Vet Cetera 2019

VET CETERA The official magazine of the College of Veterinary Medicine

MILO GOES VIRAL

THE OKLAHOMA COONHOUND WITH UPSIDE-DOWN PAWS CAPTURES HEARTS GLOBALLY

Starting Early

15 kids join their elders for eye-opening experience at Grandparent University

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SEE MORE Watch interviews with young attendees at OSU’s Grandparent University: okla.st/ cvmgpu.

klahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed 15 youngsters and their grandparents on June 27-28 as part of OSU’s Grandparent University program.

Coordinated by admissions coordinator Anna Teague, the two-day veterinary medicine program included many hands-on activities. Participants spent time in McElroy Hall and at the Veterinary Medical Hospital. Each grandchild received a white coat and stethoscope. Highlights included a visit with Pete’s Pet Posse dogs, small animal internal medicine endoscopy, teddy bear surgery, food animal medicine, tick races, identifying microscopic parasites, dissecting a cow’s eye and learning about equine anatomy.

Special thanks to the following faculty, staff, and veterinary students who helped Grandparent University participants have a fun learning experience and a memorable visit: Dr. Jill Akkerman, associate professor of

anatomy, Department of Physiological Sciences Cody Blalock, class of 2022

Gabby Cole, class of 2021

Dr. Kathryn Duncan, resident, Department of

Veterinary Pathobiology

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Dr. Andrew Hanzlicek, assistant professor,

Joan Kirkpatrick Chair in small animal internal medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Cori Hoffman, class of 2021

Courtney Longhouse, class of 2022

Debosree Pathak, class of 2022

Chris Pivinski, research technician,

Department of Physiological Sciences Dr. Jennifer Rudd, lecturer, Department of

Veterinary Pathobiology Brayden Routh, class of 2020

Dr. Mike Schoonover, assistant professor of

equine surgery, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences Kellee Sunstrom, senior research specialist,

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Stephanie Vivies, class of 2022 Ashley Wick, RVT, food animal medicine,

Veterinary Medical Hospital Megan Wohltjen, research technician,

Department of Veterinary Pathobiology Greg Yoast, class of 2021

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

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On the Cover

The work being done by OSU’s Tick Team is more important than ever with the proliferation of the little pests.

Milo’s case of upside-down paws — fixed by OSU’s Dr. Erik Clary — turned the little coonhound into a worldwide rock star. (Cover photo by Phil Shockley) 40

An Up-Tick in Work

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Top Teaching Award Dr. Mason Reichard, a professor in veterinary pathology, was honored with the 2019 Regents Distinguished Teaching Award.

For the second time in his career at OSU, Dr. Lin Liu, Regents Professor, Lundberg-Kienlen Professor in Biomedical Research, received the Regents Distinguished Research Award.

Dean’s Letter

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Lectures Roundup

24 Retirements 29

Faculty Changes

48 Commencement

36

Top Research Award

2

68

Keeping in Touch

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44

Winning on All Fronts OSU’s shelter surgery program helps train veterinary students, save animal lives and reduce pet overpopulation.

36 74

44 74

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 1

FROM THE DEAN

Changing for the Better Greetings, I am very pleased to announce that the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education has restored our full accreditation!

In the last 11/2 years, we have made many changes that I would like to share as we strive to be innovative world leaders in health care, research and professional education. These include: We changed our name to Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine to strengthen

our brand and reputation among our peer institutions and stakeholders worldwide. Formerly the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, our college was the only one whose name did not contain veterinary college or veterinary school among all of the veterinary colleges in the United States and most international colleges of veterinary medicine. (Story, Page 4) Facility upgrades were made in the college’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

At the Equine Research Park, we broke ground for a new equine exercise physiology laboratory.

(Story, Page 6)

The Roger J. Panciera Education Center, a state-of-the-art classroom building, is under construction

with an anticipated completion date of March 2020. All three years of the pre-clinical curriculum will be taught in the new building where flexibility in classroom layout and new technology will allow instructors to incorporate new and best practices for teaching and learning for students. (Story, Page 5) Additional faculty and staff were hired to improve the ratio of faculty to students and elevate the

learning experience for OSU veterinary graduates. Factoring in new hires and retirements, we netted nine new faculty positions, including a continuing education director/beef cattle extension specialist. We also hired a curriculum manager and a full-time counselor for the well-being of students, faculty and staff; and our hospital added 10 staff positions. (Story, Page 32) Our faculty members continue to collaborate with veterinary college colleagues, as well as peers

across the OSU campus and with other organizations such as OU Health Sciences Center and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. When our total research funding is normalized to faculty numbers, the highly competitive program at OSU CVM ranks 13 of 30 among U.S. colleges of veterinary medicine.

From left: Martin Furr, Jerry Malayer, Carlos Risco, Kenneth Sewell and Michael Davis at the groundbreaking for the new equine exercise physiology laboratory.

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PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

VET CETERA OSU President: V. Burns Hargis Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine: Carlos A. Risco, DVM, Dipl. ACT Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator: Derinda Blakeney, APR Alumni Affairs and Events Specialist: Sharon Worrell Assistant Director of Development: Ashley Hesser Editor: Dorothy Pugh Construction Continues on the Roger J. Panciera Education Center.

The hospital has experienced revenue and case load growth under the

leadership of our new hospital director Dr. Jeff Studer, hired in July 2018.

Caseload increases can be attributed to more horses coming in from the OSU Equestrian Team as well as animals from the Animal Sciences’ beef, equine and dairy units.

The CVM fundraising production in FY18 was $4.9 million, exceeding our

$3.2 million goal. Funds raised for development in FY19 more than tripled our goal from $3 million to $10.5 million. We have raised nearly $1.5 million of the $2 million goal for the Panciera Learning Enhancement Project, which will provide for updated learning facilities at the veterinary college. We raised $1.8 million to expand our minimally invasive procedures program.

Art Director: Paul V. Fleming Contributing Writers: Derinda Blakeney, Jacob Longan, Kaylie Wehr, Dr. Nicola Di Girolamo, Dr. Mackenzie Hallman Photographers: Gary Lawson, Phil Shockley, Derinda Blakeney, Susan Little, Jason Wallace, College of Veterinery Medicine, Genesee Photo, David Bitton, Western Veterinary Conference, Burke Healey, Dr. Charles Freeman

It’s an exciting time to be at the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine as we move forward to 2020!

Sincerely,

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

The College of Veterinary Medicine graduates competent, confident, careerready veterinarians — a tradition it has proudly carried forward since the day the veterinary college opened its doors 71 years ago. Please join us at the CVM website: vetmed.okstate.edu. The OSU homepage is located at go.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 74078-1035; 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 Royle Printing at a cost of $7,502.86 5M /Dec/19. #8020

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 3

New Name

College of Veterinary Medicine makes mission clear

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SU’s veterinary center has been renamed the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Proper branding of our College of Veterinary Medicine is important to strengthen its place and reputation among its peer institutions and stakeholders worldwide,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the veterinary college.

“The College of Veterinary Medicine is the umbrella that encompasses the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, the College of Veterinary Medicine Ranch, the Equine Research Park, Gaylord Center for Excellence in Equine Health, and the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases. The National Center for Veterinary Parasitology is also housed here in the veterinary complex at OSU.”

The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved the proposal to rename the college at its September meeting.

Formerly known as the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, it was the only one whose name did not contain “veterinary college” or “veterinary school” of the other veterinary colleges in the United States and most international colleges of veterinary medicine.

“This made it difficult for peer institutions, prospective faculty, professionals, and graduate students to know who we are and what we do,” Risco said. “All the other veterinary colleges/schools have their name and then under that umbrella falls their teaching hospital, their diagnostic lab if they have one, and their research laboratories. However, the name is veterinary college or veterinary school, which is easy to find when searching online.

“Consistency is important and when the name changed from college to center, not everything changed,” he added. “For example, the bricked courtyard on the northeast side of McElroy Hall has a plaque commemorating its dedication that reads Walk of Honor, College of Veterinary Medicine. In contrast, the sign at the corner of the building reads McElroy Hall Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. Again, this is confusing to visitors and the public.”

With the recent rebranding of Oklahoma State University, Risco said this was the perfect time to change the college name as the College of Veterinary Medicine strives to strengthen OSU’s reputation in Oklahoma, across the nation and throughout the world.

Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, says the new name better aligns with its core mission.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Honoring Roger Panciera

New classroom building will carry professor’s name

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ith the help of a bullmastiff, the College of Veterinary Medicine broke ground for a new classroom building in late November 2018.

“With the addition of this classroom, the College of Veterinary Medicine will continue to be the destination for students who want to receive a high quality veterinary medical education as well as those seeking continuing education,” said Dean Dr. Carlos Risco. “We are grateful for the financial support of President Hargis and Joe Weaver, senior vice president, alumni and friends who have made early commitments toward this project.

“It is our intention to prominently honor the legacy of Dr. Roger Panciera (’53), professor emeritus and a world-renowned veterinary pathologist, in this new classroom building.

Dr. Panciera has touched the lives of generations of veterinary students and influenced the careers of many more.”

Plans for the Roger J. Panciera Education Center include adding three new flexible classrooms while making room for specialized training in existing instructional space. The new and enhanced teaching facilities will support modern teaching methods and cutting-edge technology critical to the successful recruitment and training of students, faculty and staff.

Veterinarians are the first defense against emerging infectious diseases. They help protect the food supply and care for our livestock and companion animals. Supporting this project benefits human, animal and environmental well-being.

To support the future of veterinary medicine, contact Ashley Hesser, assistant director of development with the OSU Foundation, at 405-385-0715 or ahesser@ osugiving.com.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

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

Expanding Equine Research New exercise physiology laboratory is going up north of campus

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SEE MORE Watch highlights from the groundbreaking ceremony at okla. st/equines.

he Equine Research Park at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine recently broke ground for a new equine exercise physiology laboratory. Located on Lakeview Road just north of the OSU Stillwater campus, the new facility illustrates growth in CVM’s equine research activities.

“This new lab enables us to consolidate equine hands-on teaching and research activities into one location,” Dr. Carlos Risco, the college’s dean, told the audience at the groundbreaking ceremony. “The clinical techniques and procedures our veterinary students need to master and the ever-increasing complexity of research protocols dictate that we expand and upgrade our facilities. Breaking ground for the new lab reinforces the college’s longterm commitment to enhancing the quality of life and performance of horses through teaching and research.”

Expanding the Equine Research Park reduces the need to transport and house research horses at the college’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, allowing the hospital to focus on caring for horses.

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“Research takes place here at a very high level,” Dr. Kenneth Sewell, OSU vice president for research, said at the groundbreaking. “Taking the size of our faculty into account within the College of Veterinary Medicine, the college is a top 10 research performer among all U.S. schools of veterinary medicine. It makes the college a critical contributor to OSU’s status as a top tier research university according to the Carnegie classifications. In the last five years, the research published by our faculty has had an impact all over the world. Many of these publications, individual research papers, are among the top 10 most frequently cited veterinary research works in the world.

“I can’t wait to see OSU’s new equine physiology lab bustling with faculty and students hard at work to make new discoveries and create new opportunities for horses and for me and you.”

Funding for the project comes with a lead gift from the E.L. and Thelma Gaylord Foundation and other donors. To contribute, contact Ashley Hesser, assistant director of development for the OSU Foundation, at ahesser@osugiving.com or 405-385-0715.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Less Invasive Treatments

Newly established Tracy Kyle Chair to focus on less-invasive treatments for small animals

MICHELOTTI RECEIVES FIRST KYLE SCHOLARSHIP Laura Michelotti of Rockville, Maryland, is the first recipient of the Tracy Kyle Small Animal Endowed Scholarship, awarded in April.

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SU’s College of Veterinary Medicine recently established the Tracy Kyle Chair in Small Animal Medicine to focus on lessinvasive treatments for small animals.

“The Tracy Kyle Chair actually aids us in fulfilling our mission, which is shaping the future through discovery, education and unparalleled veterinary care,” said Dr. Jeff Studer, director of the Veterinary Medical Hospital. “This chair allows us to pursue newer and less-invasive treatments for our patients, which is very exciting. In some cases, these treatments are an option that patients would not have otherwise had.

So not only are we able to offer faster healing times and less pain with recovery through minimally invasive procedures, but we are able to use this technology to treat patients that we could not have treated before. I think it will be revolutionary for veterinary medicine, especially here in the state of Oklahoma.”

The chair is being endowed by David and Tracy Kyle of Tulsa.

“Funds from this chair allow the chair holder to expand the service in minimally invasive procedures that are performed at the hospital,” said Dr. Daniel Burba, head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

“We are actively pursuing a position in the minimally invasive area, primarily cardiology. Hopefully in the next 12 months, we will be able to fill this chair.

“Without support from people like the Kyles, we could not do the things that we do here both in the College of Veterinary Medicine and specifically in the Veterinary Medical Hospital. We are so thankful to have donors like the Kyles to be able to advance our medicine as well as our teaching and research.”

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS DERINDA BLAKENEY AND GENESSE PHOTO

“Receiving the Tracy Kyle Small Animal Endowed Scholarship means a great deal to me, both financially Laura Michelotti and personally,” she said.

“This generous gift is allowing me to decrease my loans for the upcoming year and have less stress repaying loans after graduation when I’m trying to obtain an internship and residency.”

Michelotti began her clinical and final year of veterinary college in May. “Personally, I feel honored to have been selected for such an award at the culmination of my classroom education and entrance into clinical medicine,” Michelotti said.

OSU’s veterinary college awarded more than $542,270 in scholarships to 158 veterinary students.

WATCH MORE See how the Tracy Kyle Chair will benefit small animals at okla.st/kylech.

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

TICKING

ALONG OSU’s Tick Team works to protect human and animal health

WITH THE EXPLOSION IN TICK POPULATIONS AND INCREASING GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION IN NORTH AMERICA AND NORTHERN EUROPE, MORE PEOPLE AND ANIMALS ARE AT RISK OF ACQUIRING A TICK BITE AND BECOMING INFECTED WITH A TICK-BORNE DISEASE. THAT MAKES THE WORK BEING DONE BY OSU’S TICK TEAM MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS AND PROCESSES RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE CHANGES, HOW THE TICKS MAKE THEIR WAY IN THE WORLD AND HOW THEY ARE ABLE TO TRANSMIT INFECTIONS ARE IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING VETERINARY HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

“At Oklahoma State University, the Tick Team represents a large number of faculty whose research programs focus on ticks and tick-borne infections,” explained Susan Little, DVM, Ph.D., DACVM (Parasit.), Regents Professor and Krull-Ewing Professor in veterinary parasitology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

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“Several faculty members in the veterinary college work on tick-borne diseases of people, large animals, dogs and cats. We also have faculty in the College of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology who work on ticks and tick-borne infections and faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences in microbiology and molecular genetics who work on tick-borne diseases. There’s a lot of

Susan Little

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

EXPLAINING A FASCINATION “Those of us who work with several different tick species, start to recognize that they do have a personality or a characteristic way that they navigate the world. Some ticks are very aggressive. When you’re out in the woods, they’ll actually sense a host is there, picking up on the carbon dioxide we’re exhaling. They see the shadow as we walk by and they’ll actually turn and run towards the host (you). Others are quite passive. They just wait on a piece of vegetation for something to walk by and they quietly transfer over.

They move more slowly, more methodically.

Some will quest in large numbers together, very gregarious and almost

friendly. Other ticks are more solitary, questing all by themselves and not finding others of their kind until they end up on the same host.

Some ticks mate in the environment; others don’t mate until they are on the host. There are so many really charming differences between tick species.

“I think people come to their passion for ticks and tick-borne infections from different places. Some of us are innately fascinated by the natural world and enjoy interacting with creatures in nature, and that’s certainly ticks.

I’m a veterinarian by training so I’m focused on animal health but also public health. Ticks, of course, present huge health challenges in the United States, and that’s been increasing in

recent decades. Ticks are important for medical reasons and for basic biomedical research reasons. However, they are also natural systems that are molecularly and on a cellular level, fascinating to study.

The way the pathogens interact with the tick, the way the tick interacts with its environment and with the host really creates some unique challenges when trying to understand that biological system. Ticks present very interesting puzzles for us to solve.

Ticks are important to the health of animals and people in North America and worldwide.

So all of us on OSU’s Tick Team will continue to enthusiastically research ticks and tick-borne infections.”

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

OSU is recognized for tick research worldwide.

That history has been with Oklahoma State since the beginning of the veterinary school in the 1940s.

SEE MORE Learn about OSU’s Tick Team and the work they do at okla.st/ticks.

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intellectual passion for ticks and tickborne infections.”

“We have scores of tick species in the United States, so there is no shortage of ticks to study. There are about six to eight species that are of great medical and veterinary importance that we focus most of our resources on. We work together collaboratively and at the center of it all, the Department of Entomology runs a tick resource center. They actually provide research resources to people who work on ticks and tick-borne infections worldwide.

