaboration with BioNTech, a COVID-19 vaccine and entered the clinic with four different vaccines that included three different types of RNA.” The first trial began in April in Germany and in May in the U.S. before hitting a large-scale, pivotal global efficacy trial in July.

“What we found at this stage in development was that the Pfizer/ BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine — BNT162b2 with nucleoside modified mRNA — provided us with the reliability that we needed, gave us strong immune responses and was tolerated well,” he said.

The clinical trial enrolled 46,331 participants at 153 sites around the world with good diversity for race, ethnicity, age and underlying medical conditions. Research showed that the blood samples elicited by the Pfizer vaccine neutralize all widely circulating strains — the alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants.

While scientists are optimistic that the vaccine will protect against other emerging variants, more clinical research is needed to be sure.

Although the vaccine does cover the 2021 emergent variants, Dormitzer said Pfizer/BioNTech will continue to prepare for the possibility of strain changes with internal activities and coordination with regulatory and public health authorities taking advantage of the flexible RNA platform.

“By December (2020), we had our first emergency use authorization approval for the U.K., and later that month, EUA approval in the United States. And now we are in the midst of a global mass immunization campaign,” he said.

In March, President Joe Biden said the U.S. should have enough supply to give every adult at least one vaccine shot by the end of May. “An important point — no steps have been skipped,” Dormitzer said. “Things have been done in parallel. Things have

been done efficiently. Decision-making has been accelerated. There’s been a very rapid cycle of turning around data and having it reviewed. We had a dedicated plane just for transporting samples quickly. So the steps are all being done but what we’ve shown is that when it’s really an emergency, things can be done rapidly in parallel and not waiting for one step to finish before starting the next step.”

One example is scaling up manufacturing capacity before knowing if the vaccine is effective.

“It was a huge financial risk to build a whole manufacturing infrastructure before you know the vaccine works, but this was a situation that called for that kind of response,” Dormitzer said.

He said the future with COVID19 could take one of several paths.

Immunity could be durable and broad, with the virus becoming like a seasonal coronavirus, where, if a vaccine is needed, it would be a pediatric vaccine.

Other possibilities are that people would need a vaccine booster similar to that given for pneumonia’s emerging variants. Or, COVID could be a constantly changing virus like the flu that requires repeated or annual immunizations. Since Dormitzer’s presentation, data has shown booster shots are needed and health authorities have authorized them for a broad set of populations.

“If I were to guess, I would think it is more likely to not be quite like the flu,” Dormitzer said. “Coronaviruses are different. They have a much lower rate of change. I am surprised by how much change we have seen. I wonder how much is really being driven by immunity and how much is being driven by this virus still adapting to growth in humans. The key is we are going to be prepared for whatever it is we have to do.

“The partnership with BioNTech has been terrific. We have been able to combine the strengths of BioNTech’s innovative spirit with Pfizer’s capabilities and willingness to take a risk that we’re going to just do whatever

it takes to respond to this pandemic. The final element of it is that the teamwork was established before the pandemic, so our research and development teams had been working together for about 1 1/2 years at the time that the pandemic hit so we already knew how to work together. We knew each other very well, we trusted each other, and that really has enabled us to work together as a very effective team.”

Dormitzer said that Pfizer and partner BioNTech will continue to ramp up production, develop new dosage formulations, further explore the use of boosters for durability, continue to study potential use in young children and immunocompromised people, and prepare for emerging SARS-CoV2 strains.

In December 2020, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine launched the Institute for Translational and Emerging Research in Advanced Comparative Therapy (INTERACT) to promote One Health research for humans and animals.

INTERACT is a collaboration between OSU colleges and other stakeholders around the country who are engaged in cutting-edge clinical research utilizing devices, therapeutics and diagnostic platforms.

SEE MORE To watch Dr. Dormitzer’s entire presentation, visit okla.st/pfizer.

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COVID-19 CVM Faculty Research As the pandemic swept across the globe, the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine researchers quickly collaborated across campus, the state, the nation and the world to do their part in combating COVID-19. Here is a very brief summary of the phenomenal work they accomplished.

FRONTIERS IN GENETICS Genomic sequencing has played a major role in understanding the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2.

With the current pandemic, it is essential that SARS-CoV-2 viruses are sequenced regularly to determine mutations and genomic modifications in different geographical locations. Researchers sequenced five Oklahoma clinical samples (one from initial days and four during the peak). Previously reported mutations were identified with possible novel mutations also being detected.

Analysis showed similarity to other SARSCoV-2 viruses reported across the globe.

Structural characterization indicates that mutations in S gene possibly influence conformational flexibility and motion of the spike protein and the mutations in N gene are associated with a disordered linker region within the nucleocapsid protein.

Authors Narayanan S, Ritchey JC, Patil G, Narasaraju T, More S, Malayer J, Saliki J, Kaul A, Agarwal PK, Ramachandran A. Kaul is with the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. Agarwal is also with the OSU High Performance Computing Center and all others are with the veterinary college at OADDL or in the Departments of Physiological Sciences or Veterinary Pathobiology.

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For the full publication, visit frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ fgene.2020.612571/full.

SCIENTOMETRICS The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized by an unprecedented number of published scientific articles.

We independently assessed the type of articles published on PubMed during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the same time during the 2009 H1N1 swine influenza pandemic. Of the 2,482 articles retrieved on COVID-19, 1,165 were included while there were only 223 on H1N1 published during the same time frame.

Findings showed that during the COVID-19 pandemic there was a higher prevalence of reviews and guidance articles and a lower prevalence of in vitro and animal research studies compared with the H1N1 pandemic.

Compared to the H1N1 pandemic, the majority of early publications on COVID-19 do not provide new information, possibly diluting the original data published on this disease and consequently slowing down the development of a valid knowledge base on this disease.

Authors Di Girolamo N and Meursinge Reynders. Di Girolamo is with the veterinary college’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

Reynders is with the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Amsterdam University Medical Center in The Netherlands. Both have ties to organizations in Italy.

For the full publication, visit link. springer.com/article/10.1007% 2Fs11192-020-03632-0.

VIRUSES The emergence and ensuring dominance of COVID-19 on the world stage has emphasized the urgency of efficient animal models for the development of therapeutics for and assessment of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Shortcomings of current animal models for SARS-CoV-2 include limited lower respiratory disease, divergence from clinical COVID-19 disease and requirements for host genetic modifications to permit infection.

This study used 12 specific-pathogenfree domestic cats with six serving as controls. A significant correlation was observed between the degree of clinical disease identified in infected cats and pulmonary lesions. Results of this study validate a feline model for SARS-CoV-2 infection that results in clinical disease and histopathologic lesions consistent with acute COVID-19 in humans, thus encouraging its use for future translational studies.

Authors Rudd JM, Tamil Selvan M, Cowan S, Kao YF, Midkiff CC, Narayanan S, Ramachandran A, Ritchey JW, Miller CA. Midkiff is with the Division of Comparative Pathology at the National Primate Research Center at Tulane University. All others are in the veterinary college’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology or Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

For the full publication, visit mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/8/1550/htm .

BIORXIV This study validates a feline model for SARS-CoV-2 infection that results in clinical disease and histopathologic lesions consistent with severe COVID-19 in humans. A significant correlation exists

PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

between the degree of clinical disease identified in infected cats and pulmonary lesions.

Viral loads and ACE2 expression were quantified in nasal turbinates, distal trachea, lung and various other organs.

Natural ACE2 expression, paired with clinicopathologic correlates between this feline model and human COVID-19, encourages use of this model for future translational studies.

Authors Rudd JM, Selvan MT, Cowan S, Kao YF, Midkiff CC, Ritchey JW, Miller CA. Midkiff is with the Division of Comparative Pathology at the National Primate Research Center at Tulane University. All others are in the veterinary college’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology.

For the full publication, visit biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.1 4.439863v2 .

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY The global outbreak and rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 created an urgent need for large-scale testing of populations.

A demand for high-throughput testing protocols exists for efficient and rapid testing of clinical specimens.

We evaluated a pooled PCR protocol for testing nasopharyngeal swabs using known positive/negative and untested clinical samples assigned to pools of five or 10. This study showed that pooling of up to five samples can be employed in laboratories for the diagnosis of COVID-19 for efficient utilization of resources, rapid screening of a greater number of people and faster reporting of test results.

Authors More S, Narayanan S, Patil G, Ghosh P, Pushparaj S, Cooper E, Ritchey J, Cheruvu VK, Kaul A, Ramachandran A. Cheruvu is with the College of Public Health at Kent State University. Kaul is with the OSU Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa and the remaining authors are with the veterinary college’s Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

For the full publication, visit journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/ JCM.01295-20.

• Rudra Channappanavar, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology – “Immunogenicity and efficacy of Vaxxinity COVID vaccines in transgenic mice” funded by a private company.

• Lin Liu, Ph.D., Regents Professor, Lundberg-Kienlen Professorship in Biomedical Research in the Department of Physiological Sciences – “Development of a COVID-19 human lung tissue model for drug screen using iPSCs” funded by the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research.

• Sunil More, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Ph.D., DACVP, assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology – “SARS-C0V-2 vaccine development using a novel dual-functional immunoadjuvant/ stimulant” funded by a private company.

LOOKING AHEAD More research studies are coming in the future. Several proposals are pending with federal and private sponsors while these researchers already received new grant awards for their respective projects:

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‘Research Needs Veterinarians’ Phi Zeta Research Day welcomes Dr. Ron Banks

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r. Ron Banks said that when he began his journey to become a veterinarian, he had his sights set on being a dairy veterinarian.