Even before I came to OSU in 2005, I was already collaborating with the folks at OSU because of that tick resource center.”

Individual researchers have their own labs, grants, graduate students and research programs but share responsibilities for graduate students and draw on each other’s strengths to complete projects.

“We might be on the same graduate student committee as they progress

through our training programs,” Little said. “We teach together in the curriculum both in veterinary medicine and in entomology, and then we work on collaborative research projects. We’re trying to come up with strategies that will protect veterinary and human health from the threats posed by ticks.

It’s also basic biological research to understand the patterns and processes responsible for the ticks in nature, for the seasonality we see, and when they do manage to find a host, the dynamics involved in transmitting the infection from the arthropod vector (tick) to the host and from the host to the tick.

Because we are all here at Oklahoma State, that critical mass of faculty really allows us to make vertical advances in research that we would not be able to make if we were scattered across the country in different programs.”

Several veterinary research programs focus on ticks.

“Dr. Mason Reichard, professor of parasitology, identified the transmission

system for the most important tick-borne infection of cats,” Little said. “Known for that internationally, he is the world expert on Cytauxzoon felis infection in cats. Dr. Kelly Allen, assistant professor in parasitology, was the first to identify Hepatozoon canis, a European tickborne infection that she found here in the United States for the first time. Her lab is now researching a nematode that is transmitted by ticks that had not been recognized in the central United States until Allen’s lab found it. Dr. Yoko Nagamori, who runs our clinical parasitology program, was instrumental in a national survey of ticks on cats, which is published and well regarded as a landmark study for the importance of ticks on cats.”

In Little’s lab, researchers are mapping tick-borne infections that are shared by dogs and people throughout North America.

“We have an ongoing national survey of ticks on dogs and cats as an index of what the risks are to people,” she said.

“We look at the ticks on dogs and cats because we know that they share their environment with people and some of the same tick problems. We’re finding new species in new places and we’re finding entirely new to North America ticks on the dogs and cats.”

Oklahoma State’s veterinary college has a longstanding commitment to excellence in parasitology.

“Dr. Wendell Krull, an internationally acclaimed veterinary parasitologist, was one of our founding faculty members,” Little said. “He discovered the life cycle for a trematode that’s maintained in ants and sheep. Dr. Sidney Ewing is also a world-renowned faculty member who spent much of his career at Oklahoma State. He discovered not one but actually three tick-borne infections that were new to the United States. One of them had been discovered previously in Asia but he found it in the U.S. for the first time. The other two were entirely new pathogens, one named in his honor, Ehrlichia

ewingii. The other is an important tickborne infection of dogs that he and Dr. Roger Panciera, another well-known and much-loved OSU faculty member, discovered together and described the clinical disease. And there have been so many other incredible tick-borne disease researchers at OSU’s veterinary college, like Drs. Eileen Johnson, Kathy Kocan, Jose de la Fuente and Ed Blouin, who contributed greatly to the understanding of ticks and tickborne infections for decades and really just made incredible shifts in our understanding of tick disease.

“I had an established research program at the University of Georgia when the position opened up here at OSU, and it was the ticks that drew me here. Together we’re just recognized for that worldwide. That history has been with Oklahoma State since the beginning of the veterinary school in the 1940s, and I think it will be with Oklahoma State into the future. It’s something that I’m very proud to be a part of.”

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

Dr. Susan Little

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Tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, are an increasing public health concern worldwide and in particular in the Great Plains.

EPSCoR GRANT TO FUND MAJOR TICK RESEARCH Thanks to a nearly $4 million grant from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), researchers from several universities including Oklahoma State University will collaborate on a major research project to better understand tick-borne diseases, how they are acquired, where high-risk areas exist, and how to best subdue these diseases in the Great Plains, specifically in Oklahoma and Kansas. The vast scope of the project provides opportunities for scientists, graduate students and undergraduate students to be actively involved. The study even opens the door for citizen scientists and public health officials to have better access to information on ticks and disease risks that are personally and immediately relevant.

Dr. Susan Little is leading the Oklahoma State University contingent.

“Tick-borne diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and even viral tickborne agents are an increasing public health concern worldwide and in particular in the Great

Plains,” Little said. “In collaboration with the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Pittsburg (Kansas) State University, OSU, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma, we will embark on a highly interdisciplinary, integrated, data-intensive effort to answer these questions as they pertain to Oklahoma and Kansas.”

Researchers aim to assess and predict transmission of major tick-borne pathogens and create and test automated identification tools.

“We will assemble detailed, large-scale datasets on the occurrences of different tick species, disease agents, and environmental variables across the region,” Little said. “In addition, we will use new artificial-intelligence tools that allow rapid and accurate tick identification by non-experts. It’s exciting that people who live in these areas will be able to contribute to the scientific knowledge. The project includes a series of workshops and courses as well as online data resources.”

For more information on tickrelated research by Little’s team at OSU, visit the Krull-Ewing Lab at okla.st/krull.

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

Veterinary Versatility Ultrasound offers painless peeks inside animal patients, too

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ltrasound, also known as sonography, has been used in human and veterinary medicine alike for many years. Most people are familiar with its use in prenatal exams, allowing a “sneak peek” of the baby in utero. Ultrasound has a multitude of other uses and is becoming increasingly available to veterinary patients throughout Oklahoma.

An ultrasound exam is performed by using a computer with specialized software with an attached “probe” or transducer. The surface of the transducer is placed on the skin (often clipped in veterinary patients) with a topical gel to eliminate any air between the skin and the probe surface. Tiny vibrations within the probe send ultrasonic sound waves into the tissue. These waves then “bounce” back to the probe, which use that information to produce an image.

This process is painless, involves no risk and can be performed quickly by a trained professional. Patients are often examined while awake or may be sedated to help them lie still.

Ultrasound is used in veterinary medicine in a variety of ways. In companion animals such as cats and dogs, the most common use is examining the abdomen in patients that present

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with GI signs such as vomiting or lack of appetite, urinary signs such as straining or increased amounts of urination, or elevations in blood work values that indicate liver or kidney disease.

Ultrasound is sensitive to changes in small organs such as the adrenal glands, the gall bladder and the pancreas, which cannot be assessed with other routine procedures such as X-rays.

Ultrasound’s versatility allows it to be used in a wide variety of cases in veterinary medicine. For example, ultrasound is used to examine horses that present with signs of colic. Lame or limping animals, such as working horses, can have an ultrasound evaluation of the tendons and ligaments of the limbs, which can easily detect swelling or tears.

Ultrasound examination of the heart, called echocardiography, can detect the causes of heart murmurs, arrhythmias and other heart diseases. It can also look into the thorax of animals that have fluid accumulations around the lungs.

The major limitation of ultrasound is that these very high-frequency sound waves cannot travel through air so only the surface of the lungs can be evaluated, and X-rays are still used routinely to evaluate the thorax.

Likewise, abdominal examinations in

large patients with large amounts of gas in their stomach and intestines may be limited. Another important limitation of ultrasound is that it is very dependent on the skill and experience of the operator, and ultrasound examinations can vary widely between individual testers.

Ultrasound can be used on species ranging from the smallest birds to the largest rodeo bulls. Essentially, anywhere you can get the transducer onto the skin of a patient, you can perform an ultrasound exam.

Ultrasound is even used to look through the eyes of patients with cataracts, in order to ensure the retina is healthy before cataract surgery. Ultrasound can accurately guide needles into tissues such as tumors to obtain samples for diagnosis.

Ultrasound equipment is becoming more available to veterinarians, and many veterinarians have the equipment in their practices. Veterinary students can take elective courses in sonography, and continuing education programs offer practicing veterinarians hands-on training. Ultrasound is generally available in specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals, where in-depth examinations may be performed by specialists such as veterinary internists, criticalists and veterinary radiologists.

STORY DR. MACKENZIE HALLMAN | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Ultrasound has a multitude of uses and is becoming increasingly applied to a wide variety of veterinary cases throughout the state.

Tootsie the dog undergoes an ultrasound at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital.

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Funding Cancer Research

Ranjan’s lab receives almost $2.5 million in new funds

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n Oklahoma State University program to advance treating cancer in animals has received almost $2.5 million in new research funds.

Ashish Ranjan, BVSc, Ph.D., Kerr Foundation Endowed Chair and associate professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences, leads the Nanomedicine and Targeted Therapy Laboratory at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Currently, surgical resection is the standard of care or first-line treatment of early-stage melanoma,” Dr. Ranjan said. “However, if the cancer spreads (metastasizes) to other organs (liver, kidney, lymph node, etc.), surgical resection is ineffective. For such patients, a combination of radiotherapy and anticancer drugs are often employed, but they cause toxic side effects in normal tissues and inefficient clearance of cancerous cells, resulting in high recurrence and fatality rates in patients. Our research aims to develop noninvasive, focused soundwave approaches and immune-activating nanoparticles that induce the immune system to target the cancer.”

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A five-year RO1 grant from the National Cancer Institute worth nearly $1.7 million will help Ranjan’s team develop a novel nanoparticle that detects cancer cells by the immune system in combination with focused ultrasound. Additional support from Petco Foundation ($500,000) and Focused Ultrasound Foundation ($200,000) will help Ranjan’s team translate these findings in veterinary patients with spontaneous cancers.

A veterinary scientist, Ranjan trained at Virginia Tech and the National Institutes of Health in device-directed nanomedicines prior to joining OSU. He has established an excellent laboratory team and research infrastructure at OSU. As the nation’s first veterinary college to provide focused ultrasound to pet owners, the program has raised national visibility and helped develop meaningful collaborations with research-intensive institutions.

“The research program has been successful in obtaining extramural support at both the state and national level and is a strong indicator of our success,” said Dr. Jerry Malayer, associate dean for research and graduate education at the veterinary college.

Ashish Ranjan

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

“The university strongly supports our mission,” Ranjan continued. “For example, the president’s faculty fellow and the veterinary college’s intramural funding supported our lab with studies focused on immune system activation using soundwaves. The data from these studies provided the framework needed for federal grant proposals and training opportunities for students and postdoctoral researchers.”

“The role of the immune system in cancer therapy is known, but how to tailor these for optimal therapeutic outcomes requires further investigation. Dr. Ranjan’s research strives to address these in a meaningful and clinical way, which explains the excitement of these funding agencies to support this program,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The Focused Ultrasound Foundation recently appointed Ranjan to its Veterinary Program Scientific Advisory Board. The RO1 grant was also recommended for the NCI MERIT Award, which is given to select researchers nationally. The MERIT award will allow Dr. Ranjan’s laboratory to receive extended funding for up to seven years.

“We are proud to support Dr. Ranjan’s cuttingedge research that can improve oncologic treatment of canine patients. Strengthening an understanding of focused ultrasound technologies to improve cancer outcomes in shelter and owned

canine patients, with an eye towards translation to human cancer, made funding this research particularly important for Petco Foundation,” said Susanne Kogut, president of the Petco Foundation.

“OSU has developed a unique veterinary program that provides groundbreaking therapies like focused ultrasound for patients in need. We are very happy to partner with Dr. Ranjan’s research program and are looking forward to the clinical trial results,” said Dr. Kelsie Timbie, Focused Ultrasound veterinary program director.

“These grants are a true example of team work,” added Ranjan. “Credit goes to the tireless effort of laboratory personnel (Sri Nandhini Sethuraman, Mohit Singh, Kalyani Ektate, Harshini Ashar, Joshua VanOsdol and Mike Gorbet) and clinicians such as Dr. Daniel Dugat. Her surgery team works with us to get the cases we need to assess feasibility in canine models. We also partner with medical institutes of repute who are engaged in testing immune therapies in patients.

“Ultimately, the true reward will come when some of our new drug agents are translated for patient use. Toward these goals, we have submitted a request to the USDA to allow us to investigate the nanoparticle agent in cancer patients. We look forward to sharing this data in the coming years.”

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 17

Blazing a Microbiome Path

Initiative to put OSU at the forefront of a complex emerging field

O

ver the last 20 years, microbiome research has been gaining more attention in the scientific community. Over the next 10 years, Oklahoma State University expects to become a national leader in the discipline, thanks to the Microbiome Initiative: Connecting the Microbiome to Health.

“Microbiome” refers to the community of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses that inhabit a particular environment. They exist in places you might expect, such as your gut, and places you might not, such as clouds.

The global microbiome includes millions of species, covering all animals,

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plants and physical environments on the planet. It can impact every aspect of Earth’s ecosystem, including human, animal and plant health.

That is why OSU has designated the Microbiome Initiative as one of the university’s four Tier 1 Research Initiatives. The designation provides seed funding, laboratory equipment, new hires, student and staff support, and assistance in seeking external grants and partnerships.

The Microbiome Initiative aims to provide researchers across the university with tools to produce innovative, consistent and reproducible research that determines cause and

effect. A number of researchers with the College of Veterinary Medicine have signed up to work with the initiative.

“OSU is positioned really well to become a leader in microbiome research,” said Tyrrell Conway, one of the project’s four leaders and head of the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in OSU’s College of Arts and Sciences. “If you are a life science researcher of any kind, you are thinking about the microbiome.

If you don’t have the capacity in your laboratory to test some of these things, you wish you did. That’s what the toolkit is for.”

STORY JACOB LONGAN | PHOTO JASON WALLACE AND GARY LAWSON

Jerry Malayer is another of the program leaders. He is the College of Veterinary Medicine’s associate dean for research and graduate education and professor and McCasland Chair in the Physiological Sciences Department.

Other OSU research leaders involved include Gerwald Koehler of OSU Medicine and Brenda Smith of the College of Human Sciences. With them so far are 29 collaborators from across OSU. For Malayer, the idea of the global microbiome is “almost perfect.”

“We talk about one health — the concept that the health of animals, humans, plants and the environment are linked,” Malayer says. “In research, the things we find in one environment can apply to another. At a basic level, processes of tissues, cells and organs are similar across species.”

Through the Microbiome Initiative, Malayer says OSU is empowering researchers to “plug into a pipeline” of expertise and specialized equipment that will allow them to “build your model without having to reinvent the wheel.”

They will even train students, “who will become the next generation of scientists, and they will be doing a lot more of this kind of work.”

He added, “There is all kinds of potential to discover new processes and organisms in these various environments that could have commercial potential. The sky is the limit if we get everything in place.

There are institutions that do things like this now, but I don’t think any other institution has the breadth of potential application that OSU does.”

CVM MICROBIOME PROJECT MEMBERS LEADER Jerry Malayer COLLABORATORS Michael Davis, Physiological Sciences Todd Jackson, Animal Resources Carey Pope, Physiological Sciences Jerry Ritchey, Veterinary Pathobiology Akhilesh Ramachandran, OADDL

More on Tier 1 initiatives at okla.st/tier1 .

Jerry Malayer (from left) Gerwald Koehler, Tyrrell Conway and Brenda Smith are leading the Microbiome Initiative, one of OSU’s four Tier 1 Research Initiatives.

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

BRIEFS

Third Annual Kerr and McCasland Lecture and Phi Zeta Research Day Keynote In April, Drs. Ashish Ranjan, Kerr Foundation Endowed Chair and associate professor in Physiological Sciences and Jerry Malayer (McCasland Chair) partnered with the organizers of Phi Zeta Research Day, Drs. Jill Akkerman, Susan Fielder and Laura Nafe, to bring in Dr. Mark Smeltzer for the Third Annual Kerr and McCasland Lecture and the Phi Zeta Research Day keynote address.

Smeltzer presented, “It’s Time for a Change: Novel approaches to the treatment of Staphylococcus

aureus orthopaedic infections.” He is a professor in microbiology and immunology and director of the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Smeltzer has spent the majority of his career focused on Staphylococcus aureus and orthopedic infections. He is an internationally recognized researcher in bone infection diagnosis and treatment, and his laboratory has received funding totaling more than $15 million.

In his keynote seminar, Smeltzer discussed the pathophysiology of S. aureus induced acute and chronic osteomyelitis and current limitations of antibiotic treatments in clearing bone infections. He described the pioneering discovery from his laboratory of the staphylococcal accessory regulator (sarA) mutation that uncovered a new approach to reduce biofilm growth and increase antibiotic susceptibility. He showed data that suggested a role for sarA in reducing the overall reduced virulence of the S. aureus in sepsis, osteomyelitis and implant-associated infection.

From left: Jill Akkerman, Laura Nafe, Ashish Ranjan, Mark Smeltzer, Jerry Malayer and Susan Fielder.

2019 Class of 1963 Distinguished Lectureship University of Illinois professor Lawrence Schook, Ph.D., has been doing cancer research since 1995 and shared his work at the veterinary conference, explaining why the pig is such an important model for the treatment of hundreds of diseases that fall under the cancer umbrella.

Disease models should mimic the human disease on a molecular basis, he said. Pigs have metabolic and physiological similarities that are very close to human.

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“The molecules we are targeting look like and behave like those we see in humans,” he said. “It’s not necessarily true with the mouse.”

The same genes associated with obesity or diabetes exist in both pigs and people, he said, making the pig an important model when looking at those diseases. Schook’s team discovered that drug metabolism in the pig is also very similar to humans. Because the pig is the same size as humans, a lot of devices for drug delivery were created using the pig as the experimental animal.

According to Schook despite improved cancer research, the global incidence of cancer is rising with cancer being the leading cause of death worldwide. Human clinical trials have many burdens, and the pool of available patients is not large enough to support ongoing clinical trials. Schook’s team aims to do pre-clinical trial screening in the pig to help speed up the treatment process.

See his presentation at okla.st/ class632019.

STORIES DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

19th Annual Sitlington Lecture in Toxicology

From left: Steve Bradbury, Carey Pope, Jim Klaunig, and Tammy Dugas at the Interdisciplinary Toxicology Symposium. Bradbury, Klaunig and Dugas were guest speakers and judges; Pope coordinated the event.

The 2019 Interdisciplinary Toxicology Symposium at Wes Watkins Center included the 19th Annual Sitlington Lecture in Toxicology and featured a poster session, presentations by interdisciplinary graduate fellows, and three guest speakers, Steven Bradbury, Ph.D., Tammy Dugas, Ph.D., and Jim Klaunig, Ph.D. Bradbury, an international expert on pesticide policy and regulation, presented “Can we grow crops and monarch butterflies? Assessing risks of insecticides to monarch populations at the landscape scale.” He is a professor of environmental toxicology in the Departments of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and Entomology at Iowa State University.

Dugas, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology and the interim head of the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, presented “Inhalation of airborne particulates containing

environmentally persistent free radicals promotes cardiovascular disease.”

Klaunig, a recognized expert in mechanisms of carcinogenesis, presented the 19th Annual Sitlington Lecture in Toxicology on “Current understanding of chemical carcinogenesis.” He is a professor of environmental health at Indiana University.

“Dr. Klaunig’s 40 years of experience allowed him to do an excellent job covering the history of chemical carcinogenesis up to his current work, which focuses on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling in relation to carcinogenesis and translation from animal models to humans,” said Carey Pope, Ph.D., Regents Professor and Sitlington Chair in Toxicology, who coordinated the symposium.

Six undergraduate students and 22 graduate students participated in the poster session. The winners, judged by the guest speakers, were:

Undergraduates: First place, Taylor Walton, $200; second, Jeffrey Krall, $150; and third, Thomas Black, $100.

Graduates: First place, Chris Goodchild, $200; second, Sarah Hileman, $150; third, Kirstin Hester, $100.

The following ITP graduate fellows shared their research in brief platform sessions: Bobby Bowser, Integrative Biology

Christopher Goodchild, Integrative

Biology Kirstin Hester, Veterinary Biomedical

Sciences Sarah Hileman, Integrative Biology

Md Ibrahim, Integrative Biology

William Mimbs, Integrative Biology

Amie Schweitzer, Physiology and

Pharmacology Justin Scott, Integrative Biology

For more information about OSU’s Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, visit toxicology.okstate.edu.

From left: Dean Carlos Risco, Lawrence Schook and Thomas Loafmann, class of 1963 representative, at the Distinguished Lectureship.

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 21

Honoring Veterans CVM marks Veterans Day with speaker and ceremony

I SEE MORE Watch the CVM’s Veterans Day ceremony at okla. st/cvmvets19.

n honor of veterans and especially military veterinarians, Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a Veterans Day ceremony with Mark Bohannon, DVM, MPHTM, DACVPM, class of 1988 alumnus and U.S. Army veteran, presenting his “Thoughts on Veterans Day.” According to Bohannon, the Veterans Administration estimates there are 18 million living veterans in the United States.

“It seems like a big number but that’s 0.4 percent of the U.S. population,” he said. “At the end of World War II and probably at the end of Vietnam, almost everybody knew somebody who served in uniform.

In an all-volunteer force, an incredibly small percentage of people serve.”

Military veterinarians are responsible for many duties including treating military working dogs and horses, inspecting food and water sources to ensure they’re safe for consumption, helping prevent the spread of infectious diseases and developing animal health programs for foreign countries.

“I had the privilege of serving in the Veterinary Corps for 27 years,” Bohannon said. “For me in

particular, Veterans Day is an odd holiday. I was not a combat veteran. I never had anything on my right shoulder. I had a lot of friends who did.”

In fact, one of Bohannon’s veterinary college classmates, Lt. Col. Daniel Holland, DVM, MPH, was killed in the line of duty while serving in Iraq.

A gold star marks Holland’s memorial brick in the veterinary college’s Military Veterinarian Honor Court located outside McElroy Hall. While in town for this presentation, Bohannon was able to visit the flag display on OSU’s campus.

“I saw it on the internet, but I hadn’t really understood until I actually walked across campus,” Bohannon said. “There are 7,000 flags, one for every person killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Two things I wasn’t expecting. One was that each flag had an ID tag on it with a name, a rank and where they were from, their hometown. And there were two books with names listed. I found my next-door neighbor. … He was one of the first people killed by a suicide bomber in the mess hall in Fallujah right before Christmas in 2004. And I found Dan (Holland). I had to look for Dan; a very good old friend.”

At the Veterans Day ceremony (from left): cadets Katelyn Stice and Kyle Elliott, Dr. Carlos Risco, Dr. Mark Bohannon and cadets Christopher Smith and Reagan Page.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

Posthumous Honor Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame inducts Morgan

T

he late Gregor Morgan, BVSc, MVSc, DACT, of Mehan, Oklahoma, was recently inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Morgan was an associate professor of production medicine and theriogenology at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He taught for more than 30 years and served as the food animal medicine section chief for 22 years.

Originally from New Zealand, Morgan earned a BVSc degree (equivalent to a DVM degree) and a master’s degree in Reproductive Physiology, both from Massey University in New Zealand. He completed a three-year residency in theriogenology and a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology specializing in swine at Oklahoma State University and became a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists. He joined OSU’s faculty in 1982 and retired in 2011. He died in 2016.

Morgan was a pioneer in embryo work in both horses and cattle. He is credited with being the first person in Oklahoma to have a successful equine embryo transfer. He also participated in producing the first in vitro fertilized calf at OSU. He was instrumental in starting the laparoscopic artificial insemination service in deer and small ruminants in the early 1990s.

He was an active member of the Society of Theriogenology, American College of Theriogenelogists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners and the American Embryo Transfer Association. During his tenure at OSU, Morgan was an author or co-author in various book chapters and journals. He trained numerous veterinary students, graduate students, residents and faculty.

Dr. Gregor Morgan

Helping celebrate the many accomplishments of Dr. Morgan were (from left): Drs. Carlos Risco, Daniel Burba, Reed Holyoak, Lionel Dawson, Becky Brewer-Walker, Sandra Morgan, Meredyth Jones and Robert Streeter.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

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

RETIREMENTS

Dr. Anthony W. Confer

T

he AC/VP pathology rock band had bid its farewell now that Anthony W. Confer, DVM, MS, Ph.D., DACVP, Regents professor and Sitlington Chair for Food Animal Research, has retired after 38 years of teaching, diagnostics and research.

The band, formed with the help of Drs. Jerry Ritchey and Tim Snider in 2005, aimed to convey the fun in learning. They creatively wrote parody songs about disease mechanisms or life as a veterinary student to the tunes of rock ’n’ roll songs.

Sometimes the melodies floated down the hall from class or blasted from the stage during the end of spring semester concert.

“Without question, Dr. Confer has been instrumental in the success of the department,” said Ritchey, a professor and head of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. “He has been a true ‘triple threat’ exhibiting exemplary productivity in teaching, research and diagnostic service. For me, Tony has been a mentor, friend and great example of a productive faculty member and administrator.

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“I am not sure how we are going to move on without him here. We are all going to miss his humor and wit, as well as his song lyrics for every occasion.”

Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Confer earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1972, a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1974 and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri in 1978.

In 1977, he became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. He was a faculty member at Louisiana State University from 197881 before joining OSU in 1981 — and stayed here since.

As he was leaving, he shared a few of his favorite memories.

“I liked teaching the General Pathology course because first-year students are excited to learn about disease mechanisms and understand terms and diseases they have heard about,” he said.

“In my 20 years as either department head or associate dean for research, I particularly enjoyed working with the late Dr. Billy Hooper. Billy was fun — an excellent, well-organized, progressive

STORIES DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR, AND KAYLIE WEHR | PHOTOS GARY LAWSON AND PHIL SHOCKLEY

leader who was upbeat with an amazing ‘can-do’ attitude. With bond money, we made several major renovations to McElroy Hall, our professional standards policies were streamlined, and today’s curriculum was developed and adopted.

“And working with and learning from Dr. Roger Panciera was always an incredible experience.

Roger was by far the best pathologist with whom I have worked. Taking hard cases to him and watching his analytical mind work was amazing.

He certainly made me a better pathologist.”

Confer considers his four children and 48-plus year marriage to Carolyn among his greatest accomplishments, as well as leading the bovine respiratory disease (BRD) research team.

“Our team advanced the understanding of pathogenesis, epidemiology, and immunity in BRD, which included receiving several patents,” he said. “Probably the greatest accomplishments were understanding components of Mannheimia haemolytica that are important in immunity and the work of my longtime colleague and friend, Dr. Robert Fulton (’66), who really wrote the book on the impact of bovine viral diarrhea virus on BRD. It was a good run.”

Confer served as a department head twice (1986-99 and 2004-08) and as associate dean for research from 1999 to 2001. He earned numerous awards, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (1987 and 2002), Pfizer Award for Research Excellence (1988 and 2011), OSU Regents Distinguished Teaching Award (2008), and the Oklahoma State University Eminent Faculty Award (2003). Additionally, in 2009 the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus. Confer was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2015 and received the OSU mentoring award in 2016.

He said he hopes to be remembered for loving and caring deeply about pathology, teaching and research and for treating everyone with respect and as equals. He also hopes people remember that “Ole Doc Confer” had fun most days at work and tried to help make the workplace and classroom fun for others.

Confer authored or co-authored 226 refereed scientific publications, 131 published abstracts, 14 book chapters, 20 continuing education publications and four veterinary medical education manuscripts. As principal investigator, he obtained more than $8 million in extramural research funding and holds two U.S. patents with his colleague, Dr. Sahlu Ayalew. Confer has been an invited speaker 60 times to animal health companies and scientific meetings.

In retirement, he’s looking forward to traveling with Carolyn, maybe reading some biopsy slides for a commercial diagnostic laboratory and playing with grandkids. Confer hopes to volunteer at the Edmond Project 66 Resource Center and continue to play guitar — his goal is to learn both guitar solos from Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.”

“I have seen many positive changes in the college,” Confer said. “I think we can be proud of what we have been able to accomplish with a small faculty and limited budget. Although we are nearly last in funding and ranking among veterinary schools, we have an outstanding reputation in graduating excellent veterinarians, first-rate pathology teaching and diagnostics, a productive and sustained infectious disease research program, and national leadership in parasitology research, diagnostics and teaching. The College of Veterinary Medicine has been good to me and I hope the college feels that I have been good for it.”

ROCK ON The AC/VP pathology rock band shares its farewell tour appearance at the Seretean Center: okla.st/acvp.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 25

RETIREMENTS

Dr. Jean d’Offay

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D

r. Jean d’Offay retired this spring, after a 33-year career at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine that left a legacy of excellence and inspiration through his research and teaching.

“Jean is the definition of what a true scholar and gentleman should be,” said colleague Dr. Clinton Jones. “His lowkey but insightful and intense approach to research and teaching has had a positive influence on students, faculty and staff.”

D’Offay was born and raised in the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean, on his father’s farm. He was exposed to medicine very early by his physician father and considered the veterinary profession many times over the years.

He started down a different path but soon realized he was meant to become a veterinarian.

“My first thought was to do an agriculture degree, but after a year I changed my mind,” d’Offay said. “I grew up around animals all my life; that’s when I decided I would become a veterinarian.”

D’Offay earned his BVSc (DVM equivalent) degree from the University of Pretoria in South Africa and returned home to work as a veterinarian on a five-year contract with the Seychelles government. He married and had two children during this span.

While working for the Seychelles government, he earned a diploma in tropical veterinary medicine from the University of Edinburgh.

“After I earned that, they put me in charge of the whole veterinary services, which was quite big,” he said. “The government ran a dairy farm, a beef farm, a big swine unit that provided piglets to farmers, and we also had a big flock of chickens, which provided chicks to farmers. So to me it was a very useful time.”

After his contract ended, d’Offay and his family immigrated to the United States, and he worked as a clinician and lecturer at Mississippi State University for two years. He then earned his Ph.D. in virology from the University of Missouri. D’Offay is also a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists.

He joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University in 1986.

“Dr. Fulton was the department head at the time, and he knew me because we did our Ph.D. under the same adviser, so he encouraged me to interview for the open virology position,” d’Offay said. “I was attracted to OSU because it was a smaller university, and Stillwater was a small town and a nice place to raise children.”

Most of his time was spent teaching virology and immunology at OSU, where he loves interacting with students.

“They keep me young,” he said. “I like to get to know them, to interact with them. That is what I will miss most, the interaction with the students.”

D’Offay’s research has focused on the genetics behind bovine herpes. He first began researching bovine herpes while earning his Ph.D. and continued to research the disease at OSU. Research goes hand-in-hand with successful teaching, he said.

“To me, research is important because it allows you to be a better teacher,” he said. “Students will appreciate stuff you tell them you’ve been doing; I think they remember it more.”

Over the years, d’Offay has earned recognition for his teaching and research, including the Zoetis Teaching Award in 1992 and 1999, the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002, the Zoetis Research Award in 2014 and several Outstanding Instructor awards, which are voted on annually by each class.

While he is proud of the awards he has received, that’s not necessarily what he wants to be remembered for.

“I want to be remembered as a person who made a positive impact on the lives of people who knew me,” d’Offay said.

His enthusiasm for teaching and investments he made in those around him have certainly made a lasting impact.

“He was an exemplary leader and showed us how much he cared about our learning process and never gave up on us,” said Laura Edwards, class of 2021.

“He was always so supportive,” said Dr. Katie Knotts, class of 2014. “He cared and was invested in our progress.”

Several past students have gone on to become colleagues at the CVM, including current veterinary pathobiology department head Dr. Jerry Ritchey.

“Dr. D’Offay has been an excellent faculty member and friend,” Ritchey said. “He is an engaging and vibrant teacher who has impacted generations of veterinarians. His teaching awards are proof that he has been an excellent teacher. Furthermore, he has provided mentorship to veterinary students to pursue additional training in either residencies or graduate school; several of these people are distributed around the country at veterinary colleges, including OSU.” In retirement, d’Offay plans to stay busy.

“I plan to spend more time in my [woodworking] workshop and will be doing some gardening,” he said. “I will be doing quite a bit of walking and cycling and would like to continue working for Habitat for Humanity to help build homes.”

D’Offay also mentioned working with other charities, such as Tiny Paws Kitten Rescue, and continuing to publish his research. “I will have to pace myself,” he said with a chuckle.

Jean d’Offay has left an imprint on the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine family that will not soon be forgotten.

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

RETIREMENTS

Sherl Holesko

D

uring the last 41 years, Sherl Holesko has seen a lot of changes come through the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I’ve worked with the Department of Veterinary Educational Development and Services, the learning center, in the department of pathobiology to the dean’s office to student services,” said Holesko, who retired this year. “I’ve gone from typewriters to computers, seen the increase in class sizes, curriculum changes, department reorganizations and changes in the dean, associate deans and department heads. I’ve witnessed moving the veterinary clinics from McElroy Hall to the Veterinary Medical Hospital and gone from one VCR in each classroom to the high-tech equipment now in use. So many changes.”

The native of Abilene, Kansas, considers her greatest accomplishment to be adapting and rising to the challenges presented by changes in personnel, in technology and in physical locations.

An administrative support specialist II in student services under the dean’s office, Holesko earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Oklahoma State University. She enjoys seeing the incoming class with its new crop of future veterinarians each fall.

An avid OSU sports fan, you can easily spot her in the crowd — just look for her bright orange hair, her personal trademark.

“In retirement, I plan to work parttime at something completely different, garden and maybe nap,” Holesko said.

“I want to put more attention into my millinery company (Hats From the Edge), travel, genealogy and do lots of nothing sometimes. I have enjoyed my years here and have made many fantastic friends during that time.”

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FACULT Y PROMOTIONS

Burba gets permanent title

D

aniel Burba, DVM, Dip. ACVS, has been appointed head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Burba has served as the interim head of the department for the last two years.

“I look forward to working with Dr. Burba, as does our entire leadership team,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Dan is a dedicated faculty member in our college who will work tirelessly to advance research, teaching and service in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.”

An equine surgeon by trade, Burba says servant leadership attracted him to this administrative position.