It didn’t turn out that way, but Banks believes his journey took him where he needed to be.

Banks presented the keynote address at the 24th Annual Phi Zeta Research Day, sharing lessons he learned along the way — starting with the kind of lessons one can find in the veterinary medical profession.

After earning his DVM degree, Banks began service in the U.S. Army as a military working dog veterinarian.

While in the Army, his career in biomedical research launched with a residency at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. In subsequent service, Banks rose in the ranks to full colonel and came to oversee all animal research programs in the Army’s 13 medical centers. Testifying to his leadership skills and solid commitment to animal welfare, every program acquired AAALAC accreditation under his watch.

Army leadership valued Banks to the point of permitting his separation from the Regular Army if he would accept an appointment in the Army Reserves.

This agreement permitted him to accept a posting in medical academia as attending veterinarian at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. As an Army reservist, his primary duty was attending veterinarian of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and numerous short-term veterinary missions in support of Army Medicine.

Eventually, the Army released its claim on Banks, permitting his service

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retirement. He followed that with 12 years of distinguished service at Duke University Medical Center as director of the Office of Animal Welfare Assurance, before opting for retirement and a return to Oklahoma to “settle down.”

But Banks was called to professional service yet again when, in 2016, he accepted an invitation to serve as the director of the division of comparative medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). In addition to his operational role, Banks also holds the faculty rating of Dr. Ron Banks Professor of Research in the Department of Pathology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Particular highlights of his OUHSC tenure have been the development of the Preclinical Translational Research Facility, a 4.7 Tesla MRI capability for research, and ABSL3 research capability for the campus, systems and region.

Two aspects of the veterinary profession he continues to hold dear to his heart are research medicine and animal welfare.

“Research needs veterinarians,” Banks said. “I believe all of our earthly challenges have answers, and that animals hold secrets if not to all, then to 98 percent of those challenges. As veterinarians we have the unique ability to facilitate unlocking those mysteries.

“Having a team makes hard work successful. Teamwork is the secret for success and sustainment in this profession. Find your team, know your role and let the others do theirs. Share your success and remember you didn’t get there by yourself.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PROVIDED

“In research, we also practice One Health concepts as veterinarians. We assist the scientists in selecting the right model system for the specific disease or specific condition of their study. We guide the engagement of the model system through a homeopathic approach; attempting to ensure as normal a physiology in the animal as

we can while the animal is in the study.

Why? Good animal welfare equals good scientific data; data that is reliable, defensible and usable.”

Banks earned his DVM degree from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is a board-certified diplomate with the American College of Animal Welfare, the American College

of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. He is also a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.

Banks’ keynote address was co-sponsored by the Nu Chapter of Phi Zeta Honor Society and the Institute for Translational and Emerging Research in Advanced Comparative Therapy.

12th-Annual Lundberg-Kienlen Lecture Held Virtually

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r. Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology, immunology and pediatrics at the University of Iowa, presented a lecture at the 12th-annual Lundberg-Kienlen Lecture.

His presentation was “COVID19: Animal Models and Immune Responses” to a virtual audience at the event, which was co-hosted by the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (OCRID).

“COVID-19 is a pandemic disease with variable presentations and longterm after effects in some patients,” Perlman said. “Because of the widespread nature of the pandemic, much information has been garnered from infected patients. However, many aspects of the disease cannot be easily studied in patients. For that reason, it is important that animal models for the disease be developed.”

According to Perlman, hamsters, macaques, ferrets and cats are all candidates for animal models of COVID-19 infection.

“As we learn more about COVID19, animal models will be important in studies of organ specific diseases such as those exhibited by long haulers, anosmia (sense of smell), cardiac disease and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults and children,” he said.

Minks are also susceptible to infection and readily transmit it to humans. Animal models are useful to evaluate vaccines and therapeutics.

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Perlman as this year’s speaker for the lecture,” said Dr. Lin Liu, regents professor, LundbergKienlen Professorship in Biomedical Research, and director of OCRID. “Dr. Perlman has made a significant contribution to our understanding of human coronavirus pathogenesis and his lecture is very informative and exciting.”

In addition to his academic duties, Perlman serves on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Dr. Stanley Perlman for the COVID-19 Working Group at the Lancet Commission on COVID-19 Task Centers for Disease Control. He is a Force on the Origins, Early Control of special government employee with the the Pandemic and One Health Solutions FDA and serves on the Vaccines and to Future Pandemic Threats.

Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PROVIDED

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 53

Interdisciplinary Toxicology Symposium Welcomes Academics from All over

T

he 2021 Interdisciplinary Toxicology Symposium featured two days of research presentations from undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, ITP Graduate Fellows, ITP faculty members and three invited speakers with interdisciplinary expertise.

Held online via Zoom, the symposium was hosted by Dr. Carey Pope, ITP director and co-directors Dr. David Wallace and Dr. Jason Belden.

Dr. Daniel Schlenk presented “Adverse Outcome Pathways in Ecotoxicology.” A professor of aquatic ecotoxicology and environmental toxicology at the University of California Riverside, Schlenk said that there are more than 100,000 Dr. Daniel Schlenk chemicals with low concentrations in the environment of which we know very little. Moreover, the environment can cause substances to change in their chemical nature in a time-dependent manner.

Schlenk uses adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) to try to understand what happens at the molecular level to predict what will occur at the population and ecosystem levels. This knowledge assists with risk assessments to help determine if the use of a chemical substance needs to be monitored or in some cases, reduced. While AOPs cannot predict all outcomes or account for all variables that can influence toxicity, they are useful in providing

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information to aid in the regulatory decision-making process.

As the Dean’s Lecture in Interdisciplinary Toxicology, Oregon State University’s Dr. Stacey Harper presented “Integrative Nanotoxicology: Linking Rapid Assays and Informatics to Understand NanomaterialBiological Interactions.”

Harper stated there are challenges in accurately Dr. Stacey Harper measuring biological responses to nanomaterials, including use of appropriate dose metrics, understanding nanomaterial characterization and stability, and selection of appropriate experimental design and controls. She said understanding changes in surface chemistry of nanomaterials resulting from interaction with biological media should improve the models used.

Harper ended her presentation advocating for data sharing to help understand nanomaterial hazards, develop descriptive and predictive models of nanomaterial toxicity, and assist with model development — all of which have proven useful to investigate the ecotoxicity of these substances.

Dr. Timothy Shafer, of the Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure at the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, presented the 20th Annual Sitlington Lecture in Toxicology, “Reducing the Use of Animals

in Toxicity Testing: The In Vitro Developmental Neurotoxicity Testing Battery.”

Shafer explained that the current in vivo developmental neurotoxicity studies are only requested when there is a concern for sensitivity of the developing nervous system. The studies cost about $1 million per chemical, are time-consuming (one to two years), use too many animals per test and the resulting data quality varies considerably. Shafer said new approach methodologies (NAMs) that are faster, inexpensive and predictive are needed to detect and characterize compounds with developmental neurotoxicity potential.

Shafer said it is important that regulatory decision makers have confidence in the assays and the data in order to incorporate them into their decision-making process. Shafer continues to work with international colleagues on a guidance document to extend the developmental neurotoxicity testing battery for Dr. Tim Shafer improved data translation.

For more information on the Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, visit gradcollege.okstate.edu/programs/ toxicology/index.html.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PROVIDED

PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Greetings from the Alumni Society Dear OSU CVM Alumni and Friends, It is an honor to greet you on behalf of the Alumni Society.

I hope things are well with everybody in Oklahoma and worldwide!

It has been a wild ride in 2021. Our profession has dealt with increased demand combined with doctor and staff shortages like never before. Sometimes it feels like there is no time for friends, family and especially ourselves.

Thankfully, we have each other. I am so grateful for the many pep talks I have received from classmates and fellow alumni this year. We are all in this together! Please keep checking in on one another and things will get better.

On the lighter side, here are some of my favorite responses to a post on our Facebook Group, OSU CVM Alumni Society: Nothing is more satisfying than…

“Cuterebra!” — Lindsey Woods Erby ’12 “Finding a flea and showing it to the owner who says they don’t have fleas.” — Stacey Triscik ’97 “When that prolapse finally goes back in.”

— Michael Troy Shelby ’89 “Getting that hypoglycemic pup back from the dead.”

— Debbie Waggener ’95 “Watching the HR drop when you perform pericardiocentesis.”

— Allie Biddick ’12 “Sending a ‘here are your records’ certified letter” — Kyle Fugett ’11

Dr. Beth Stropes

“Making that last student loan payment.”

— Todd Mauldin ’91

In closing, I wish you a year of satisfying moments and successful cases. A year of lancing abscesses and paying off your student loans. But when the moments aren’t so satisfying and the cases don’t have happy endings, remember you are part of a great community that has your back. Touch base with a classmate and get that pep talk you need. Take care of yourself and each other and of course … Go Pokes!

Beth Stropes, DVM ’97 President, OSU CVM Alumni Society

OSU Veterinary College Offers Alumni Digital Career Services The College of Veterinary Medicine alumni affairs office now offers digital career services for all alumni.

The college appreciates practitioners who are interested in hiring Oklahoma State DVM graduates. Our skilled students will impress you thanks to a balanced education in theory, research and hands-on training with all major animal groups.

Practitioners can reach out to alumni affairs to list their open positions at no charge. Additionally, employers can post open jobs at HireOSUGrads.com free of charge. For a broader reach, open positions can be listed on the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association’s Career Center for Employers and the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Career Center for Employers.

Practitioners can also post a job announcement to be displayed during the OSU/OVMA Summer Seminar or OSU CVM Fall Conference. Please note there are fees associated with the OVMA, AVMA, and Summer Seminar/Fall Conference postings.