“Throughout my life and career, it seemed I was moving in a direction, and that was leadership,” Burba said. “I like moving people forward. I feel if I help the faculty, the house officers and the staff move forward, the program will follow.”

Burba oversees the clinical faculty who supervise the veterinary medical services provided at the college’s Veterinary Medical Hospital, train tomorrow’s veterinarians and engage in cuttingedge research that benefits animals and humans.

“I think my primary responsibility as a department head is to inspire,” he continued. “It is important for me to help faculty achieve their goals and to make sure their goals align with the mission of the department as well as the college. Also, I think it is important to help the dean achieve the goals that he hopes to accomplish at the college.”

As is true with most jobs, there are challenges to overcome.

“As a department head, I think the foremost challenge is providing the resources that will allow faculty to do their job,” Burba added. “I’ll know I am a successful department head when we have collegiality, cooperation and teamwork among all incorporated in every bit of the fabric of everything that we do in our daily work here. Whether it’s research, teaching or working in the clinics, all the team players will be working effectively together. I want to make this the place where everybody wants to come to work. I want to be able to walk down the hallways and see a smile on everybody’s face.”

Originally from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Burba earned his DVM degree from Auburn University. He completed a large animal internship and equine surgical residency at Oklahoma State University. He spent the next 24 years working at Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine before joining OSU in 2015. Burba is a professor of equine surgery and holds the McCasland Professorship in Biomedical Laser Surgery. His research focuses on orthopedics and laser surgery, specifically cribbing in horses.

Meet Dr. Burba Dr. Burba discusses his leadership style at okla.st/burba.

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

FACULT Y PROMOTIONS

Jill Akkerman, DVM, Ph.D., was reappointed to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Physiological Sciences. Dr. Akkerman teaches gross and developmental anatomy and applied anatomy to students in the veterinary professional program. Her research interests include the role of stress proteins during development of cancer as well as collaborative studies on educational pedagogy. She also has a particular interest in veterinary curricular design, improving student success through tutoring programs and recruiting the next generation of veterinarians through K-12 outreach.

Danielle Dugat, DVM, MS, DACVS-SA, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Dr. Dugat is a board-certified small animal surgeon and holder of the Cohn Family Chair for Small Animals.

She treats clinical cases at the Veterinary Medical Hospital and instructs third- and fourth-year veterinary students. Her research interests include the management of canine intervertebral disk disease, identifying the strength of orthopedic repairs used for fracture management, and evaluation of clinical techniques to diagnose disease conditions. Dugat is also co-investigator on research projects to determine the efficacy of using highintensity focused ultrasound to treat cancer patients.

Clinton Jones, Ph.D., was promoted to Regents Professor in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. Dr. Jones is the Sitlington Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases. His current research focuses on two viruses that belong to the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily — Bovine Herpes Virus 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. These studies have led to 174 peer-reviewed publications and more than $1.6 million in grants from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health. Jones is also an associate editor for the journal of Neurovirology and on the editorial boards for the Journal of Virology, Virology and Virus Research.

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Shane Lyon, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), was promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Dr. Lyon is a boardcertified small animal internist and has a master’s degree in educational psychology.

He treats clinical cases at the hospital and teaches in all four years of the veterinary curriculum. He is also a nationally certified instructor for adult mental health first aid.

Lyon’s research interests include kidney, bladder and gastrointestinal diseases, as well as the relationship between selfregulated learning, approaches to learning and academic performance in first-year veterinary students.

Akhilesh Ramachandran, BVSc & AH, PhD, DACVM, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. Dr. Ramachandran is a Diplomate of the American College of Microbiologists. In addition to his appointment in veterinary pathobiology, he also serves as section head of microbiology and molecular diagnostics at the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. He teaches part of the veterinary diagnostics rotation course for fourth-year veterinary students. His research interests include the development of metagenome based in-silico approach for the diagnosis of bovine respiratory disease, cold plasma devices for skin/wound care and hospital premise decontamination and whole genome sequencing for multi-drug resistant veterinary and zoonotic bacteria, to name a few.

Hesser named assistant director of development In July, Ashley Hesser was promoted from the College of Veterinary Medicine’s constituent relations associate and coordinator with the OSU Foundation to assistant director of development.

Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Hesser is a fourth-generation OSU Cowboy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences with an option in allied health and her MBA with a concentration in nonprofit management from OSU. Between degrees, Hesser co-founded a nonprofit after-school program for high school students in South Africa.

“Ashley joined the OSU Foundation in July 2018 and hit the ground running, developing internal and external relationships that have advanced the college and Oklahoma State,” said Dr. Carlos Risco, dean of OSU’s CVM. “We are fortunate to have someone with her background and passion serving the college and engaging alumni and grateful clients to move our college forward.”

“Serving the College of Veterinary Medicine in this capacity is a great opportunity,” Hesser said. “This is a wonderful time to be a part of such an amazing team. I’m very excited for the future!”

To support veterinary medicine, contact Hesser 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 31

NEW FACES

Faculty

Dr. Rosslyn Biggs

Rosslyn Biggs, DVM, is an assistant clinical professor, director of continuing education and beef cattle extension specialist. Originally from Chickasha, Oklahoma, she earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and her DVM degree from OSU (’04). Dr. Biggs’ research interests include beef cattle production.

She is a second-generation female OSU DVM; her mother, the late Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Clark, graduated in 1978. Biggs comes to OSU with 14 years of veterinary experience in large animal practice and public service. Previously, she was the assistant veterinarian in charge at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services in Oklahoma City.

Josh Butcher, MS, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences. Originally from Marietta, Georgia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Asbury College, a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in cellular and integrative physiology from West Virginia University. Dr. Butcher’s research focuses on how muscle mass can lessen obesity-derived cardiovascular dysfunction — more specifically, the interplay that occurs in a population that will experience lifelong obesity in conjunction with aging and determining the beneficial effects of an exercise mimetic.

Dr. Josh Butcher

Stefano Di Concetto, DVM, MSc, DACVAA, is a clinical associate professor of veterinary anesthesiology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. Originally from Mantua, Italy, he earned his DVM degree from the University of Parma in Italy. He earned an MSc degree from the Royal Veterinary College and Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom. Dr. Di Concetto completed an internship in veterinary anesthesia at the Royal Veterinary College and residencies in veterinary anesthesia at the University of Florida and Oregon State University. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. His research interests include the use of veterinary acupuncture in anesthesia practice and pain control in ruminants. Before becoming an anesthesiologist, Di Concetto was a zoo veterinarian. Since completing his anesthesia training in 2006, he was been working as an anesthesiologist in academia.

Mayara Maggioli, DVM, MS, Ph.D., is a research scientist in the veterinary pathobiology department. Originally from Goiania, Goias in Brazil, she earned her DVM and master’s degrees in veterinary medicine from the Federal University of Goias and a Ph.D. in immunobiology from Iowa State University. Dr. Maggioli’s research interests include the study of protective host immune responses to viral and bacterial pathogens to promote rational vaccine design and animal health.

Valerie McElliott, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, is an assistant professor of anatomic pathology and residency training coordinator in the veterinary pathobiology department.

Originally from Duncanville, Texas, she earned her DVM degree from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine.

After completing a one-year internship in anatomic pathology at Tuskegee University, she went on to complete an anatomic pathology residency program at the University of California, Davis. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Sunil More, BVSc & AH, MVSc, Ph.D., DACVP, is an assistant professor of anatomic pathology in the veterinary pathobiology department. Originally from Nashik, India, he earned his BVSc and AH degree in veterinary medicine and his master’s degree in veterinary sciences from the Nagpur Veterinary College and his Ph.D. in veterinary biomedical sciences from OSU. Dr. More completed an anatomic pathology residency at the University of Florida and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. His research interests include respiratory diseases, influenza virus and host factors, and animal models development.

Asitha Pillai, BVSc & AH, MS, is a clinical assistant professor in emergency care in the veterinary clinical sciences department.

Originally from Kerala, India, she earned her BVSC & AH (DVM equivalent) degree and a master’s degree in animal nutrition from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Kerala. She earned a master’s degree in genetics/genomics and her DVM degree through the PAVE program from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Stefano Di Concetto

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PHOTOS PHIL SHOCKLEY AND GARY LAWSON

Dr. Asitha Pillai

Dr. Mayara Maggioli

Staff

Dr. Valerie McElliott

Dr. Sunil More

Jeremiah Grissett, MS, LMFT, is the veterinary center’s counselor and wellness coordinator. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Oral Roberts University and his master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Oklahoma State University.

A licensed marriage and family therapist, he is currently working on a doctorate in Human Development and Family Science also from OSU. Grissett’s research interests include examining parental self-efficacy and parental involvement with their children in divorced fathers. Prior to joining OSU, he was an outpatient mental health therapist in Stillwater.

Shannon Harlow, LVT, CVPM, is the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital administrator. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Old Dominion University. She is also a licensed veterinary technician and a certified veterinary practice manager.

Jeremiah Grissett

Shannon Harlow

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

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Regents Distinguished Teacher Mason Reichard has learned much in his 20 years at OSU

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ason Reichard, MS, Ph.D., professor of veterinary parasitology, received the 2019 Regents Distinguished Teaching Award for Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Being selected for a Regents Distinguished Teaching Award is a little overwhelming to say the least,” Reichard said. “To be recognized among a group of peers, who work as hard as we do, who are as dedicated as we are to creating the next generation of veterinarians, is very much an honor.

The recognition is humbling and motivating. It has compelled me to work even harder to keep doing the best job I can to provide the best educational experience that I can for our students.”

Reichard came to OSU in 1999 as a doctoral graduate student and never left, becoming an assistant professor in 2004.

“Without a doubt, the thing I like most about teaching is the students,” he said. “They are absolutely fascinating to work with. I’m pretty confident I learn just as much from them as they do from me. I find it quite rewarding to see them evolve over their four years in our professional, rigorous curriculum. I take a considerable amount of pride and satisfaction knowing that I helped shape them by giving them some information and tools to help them be successful and reach their goals.”

Originally from St. Louis, Michigan, Reichard earned his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and his master’s degree from Northern Michigan University before coming to OSU for his Ph.D. “I decided I wanted to work in veterinary parasitology sometime around graduate school in Michigan,” he said. “There wasn’t one particular person or event that influenced that decision but I have no doubt that all my college professors helped foster and solidify that decision.

“My favorite memory from teaching so far is the first class I ever taught. When I reflect back, I realize how bad it was and how much I learned from it. It really helped shape who I am now and how much better I do things,” he added.

“My advice to young faculty members is to listen and be adaptable. Listen to what the students say and to feedback from other professors and be willing to adapt. What you did for one class doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to work for the next class.

“I hope I’m remembered as a good dude — somebody who really cared about students, wanted to make a difference and was really dedicated to what he did. I’m grateful to work at a professional school that values teaching, and I thank Oklahoma State University and the College of Veterinary Medicine for giving me the opportunity to teach.”

A selection committee comprised of students, faculty and academic administrators chooses the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award recipients, who must demonstrate significant and meritorious achievement in instruction.

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

HEAR MORE Dr. Mason Reichard reflects on this honor: okla.st/ reichard.

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

Regents Distinguished Researcher Lin Liu wins honor for second time in his career at OSU

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or the second time in his 19-year career at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Lin Liu, Ph.D., has received a Regents Distinguished Research Award.

Liu, Regents Professor, Lundberg-Kienlen Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research, Lung Biology and Toxicology Laboratory director and director of the Oklahoma Center for Respiratory and Infectious Diseases (OCRID), first became interested in respiratory diseases during his postdoctoral training.

“Since my postdoctoral training, my whole life is devoted to respiratory disease research,” Liu said. “Before 2010, my research focused on noninfectious diseases. Now my research has been extended to respiratory pathogens, particularly the influenza virus.”

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According to Liu, respiratory infections impose some of the most prevalent disease burdens worldwide and are more widespread than some other higher profile diseases such as AIDS and cancer.

“Respiratory infections are recognized as a public health priority,” he said. “Pneumonia affects approximately 7 percent of the global population and is often caused by bacterial and viral lung infections, most commonly influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

“What appeals most to me is a critical need to develop improved medicines to combat respiratory infections. Our research addresses this need, and that is exciting!”

Liu advises those considering research as a career to actively seek funding and collaborate with others.

“Receiving this award recognizes not only me but my research team because it is the team that keeps our research going. Also, thanks to the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies for continually supporting our research programs since the start of my research career.

Additionally, thanks to the Lundberg-Kienlen endowment, which allowed us to support many graduate and undergraduate students in the past 10 years.”

Currently, approximately 15 people work in Liu’s laboratory under his direction. Besides his own research, Liu also takes a leading role in mentoring junior investigators, building research infrastructure and fostering collaborations in respiratory infectious disease research across Oklahoma. He serves as the program director of the second NIH $11 million-plus CoBRE grant, which will allow this effort to continue until at least 2023.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

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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Breathing Easier OSU places its first bronchial stents in a dog

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r. Shane Lyon, associate professor of small animal internal medicine at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, recently placed bronchial stents in a dog for the first time at OSU. His patient, Lucy, is a 14-year-old Pomeranian owned by Tracy Spears of Woodward, Oklahoma.

“About five years ago, my regular veterinarian in Elk City, Dr. Keith Fuchs (OSU Vet Med ’86) discovered that Lucy had a collapsed trachea,” Spears said. “He told me that OSU could probably do something to help her. Dr. Lyon did testing and discovered she had a collapsed trachea as well as collapsed bronchi. We elected to try medication, and Dr. Lyon suggested that Lucy lose half of herself. She was overweight, so that’s what we did.

It worked wonderfully until about three or four months ago.”

“Lucy was having difficulties breathing,” Lyon said. “We put a tracheal stent in initially because tracheal collapse was her primary problem. About 10 days after the procedure, she was still having some respiratory difficulties, and we decided she needed bronchial stents as well.”

Since Dr. Lyon had never performed a bronchial stent placement, there were decisions to be made.

“The patient is the most important thing so overall her well-being was our primary concern,” continued Lyon. “We offered to send her to somebody who has experience with bronchial stenting, but Ms. Spears decided she wanted us to do the procedure here. So my colleague Dr. Andrew Hanzlicek and I read through the procedure protocols and talked about the approach we were going to do and scheduled Lucy’s procedure. It went well.”

“I went to Dr. Lyon and I said, ‘I don’t know where you stand with this but I want you to know where I stand with it,’” added Spears. “If we need to bring somebody in, we can but I trust you wholeheartedly. I want you to do it, and I want to do it here. So that’s what we did.”

The stent placement procedure is one of several minimally invasive procedures performed at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. Lucy’s procedure did not require any incisions.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

“Lucy was placed under anesthesia and positioned on her stomach,” Lyon said. “We passed a scope down her trachea into her lower airways and used a combination of fluoroscopy, which is a real-time video X-ray system, and the endoscopy to place the stents. Basically, we passed a wire down through the scope and then passed the stent device over the wire into the airway we were targeting.

Then while we watched on the fluoroscopy and endoscopy, we slowly deployed the bronchial stent to make sure it was in the right position. Lucy’s recovery time was pretty instantaneous once she woke up from anesthesia. She was already breathing better.”

“Lucy is doing great,” Spears said. “Prior to the stents, her activity level had pretty much dropped to nonexistent. She would be out of breath getting across the floor in the house. She wouldn’t come up on the porch anymore because she was worn out.

Now she’s barking; she’s her bossy, sassy little self.”

According to Lyon, bronchial stents are becoming more common.

“Many times patients can be managed medically for their airway disease,” added Lyon. “A good conversation and consultation about what’s wrong with the pet and what’s the best approach will help decide if bronchial stents are needed.”

“I cannot say enough about Dr. Lyon,” Spears said. “During Lucy’s hospital stay he was on vacation some of the time. He came in anyway knowing how worried I was. Your animal is their priority. You feel like your animal is their animal. I felt that Dr. Lyon was just as invested in [Lucy] as I was. He’s the doctor, and twice I caught him giving Lucy baths. He could have had a student do it or something. No, he did it himself. You don’t have to go somewhere else for bronchial stents. They have the facilities here. They have the knowledge and the ability. It’s more like a home than a hospital. I so appreciate Dr. Lyon for everything he did and Dr. Hanzlicek, too. I’ll never be able to repay him.

“He gave Lucy a second chance at life.”

Shane Lyon

SEE MORE Learn more about placing bronchial stents in a dog at okla.st/lucy.

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

MILO TAKES THE

STAGE OSU’S CASE OF THE COONHOUND PUPPY WITH WRONG-WAY PAWS CAPTURES HEARTS AROUND THE WORLD

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

O

klahoma State University’s arguably biggest star of 2019 came from the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Milo the coonhound with upside-down front paws made the news from Stillwater to Sydney (yes, Australia) and points between.

Today, he’s healthy and happy. But that wasn’t always the case.

Born with a congenital dislocation of both elbows, Milo’s front paws were pointing up instead of down when owner Jennie Hays of Luther, Oklahoma, brought him to OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. With the deformity, the 7-week-old puppy could only muster a crawl, unable to either stand or walk.

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

SEE MORE A complete wrap-up of Milo’s story is available at okla.st/milo2.

Dr. Erik Clary, a board-certified small animal surgeon, and his team realigned Milo’s elbows and moved his paws to a normal orientation.

“For each of his elbows, we entered the joint and restored the alignment,” Clary said, explaining the surgery. “Then we placed a pin across the joint to keep it straight while Milo continues to grow.”

Not only did Milo grow — his popularity exploded over those two weeks.

“Milo has become a bit of a rock star,” Clary acknowledged. “He’s also a great patient. As well as a puppy can tolerate being in an immobilizing front body splint, he’s doing a great job.”

In late January, Milo’s pins were removed, and the pup went bandage-free.

Veterinary rehabilitation specialist Dr. Cara Blake implemented a course of therapy to improve the range of motion in Milo’s elbows, strengthen his limb muscles, and teach him how to walk. Milo ended up spending several weeks in rehabilitative therapy.

After Milo went home to Oliver and Friends Farm Rescue and Sanctuary in Luther, Oklahoma, his rehab continued. He had to be retrained on how to lie down, sit and walk in a correct fashion. Therapy helped him improve his muscle flexibility, reinforcing correct limb placement and strengthening the muscles.

“Milo is gaining more and more functionality as his muscles strengthen with the rehabilitative

care,” Clary said at the pup’s 4-month checkup.

“His quality of life is much improved as he is quite mobile now and able to play and do many things that puppies should be able to do at his age.”

Milo’s recovery has been most remarkable, Clary said.

“Milo’s high level of function and general comfort are simply impressive and speak to the resiliency of this wonderful creature and also to the power of collaborative care,” Clary said.

“The VMH team, owner and family veterinarian have all played critical roles in the provision of care. Furthermore, it is very gratifying to know that Milo’s story has inspired people across the nation and also served to educate on the present capabilities of specialty veterinary medicine that offer hope in situations that once seemed hopeless.”

While it was Milo’s cute face and sad predicament that no doubt made his appeal viral, sharing his story was important to Oklahoma State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Milo’s care offers a great example of the level of care available to our pets today,” said Jeff Studer, DVM, DACVO, director of the Veterinary Medicine Hospital. “The collaborative effort of Milo’s family veterinarian and our team of board-certified specialists and nurses in veterinary surgery, radiology, anesthesia and rehabilitation therapy is shaping the future, not only for Milo, but for all of veterinary medicine.”

At Milo’s six-month checkup and news conference were (from left) Milo’s family veterinarian, Dr. Summer Heatly (OSU ’09); Milo’s owner, Jennie Hays; and Dr. Erik Clary.

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O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 43

“Our students leave this program with very good surgical skills. This program gives our students a leg up.”

DR. KIMBERLY CARTER

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A Win-Win-Win Shelter surgery program helps train students, save pets and reduce overpopulation

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t Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the shelter surgery program spays or neuters approximately 3,200 dogs and cats a year. That’s 3,200 pets that cannot contribute to Oklahoma’s pet overpopulation problem and are ready for immediate adoption into their forever homes.

That’s 3,200 surgeries helping tomorrow’s veterinarians hone their surgical and anesthesia management skills.

“We partner with 33 to 35 animal shelters,” explained Dr. Kimberly Carter, clinical assistant professor and section chief of shelter medicine and junior surgery techniques at the college’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. “Some come less frequently while others come every week or sometimes multiple times a week. Oklahoma law requires that animals adopted through a rescue agency must have a voucher program or be spayed/ neutered before their release.

“It’s been proven that voucher programs do not work, with less than 60 percent compliance,” she continued. “If you pay up front and give a voucher, the adopting people simply don’t follow through.

If they have the resources, most shelters spay/ neuter their animals before releasing them to their adopter. We help by performing the surgeries.”

Junior veterinary students perform 12 spay/ neuter surgeries during the semester. Each has three spays and three neuters as an assistant surgeon and again as a primary surgeon. Senior veterinary students perform 30 to 40 spay/neuter surgeries as a primary surgeon and the same number as an anesthetist.

“Currently an elective for seniors, shelter surgery will soon be a core course,” Carter said.

“Depending on our case load and individual speed, by course end seniors will have performed roughly 80 spay/neuter surgeries as either the primary surgeon or an anesthetist. If you are a bit speedier, you get more cases. Our goal at the end of the rotation is to have these students hone their surgical skills and confidence to become an independent surgeon.”

“I think this is actually my favorite rotation so far this year,” said Elizabeth Shrode, senior veterinary student from West Palm Beach, Florida. “I elected to take it because I felt in need of improving my surgical skills and my anesthesia skills. We get so much of it here in a really condensed fashion. It’s an awesome experience.

I liked the size of the caseload and being able to do multiple surgeries every day. I’ve gained so much out of it, and I think it really sets Oklahoma State graduates apart from graduates of other vet schools.”

OSU’s college has increased its class size from 88 to 106. The increased class size coupled with switching shelter surgery from an elective to a required course means the program must grow.

“Going forward, if we’re going to do more surgeries on more animals, challenges include reconfiguring our space and getting more staff and more clinicians to handle the increased case load,” Carter added. “Ultimately, more animals will be getting spayed/neutered. We do have very generous sponsors. Grants from PetSmart, Maddie’s Fund and Petco help with equipment and supplies, which enabling us to offer shelters a very low-cost spay/ neuter. What our shelters pay doesn’t even cover the cost of a surgery. We depend heavily on grants to help subsidize our program.”

In addition to making the animals more adoptable by spaying and neutering them, the shelter surgery program provides ancillary services.

“We vaccinate and microchip each animal,” said Carter. “We do dentals, which is a huge benefit because dental care is one of the extreme costs. Some of these animals have simply terrible health in their mouth. If we can give them a dental cleaning, do some X-rays and get their teeth in good shape before they are adopted, it’s huge. We perform other small surgeries like entropion surgeries where the eyelid is rolled inward against the eyeball, cherry eye surgeries and limb amputations if they have a catastrophic break. Most shelters do not have the resources to do any sort of pinning or

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

LEARN MORE See more about the College of Veterinary Medicine’s shelter surgery program at okla.st/shelter.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 45

To support the shelter surgery program, contact Ashley Hesser, assistant director of development with the OSU Foundation, at 405-385-0715 or ahesser@ osugiving.com.

plating. We will do limb amputations to save a dog’s life. Three-legged dogs and cats live very happily and get adopted readily. These other procedures are a really good thing that we can do for our shelters, and it gives our students hands-on experience at the same time.”

“I chose this rotation as an elective because I feel it is imperative that we are able to do castrations as well as spays whenever we leave as a practicing veterinarian,” said Kelsy Eastwood, a senior veterinary student from Cherokee, Oklahoma. “This rotation has been fantastic.

I expected to do mostly spays and neuters, and that’s what we’ve done for the most part, but I have also had the opportunity to perform a forelimb amputation as well as a laceration repair. Those are hands-on experiences I would not have gotten otherwise without this rotation.”

“The other important thing is to spay animals young,” Carter continued. “Through our program we do a lot of pediatric surgeries. You can spay/ neuter anytime over 8 weeks. Shelter standards and shelter medicine industry standards are .9 kilograms (2 pounds). So we’re talking a kitten about the size of a Coke can. Our students get very comfortable doing pediatrics because we do a lot of them. It’s the best bang for your buck, so to speak.

The most return on your investment is to spay/ neuter early before any litters are born.”

Carter said most people don’t realize how young a cat can come into heat.

“Kittens as young as four months of age can come into heat and have unwanted litters. In the shelter industry, we call these ‘oops’ litters. The animal gets out in their first heat cycle and gets bred. Then the owner is presented with a litter they didn’t expect or want. Simply spaying them young takes care of that problem.”

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Oklahoma currently has a high euthanasia rate in shelters. The hope is to have a 90 percent live release rate by 2025, and Oklahoma State’s shelter surgery program can help.

“One of the challenges Oklahoma faces is adequate resources in spay/neuter for owned animals,” explained Carter. “Our rural communities really suffer, and some counties don’t even have a county shelter. There’s nowhere for these animals to go. So that leads to high euthanasia rates. Reducing the unwantedness and overpopulation will have the biggest impact on these rates. We help by obviously serving our shelters in that capacity.”

The OSU College’s shelter surgery program only deals with contracted animal shelters. Private owners must schedule surgery for their pets through their own veterinarian or the hospital’s community practice service, which is open to the public.

“We are grateful for our sponsors and need more resources to grow our program,” Carter said.

“Our students leave this program with very good surgical skills. This program gives our students a leg up. When our students visit other universities, they come back and say, ‘Oh, Dr. Carter, they only do blah, blah, blah surgeries and we get to do so many more.’ They’re really appreciative of this program.

“It’s a win-win for everybody. It’s a win for our students, it’s a win for our shelter animals, and it’s a win for our shelter clients.”

Orr Award goes to Morgan Chayes

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organ Chayes is the 2019 recipient of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Dean Harry W. Orr Memorial Award scholarship, which honors the school’s second dean and goes to the top-ranking third-year veterinary student.

“After reading about Dr. Orr, I feel very privileged to receive an award honoring him,” Chayes said. “I want to embody those traits that made him a great administrator.”

Long before Chayes became a topranking vet student at Oklahoma State University, she was a little girl with a love for animals.

“I have always been drawn to animals,” Chayes said. “We had Labrador retrievers growing up, and my dad would always show us turtles and snakes and other animals. I was exposed to a bunch of animals, and I always enjoyed interacting with them and pretending like I was their veterinarian.”

Chayes has a bachelor’s degree from the pre-vet program at Clemson University and had her sights set on Oklahoma State for her DVM. “I saw that OSU had a really good pass rate on the NAVLE and was a well-established program with great clinicians, which was important to me,” she said.

For Chayes, the learning has been the best part of her experience at OSU. “I have loved learning something new each day,” she said. “I would always go home to my dad and say, ‘This is what I learned today, how cool is that?’ I’ve had really great instructors who have made that learning so impactful to me. I have made great friends along the way, but definitely the learning and now being

STORY KAYLIE WEHR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

able to apply it in the clinic — that has been the best for me.”

Chayes spent the first three years of vet school in the classroom. In her final year, she will put her learning into practice during clinics at the OSU Veterinary Medical Hospital.

“I am looking forward to finally being able to put those things that I’ve learned into practice and all the new experiences I will have,” she said. “I am excited to work with large animals and horses, which I have never had a chance to work with before.”

While Chayes plans to pursue small animal medicine, she isn’t sure exactly how that will look yet.

“I’m going back and forth with whether I want to go the general

practice route or specialize in something,” she said. “I am having a hard time narrowing it down, but I know I want to do small animal medicine.”

Whichever route she decides to take, Chayes is confident her schooling has given her the tools to succeed in veterinary medicine.

As she looks forward to the future as a DVM, she said she is thankful to the generous donors.

“The donors’ support is so important to me as a student,” Chayes said. “It takes a burden off my shoulders and enables me to focus my attention on school. I want to reiterate the importance of the impact their generosity has on all of us.”

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 47

Anything is Possible

OSU graduate overcomes spinal cord injury to earn her veterinary degree

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eterinary school isn’t easy — that’s a given.

Imagine suffering a spinal cord injury as you’re making your way there, forcing you to use a wheelchair, making veterinary school more difficult.

That’s the situation Mary Beth Davis faced.

And she faced it down successfully.

In May, she graduated with her doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It’s definitely been a struggle,” said Davis, who hails from Guthrie, Oklahoma. “I have to go the extra step to get things done. But at the same time, anything is possible. I have had a great support system here at school, and my classmates and family have all helped in the process of my earning a DVM degree.”

The college welcomed Davis and worked to make all areas accessible to her, she said.

“A lot of work went into making sure there were pushbuttons on all the doors,” Davis said. “Different tables were installed for me so that I could get under them and closer to a patient.

A specific surgery table gave me the accessibility and ease to perform the way that I needed to. It was definitely something I was worried about coming into vet school. It made my life around the hospital and over at McElroy Hall a lot easier.”

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One of her faculty mentors, Dr. Margi Gilmour, a professor of ophthalmology and associate dean for academic affairs, remembered Davis offering feedback on the center’s accessibility.

“In anticipation of Mary Beth coming to the Veterinary Medical Hospital for third- and fourth-year classes and clinical rotations, I asked her to go through so many doors to be sure the push or pull effort was correct for her,” Gilmour said. “There are many obstacles that we take for granted, and yet Mary Beth was only positive and accommodating for what sometimes would be less than ideal options. Mary Beth has taught us all so much. I am very grateful for her insights and guidance during the learning process.”

Gilmour wasn’t the only one who learned from Davis.

“When I first met Mary Beth, she was ‘the student in the wheelchair.’ I had never spent time with someone with Mary Beth’s physical limitations,” added Dr. Jerry Ritchey, a professor and head of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. “What I found was an ambassador and a teacher.

“I learned from her about her struggles and successes, the ingenuity required to accomplish simple daily tasks that I always took for granted. She was always open, honest and sincere.

Her journey speaks for itself. She provided me confidence to approach and interact openly with any wheelchairbound person. In the end, I guess I no longer see a ‘student in the wheelchair,’ I just see a young lady who is about to be called Doctor.”

At graduation, Dr. Rocky Bigbie, OSU veterinary medicine class of 1981, hooded Davis.

“Dr. Rocky Bigbie gave me a lot of hope,” she said. “I wasn’t sure that vet school was something that I could do.

I knew it was something I wanted to do but I kept thinking ‘I don’t know of anybody else who uses a wheelchair. I’m going to have such a hard time.’ And Dr. Bigbie was just like if you want it, do it.”

“I met Mary Beth shortly after her accident,” Bigbie said. “It was easy for me to tell her parents, ‘She can do this.’

But at the time I thought, ‘I’d rather see her fail in vet school than to have never tried.’ Well, she didn’t fail.”

And what advice would Davis offer others, including those physically challenged, who want to become a veterinarian?

“I’m living proof it’s possible,” she said. “Everybody has a struggle, whether it’s a physical disability or not. Don’t get it inside your own head that you can’t do it. I did that for a little bit and it could have cost me what is a fantastic career, so find somebody who can mentor you the way that you need it. I hope that other people who may have disabilities feel inspired or motivated (by this story) to become a veterinarian if they want to.

“You don’t see that many people who use wheelchairs be veterinarians, so hopefully I’m leading the way for people who are also interested in veterinary medicine. After all, anything is possible.”

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Drs. Rocky Bigbie and Mary Beth Davis.

“It’s definitely been a struggle. I have to go the extra step to get things done. But at the same time, anything is possible.”

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 49

Coming Full Circle

OSU veterinary graduate Anderson was hooded by his influential uncle

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y the glow of a small flashlight, 8-year-old Cory Anderson of Dillon, Montana, watched his uncle, Dr. Reed Holyoak, meticulously and delicately suture the wounds, layer by layer, of two mares that belonged to Cory’s grandfather. That event planted a seed in Cory’s mind to one day become a veterinarian.

Fast-forward 24 years.

“I marveled at his calm demeanor and the confidence with which he acted to repair the damage caused from deep lacerations to the chest area and legs of the two mares,” recalled Anderson, who applied and was accepted to two veterinary colleges — Oklahoma State and Washington State. He chose OSU based on his uncle’s recommendation.

Dr. Holyoak, professor of theriogenology and holder of the Bullock Equine Reproduction Endowed Professorship, has spent the last 20 years teaching and conducting research at Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

“I told him that with his experience and interests, OSU was the best place for him,” Holyoak said. “In my opinion, no other program offers what we do as far as providing training to help our students become ‘day 1 practice ready.’”

Anderson’s dad owned and operated a feedlot.

“My dad knows cattle better than any person I know,” Anderson said.

“From him, I developed an eye for sick calves and a knowledge to treat them.

All the hours working and watching at the feedlot laid a foundation for me in food animal medicine.

“On many occasions I questioned whether I was smart enough or financially able to endure veterinary

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school,” he continued. “A year before we were to move to establish Oklahoma residency, I lost my right thumb in a roping accident while working on a Wyoming ranch. I found myself trying to relearn simple tasks like buttoning my own shirt, let alone being able to move my hands as my uncle had so many years ago.”

Anderson turned to his uncle for advice on whether he could make it with one thumb.

“I asked him point-blank if he felt I would be able to fully function as a veterinarian. His response was pivotal.

He said, ‘It doesn’t matter how you hold the scalpel, Cory, it only matters how you cut.’ I have relied on his words every day since. I do have to hold my instruments in a non-traditional fashion but in no way do I feel hindered by it, although it would be nice to have latex gloves that fit.”

While in veterinary college, Anderson worked part-time for the veterinary college’s ranch and regularly worked with the theriogenology section.