Current students are encouraged to contact alumni affairs to upload their resume to be considered for future employment opportunities.

For more details and to begin searching for your next veterinarian, please contact Sharon Worrell, alumni affairs specialist, at sworrel@okstate.edu.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 55

Dr. Joseph Annelli Delivers Class of 1963 Distinguished Lectureship One Health: Why is Easy, How is Hard

From left: Drs. Carlos Risco, dean of the CVM; Joseph Annelli, guest speaker; and Thomas Loafmann, class representative for the class of 1963.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

“There needs to be a generational change before One Health will be an acceptable method of conducting public health.”

DR. JOSEPH ANNELLI

A

ccording to Joseph Annelli, DVM, MS, One Health has been around for ages, starting in 384 B.C. when Aristotle covered both human and animal anatomy within his writings.

He was followed by Rudolph Virchow, who coined the term zoonosis (infection transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa) in 1590.

More recently, James Steel founded the veterinary public health division at the Centers for Disease Control in 1947 and Calvin Schwab coined the term One Medicine in 1964.

“Yet, 2,405 years later, we have not accepted the interactions between humans and animals and their environment,” Annelli said. “One Health seems to be a good idea, a better way to use skills and infrastructure and a more economical way of operationalizing at the interface of humans and animals.

Humans are a reactionary species. Only after an event occurs do we tend to respond appropriately.”

Annelli listed several influenza outbreaks that occurred and how we responded to each.

“In 2004, the world experienced outbreaks of avian influenza, which spilled over to humans and appeared to have a high mortality rate,” he said. “As a result, the federal government began preparations for and responses to that avian influenza outbreak and a potential pandemic. That effort lasted a few short years until an influenza pandemic overtook the world. That was an H1N1 virus which can also be found in swine.

“The H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009 turned out to be a very mild influenza and unfortunately, led the world to believe that influenza pandemics would be mild. But while the world was concerned about influenza viruses, new viruses that affect both animals and people emerged. The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome or MERS coronavirus and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS that came from a civet cat (small spotted skunk) affected people. In Malaysia, a virus seemed to spill over from bats to pigs to people in a town called Nipah giving us a disease that we now know as Nipah virus.

“One would have hoped that all these serious spillover disease events would have made it obvious that working together works. So, why is it so hard to work together, applying the principles of one health using a multi sectoral approach?”

Annelli looks to the study of human psychology to determine why it’s so difficult to work together. He specifically quotes Nicola Machiavelli’s explanation of why any new endeavor may be so hard to implement: “It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle then to initiate a new order of things, for the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order,” Annelli said. “This lukewarm arises partially from the incredulity of mankind who does not truly believe in anything new until they actually have experienced it.

“There needs to be a generational change before One Health will be an acceptable method of conducting public health. The human conditions of competition, compromise and partnership as motivators are strong in humans. We still have our fight or flight instincts and we still have emotional reactivity to new situations and the way of thinking about things.

“It may also take ‘an act of Congress’ before people will change. Fortunately, there are several acts of Congress currently being considered that will legislate collaboration and cooperation in a One Health environment. These bills also have appropriations associated with them. In the past, significant funding disparities existed between human health and animal health. As a result, it was difficult to collaborate when such a huge deficit existed on the animal health side.”

So what’s the answer?

“Don’t give up,” Annelli said.

“Continue to operate in a One Health format. Apply for grants in a multidisciplinary way. Be the change you want to see and overcome the disbelievers with optimism and positivity.”

Annelli is the executive vice president of the National Association of Federal Veterinarians and the former director of the USDA One Health Coordination Center. He attended De La Salle Araneta University College of Veterinary Medicine in the Philippines and completed his studies at the University of Tennessee. He earned his Master of Science degree in veterinary epidemiology and public health at the University of Minnesota.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 57

REUNIONS

Class of 1970 Holds Delayed 50th Reunion In 2020, the class of 1970 was set to celebrate its 50th reunion. However, COVID-19 prevented in-person events. In September 2021, the class finally gathered to celebrate their successes.

Michael L. Andrews, DVM — Worked at several practices throughout Texas that were either small animal or mixed animal practices. He now owns Emory Veterinary Clinic and continues to work full-time with partner Samantha Gibbs, DVM, (OSU CVM ’18).

Cleta Sue Bailey, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM — Completed a residency in neurology/neurosurgery at the University of California, Davis. She went on to teach neurology at UC Davis, working on a variety of animals and collaborating with others to publish papers and textbook chapters. Bailey served as president of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s specialty of neurology and as chief of the veterinary neurology service at UC Davis. In 2017, Bailey received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumni Award. She is now retired.

Billy R. Clay, DVM, Ph.D., DACVT — Taught at OSU CVM while working on his Ph.D. After becoming board certified in toxicology, he joined Upjohn Company to help develop pharmaceuticals. He continues to work as a private veterinary toxicology and agronomics consultant. Clay remains active in the Oklahoma and American Veterinary Medical Associations serving on committees, councils and as an officer.

Larry D. Endersby, DVM — Worked in a mixed animal practice for a year near Choctaw and Jones, Oklahoma. After his wife Marcia’s graduation (OSU CVM ‘71), they established a mixed animal practice in Woodward, Oklahoma. He also worked as an auction market veterinarian part-time for 18 years. Endersby practiced until 2003 when he sold the practice. He also enjoys raising, training and competing with Labrador Retrievers and even did some judging.

Frederick M. Enright, DVM, Ph.D. — Practiced briefly in Louisiana before pursuing graduate studies at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis. In 1974, he joined Tulane University Delta Regional Primate Center in Covington, Louisiana.

In 1977, Enright joined the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.

In 2010, he retired from LSU as head of the Veterinary Science Department, interim director of the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and as the Doyle Chambers Distinguished Professor. Enright received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012.

Donnie L. Gardner, DVM — Married classmate Susan Faulkner, DVM (deceased January 2020). The couple practiced mixed animal medicine for 10 years in Roanoke, Virginia. Susan

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took a sabbatical to have their two sons while Donnie worked a solo dairy practice. She later practiced beef cattle veterinary medicine and spent the last 10 years of her career as diagnostician/director at the Lynchburg Regional Virginia Department of Consumer Services Animal Health Lab. Donnie was very active in organizations, and he received several honors, including a 2021 OSU CVM Distinguished Alumni Award. He currently owns and operates Gardner Heifers, Inc., a custom dairy heifer raising business.

Richard D. Hanschu, DVM — Worked at the State Diagnostic Laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas, until 1971 when he opened a new practice in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He sold the practice in 1993 to Dr. Vernon Newby (OSU CVM ’78). He and wife Anne built a log home on one of their timber properties in Oregon, where they have lived for the past 28 years.

Stanley D. Kosanke, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, DACLAM — Attended Texas A&M University to earn a Ph.D. in veterinary pathology.

In 1974, he joined the Southern Research Institute to work on the National Cancer Institute’s Carcinogenesis Bioassay Program. In 1977, Kosanke joined University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. For the next 44 years, he taught general pathology and human systemic pathology to dental students and developed a care and use of research animals course for graduate and postdoctoral students. In 1989, he started a consultation service through OUHSC to provide histopathology expertise to private veterinary reference labs, universities and pharmaceutical companies. He received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumni Award in 2013 and retired in June 2017. He still teaches two pathology courses to dental students and works part-time with Comparative Medicine.

John M. LeBus, DVM — Taught one year at OSU CVM and served in the U.S. Air Force the next four years. He then worked at a Houston small animal clinic for a year followed by a year at a mixed animal practice in Beaumont, Texas. LeBus purchased a small animal clinic in Carrollton, Texas, where he worked until 1998 when he sold the practice. He currently owns and operates a small animal practice in Lumberton, Texas, with no plans of retirement in sight.

Eric A. Munson, DVM — Served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps for three years, spending time stationed in Yokohama, Japan. He then joined Midwest Veterinary Hospital until 1977 when he joined Great Plains Veterinary Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, and became partner a year later. In 1988, he sold his share and moved to Wisconsin working in a small animal practice during the day and in an emergency practice on some nights and weekends. In 1966, he purchased Veterinary Medical Associates in Greendale, Wisconsin. He semi-retired in 2019, continuing ownership of the hospital and managing it.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Front row (from left): Drs. D. C. Smith, Tom Shroyer, Lyndon Tate, Eric Munson, Babette Simms and Billy Clay.

Back row (from left): Drs. Ronny Kiehn, Robert Bahr, Michael Andrews, John Hammond, J. Harmon Smith, Larry Nolen and Stanley Kosanke.

Larry L. Nolen, DVM, MS — Worked in a mobile equine practice in Wayzata, Minnesota, for one year. He joined Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine in the large animal clinic and pursued a master’s degree. In 1974, Nolen joined Back Stretch Medicine and Surgery in New Orleans, Louisiana. After two years, he started a solo farm equine practice in the Folsom, Louisiana area. In 1982, he moved to the Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, area and started a solo general equine mobile practice where he worked for 22 years. Nolen moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he started a mobile general equine practice in 2004 and currently practices full time.

D.C. Smith, DVM — Completed an internship at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and returned to work in a small animal practice in Tulsa. Several years later, Drs. Smith, Bob Green and Dave Mitchell started Veterinary Associates, a small animal practice in Tulsa. He sold the practice in 2016 to National Veterinary Associates. Smith didn’t like retirement and began working at River Trail Animal Hospital in Tulsa three days a week. In 2004, Smith received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumni Award.