“Cory is on-call for foaling mares at the ranch,” Holyoak said. “I have had multiple opportunities to work with him on birthing problems in the mares. He is a good hand. Cory is intelligent, mature, grounded, a hard worker and a good husband and father. He really is the kind of student that helps OSU shine.”

“I developed a deep and sincere love for the OSU Vet Med Ranch and the people who work there,” Anderson said.

“Experiencing many foaling seasons was one of the greatest opportunities and challenges during veterinary school. We saw fetotomies (recovering a deceased fetus), red bags, retained placentas and countless other scenarios,

which have greatly enhanced my education.”

Anderson was one of 84 students earning a DVM degree from OSU in May. His uncle hooded him during the college’s commencement ceremony.

“I am deeply honored and thrilled to share this wonderful moment with Cory and his family,” Holyoak said. “And to the class of 2019, I offer this advice: You know more than you think you do.

When you get into a case that was not ‘in the book,’ think your way through it.

You’ve been blessed with a brain and an education; just relax and use both. Never stop learning, never stop loving, and never stop sharing them. Knowledge and love are two things you can give your all to others; in doing so, they are enhanced and you are, too.”

“In many ways, my veterinary story began with Uncle Reed, so it seems fitting that he is the one who hooded me at graduation, the conclusion of such a significant chapter,” Anderson said.

“Veterinary school is not a game of how smart you are or have been, but how hard you are willing to work. Vet school is difficult, and it should be — that’s what makes it so great! If you want to be a veterinarian bad enough, you can find a way to overcome the adversity and find success. I also want to thank my wonderful wife and two spunky children for supporting me through veterinary school. My wife has followed me thousands of miles from her family so that I could be here today. Without her, none of this would have been possible.”

Anderson is with OSU’s veterinary college as part of the theriogenology residency/Ph.D. program.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Drs. Reed Holyoak (left) and Cory Anderson.

“Veterinary school is not a game of how smart you are or have been, but how hard you are willing to work.�

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 51

Family Ties

Sister hoods OSU veterinary graduate

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hen Dr. Karen Anstead earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in May, she was hooded by her sister, Dr. Jennifer Miller. The two have shared a love of medicine and the experience of surviving veterinary school.

Originally from Elgin, Oklahoma, Anstead decided she wanted to be a veterinarian while working at Central Pennsylvania Veterinary Emergency Treatment Services in State College, Pennsylvania.

“They were wonderful mentors and encouraged questions and continuing education for the technicians and assistants,” Anstead said. “I chose OSU for my DVM degree because it’s close to home, and I greatly respect the OSU graduates who I’ve known and worked with. I knew I would have the opportunity to become a good, wellrounded vet.”

Miller, now an adjunct professor in the veterinary technology program at WSU Tech in Wichita, Kansas, is one of those graduates. She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 2009.

“Karen has many strengths that I believe will serve her well in this profession,” Miller said. “She has an unending curiosity to keep searching for

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answers, not just settling on the first one or the easiest answer. She understands the importance of being able to communicate with owners, which is so incredibly important. Being asked to hood Karen is an incredible honor and extremely humbling. I am so very proud of her.”

“Jennifer was my sanity when I felt like vet school would steam roll me,” Anstead said. “She encouraged me when I was frustrated and reminded me that it does end, that I was going to be a good vet, and that I was doing good work despite feeling run down. She was also the perfect person to call when I was excited about a tough case going well or frustrated about surgeries not going as well as I would like. She had been there and could relate to the myriad of emotions that come along with working as a vet. Her encouragement and opinion are something I strongly valued throughout school, so to have her hood me and be a part of the end of school and the beginning of a career seemed fitting.”

Looking back on veterinary school, Anstead has many memories.

“My favorite memory is working with the goats at Langston with Dr. (Lionel) Dawson and my friends,” she said. “We learned a lot and laughed so hard it hurt. I think the key to success

in vet school was realizing that I wasn’t going through it alone and reaching out to others for support and help. I think that’s true after school as well. If you are considering a career in veterinary medicine, ask for help when things are hard, find someone to talk with when you are frustrated or exhausted. Never think that you have to do this perfectly or by yourself. And don’t go through life with blinders on. Try everything you can think of that sounds interesting and be open to trying some things that don’t.

I’ve heard this same sentiment reflected back to me from older veterinarians who wished they had explored the field a bit more while they had the opportunity.”

Dr. Miller offers the following advice to Karen and her classmates: “Be confident in yourselves; you have all the skills. Be aware that you are going to make mistakes because you are human, but learn from them. Don’t let them discourage you from continuing to grow as a veterinarian. The learning and developing of your skills and knowledge base never stop. Sometimes life doesn’t always follow along smoothly with your initial plans and goals. That is OK! This field is so very big and life is too short.

Find your niche.”

Dr. Anstead found hers. She has accepted a small animal emergency/ICU position in Oklahoma City.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Drs. Jennifer Miller (left) and Karen Anstead.

“My favorite memory is working with the goats at Langston with Dr. (Lionel) Dawson and my friends.

We learned a lot and laughed so hard it hurt.�

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

Jesse Jenny receives top honors

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or only the fifth time in the history of OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, a senior has received both the Gentle Doctor and the Dean Clarence H. McElroy Awards. That speaks volumes to the academic achievements, leadership skills and character of this year’s recipient, Jesse Jenny of American Canyon, California.

“I was just so honored to hear my name for the Gentle Doctor Award and understand what that statue meant,” Jenny said.

The Gentle Doctor statue that Jenny received is a smaller version of the original sculpture and portrays the strength, endurance, and skillfulness a successful veterinarian needs to possess.

Recipients are chosen by class ballot.

Created in honor of the founding dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, the Dean McElroy award recognizes high academic achievement, leadership, and outstanding clinical proficiency. The highest honor an Oklahoma State University veterinary student can earn, a ballot of faculty and class peers determines the recipient.

“I think the description of the award is amazing,” said Jenny. “I think all the qualities that were described are good qualities to have.

Not only academic excellence but than having good character behind it. It just felt like a wave of support and love from classmates and instructors.

As Dr. Grant Rezabek described the recipient, it was kind of a flashback of everything that has happened over the four years and even before that preparing for veterinary school. When he said this person is a member of the Ewing House and has worked as an EMT in New York, Utah, and Montana that was pretty specific, so I kind of knew it was me at that point.”

Jenny also received an American College of Veterinary Surgeons Award for her interest in surgery and a Class of 1964 Endowed Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine in recognition of her clinical skills. Following graduation, she is returning to California.

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“After graduation, my family is headed back to California for an equine exclusive surgery and medicine internship at a private clinic there, which we are very excited about,” she said. “I hope to go into equine surgery but if that doesn’t work out, I know that I’ll be prepared with the tools to be an excellent equine practitioner.”

SEE MORE Hear from Jesse Jenny at okla.st/ jenny

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GARY LAWSON

Congratulations, Class of 2019

SEE MORE Watch the commencement ceremony for the College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 2019: okla.st/2019.

PHOTO GENESEE PHOTO

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

CLASS NEWS

Moving to Clinics

WHO

OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2020

WHAT

The transition ceremony marks the end of three years of classroom work and the beginning of their clinical work and final year of veterinary college.

Beginning in May 2019, the class of 2020 spends the year up to graduation in May going through 17 clinical rotations, each lasting three weeks. All veterinary students must complete core rotations such as anesthesia, food animal medicine and surgery, small animal surgery, and internal medicine (small animal and equine), to name a few.

Students then select elective rotations to further hone a skill or to specialize in an area of interest. Rotations also include externships at a clinic of the student’s choice.

WATCH See the ceremony at okla.st/transition2020.

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PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

Getting Started

WHO

Of 106 students in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 2023, 86 are women and 20 are men.

WHERE

These students come from Oklahoma and beyond: • Arkansas • California • Delaware • Illinois • Indiana • Kansas • Louisiana • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Mississippi SEE MORE • New Jersey Watch the welcome • New York ceremony for • Pennsylvania the class of 2023 at okla.st/2023.

• Texas • Utah • Vermont

PHOTOS GENESEE PHOTO AND GARY LAWSON

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

Protecting Pets of Violence

OSU student starts website to unite domestic violence shelters with animal care resources

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO DAVID BITTON

“Many women will postpone leaving dangerous situations if they can’t bring their pet with them. Many domestic violence shelters don’t have the facilities to accept pets.”

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student at OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine has established the Network for Pets of Domestic Violence Victims to unite animal care resources with domestic violence shelters.

“Many women will postpone leaving dangerous situations if they can’t bring their pet with them,” said Jonna Whetsel, a second-year veterinary student. “Many domestic violence shelters don’t have the facilities to accept pets. This was a way to not only gather information but to educate as well.”

The idea was born out of a final project in Whetsel’s program for her master’s in veterinary forensics. The final project was about animal cruelty in interpersonal violence. The class had to create a training presentation with some aspect of what they had been learning.

“I chose domestic violence and animal care resources,” she said. “My training presentation was about how to help domestic violence shelters as an animal care person, an animal shelter or veterinarian. When I was making that presentation, I thought why don’t I just do something instead of teaching about it. So I decided to get online and I built a website. I worked on it for about two years. It officially launched July 29.”

Domestic violence shelters nationwide can go to the website (NPDVV.org) to find help, and animal shelters, animal rescues, veterinarians and even individuals can learn what they can do to help there.

“If they are willing, they just fill out the forms online,” Whetsel said. “Domestic violence shelters that need help fill out the forms online. I get those, put them in a database and match them based on location. The contact information is sent to the domestic violence shelter so that they will have a list of available, willing animal care resources in their area.

The NPDVV homepage includes resources for domestic violence victims with pets.

“The National Link Coalition shared information about NPDVV in its September newsletter. I’ve gotten submissions from California to Maine and all the states in between.”

It was during her master’s program that Whetsel decided to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine.

“I’ve always loved animals and been compelled to help them and jump in if there is a problem.

I don’t think it was really a singular decision (to become a veterinarian) as much as it was a journey to get to where I’m supposed to be,” she said. “During my master’s program, I worked with veterinarians who were in the class. Working with them as colleagues gave me the confidence I needed to realize that maybe I could do more and I can take this further.”

Whetsel will earn her DVM degree in May 2022.

SEE MORE Jonna Whetsel discusses her efforts to unite domestic violence shelters and help for victims’ pets at okla.st/domvio.

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

Trading Places

Veterinary students from OSU and India exchange visits

O HEAR FROM some of the Indian students who visited OSU this fall at okla.st/ fromind and about the OSU students’ experience in India this summer: okla. st/toind.

ver the last year, veterinary students from India and Oklahoma State University have had the opportunity to trade places.

As part of an international student exchange program with India’s Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS), seven veterinary students came to OSU during the 2019 fall semester.

“I knew this would be a great opportunity for me to learn how veterinary medicine is practiced in the United States,” said Aparna Gopinadhan, one of the visitors. “I also wanted to experience the culture over here. What surprised me the most was how dedicated everyone is to their job and how almost all the doctors are up to date on what’s happening in veterinary medicine all over the world.”

Last summer, Drs. Lionel Dawson and Madhan Subramanian escorted six OSU veterinary students to India for six weeks. Among the students who went was Laura Edwards.

“What surprised me the most about my experience in India was the fact that we got to

see all different kinds of animals being treated by doctors who are just as passionate as we are here in the states,” Edwards said. “We were told beforehand to understand there were going to be some cultural differences so we walked into it thinking that perhaps the owners wouldn’t treat their pets just like family. Time and time again, I saw owners go above and beyond for their pets and that was really incredible.”

Two faculty members from TANUVAS also visited OSU’s veterinary college to learn about the hospital’s CT scanner.

“We have been working with this university for many years,” said Dr. Jerry Malayer, associate dean for research and graduate education. “Many of our graduate students and even some of our faculty have studied at Madras Veterinary College.

We hope this exchange is the first of many more to come. Learning how we do things here and how they do things in India will make our veterinary graduates more informed on many levels. It’s a winwin for both universities.”

Front row (from left): Avery Melton, Radish Selvaraj, Dhaarani Gajendiran, Rachel Dill, Salma Begum Mubarakali, Jessil Joseph, Aparna Gopinadhan and Shankar Ramasamy. Back row (from left): Christa Olbrey, Haley Palacio, Patil Basavaraju Nanjegowdu, Dr. Lionel Dawson, Dr. Madhan Subramanian and Bennet Lane. Also participating but not pictured was Laura Edwards.

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STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO PHIL SHOCKLEY

BRIEFS

2019 Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award

Marianne Caron (’20) poses with Dr. Darwin R. Yoder (left), president of the Western Veterinary Conference, and OSU CVM Dean Dr. Carlos Risco after receiving the2019 Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award. This award recognizes veterinary students who portray leadership and promote a lifelong service to the profession. Each recipient receives a $1,000 cash award, complimentary registration, lodging, airfare and a daily stipend to attend the Western Veterinary Conference.

2019 Student Advisement Award

Lionel Dawson, MS, BVSc, DACT, received the 2019 Student Advisement Award. Voted on by faculty and students, this award recognizes those who go above and beyond in mentoring students. Dawson is a professor and boardcertified theriogenologist in the veterinary clinical sciences department.

PHOTOS WESTERN VETERINARY CONFERENCE AND GARY LAWSON

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

The Road Less Traveled

Bohannon sets up endowed chair and scholarship to promote public health options

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LEARN MORE See Dr. Mark Bohannon discuss his career and donation to OSU: okla.st/bohannon.

new scholarship and endowed chair in the College of Veterinary Medicine aims to open students’ eyes to consider careers beyond private practice.

Mark and Kathy Bohannon of Manassas, Virginia, have established a scholarship and the Mark and Kathy Bohannon Endowed Chair in Public Health through two generous gifts that include a $1 million estate gift.

Dr. Bohannon graduated in 1988 and was commissioned into the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. He spent 27 years on active duty, earning a master’s degree in public health and tropical medicine from Tulane University and board certification from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

“I served in Korea, Germany, Texas and California. I completed my career on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon,” he said. “Along the way, I became an expert in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense. I currently work for the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federally funded research and development center supporting the national security sector.”

With a nearly 30-year retirement package from the military and a good financial adviser, the Bohannons faced some decisions.

“My wife and I never had children,” he continued. “I left the Army with financial stability, and one day we realized that while we are not truly wealthy, we were going to have a decent estate.

I credit OSU with putting me on the path that made that possible. I never planned to enter public health as a field, but I’ve enjoyed the options it offers. The preventive medicine and public health offerings in the 1980s were limited, and the chair was an obvious choice for me. My wife was fully supportive.

“My hope is that OSU will be able to reward this chair to a dynamic individual who will focus on students. I fully expect most students to go into clinical practice. That was my plan 30 years ago, but a dynamic, student-focused leader can

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instill the principles of public health in the clinical practitioner and inspire a few to take the road less traveled.”

Veterinarians impact and contribute to public health in a variety of ways. Veterinarians can be found in diverse roles from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local public health departments, state veterinarians, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and disaster preparedness to the roles veterinarians play in the armed forces, especially the Army.

“Our education and degree are very adaptable; the public health specialization just adds to the options,” he said. “Within the membership of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, you’ll find epidemiologists (a subspecialty), herd health specialists and regulatory medicine specialists. If you can imagine a public health pursuit, the odds are that there are veterinarians already involved somewhere.”

The Bohannons also established a student scholarship. The Mark and Kathleen Bohannon Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a veterinary student with financial need in any year of the program who has a 3.0 GPA or greater and is concurrently pursuing a master’s in public health degree.

“I grew up in southeastern Oklahoma,” said Bohannon. “My father passed away when I was 12. My mother taught high school in Oklahoma.

Somehow, I was able to attend a very good university with a very good professional degree program. Ultimately, I pursued a commission in the Army for financial reasons as much as for professional interest. My wife and I would like to help ease those decisions for future students.

“What we’re doing is unusual, and we’ve been blessed to be able to do it. I wasn’t in private practice and don’t have those bills. I do hope that others look at their options and if you love this place as much as we do, you’ll give some thought to giving back to OSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine

STORY AND PHOTO DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR

“My hope is that OSU will be able to reward this chair to a dynamic individual who will focus on students.”

MARK BOHANNON

and helping another generation of veterinarians.

I realize that’s not easy for my friends in private practice, but I think anything we can do for the future of our profession is a bonus.”

To give to the future of veterinary medicine at Oklahoma State University, contact Ashley Hesser, assistant director of development with the OSU Foundation, 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 63

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Top Dog in Animal Health

OSU alumnus Burke Healey named chief U.S. veterinary officer

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n Oklahoma State University alumnus is now the primary U.S. face in the veterinary and the animal health arenas.

Earlier this year, Burke Healey, DVM, (OSU CVM ’84) was named the chief veterinary officer for the U.S. and deputy administrator for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, the top veterinary position in regulatory or public practice for a veterinarian.