James Harmon Smith, Jr., DVM — Returned to Birdeye, Arkansas, and established Cross County Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice covering six counties. He served on the Arkansas Medical Examination Board (1973-1983) holding the office of secretary treasurer for four years. Smith received a Long Term Service Award from the Cross County 4-H Foundation Board honoring his service. Smith still practices full time.

Thomas H. Shroyer, DVM — Went to work as a relief veterinarian in a dairy practice in South Dayton, New York, for the summer.

He then moved to Machias, New York, working for a practice for the next two years. He returned to Eufaula, Oklahoma, for a year and then joined a practice in St. Lucas, Iowa, located just a county from where he was born. Four years later in 1978, he returned to Eufaula to help grow a dairy operation with his brother Don. The operation was successful until 1999. During that time, he continued an informal large animal practice. Currently, Shroyer raises Angus cattle on the family ranch.

Jon M. Southerland, DVM — Joined a clinic in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and became part owner a year later. After three years, he moved back to his hometown of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, and started a mostly large animal practice taking farm calls and working a sale barn. In February 1977, Southerland sold the Rush Springs clinic and opened a small animal clinic in North Little Rock, Arkansas, where he practiced for 37 years. In June 2014, he opened a 5,000 square foot facility, which caused the practice to grow at a faster rate with four veterinarians and about 30 employees total.

Lyndon H. Tate, DVM — Worked at OSU CVM in the large animal clinic for three months. In September 1970, he established a mixed animal practice in eastern Oklahoma. In January 1975, he became partners in a Fort Smith, Arkansas, practice and opened a satellite clinic in Greenwood, Arkansas, in 1976. In 1979, Tate purchased the Greenwood clinic and operated as a solo practitioner until he sold the practice in 1994 to retire.

He remained active by doing veterinary relief work for local clinics. In 2009, he received the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association Practitioner of the Year Award.

Philip C. Ulmer, DVM — Served in the U.S. Air Force until June 1972 receiving the Bronze Star for service in Thailand. Ulmer bought into a three-man mixed animal practice in Idaho serving west central Idaho and east central Oregon. In 1995, he sold his share of practice, retiring to farm full-time on a row crop farm and tend to a herd of Angus-cross cows. Ulmer was active in the community serving on several boards including schools, education foundation, county economic development and as a Boy Scout leader.

Ted L. Wiggins, DVM — Moved to Springdale, Arkansas, where he lives today. He practiced mixed animal veterinary medicine for about 15 years and then small animal medicine for the last 25 years. In the early 1980s, he and practice partner, Dr. W.A. Endacott (OSU CVM ’57), started a vet supply and feed store.

Endacott retired in 1993 and took the store; Wiggins kept the practice and sold it in 2011 when he retired.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 59

Reuniting and Renovations Class of 1971 celebrates 50th anniversary

The College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 1971 celebrated their accomplishments as 50 years have passed since their graduation from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Gary Detrich touched on his memories of his time at OSU CVM and life following graduation.

“The day I walked into McElroy Hall my life changed forever,” Detrich said. “With the opportunities it gave me, the doors it opened and the life I have been able to live, I would not change one thing.”

Detrich said it was important to him to get most of his classmates together for the reunion given the amount of time they spent together in their years studying.

“Their lives were as influenced as much as mine, but it all started here,” Detrich said. “We all started as a group of scared youngsters not knowing what would happen in the future.”

At the reunion, Dr. Detrich and his classmates paid a visit to McElroy Hall, where it all began, to see the product of the landscaping project their class made possible.

“The Panciera classroom building was getting underway and some other facility projects were happening at the college so as things were becoming more up to date, Dr. Shepherd’s class wanted McElroy Hall to also look a little more updated,” said Ashley Hesser, OSU CVM director of development.

Hesser said starting in 2018, the class worked one and a half years fundraising for the landscaping renovations on the north and east sides of McElroy Hall. Construction finally began in 2020 before being halted by the effects of COVID-19 and is now expected to conclude before students return in the fall.

Dr. Richard Shepherd, OSU Foundation Board of Governors member and CVM class of 1971 alumnus, said he worked with Hesser to see what the process would be to procure the project in front of McElroy Hall where he and his classmates spent their four years of veterinary school.

After spending his time contacting classmates and working with the foundation to put the money together, Shepherd said he also had to coordinate with the horticulture department to design an upgrade to the entryway.

“It truly has been a class-wide project and I cannot say enough good things about the classmates who gave generously to the endeavor and the OSU Foundation for their help and commitment,” Shepherd said. “I am truly proud to be a member of the class of 1971 and an alumnus of Oklahoma State University.”

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Tommy C. Brown, DVM — Started his own mixed practice in Morrilton, Arkansas, which evolved into a small animal practice after 20 years of being mostly large animal. His clientele included WinRock Farms and Heifer International. Brown retired in 2008 after 36 years of practice.

Sam M. Crosby, DVM — Worked in a mixed animal practice in Frederick, Oklahoma. He later participated in the development and operations of mixed practices in Myrtle Point, Oregon, and Tahlequah, Oklahoma until settling into an equine practice in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. He would eventually move to Oklahoma City to be near Remington Park. Here, he decided to pursue a degree in law at Oklahoma City University and his son took over his equine practice. Today, he resides with his wife in Carney, Oklahoma, where they manage and assist in all aspects of their farm.

Gary L. Detrich, DVM — Worked six months in a mixed animal practice in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, before reporting to the United States Air Force as Captain at the Military Dog Training School in San Antonio, Texas. After being discharged from the Air Force he worked in Chelsea, Oklahoma, later moving to Cushing, Oklahoma, in 1974 to open the Cimarron Valley Animal Clinic. He practiced there solo which he continues to do today.

Marcia L. Endersby, DVM — Worked together with her husband at a clinic they built in Woodward, Oklahoma, until she had the opportunity to work for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in 1989. She continued working for FSIS first as a relief supervisory veterinary medical officer, then promoted to a circuit supervisor, deputy district manager and after 20 years, retiring as Springdale district manager. In 2003, Endersby and her husband sold their practice and began to focus more on farming and ranching.

Thomas C. Eubanks, DVM — Worked at his practice, Eubanks Animal Clinic in Jacksonville, Arkansas, until his son later took over. He was very involved in the Arkansas VMA and voted Veterinarian of the Year along the way. Eubanks finished practicing around nine years ago and now spends his days in the garden along with doing other housework while caring for his wife.

William E. Ferrell, DVM — Worked in a mixed practice, primarily cattle, in Hennessey, Oklahoma, before beginning a practice of his own in 1983 where he began custom backgrounding small calves and farming. In 2019, after 36 years, he sold the practice to Rachel Collins, DVM and retired.

STORY HANNAH McCOON | PHOTO DERINDA BLAKENEY

Seated (from left): Drs. Patrick McCoy, Wayne Sizelove, Charles Hatfield, Thomas Bowles and Sybil Heise Middle row (from left): Drs. William Ferrell, James Hensley, Glenn Huckabee, Gary Detrich, John Myers, James Ralston, Timothy Woody and George Badley Back row (from left): Drs. Cliff McDonald, Larry Minter, Kenneth Gunkel, Richard Shepherd, John Scott and Jimmie Shipman

Kenneth E. Gunkel, DVM — Worked at Beavers Animal Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma, where he mostly practiced with large animals. Following 14 years of practice, he decided to build his own small animal clinic, Oak Ridge Animal Center. Through the next 10 years he brought on two additional small animal clinics to his practice. Years later, he sold two of his three clinics. The third clinic became a feline only practice, Kool Kat Klinic, which he sold in 2010 when he retired.

Charles S. Hatfield, DVM — Worked in a practice in Kentucky before purchasing a mixed animal practice in Bentonville, Arkansas. In 2006, his clinic was sold, and he built a working facility on his Brangus farm. Hatfield continues to do veterinary work for close friends and has a patented leash/collar brand under the Hatfield Pet Specialties name that can be found in Walmart stores.

Sybil F. Heise, DVM — Completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at UC Davis. In 1979, she and Don Heise, DVM, built the Town and Country Veterinary Clinic in Guymon, Oklahoma. The clinic served a five-state area up until she and Don retired while closing the clinic in 2014. She received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumna Award in 2015.

James B. Hensley, DVM — Worked with Shawnee Animal Hospital in Shawnee, Oklahoma, for five years following graduation. He later left the practice to start his own small animal practice in Shawnee. He remained there for 20 years and worked in a relief practice for over 15 years in the Oklahoma City area before his 2020 retirement.

Glenn D. Huckabee, DVM — Began practice as an associate at Northwest Animal Hospital. After 18 months, he started his own small animal/avian medicine practice in Southwestern Oklahoma City where he practiced until his June 2020 retirement.

Charles S. Jackson, DVM — Worked at the Animal Hospital of Wilkes, a mixed animal practice in Wilkesboro, North Carolina before retiring in 2016. He has been a member of the Wilkes County Animal Control Advisory Committee for over 20 years, has served on the Wilkes Board of Health for nine years and the Wilkes Public Health Dental Clinic Board for 19 years. Jackson was inducted into the Wilkes County Ag Hall of Fame in 2015.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 61

Larry A. Kerr, DVM — Worked in a mixed animal practice in Bluefield, West Virginia. He remained there until 1980 at which time he returned to OSU to do a veterinary toxicology residency at the diagnostic lab. Upon obtaining certification, Dr. Kerr taught veterinary toxicology at Mississippi State University and the University of Tennessee before retiring in 2008.

Patrick C. McCoy, DVM — Worked for a year in Dallas, Texas before moving to Denver, Colorado where he practiced at a small animal clinic for six years. In 1978, he and his family returned to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he completed an internship in toxicology at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. He then went on to teach toxicology and pathology at Mississippi State University for 30 years.