“When our counterparts ask for trade to come in here, we send people to review those countries,” Healey explained. “What are their animal health statutes? What animal health programs do they have? I am the primary communicator to the chief veterinary officers across the world that we (U.S.) deal with. Likewise, I interface with the office of international epizootics. We’re the animal health side of the World Trade Organization.”

Healey also acts as the interface between politics and animal health/ science.

“We have 1,600 people in our unit across the country,” he said.

“Ph.D.s, DVMs, master’s degrees, epidemiologists — the whole gamut in the veterinary arena as well as the animal health technicians and the administrative staff who support those people. They bring all that information together, whether it be a domestic disease or a foreign disease, how we’re managing trade, why we need to restrict a particular country or state, something as insidious as TB or as exotic as African swine fever. Then I have to translate that into something the political people

downstairs can appreciate as they take it to the secretary, who reports to the president. It’s a short line — we have an undersecretary, a secretary and then the president. I have to convert the science into laymen’s terms and explain it to them. It’s not unlike being in veterinary practice where you diagnose a problem or the radiologist sends you information and you have to interpret that data and try to tell the client what the issues are, what their options are, and how to come to the best solution for the pet or animal you’re treating.”

Healey listed some of his top priorities for his administration: an electronic traceability system in the cattle industry and ensuring brucellosis-free bison for tribes. He also noted his agency needs to boost its staffing, put together a U.S.-only vaccine bank for foreign animal diseases and develop a national biosecurity preparedness and response plan.

Healey and his team are all about protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign animal diseases.

“Today, we see more attention coming back to the zoonosis. I think as time goes by, the use of veterinarians in that arena is going to be tremendous and very important for us whether it be on the research side or the education, outreach and identification side.”

While Healey had his eyes set on being a rancher like his parents, the veterinary medicine profession gave him the opportunity to be out in the country and spend time with livestock and animals. He also had an uncle who was an OSU DVM graduate, Dr. Mickey Walsh (’59), who helped him make that career choice.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO BURKE HEALEY

He started working in mixed animal practices in Arkansas and Texas before purchasing a practice in his hometown of Davis, Oklahoma, in 1989. Working with state and federal veterinarians on a disease problem at Arbuckle Wilderness Park introduced him to the regulatory side of veterinary medicine.

So when the Oklahoma state veterinarian position came open, Healey applied and was hired. Nine years later, federal veterinarian Dr. Brian Espe (OSU DVM ’61), who worked with Healey on the Arbuckle Wilderness project, told Healey he was retiring.

“I thought it would be something different to do,” said Healey. “I was hired into the federal service, and that has taken me across the country and back.

I started in Oklahoma and soon moved into the associate regional director position in Raleigh, North Carolina, overseeing the northeastern quarter of the United States.”

From there, Healey moved to Colorado to manage emergency management, ending up with about half of the western United States as part of his portfolio. After a reorganization, Healey was selected to manage the country’s cattle health program.

“I was over all the cattle health programs in the country,” he said. “I maintained that job until I applied for the supervisor of field operations. That position was my introduction to the senior executive service.”

It wasn’t long until Healey was moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as associate deputy administrator. When Dr. Jack Shear, deputy administrator and chief veterinary officer moved up into the administrator’s office, Healey replaced him.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 65

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2019 Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year Freeman wins honor in front of all of his children and grandchildren

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r. Charles Freeman of Hobart, Oklahoma, had no idea he was receiving the Veterinarian of the Year Award at the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association’s annual conference in January.

“The fact that I was selected really meant the world to me,” said Freeman, who earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1973. “I was really taken back by the fact that the OVMA got all my children and all of our grandchildren, all 15 of them, to be there. It was really a neat experience, and I am humbled and honored to receive the award.”

Freeman has always felt a responsibility to be involved in organized veterinary medicine, working on committees and into leadership positions.

“After chairing several committees and serving as the OVMA president, I had the opportunity to serve as the American Veterinary Medical Association delegate for Oklahoma,” he said. “That was a great experience.”

Growing up on a livestock and crop farm in rural Oklahoma, young Freeman worked with his father on cattle, horses, sheep and hogs and learned about growing wheat and cotton.

“Obviously if you have cattle, you’re going to have a heifer that sometimes is not able to deliver her baby properly,” he said. “We had one that could not deliver naturally, which we took to our local veterinarian. He performed a caesarian section on the heifer. As a young man of 11 years old, I was so intrigued with the procedure and how we could help that heifer and save a life and get a live baby calf, I made a decision that day. I said, ‘I’m going to be a veterinarian,’ and I never once changed my mind.”

As an Oklahoma resident, he focused on attending Oklahoma State University, the only veterinary college in the state. As Freeman neared graduation, he interviewed with several veterinarians.

“They didn’t want to pay me near as much as I thought I was worth,” he said. “I had good confidence that I could make it and so I went to Hobart, bought a piece of property in March of my senior year and just concentrated on starting a clinic. Within a couple of years, I needed some help. We had a mixed animal practice with about 80 percent large animal business in the town of Hobart and the surrounding counties that we covered.”

In 1995, he left his practice to serve Oklahoma’s agriculture industry in another capacity.

“I had no intentions of being involved in politics; however, Gov. Frank Keating asked me to be deputy commissioner of the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

“It was an experience that I enjoyed for eight years, after which I was ready to go back to practice.”

He has since built a small animal clinic in Altus, Oklahoma, where he, his youngest son, Dr. Joe Max Freeman (’10), and two other veterinarians practice.

“The thing I enjoy the most about veterinary medicine is its tremendous diversity within the profession. There are 50 different jobs that you can do with a veterinary degree,” Freeman said.

Freeman shares his passion for veterinary medicine every chance he gets.

“You can do so many things. You can be an animal health consultant, a surgeon, you can work in the field of public health. There’s no end to what you can do as a veterinarian,” he said.

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO DR. CHARLES FREEMAN

After practicing for more than 45 years, it’s clear that Freeman is dedicated to the profession, his clients and their pets and livestock.

“I hope that maybe some of my grandkids will want to do the same thing (veterinary medicine). I know I won’t be able to do this forever. It’s been a great profession; it’s been a great life.”

OTHER HONOREES These OSU alumni were also honored at the OVMA’s 2019 Annual Oklahoma Veterinary Conference: ■ Dr. Jennifer Schoonover (’00) received Volunteer of the Year.

■ Dr. Jesse Carter Arnold (’09) received Young Practitioner of the Year.

MEET DR. FREEMAN Charles Freeman, DVM, tells his story at okla.st/okvet19.

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

KEEPING IN TOUCH

Dear OSU CVM Alumni and Friends I hope this update finds you healthy and happy!

The Alumni Society is working to improve our communication to keep you updated on the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dean Carlos Risco has been sending emails regarding new hires and the college’s return to full accreditation. If you are not receiving these emails, contact alumni affairs specialist Sharon Worrell at sworrel@okstate. edu to update your contact information.

Thank you for your continued support with funding projects. Your generous support allowed us to provide a successful event for our seniors as they finished taking their Oklahoma state boards. It was a wonderful evening to sit outside and relax while enjoying a meal. Thank you for your continued support for major conferences, which allows Sharon to represent Oklahoma State and continue to bring alumni together all over the country.

Congratulations to the class of 2019 and good luck as you start down your new career path! We are here to help through networking, communication, reunions and receptions. Please stay current on the work being done at the college and stay connected with your class representative, update contact information as it changes and serve on committees.

As more entities pull for state money, it is important to provide the dean with helpful information and work to make our legislators familiar with us. It is important for them to

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remember that we are the experts they can contact when they need information relating to animal issues as they relate to the public they represent.

As we find ways to become more mobile in our communication, we sometimes seem to be less connected.

Take a moment to find out if your class has a class project designed to help the College of Veterinary Medicine. Take a moment to contact a friend from school who you haven’t heard from in a while. Mostly, enjoy being a part of this profession and an alumnus of OSU CVM; while it’s not perfect, it is a privilege. The AVMA shows that in 2018, 59,700 individuals were employed as veterinarians in the U.S. — compared with 1.34 million lawyers, 195,202 dentists and 1.1 million medical doctors. We are a small group, and each one of us has to be involved for us to stay competitive.

Thank you again for your support, and please continue to provide input to the Alumni Society.

Go Pokes!

Kim Morey, DVM ’90 President, OSU CVM Alumni Society

REUNIONS

Marking 50 Years Class of 1969 returns to OSU for celebration

Class of 1969 50th reunion (from left): Drs. Charlotte Dietz, Kenneth Byrd, Thomas Phelps, Robert Poteet, Donald Heise, Richard Stedman, Gerald Weinand, David Marx, David Long, and Michael Lorenz. Also attending the reunion but not pictured were Drs. Jimmie Baldwin and John Chitwood.

T

he OSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s class of 1969 drew 12 members to Stillwater in May to celebrate their 50-year reunion. Dr. Michael Lorenz, the class representative, discussed his class and his career.

“Our class was a mixture of people from all over the state of Oklahoma,” he said. “There were a few from inner cities, but most of us came from an animal agriculture background. Almost all were men; we had only four women in the class. So most of us came to veterinary school to practice large animal veterinary medicine because that was our backgrounds. However, at the time of graduation, the vast majority went into small animal medicine.”

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He praised the 50-year reunion.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to come back to the OSU campus,” he said.

“I think graduates should be very proud of this institution and of what we’ve accomplished in the veterinary school.

We’re not the biggest or the richest. The one thing this college has always done is graduate really competent practicing veterinarians. If you go across the country, that’s what you’re going to hear from people.”

At the reunion, Dr. Lorenz issued his class a challenge for a fundraising project to support the classroom building and honor Dr. Roger Panciera’s legacy. He was well on his way to meeting the goal of $50,000.

“I’ve served as associate dean of two institutions (University of Georgia and Oklahoma State University). I’ve served as dean of two institutions (Kansas State University and OSU),” Lorenz said. “But I would say my greatest accomplishment is the number of student lives that I think I have impacted through my teaching and administrative duties.

“I hope I’m remembered for being a very good dog doctor. I’m retired now and I miss that part of veterinary medicine, the patient care, although I’m still actively engaged in teaching. I also want to be remembered for being a strong Christian, a good family man, and a man of integrity.”

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTO GENESEE PHOTO

Here’s a brief summary of what his classmates have done since 1969.

Jimmie U. Baldwin, DVM, worked with race horses in New York City before returning to Oklahoma to establish six veterinary clinics.

He later worked with endurance horses, both riding and vetting, until he retired in 2018. In March 2019, Dr. Baldwin was inducted into the American Endurance Ride Conference Hall of Fame.

Kenneth L. Byrd, DVM, started a mixed animal practice in Hugo, Oklahoma, that included treating circus animals. After seven years, he went to work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in meat and poultry inspection. He currently works for the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Arkansas.

John S. Chitwood, DVM, worked as a certified Chevrolet mechanic before obtaining his DVM degree. He eventually established Poteau Valley (Oklahoma) Veterinary Hospital. In 1975, he left his practice to his younger brother, Dr. Phil Chitwood (OSU CVM ’71), to teach small animal surgery at OSU until his retirement.

Neil J. Corneil, DVM, joined the U.S. Army upon graduation. After three years of service, he worked at Grant Square Animal Hospital in Oklahoma City. In 2014, after 43 years, he sold the practice to Dr. Kyle Loudenslager (OSU CVM ’05) and retired.

Charlotte D. Dietz, DVM, MS, worked in West Virginia and Virginia before marrying and moving to Texas. While her husband earned a doctorate at Texas A&M University, she taught veterinary microbiology and earned a master’s degree in veterinary microbiology. In 1984, they returned to Virginia, and she bought Brandon Animal Hospital. There, she spent 29 years practicing small animal medicine and surgery. She sold the practice in 2013 and retired.

John A. Goedeken, DVM, served two years in the U.S. Air Force, then moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and built Edgewood Animal Hospital. He owned and operated the small animal practice for 37 years. Goedeken retired in 2008.

Donald H. Heise, DVM, worked in a mixed animal practice in the Oklahoma Panhandle.

In 1972, he and Dr. Sybil Heise (OSU CVM ’71) built a new mixed animal practice in Guymon, Oklahoma, and spent the next 37 years serving a five-state area. Both are now retired.

David A. Long, DVM, served in the U.S. Air Force for seven years before going to work with Dr. Norman Adams (OSU CVM ’57) in Oklahoma City and staying active in the Air Force Reserves. In 1980, he opened Southwestern Pet Clinic in south Oklahoma City; he continues to practice part-time. In 1991, he was called to active duty for Desert Storm and served four months, retiring in July 1991 as a lieutenant colonel.

Michael D. Lorenz, DVM, DACVIM, completed an internship and residency in small animal internal medicine at Cornell University. He joined the faculty at the University of Georgia and earned board certification in small animal internal medicine and neurology. He later joined Kansas State University, serving as dean of veterinary medicine for six years. At OSU, he served as associate dean for academic affairs, interim dean and finally dean for 10 years. He finished his full-time career as a faculty member at the Veterinary Medical Hospital. Today, he teaches part-time.

David E. Marx, DVM, served in the U.S. Army for two years before joining a small animal practice for almost 30 years in Norman, Oklahoma. He managed his own veterinary clinic for about 10 years, retiring in 2006 for health reasons. He thoroughly enjoys retirement.

John W. Miller, DVM, moved to his hometown of Warner, Oklahoma, and established a mixed animal practice. Still involved in the practice, he has slowed down and no longer makes calls after dark. He has enjoyed being a veterinarian and helping all sorts of animals with some very interesting problems.

Georg Ann Mundis, DVM, is now retired.

She spends her time raising LaMancha dairy goats in Inola, Oklahoma, using the milk to make different cheeses, yogurt, etc.

She continues to be active in organized veterinary medicine and studies new developments in veterinary medicine.

Thomas E. Phelps, DVM, served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps for two years. In 1971, he began working for the Manteca (California) Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice, where he practiced until 2009. Today, he does relief work for seven different small animal practices in the area.

Richard V. Shawley, DVM, MS, DACVAA, served in the U.S. Air Force. After that, he spent a couple years working in small animal medicine in Oregon and in mixed animal medicine in Oklahoma before accepting a one-year instructorship in OSU’s large animal clinic. That led to a 25-year teaching career, first as an equine clinician and then as a board-certified anesthesiologist in OSU’s small and large animal clinics. in 1982, he also joined the Air Force Reserve, retiring 18 years later as a colonel with a total of 24 years of service.

James Gary Taylor, DVM, served in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps for two years, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. In 1973, he built Taylor Veterinary Clinic, a mixed animal practice in Ponca City (Oklahoma). After 40 years of practice, he retired due to declining health and died in 2014. Established in his memory, the James Gary Taylor Memorial Scholarship continues to benefit veterinary seniors today.

Gerald F. Weinand, DVM, served two years in the U.S. Army before building the Wheatland Animal Clinic in Enid, Oklahoma, where he practiced with two other OSU veterinarians for 38 years. They sold the practice in 2018, but Weinand continues to work there part-time.

Ronald L. Mills, DVM, served in the U.S. Army before joining Dr. Anton Yanda (OSU CVM ’53) in a mixed animal practice. In 1972, he went to work at Parkview Animal Hospital in Oklahoma City and later purchased the practice. In 1980, he transitioned to a mobile practice and by 1988, he joined the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service in Long Beach, California. Within the USDA, he transferred to Arkansas and then to Oklahoma before retiring in 2007.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 71

REUNIONS

Corral Crawl

CLASS OF 1964

CLASS OF 1974

Dr. Ben Baker celebrating 55 years.

From left: Drs. Lafe Burnett, Robert Moak, Patrick Thistlethwaite, Bill Schaefer, Gary Glisan and Ronald Mollet celebrating 45 years.

CLASS OF 1979 From left: Drs. Stuart George, Terry Lehenbauer, Ronnie Sarratt, Jimmy Fuchs and Brad Hildabrand celebrating 40 years.

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PHOTOS GARY LAWSON

CLASS OF 1989 From left: Drs. Rosemarie Strong, Doug Nightengale, Carolyn Williams, Barbara Dunn, Aaron Cline, John Calhoun, Billy Womack, Craig Jones, Kandi Murphy and Shawn Blood celebrating 30 years.

CLASS OF 1999

CLASSES OF 2009 AND 2014

Drs. Brad Barlow and Catherine Pierce celebrating 20 years.

Celebrating 10 years since graduation is Dr. Erica Reinman (left) and celebrating five years is Dr. Roxanne Witt.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 73

Three named 2019 Distinguished Alumni Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine has awarded its 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award to Drs. John Myers, Ronald Tyler Sr. and Paul Welch.

“Drs. Myers, Tyler and Welch have enhanced the reputation of our college by distinguishing themselves in their careers. They each have made significant contributions to their community, state and nation through professional service, public service and civic activities. They exemplify the loyalty, passion and innovation found in all dedicated graduates from our college.”

DR. CARLOS RISCO, DEAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

DR. JOHN L. MYERS John L. Myers, DVM, Dipl. ACT, of Vinita, Oklahoma, earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1971 and owns Pecan Drive Veterinary Services in Vinita.