Cliff R. McDonald, DVM — Worked at the Windsor Animal Clinic in Coalgate, Oklahoma, and became co-owner in 1973. Eleven years later, he started as a field veterinarian with the State Department of Agriculture stationed in Poteau, Oklahoma, until retiring in 2013.

Lawrence F. McTague, DVM — Moved to his hometown of Ardmore, Oklahoma, upon graduation and continues to reside there. McTague was employed full time in a mixed animal practice until the practice was sold in 2016. Today, he works part time, primarily with cattle.

Larry L. Minter, DVM — Worked two years in Killeen, Texas, before moving to the Dallas area to open a satellite clinic for an established practice in Richardson, Texas. Shortly after, he bought the practice where he remained for 47 years. In the 1980s, he began orthopedic and ACL repairs until his retirement in 2019. Today, he continues to do occasional ACL repairs for one large practice.

John L. Myers, DVM — Served in the U.S. Army. In veterinary practice, he eventually focused on theriogenology and owned a veterinary clinic located in Vinita, Oklahoma. During his life he wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper, taught Sunday school, coached little league and raised cattle. He received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2019.

James B. Ralston, DVM — Served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps for two years. In 1973, he joined a small animal practice in El Dorado, Arkansas, and became owner in 1983. He built a new hospital in 1986 and had a very successful practice up until it was sold in 2011. Ralston was selected as Arkansas Veterinarian of the Year in 2014.

James L. Reynolds, DVM — Worked for a mixed practice at Vanderbilt Veterinary Hospital for two years before becoming a third partner. He and a partner ran large animal mobile units during the ‘70s up until they sold their units to practice small animal medicine exclusively. Reynolds retired partially in 2002 after selling a portion of his clinic. He continued to work part time until around 2006.

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John F. Scott, DVM — Completed an internship in medicine at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. He then moved to Houston, where he began working in a private practice and after three years bought the practice where he remained until 1990. Effects of the “oil bust” in the late ‘80s led Dr. Scott to pursue law school and begin work with two firms in Amarillo, Texas. Later, he started his own law practice and began working weekends at a local PetSmart. Today, he works part time at a private clinic and works Sundays at vaccination clinics in Dallas.

Richard H. Shepherd, DVM — Worked as the resident veterinarian for Hunt Ranches in Texas and Oklahoma until starting a large animal practice in Denton County, Texas in 1975. He later opened a thoroughbred breeding operation in 1980, Lakeshore Animal Clinic in 2000 and Animal Imaging of North Texas in 2005. Shepherd currently serves on the Board of Directors of Animal Imaging of North Texas, the Argyle Water Board, the Habitat for Humanity Board, Board of Governors of the Oklahoma State University Foundation and is the Animal Issue Disaster Response Team chairman.

K. Wayne Sizelove, DVM — Completed an internship in large animal medicine and reproduction at UC Davis before returning to Buffalo, Oklahoma where he purchased and re-opened a clinic. He later returned to UC Davis with his family for a master’s program in epidemiology. Upon completion, he continued practice in Buffalo until 2010. Sizelove served as OVMA President in 2003.

Timothy J. Woody, DVM — Worked in a mixed animal practice in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, for over 25 years. Later, he resurrected a small animal practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He worked there in solo practice for 13 years before he sold it in 2009 to start full time relief work at his old practice in Siloam Springs. Today, he continues to work four days most weeks. Woody was involved in various positions through Arkansas VMA while serving as OSU CVM Alumni Society president and as a CVM Alumni Council member. He received an OSU CVM Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2017.

Class Reunions

1970

From left: Drs. Billy Clay and Stan Kosanke

1980

Front row (from left): Drs. Charlie Jones, Susan Bloss, Mary Patchell, David Blount and Kevin O’Hair Back row (from left): Drs. Dwight Olson, Oran Carter, Fred Lehman, and Mike Bunning

PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 63

1981

From left: Drs. Mary Ballenger, Paul Welch, Genie Bishop and Deena Gregory

1986

Front row (from left): Drs. Michelle Quinn, Leslie Cole, and Karen Atkinson Back row (from left): Drs. Clay Clark, Joseph Quinn, Grant Rezabek, Michael Pruitt, and Keith Fuchs

2011 Front row (from left): Drs. Rachel Perteet, Kimberly Park, and Melissa Gillock Back row (from left): Drs. Dana Lagaly, Laurel Tree, Janine Veronneau, and Remington Pettit

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The College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Board is excited to announce its commitment to proudly lead all current CVM students to their own lifelong connection with the university we all love.

Get involved at

Three Named 2021 Distinguished Alumni These individuals have enhanced the reputation of the college by distinguishing themselves in their careers, making significant contributions to their community, state and nation. They exemplify the loyalty, passion and innovation found in all dedicated graduates from our college.

DR. ALVIN BAUMWART After graduating from college with a bachelors degree, Baumwart immediately became classified 1A with the Selective Service System in 1972.

He concurrently enrolled in a master’s program and ROTC at OSU. Baumwart then applied and was accepted to attend the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973. Afterward, he accepted a 4-year Army Health Professions Scholarship with a 4-year payback commitment.

Baumwart completed a Master Degree in Animal Science (Nutrition/Immunology) and received his DVM degree in 1977.

He then served four years active duty as chief of the medical branch of JFK Special Forces Schools in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

After leaving active duty, Baumwart established the Highland Veterinary Clinic in Arapaho, Oklahoma, in June 1981. He was recruited to return to Army duty by entering the U.S. Army Reserve, and later recruited to become the OKARNG State Veterinarian, finally retiring in the Army Reserve in Dallas in 2010 as a colonel.

Baumwart said the friendships and experiences spanning 37 years of military service are countless and priceless. He had deployments to Central and South America, Turkey and was activated as the first Veterinary Unit in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001.

In Baumwart’s 40 years of private practice, he saw stock market crashes, oil boom/bust, volatile oil prices and interest rates, cattle market boom/bust, farm and ranch foreclosures, drought, flood, terrorism, war, an anthrax scare, Mad Cow

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Disease, West Nile Virus, numerous livestock movement restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through it all, Baumwart’s wife, Donna, and associate, Dr. Jon Shepherd (OSU CVM ’83), kept him on course, he said.

Baumwart’s children — Angie, Ryan, and Chad — all went on to not only become DVM’s, but also specialize and become leaders in their own right. Shepherd’s daughter, Christina, also became an OSU CVM graduate.

Dr. Angie Dubois and husband Dr. Bill Dubois have been CVM missionaries in Indonesia for the past five years and have children Iris and Vince. Dr. Ryan Baumwart and wife Shaundra are in Pullman, Washington, with their two daughters, Brighton and Charline. Ryan is the assistant professor in cardiology at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Chad Baumwart and wife April are co-owners of Highland Veterinary Clinic, and Chad is a board-certified surgeon and owner of Highland Equine Hospital.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY

DR. ROCKY BIGBIE Dr. Rocky Bigbie of Guthrie, Oklahoma, earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science (’77) and his DVM degree (’81) from Oklahoma State University.

He went on to complete an equine surgical residency/ graduate school at Auburn University earning a masters degree in veterinary surgery (’89).

Bigbie served 26 years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps (active duty and reserves) retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

During his military career he conducted training visits to Veterinary Treatment Facilities, directed the Animal Care Specialist School, and commanded the 445th Medical Detachment.

He spent two years as an associate veterinarian at Equine Medical Associates in Suwanee, Georgia. A five-veterinarian referral practice, Bigbie focused on herd health, surgery, lameness and emergency practice.

In 1995, Bigbie began his exemplary career in the pharmaceutical industry starting with Fort Dodge Animal Health, to Pfizer Animal Health and finally to Zoetis. He used a multitude of skills to manage teams effectively, work with all species — equine, companion animal and livestock, excel in equine pharmaceutical and biological technical services — and successfully serve as academic liaison to all western veterinary colleges, empowering colleagues at these colleges and state diagnostic laboratories.

Throughout his veterinary career, Bigbie has been involved in organized veterinary medicine. He served in several capacities with the American Association of Equine Practitioners, including forum facilitator, therapeutics and biologics forum, equine welfare committee, unwanted horse task force and equine euthanasia guidelines.

His mentorship of veterinary students throughout the western United States has been a positive influence on so many and his support of student programs regionally and nationally has been tireless.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 67

DR. DONNIE GARDNER Dr. Donnie Gardner grew up on a cattle ranch and dairy farm in southern Oklahoma.

During high school FFA, he managed a herd of 20 registered Duroc sows and sold show pigs and feeders. After graduating in 1970 with their DVM degrees, the late Dr. Susan Gardner and he moved to Bedford County, Virginia, where they built Bedford Animal Hospital.

There, they worked the mixed animal practice for 10 years. Gardner then went into solo dairy practice and built a productive dairy heifer raising operation, Gardner Heifers Inc., which he still runs today.

Gardner’s business raises heifers for dairy farmers in Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He was the first in the county to do no-till alfalfa seeding, treat mature grass hay with anhydrous ammonia to improve digestibility, wrap baleage with an inline bale wrapper and plant no-till corn in green standing cover crops. Gardner was also the first in his part of Virginia to use brown midrib brachytic dwarf forage sorghum for a direct cut silage crop.

Gardner helped establish what is known today as the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association and served in leadership for several years. He also facilitated the start of Hunters for the Hungry project where Virginia hunters donate venison that is then given to people in need of quality lean protein. In its 30th year, the program has provided 7.4 million pounds or 29.6 million servings of this natural renewable resource.

He participated in the creation of the Virginia Academy of Food Animal Practitioners to improve continuing education and professional relationships and promote the practice of food animal veterinary medicine in Virginia. Gardner served in leadership positions of this organization and still does today as secretary/treasurer.

Gardner was also involved on a national level with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners as well as many state and local organizations too numerous to list.

He has received many awards and honors including the Roger Cady Award, the Professional Dairy Heifer Growers highest award (2004), AABP Bovine Practitioner of the Year Award (2011) and the Paul E. Landis Virginia Veterinarian of the Year Award (2015).

Gardner has been active in his community serving on his church board of directors and supporting the Virginia State Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom Project and the local FFA chapter. He has shared his vast knowledge through many publications and presentations throughout his career.

The Gardners were married for 50 years before Susan passed away. Their two sons, Andy and Sam, are partners in the dairy heifer raising enterprise and have given Donnie three grandsons and one granddaughter.

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Supporting the OSU College of Vet Med Legacy

I

n 1985, Drs. Gary Spodnick and Julie O’Carroll earned their DVM degrees from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

The married couple had very successful veterinary careers. Spodnick co-owned a specialty practice for 18 years and continued to work there five years after selling the business.

O’Carroll worked 20 years as a technical support veterinarian for Elanco Animal Health.

It is their success that fills them with gratitude and a desire to give back to the college that gave them so much.

“A favorite quote of ours by Louis Pasteur — ‘Chance favors the prepared mind’ — is also a principle by which we live,” Spodnick said. “Opportunities for success and good fortune may present themselves when least expected, and it is important to be ready to recognize these and be open minded to act on them. We enjoy the success we have today because we were well prepared with a solid education and good training

received at OSU and from the support of the OSU faculty.

“Chance and preparedness have also come together in such a way to allow us to provide support to our alma mater.”

Now semi-retired, Spodnick and O’Carroll are making a generous estate gift to the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Over the past several years, Spodnick served as a locum in the small animal surgery service, which gave the couple many opportunities to be in Stillwater.

“We enjoyed reconnecting with the school and with classmates and being in the place where many happy years were spent,” O’Carroll said. “It’s also apparent that the veterinary hospital has aged and is in need of financial support now to help it continue to be competitive and to attract faculty and clinicians who will shape the next generation of veterinarians.

“Our hard work and good fortune, combined with an intimate understanding of the needs of the CVM,

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO DERINDA BLAKENEY

have inspired us to make this gift. We recognize that without the education, training and support we received from OSU, we would not be in the position we are today. It is our way of ‘paying it forward.’”

The college’s Veterinary Medical Hospital was built in the late 1970s and opened in 1981. While several key areas have been updated in recent years, many critical infrastructure and space modification needs remain.

“Everyone has a story about their education and career path,” Spodnick said. “For many, it likely goes back to their early days when they were mentored by a veterinarian or influenced by a faculty member — Dr. Peterson and Dr. Friend in a freshman anatomy class, for example, or Dr. Panciera in pathology — that helped guide and shape their career decisions.

We owe something to this place and the legacy of those who provided us with a ‘prepared mind.’

“Our veterinary college is at a crossroads — it needs our support to regain its position as a leader in veterinary education and research. This is a time for all of us to give gratitude and thanks to our college for all that it has provided us. There are many ways to do this, but one of the most profound ways is to provide direct financial support to the CVM.”

If you would like to support OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, please contact Ashley Hesser, director of development with the OSU F oundation, at 405-385-0715 or ahesser@osugiving.com.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 69

IN MEMORIAM James (Jim) Hanson Brandt, DVM, 87 of Nokomis, Florida, passed away on Oct. 25, 2021.

large game animals desperate for medical care.

He loved sports and if he wasn’t watching, he was listening on his radio.

Born in McPherson, Kansas, he married the love of his life, Patty Sue Hasemeiser, in 1955. Brandt earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1964.

Chatham is survived by his sons: Gary Chatham, Steve Chatham and Allan Chatham; daughter Deborah Steele, 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Following graduation, the Brandt family moved to the Venice, Florida, area where Dr. Brandt opened Brandt Veterinary Clinic. Here, he cared for animals and clients until he retired in 1997.

Brandt was a leader in the community, sitting on many boards as a member or officer; a director of Guaranty Bank of Southwest Florida and Venice Hospital and a founding director of The Venice Foundation.

His passion for veterinary medicine also led him to serve as the Florida Veterinary Medical Association president, president of the Southwest Florida Veterinary Medical Association and a member of the AVMA House of Delegates, serving as Florida’s delegate or alternate from 1989 until his election as AVMA president-elect in 2000.

Following his tenure as AVMA president, Brandt became the first past-president in eight decades to immediately chair the AVMA Board of Directors and oversaw the AVMA Group Health and Life Insurance Trust, now known as AVMA Life.

In 2006, the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine awarded Brandt a Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 2013, he received the AVMA Award, the Association’s highest accolade, for his years of service to the profession.

Brandt is survived by his wife of 66 years, Pat; son Hadley Brandt; three grandchildren and his soonto-be-born first great-granddaughter, Baby Brandt.

Source: Brandt Family and JAVMA News Lee “Doc” Chatham, DVM, of Queen Creek, Arizona, passed away on Oct. 24, 2021. He was 86.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, he grew up on his parents’ dairy farm. He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1959. Chatham began his career in partnership with a classmate in Buckeye, Arizona. And then moved to Chicago, Illinois. Here, his practice turned to equine medicine working racetracks. He later purchased a pharmaceutical company in Kansas City, Missouri, and manufactured the drugs once used in his practice. In 1990, he purchased a veterinary clinic in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. In 2000, Chatham returned to Arizona, settling in Queen Creek where he practiced equine medicine even after turning 85 years old.

Chatham was an avid polo player. He traveled to Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, Alabama and Pennsylvania to play. There were international trips to Argentina and Cameroon, as well as charitable benefit matches, the most notable being the Kidney Foundation. Chatham also attended clown school and worked as Seedy the Clown to bring joy to his grandchildren and children of all ages. In 2017, he traveled with other veterinarians to Africa to provide veterinary service to

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Source: San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home and Advance Planning Center James (Jim) Edward Christy, DVM, 89 of Riesel, Texas, passed away on Dec. 2, 2020.

Born in Wellston, Oklahoma, he graduated from Wellston High School and earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1954. In 1955, he married Alice Cooper. The couple had four children.

Dr. Christy was a large animal veterinarian for the U.S. government. He often relocated across the United States following diseases of large animals. In his retirement, the couple moved to Riesel, where he raised exotic bantam chickens and they enjoyed the country life. He was active in the Riesel Lions Club. Christy was known for his great sense of humor and a zest for life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Alice Christy, two sisters, his brother and one son, Frank Christy.

Christy is survived by his daughter, Mary Lee Eichorn of Ruidoso, New Mexico; sons: James Edward Christy, Jr. of Riesel; Charles R. Christy of Crystal Beach, Texas; seven grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, and longtime friend Virginia Babbs.

Source: Grace Gardens Funeral Home & Crematorium Curtis J. Fried, DVM, of Mandan, North Dakota, passed away on Jan. 3, 2021. He was 68.

Born in Hettinger, North Dakota, he began first grade at the local country school and then attended Selfridge Public School. He attended Dickinson State College and North Dakota State University before earning his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University, where he graduated with honors in 1978.

For many years, Fried owned a veterinary clinic in McLaughlin, South Dakota. He then moved his business to Britton, South Dakota, and in later years, lived in Pollock, South Dakota. Several years ago, Fried moved back to his hometown of Selfridge and recently resided at Miller Pointe Nursing Home in Mandan.

Schantz, Pat Fried-Hill, Carmen Walker; seven nieces/nephews; and nine great-nieces/nephews.

Source: The Bismarck Tribune James (Jim) Rex Hargrave, 65, passed away on Aug. 13, 2021, surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Hargrave lived in Cushing, Oklahoma.

As a young man, Hargrave worked towards his mechanical engineering degree. He served in the U.S. Air Force as an aerospace control warning systems operator-air traffic control specialist.

For 29 years, Hargrave served as the facilities manager for the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine. He managed all the maintenance, utilities, new equipment installations and new construction for the college. He maintained repair records, blueprints, operations and maintenance manuals and project files for all college projects.

Hargrave also monitored utility usage, watching for unusually high or low utility bills and finding the cause. He received several honors for outstanding service, including two prestigious Stratton Staff Awards (1996 and 2012) and an Honorary Doctor of Veterinary Facilities Management degree.

Hargrave was an avid outdoors sportsman and loved deep sea fishing and deer and duck hunting.

He was a member of the Oklahoma Bass Federation and ranked in the state’s top champions. He fished and placed in multiple tournaments such as the Cimarron Valley Tournament, Bass Masters Tournaments, BFL Tournaments and many more.

Jim is survived by his wife of 38 years, June Hargrave; sisters: Cynthia Hargrave, Becky Koch, Marla Hargrave, Melanie Miller, Janine Warmowski and Suzanne Hargrave; numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews, and his beloved yellow lab, Flash.

Source: Hargrave Family David Roy Kinkaid, DVM, 75, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed away on Dec. 30, 2020.

Born in Bowie, Texas, he graduated from Ponca City High School in 1963 and earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1970.

Fried always loved horses, riding and training them in his young adulthood. He had a passion for Native American history and had an impressive collection of artifacts that he personally found over many years. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing on the Missouri River. He was a devout Catholic, serving many with his generosity and living a life that showed God’s love and mercy.

Kinkaid worked as a veterinarian for more than 50 years. He was very active in the community, serving on the Ponca City Public School Board as president and director of Ponca City Youth Tackle Football. Kinkaid also spent 30 years involved in youth wrestling, refereeing 37 National Wrestling Championships. He was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame for his years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of wrestling.

He was named Oklahoma High School Coaches’ Outstanding Referee two times.

Fried is survived by his brothers: Dennis Fried, Mike Fried, Bob Fried, Bernie Fried; sisters Kathy

He enjoyed making memories with family and friends, working cattle at his farm, treating animals

at the clinic and volunteering in the community.

He will be remembered for his lifetime of service to better his community.

Kinkaid is survived by his wife, Vickie; son Brett Kinkaid of Ponca City; daughter Kelli Kinkaid of Ponca City; daughter Darbi Alstrom of Bartlesville; son Luke Kinkaid of Ponca City; son Landon Kinkaid of Ponca City; son Cody Sensintaffar of Sand Springs; son Caleb Sensintaffar of Jenks; and Craig Backus of Ponca City; 14 grandchildren and former wife, Cheryl Colwell Kinkaid.

Source: Trout Funeral Home

James Conrad “Doc” McCoy, DVM, 82, of Ravenswood, West Virginia, passed away Oct. 11, 2021, following a brief illness.

Born in Ravenswood, he graduated from Ravenswood High School and was recently inducted in the RHS Football Hall of Fame. He earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1964.

Following an appointed stint by the Department of Agriculture as the chief epidemiologist for northeastern West Virginia, he came back home to found, own and operate the Jackson Animal Clinic in Ripley. Active in the community, he was an original member and past president of the Jackson County Development Authority, a member of the Jackson County Health Department and a board member of the West Virginia Veterinary Association. McCoy was also one of the original owners and operators of McCoy’s Motor Lodge and was instrumental in the growth of west Ripley and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ravenswood.

Doc was known for never turning down a veterinary call no matter if it was large or small, early or late. His family describes him as a rock, a protector, generous, giving, loving, family-oriented, humble, a visionary and “a good man.”

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Joyce Anne McCoy; his sons: Jeff McCoy and Patrick McCoy; his daughter, Erin McCoy Stovall; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and three brothers and three sisters.

Source: Casto Funeral Home

Jerry and Peggy Lou Gordon were married in 1997. He was a member of the Audubon Society and loved to travel to watch birds. He also loved to hunt with his dogs and horses for weeks at a time in New Mexico.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Peggy; his children: Fred Mitchell of Vernal, Utah; Jerry Mitchell, Jr. of Marlow, Oklahoma; Justin Brammer of Duncan; John Brammer of Weatherford, Texas; eight grandchildren; one sister and numerous nieces and nephews.

Source: Whitt Funeral Home

Samuel Kem Morrison, DVM, 94, of Bentonville, Arkansas, passed away on March 28, 2021.

Born in Harriet, Arkansas, he was a World War II U.S. Army veteran in the 29th Infantry. In 1953, he earned his DVM degree from then-Oklahoma A&M College.

Morrison was a large animal and/or small animal veterinarian in Bentonville for almost 60 years.

Samuel was a member of the Rotary Club, Bentonville School Board and Bentonville Hospital Board. He was a Sunday school teacher, a deacon, and a member of the church choir for 50 years.

Morrison is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 37 years, Mary Morrison. He is survived by four daughters: Susan Shell, Beth Parson, Lou Ann Devlin and Dr. Melissa Brown; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Source: Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Lisa Kapura Munson, DVM, 47, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away of natural causes on Aug. 18, 2021.

Born in Michigan, she married Daniel Munson in 1996.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1997 and her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 2000.

Munson is survived by her husband of 25 years, Daniel Munson; her two children: Ashlan and Austin Munson; her parents: John and Marcia Kapura of Tulsa; her sisters: Lori Kapura of Bixby, Oklahoma; Traci Sinclair of Sewickley, Pennsylvania; and five nieces.

Source: Fitzgerald Funeral Service

Jerry Allen Mitchell, Sr., DVM, 81, of Duncan, Oklahoma, passed away on March 29, 2021.

Born in Cleo Springs, Oklahoma, he graduated from Hennessey (Oklahoma) High School where he played football. He attended Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the ROTC program and earned his DVM degree in 1966.

Mitchell worked for different veterinarians for several years before opening his own veterinary clinic where he cared for all kinds of animals. He later became a state inspector for Oklahoma.

Dianne Mary Nail, DVM, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, died suddenly on Feb. 5, 2021. She was 79.

Born in Ponca City, Oklahoma, her family moved several times before settling in Houston, where she graduated from Lamar High School. She completed her pre-vet degree at Monticello College where she was an avid equestrian. Since Texas A&M University did not accept women at that time, she applied to and was accepted at Oklahoma

State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Nail was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1965 — one of only three women in the class.

In 1966, she married Nicholas A. Nail, DVM, and they practiced together in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1970, the couple began a small animal practice in Broken Arrow. They moved to Broken Arrow in 1976, where they still live.

Throughout her life, Nail earned many awards for her professional and civic contributions. Early in her career, she was honored as “Woman of the Year” by the Tulsa Junior Women’s Club. She was active in professional organizations including, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), and Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Foundation.

Nail held top leadership positions in these organizations, notably in 1998 when she was elected OVMA president — the second female veterinarian to reach that position. Many programs in existence today, such as the Birthing Center at the Tulsa State Fair, began under her leadership. In 2003, she was recognized as the OVMA Veterinarian of the Year for her outstanding service.

Nail was similarly dedicated to her community, applying her veterinary and leadership skills to organizations such as Broken Arrow PTA, 4-H Foundation, Tulsa Garden Center, A New Leaf and Epsilon Sigma Alpha. After retiring, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a Master Gardener.

She loved volunteering to answer the gardening help line and presenting gardening programs in the community. Her recent passion was roses. She was an original member of the “Bring Back the Roses” Committee of Keep Broken Arrow Beautiful. She led the Rose Show at the Annual Rose Festival and helped plant many of the roses in and around downtown Broken Arrow.

She was a lifelong tennis player, horseback rider, outdoor enthusiast and bridge player. She spent many happy summers at the family cabin near Meeker Park, Colorado. Nail was a member of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church and was instrumental in the design and construction of the church’s memorial garden. She served on the Vestry and was a team captain of the Altar Guild for many years.

Nail is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Nick Nail; three children: Debbie Meyer of Carlsbad, California; Brian Nail of Houston, Texas; Cindy West of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; and six grandchildren.

Source: Nail family Louis Wayne Nightengale, DVM, 89, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, passed away on Dec. 18, 2020.

Born in Homestead, Oklahoma, he attended a oneroom schoolhouse (independent district 162) until ninth grade. He finished his education at Fairview High School in Fairview, Oklahoma, where he showed prize-winning sheep for the Future Farmers of America and played on the high school basketball team.

Nightengale earned a degree in agriculture and animal husbandry from then-Oklahoma A&M. After

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college, he joined the U.S. Army. While serving, he met and later married Etta Sullivan. He left the Army in 1955 and was hired by Ralston Purina, which took the young couple to Ely, Minnesota. In 1958, when the first of their four sons was born, they moved to Yukon, Oklahoma.

Nightengale was accepted at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine earning his DVM degree in 1962. Following graduation, the couple moved to Ardmore, where Louis joined Dr. Charles Love at Town and Country Animal Hospital. The next year, Nightengale bought the practice. He divorced Etta in 1981 and in 1985, married Ann Singleton, blending their two families. Nightengale owned Town and Country for 55 years, closing the practice in 2014. He continued to be involved with Ardmore Animal Shelter until he fully retired. Louis and Ann enjoyed family, travel and living in Ardmore.

Nightengale is survived by his wife Ann; his four sons, Christopher John, Douglas James, Markham Lee and Bradley Wayne; 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Source: The Daily Ardmoreite James L. (Jim) Reynolds, DVM, 76, of Cedar Grove, North Carolina, passed away on Aug. 27, 2021, at his home.

Born in Hennepin County, Minnesota, he earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1971.

Now a retired veterinarian, Reynolds was also a member of Walnut Grove United Methodist Church.

Reynolds is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Reynolds; daughter, Amanda Wagstaff; sons, Jeffrey Reynolds and Jerry Reynolds; and eight grandchildren.

Source: The Herald Sun

John McNeil Rust, DVM, 92, of Jennings, Louisiana, passed away on Nov. 14, 2019.

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, he finished high school early to join the Maritime Service in 1944 where he attained the rank of Warrant Officer. At 18, he distinguished himself as the sole communications officer on merchant ships. He served in the Army as 1st Lt. Artillery during the Korean War. Following his service, he earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1958.

After veterinary college, Rust returned home and established Summer Grove Animal Hospital, which expanded to Towne South Animal Hospital.

He built and operated the first large animal outpatient facility in the area. During his career, he consulted for Louisiana State University Medical School and the VA Medical Hospital. For threeand-one-half years, Rust served as director of animal resources at LSU Medical School.

He was active in the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association, serving as president in 1967. He was proud to be voted by his peers as Veterinarian of the Year in 2004. Rust took a leading role in state and federal efforts to eradicate tuberculosis and brucellosis in cattle.

Rust was also interested in agriculture. With an associate, they brought the first large package hay balers to the area from Vermeer Manufacturing. He was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church. He particularly enjoyed the church’s men’s prayer breakfast and his Sunday school class. From an early age, Rust loved horses.

He had wagons and surreys, driving single or in pairs, until he was in his eighties.

Rust is survived by three children: Carol McClure; Vernon Rust; and Kenneth Rust; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

Source: Aulds Funeral Home

Bryan Johnston Rothlein, DVM, 43, of Lantana, Texas, passed away Nov. 11, 2021.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he grew up riding and caring for horses. He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 2003.

Following graduation, Rothlein practiced veterinary medicine at a small animal clinic in Florida.

Most recently, he worked for IDEXX. Bryan fought the most courageous battle against his congenital heart disease, living life to the fullest. His sense of humor was unmatched. After nearly a month, he finally succumbed to a random blood infection. He will be missed by all the lives he touched.

Rothlein’s family is appreciative of the care he received at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, throughout his life and at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas.

He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Erin Rothlein; daughter Emma (8) and son Will (5).

Source: Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home

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Jamie Sue Burner Schrag, DVM, 64, of Oklahoma City, passed away from pancreatic cancer on Aug. 21, 2020.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, she earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1982.

Following graduation, Schrag opened her own veterinary practice, Schrag Animal Clinic, in Oklahoma City serving small animals and exotic pets.

She loved crafts of any kind — sewing, knitting, painting or beading. She also was an avid reader and enjoyed working puzzles (crossword, jigsaw or Sudoku).

Schrag is survived by her husband of 39 years, Doug; daughter Christen Foster; three grandsons and many friends.

Source: Tribute Archive

Bruce Allen Simmons, DVM, 74, of Hickory, North Carolina, passed away on May 21, 2020.

He graduated from Hickory High School and Clemson University. He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1970.

Simmons owned and operated Hickory Animal Hospital and Springs Road Animal Hospital. He was known as a kind, caring, compassionate man and veterinarian who will be truly missed. He was also a dedicated and devoted Clemson fan and attended every game.

Simmons is survived by his beloved dogs: Rocky Pup Pup, Buster Butter Bean, Boss Hawg, Russell Pete, Bosley, Opie and Waggles; his brother-inlaw Marion Roseman of Hickory; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Source: Jenkins Funeral Home Lewis Randall (Randy) “Doc” Smith, DVM, of Pecatonica, Illinois, passed away on Sept. 19, 2021. He was 81.

Born in Canton, Oklahoma, he earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1964. Following graduation, Smith served as a Captain in the U.S. army for two years. Upon discharge, Smith moved to Pecatonica and started the Pecatonica Veterinary Clinic.

In 1973, Smith married Barbara Shipman. Together they provided care for a wide variety of animals within the community and surrounding areas until retiring in 1998.

He was well known for his kindness, generosity, great sense of humor and his love of billiards.

Smith is survived by his wife of 48 years, Barbara Smith, and his three daughters: Christine Shipman; Corine Papini; and Carline Shipman. He is predeceased by his parents: James and Mary Smith; and his son, Luke Smith.

Source: McCorkle Ltd. Funeral Home James Harlan Stone, DVM, of Mangum, Oklahoma, passed away on June 13, 2021. He was 87.

Born in Salado, Texas, he graduated from Lawton Public Schools. He joined the U.S. Marines and served for three years including action in the Korean War. Upon his return, Stone attended Cameron University in Lawton and then transferred to Oklahoma State University. He earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1963. In 1965, Stone moved to Mangum and opened a veterinary clinic serving the Mangum community for decades until he retired in 2018.

He presided over the Greer County Cattlemen’s Association, was a Greer County Fair board member and served as deacon for more than 50 years at the First Baptist Church.

Stone also ran his cattle ranch and enjoyed traveling and collecting books about historic ranches.

He was an avid fan and supporter of OSU’s football team, holding season tickets for 18 consecutive years. He and his wife loved being involved

with young people and sponsored the annual 4-H Hall of Fame portrait for years.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan; son, James David Stone; daughter, Jennifer Ritter; two grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many other family members and friends.

Source: Harmon County Funeral Home Rory Gene Stricklin, DVM, 42, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, passed away on Aug. 3, 2021.

Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Stricklin grew up on his parents’ dairy farm milking cows and living the farm life. He attended Prague Public Schools where he was All State in football, an American Farmer through FFA and valedictorian.

He attended OSU, completing his undergraduate work and earning his DVM degree in 2004.

Stricklin started his career at Shawnee Animal Hospital and later opened his dream practice, Wewoka Animal Hospital. He served Wewoka and surrounding communities for many years.

He was known for helping sick animals and volunteering including in surrounding high school FFA programs. He helped whomever needed it whether he knew the person or not.

Most importantly, Rory lived for his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 14 years, Jamie Smart Stricklin of Wewoka; children Dawson Dewayne, age 3, and Charlie Blake, age 2; his parents Randy and Mary Stricklin of Prague, Oklahoma; motherin-law Paula Daniel of Wewoka; father-in-law Jim Smart of Shawnee; grandmother Mary Francis Buchanan of Prague, two sisters, and many other relatives and friends.

Source: Swearingen Funeral Home O’Hara D. Tyler, DVM, 74, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, passed away on April 5, 2021.

Tyler earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1970. Following graduation, he joined a practice in southwest Arkansas. He then moved to Paradise, California, and then to Anaheim, California, working in small animal practices.

He later moved to McAlester, Oklahoma, where he established a small animal practice. He retired from that practice and moved to Wilburton. Tyler was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and respective state associations.

Tyler is survived by his wife, Diane Tyler; son, Daniel and daughters: Jasmine, Lily and Rose, all of Wilburton; and Rachel of Cave Creek, Arizona.

Source: Tyler family Gordon Hall Voss, DVM, 81 of Goltry, Oklahoma, passed away on June 3, 2021.

Voss graduated from Goltry Public Schools in 1958 and earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1964.

Voss practiced veterinary medicine in Goltry for 56 years. He invested his intellect and time in others and was rewarded with their respect regarding his ability to diagnose and cure. His intellectual curiosity heightened his amazement concerning medicine, human nature, science and discovery.

for paperwork, she served in an externship at the Wheaton Animal Hospital. On Oct. 5, 1991, she became ill, suffered a stroke, fell and hit her head causing a traumatic brain injury. Walker had to relearn to walk and talk and retrain at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Voss felt he had been given much (family and friends) and his most often used response to those needing any kind of help was, “I’ll be right there…” and he always was.

It took 10 years for her full recovery and the ability to gain her independence and work in her beloved field of veterinary medicine. In 2001, Walker began working for the Food and Drug Administration Center of Veterinary Medicine in the Office of Surveillance and Compliance as a medical officer for animal medical labeling.

While at the FDA, she served on the FDA’s Advisory Committee for Employees with Disabilities group, providing insight into the challenges people with disabilities face on a daily basis. Posthumously, Walker received a citation from the FDA for her work on this team.

Voss is survived by his wife, Jan Tyner Voss; sons Ty Voss and Dru Voss, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Source: Lanman Funeral Home, Inc. Donald H. Vrbka, DVM, 90, of Omaha, Nebraska, passed away on March 23, 2021.

Born in Rising City, Nebraska, he graduated from Gresham High School, where he was active in sports. He received a bachelor’s degree from Doane University, where he participated on the track team and in Delta Kappa Pi fraternity. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, achieving the rank of Airman 1st Class and was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1959, he married Margaret (Peg) Hastreiter.

Vrbka earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1963. He practiced with Dr. N. L. Ditman in Winside, Nebraska, from 1963 to 1972 and then at Augustin Brothers Feedlot in Shelby, Nebraska. In 1979, Vrbka established Platte Valley Veterinary Clinic in Columbus, Nebraska, with Dr. John Claus, joined by Dr. Phil Buhman in 1990.

Don was active in numerous clubs and volunteer organizations including Catholic Prison Ministry, St. Bonaventure Men’s Choir, Knights of Columbus (4th degree), Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association (president in 1993), Elks, Rotary Club, Columbus Dance Club and Toastmasters to mention a few. He was chairman of Winside Old Settlers Centennial Celebration with more than 10,000 in attendance. Honors include Nebraska Veterinarian of the Year and “The Columbus Telegram” Father of the Year.

Walker was very involved with three congregations — Grace Lutheran Church (Washington, D.C.), People’s Baptist Church (Washington, D.C.) and St. John Baptist Church (Columbia, Maryland) serving in many capacities. She loved to travel and even experienced the joy of snow skiing with the assistance of a special apparatus.

In April 2021, it was determined that Walker was suffering from a tumor of the brain. Her family brought her home where she was lovingly cared for, around-the-clock, by her mother and a livein care attendant, Moji. Her life story is a testament of great faith, hope, love and miracles in the face of many challenges. She enjoyed her life, loved her family and friends and lived in her faith.

Walker was preceded in death by her father, Anthony Wayne Walker. She is survived by her mother, Otha Loretta Walker of Columbia; sister, Charlotte Walker Peralta of Atlanta, Georgia; aunt Constance Johnson, cousin Omar Bostic and a host of close cousins, family and friends from around the country.

Source: Gasch’s Funeral Home

Raymond (Gene) White, DVM, 90 of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away on May 28, 2021.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Peg; children Carmen Mebus of East Lyme, Connecticut; Greg Vrbka, Caroline Juliano and Claudette Vrbka, all of Omaha; seven grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Born in Elana, West Virginia, he was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Korean War. In 1960, White earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University.

Source: The Columbus Telegram

He retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and served as a military honor guard.

Loretta Antoinette Walker, DVM, 56, of Columbia, Maryland, passed away on Aug. 11, 2021.

Born in Oklahoma City, she always wanted to become a veterinarian. Walker earned her DVM degree from OSU in 1991, the third African American to do so.

White is survived by his girlfriend Mary Lou Chapek of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; daughter Janice Richert of Fremont, Nebraska; son Keith White of Valparaiso, Nebraska; two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Source: Lincoln Journal Star

Upon graduating, Walker returned to Washington, D.C., to be a veterinarian in the National Institutes of Health Veterinary Division. While waiting

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