Dr. Myers served in the Army Veterinary Corps from 1968 to 1973. In 1973, he set up a practice in Vinita. Ten years later, he established his strictly bovine veterinary practice specializing in theriogenology. In 1986, he became boardcertified in reproduction, earning the status of diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists.

In addition to owning three veterinary clinics, Myers was an adjunct professor at Tulsa Community College, teaching large animal technology. He has held many leadership positions in professional organizations including president of the Northeast Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, board member of the Society for Theriogenology, ethics committee chair of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association and vice president of the Northeast Oklahoma Rural Electric Cooperative, to name a few.

Myers also belongs to the Vinita Lion’s Club, where he was president in 1995, and the First United Methodist Church, where he has served as chairman of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, Trustees, Church Council on Ministries, and the administrative board. He also belongs to the Vinita Chamber of Commerce, where he previously served as vice president.

Myers is a weekly columnist and illustrator for “A Grain of Salt” in the Vinita Daily Journal. He is the co-founder of Vinita’s Calf-Fry Capital of the World Festival.

In 2016, the Society of Theriogenology named him the John Steiner Practitioner of the Year. He has also given numerous lectures, conducted webinars, instructed wet labs and published research papers and textbook chapters. Myers resides in Vinita with Debbi, his wife of 47 years.

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MYERS

STORY DERINDA BLAKENEY, APR | PHOTOS COURTESY

DR. RONALD D. TYLER, SR.

TYLER

Ronald D. Tyler, Sr., DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP (Clinical Pathology), Dipl. ACVP (Anatomic Pathology), Dipl. ABT, of Harlingen, Texas, earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1977.

Dr. Tyler worked in mixed animal practice before joining the faculty at OSU’s veterinary college. In 1988, he became director of Veterinary Reference Laboratories in Anaheim, California. In 1989, he became director of clinical pathology at Schering-Plough Research Institute. In 1993, he moved to Glaxo Inc., serving in several positions and managing all areas of preclinical safety and assessment and laboratory animal care while residing in the U.S., England and Italy.

In 2003, he retired and took a year off to look for snakes with his youngest son, Blake, an aspiring herpetologist. From 2004 to 2017, Tyler consulted with diagnostic laboratories and pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., Canada, Europe and China. He also worked with the Chinese FDA in histopathology, clinical pathology, predictive toxicology, biomarker identification, preclinical safety SOP development and more. In addition, Tyler performed several locums at the Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom, and Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia. He held adjunct appointments at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Madras Veterinary College in Chennai, India, and at OSU. In July 2017, Tyler was appointed a distinguished research fellow at Amge Inc., where he advised and mentored young pathologists and toxicologists and served as strategic and development program adviser to senior managers. In July 2019, he became a senior scientific fellow with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Johnson and Johnson, with similar responsibilities as well as review of regulatory submissions.

Tyler edited or co-edited multiple editions of three textbooks of veterinary cytology and hematology. He authored or co-authored more than 100 scientific articles and book chapters, and chaired or presented at numerous professional meetings. He has been affiliated with many professional organizations, including the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Examination Committee; International Life Sciences Institute/Health and Environmental Safety Institute; Visiting Scientist, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; Science and Technology Advisory Board to the Governor of North Carolina; and American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, to name a few.

Tyler has received the National Humanitarian Award from the Republic of the Philippines (1969) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (2014). He resides in Harlingen with Reba, his wife of 49 years.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 75

DR.PAUL L. WELCH

WELCH

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Paul L. Welch, DVM, of Tulsa earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1981. In 1983, Dr. Welch established his veterinary practice in south Tulsa, Forest Trails Animal Hospital.

In addition to treating small animals, Welch gives back to the community by treating about 500 wildlife cases a year.

This includes caring for classroom pets from surrounding schools at no charge, giving presentations at schools and giving tours of his clinic to countless youngsters. He also provides a preceptor experience for fourth-year veterinary students honing their clinical skills, serves on the veterinary college’s admissions committee and is a regular guest lecturer to students interested in small animal medicine and exotics.

Welch also oversees the Grey Snow Eagle House in Perkins, Oklahoma. For the past 31 years, he has also hosted Ask the Vet, a series on KOTV where he answers viewers’ questions live and often features an adoptable pet from the Animal Rescue Foundation. In addition, he has participated in mission trips to share veterinary medical knowledge in Indonesia, Nepal, India, Tanzania, Mongolia and Costa Rica.

He particularly enjoys mentoring and training Mongolian veterinarians with Mongolia V.E.T. Net NGO (Veterinarians, Educators doing Training as a NETwork across Mongolia).

Active in organized veterinary medicine, Welch belongs to many organizations and holds leadership positions in several. These include the Tulsa County Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, and Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians, to name a few.

Welch is an active member of his church and has served as a deacon and an elder. He and wife Sarah married while he was in veterinary college 42 years ago.

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Roger Panciera dies at age 89 On March 22, 2019, Oklahoma State University lost a legend in veterinary pathology. Roger Jero Panciera, DVM, Ph.D., DACVP, died at his home in Stillwater. He was 89.

Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, he completed his pre-veterinary education at the University of Rhode Island in 1949.

He then took a train from Rhode Island to Stillwater to earn his DVM degree from OSU, which he did in 1953, a member of the third class to graduate from then Oklahoma A&M School of Veterinary Medicine.

He was a reviewer for the Journal of the AVMA and served on the editorial board for Veterinary Pathology. Throughout his career, Dr. Panciera received numerous teaching awards, service awards and recognition for his research, including: Norden Teaching Award in 1966, 1975 and

1992.

Founding member of the Academy of

Veterinary Consultants in 1970.

First recipient of the OSU CVM

Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1974.

Oklahoma Veterinarian of the Year in 1992.

Charles Lewis Davis Foundation’s Harold

W. Casey Teaching Award in 1999.

in horses; the first description of the now well-known calf disease Cryptosporidiosis; and initial descriptions of the lesions, pathogenesis and life cycle of American canine hepatozoonosis.

Dr. Panciera advanced the discipline of veterinary pathology by his leadership and inspired generations to enter veterinary pathology. Many of these protégés became diplomates of the ACVP and have contributed to pathology thanks to the enthusiasm, energy and love Dr. Panciera had for the field.

He was a lifelong member of the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Zeta and Sigma Xi.

Distinguished Member of the American

When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed canoeing and was an avid woodworker and woodturner.

He only left Stillwater to do his residency and post-graduate studies. He completed residency training in anatomic pathology and earned master’s (1955) and Ph.D. (1960) degrees in pathology from Cornell University. In 1963, he became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

OSU Alumni Association Hall of Fame in

He met and married his wife, Lometa, in Stillwater, and they raised their three children here.

A few of his many scientific contributions include: extensive work with the lesions, immunopathogenesis and modeling of shipping fever pneumonia in cattle; hairy vetch poisoning in cattle; blister beetle poisoning

Dr. Panciera’s wife, Lometa, preceded him in death. He is survived by his sons, Michael (Sara Forhan) Panciera of Atlanta and David (Greta) Panciera, DVM, of Blacksburg, Virginia; daughter, Susan Panciera of Stillwater; and four grandsons. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Panciera Pathology Fund, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078.

Dr. Panciera joined the OSU veterinary faculty in 1956, served as department head from 1979 to 1984, and retired in 2000 as a full professor.

College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2006.

2009.

Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame

in 2010.

Cattle Production Veterinarian Hall of Fame

in 2016.

Sources: Stillwater News Press and OSU CVM

SEE MORE See Dr. Roger Panciera’s daughter, Susan, discuss the new classroom building going up with her father’s name: okla.st/2panciera.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 77

IN MEMORIAM Glenn F. “Andy” Anderson III, DVM, died Oct. 21, 2019, after battling brain cancer.

He was 70.

Born in Tulsa, he grew up on the Bent Arrow Ranch in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where he cultivated his deep love for horses. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.

He earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1975 and accepted an internship in Littleton, Colorado.

Dr. Anderson returned to Broken Arrow to open Equine Veterinary Associates, where he practiced veterinary medicine for 40 years and taught many young people the art of equine medicine.

His legacy lives on in the work of many veterinarians across the country.

Dr. Anderson was preceded in death by his parents, G.F. “Jack” Anderson Jr. and Genelle Anderson, and his son, David Anderson. He is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Carol Anderson; daughters, Dr. Kimberly Huckaby, OSU CVM ’06 (Eric), and Kelli Anderson; three granddaughters, Ella, Lilly and Andi Grace; sister, Rebecca Mitchell; and brother, George Anderson (Mary).

Memorial gifts may be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation at www.glioblastomafoundation. org or Porta Caeli House at www.portacaeli.org.

Source: Tulsa World

John Delaney “Doc” Beal, DVM, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, died April 10, 2019. He was 80.

Born in Chicago, he graduated from high school in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture/animal husbandry from California State Polytechnic College. He served in the Air Force Reserves as an electrical engineer at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, and in 1962, he hitchhiked to Oklahoma to marry Barbara Jane Greer. The couple moved to Stillwater, where he completed his DVM degree at OSU in 1969.

After graduation, the family moved to California, where Dr. Beal worked in equine, bovine and companion animal medicine. In 1972, the family moved to Muskogee, where he practiced mixed animal veterinary medicine for 46 years.

Dr. Beal was the original founder and president of the Muskogee Humane Society, a Dale Carnegie speaker and educator, and a lifelong member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Oklahoma Veterinary Medical Association. He served on the OSU veterinary college’s admissions committee and was active in many churches, spending the last 20 years at Praise Family Church.

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He enjoyed antique cars, junk metal, dancing, motorcycles, milk and cookies, ice cream, and potato chips. He always said he would work until they threw dirt on his grave, and he did just that.

He loved serving the community and caring for fur babies.

Dr. Beal is survived by his wife, Barbara; sons, Dr. J. Martin Beal and John W. Beal; daughter, JuliAnne (Peter) Smith; one grandson and many relatives and friends.

Source: Cornerstone Funeral Home and Crematory

Don Arthur Ensey Jr., DVM, of Paris, Texas, died May 1, 2019. He was 82.

Born in Boswell, Oklahoma, he graduated from Boswell High School and attended Eastern Oklahoma A&M College in Wilburton for one year before serving in the Army for two years. Following his honorable discharge, he continued his education with a bachelor’s from Eastern Oklahoma in 1958 and a DVM degree from OSU in 1962.

After graduation, Dr. Ensey and his wife, Elsie, moved to Paris, Texas, and he opened a veterinary practice, which he owned and operated until 1973. In 1976, he opened the Fish Fry Restaurant and operated it until he retired in January 2005.

Dr. Ensey enjoyed hunting, fishing and conserving wildlife. In his later years, he had a passion for building and managing lakes and fisheries.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Elsie Dickey Ensey; two sons, Gary Ensey (Sheila) and Greg Ensey; four grandchildren, two sisters and many friends. Memorial gifts may be made to The Red River Valley Boys and Girls Club Foundation, P.O. Box 919, Paris, TX 75461, Attn. Cindy.

Source: The Paris News

Dana Jaree Harvey, DVM, of Atoka, Oklahoma, died June 23, 2019, in Denison, Texas.

She was 57.

Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, she graduated from Atoka High School in 1979. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from South Oklahoma State University in 1983 and a DVM degree from OSU in 1991.

As a practicing veterinarian, Dr. Harvey loved all her patients. A longtime member of Harmony Baptist Church, she also enjoyed flowers, gardening, Broadway shows, traveling, OSU football, her pets and most of all, her niece and nephew.

Harvey is survived by her father, Bud Harvey (Gayle) of Atoka; brother, Jay Harvey (Misty) of Atoka; niece, Spencer Harvey of Norman, Oklahoma; nephew, Jared Harvey of Atoka; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Kaye (Hubbard) Harvey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Harmony Baptist Church, 710 E. Harmony Road, Atoka, OK 74525.

Source: Brown’s Funeral Service

Kenneth W. Huffman, DVM, MS, of Cincinnati, died after a short illness on March 29, 2017. He was 94.

He earned his DVM degree from OSU (’53) and a master’s degree from Kansas State University. He belonged to the Oklahoma and Ohio Veterinary Medical Associations. Throughout his career he worked at two veterinary practices, followed by the Hess and Clark Research Farm in Ashland, Ohio, and Merrell National Lab/Dow-Merrell Labs in Reading, Ohio.

Dr. Huffman is survived by two sons, George Huffman of Bowie, Maryland, and Paul Huffman of Decautur, Tennessee; four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Source: Daily Post Athenian

Franklin A. Humphreys, DVM, of Brandon, Mississippi, died July 13, 2019. He was 85 years old.

Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from Oklahoma State University before earning his DVM degree from OSU in 1963.

Dr. Humphreys worked in several different veterinary practices before joining the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, where he worked for the remainder of his career. He was a member of the Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association, the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association and a former member of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Humphreys was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was an active longtime member of the United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and doing projects around the home and church.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mae Kyle Humphreys; three children, Kevin Humphreys (Julie Hartness) of Madison, Mississippi; Laura Rogers (Dr. Michael Rogers) of Flowood, Mississippi; and Scott Humphreys (Janet Oldham) of Brandon; five grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Source: Clarion Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jankowski, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACZM, of Denver, died Aug. 9, 2019.

She was 39.

Born in Crestwood, Missouri, she graduated from Lindbergh High School, where she was a first-string player on the tennis team and an accomplished dressage equestrian. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, where she met Benjamin Jankowski. She graduated in 2002 and married Ben the following summer. The couple resided in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she pursued graduate-level courses in recreation (environmental education emphasis). They moved to Stillwater so she could pursue a degree in veterinary medicine. She earned her DVM degree from OSU in 2008.

Following graduation, Dr. Jankowski completed an internship at the Audubon Zoo/New Orleans Aquarium/Baton Rouge Zoo/Louisiana State University and a residency at the Brookfield Zoo/ Lincoln Park Zoo/Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2012, she joined the Denver Zoo, where she most recently served as an associate veterinarian. In 2015, she because a diplomate in the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Dr. Jankowski also participated in several research expeditions to Peru to study the environmental impact of seals and penguins.

Dr. Jankowski deeply loved her husband, their three children, her family, the outdoors, running and all things chocolate. One of her greatest passions was the health and well-being of animals, which led to her career as a veterinarian specializing in large mammals. Her faith, dedication to family, and passion for life were inspiring; she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her husband, Ben, and their children Nadia (5), Beckham (4), and Ryland (1); her parents, Jim and Kathleen Robertson; sister, Victoria Barron (Matt); in-laws, Steve and Elizabeth Jankowski; and a close network of extended family, co-workers and friends.

Source: In Memoriam

Ben Harrison “Mac” McKinley, DVM, of Alva, Oklahoma, died April 7, 2019. He was 82.

Born in Ashland, Kansas, he graduated from Ashland High School. He attended Kansas State University for a semester but was forced to leave to manage the family ranch when his father passed away suddenly. He married Jerrie Sue Pickens in 1965. In 1966, he decided to renew his goal to become a veterinarian and attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University for two years. He went on to earn his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1972.

Following graduation, Dr. Harrison built Ridgeview Veterinary Clinic in Alva. Dr. Terry Lohmann

(OSU ’80) later joined the practice. The partners worked together for many successful years until Dr. Harrison retired.

Dr. Harrison was a member of the First United Methodist Church and most recently attended First Christian Church. He avidly supported the Alva Goldbugs, the Northwestern Rangers and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He belonged to Kiwanis, the Quarterback Club, the Rowdy Rangers and was a charter member of the Ranger Ski Team.

He enjoyed fishing, boating, snow skiing, traveling with his family to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Belize, St. Thomas and many other places. He was known for his dry humor, quick wit and his love for the Alva community.

Preceded in death by his wife, Jerrie, Dr. Harrison is survived by three children, Daniel Ward (Kay) of San Antonio, Susan Jungling (Mike) of Olathe, Kansas, and Sarah Christensen (Brian) of Medford, Oregon; 10 grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for Cancer Research through the Marshall Funeral Home of Alva, P.O. Box 804, Alva, OK 73717.

Source: Alva Review-Courier

Jonathan Starling Miller, DVM, of Perry, Oklahoma, died June 6, 2019, at Perry M e m orial H ospit al . H e was 84.

Born in Lindsey, Oklahoma, he graduated from Chickasha High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1963 and a DVM degree in 1965, both from Oklahoma State University.

After graduating, Dr. Miller joined Dr. Paul Edmondson at Perry Veterinary Clinic. In 1977, he married Joan Gottschalk, and in 1980, they opened Starling Miller Real Estate and Auctions in Perry. He spent the next 37 years working as an auctioneer, real estate broker and appraiser until retiring in 2017.

Dr. Miller was a longtime member of the Christ Lutheran Church of Perry and actively involved in the community. He held many roles with the Perry Chamber of Commerce and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007. He was also named Cherokee Strip Honorary Parade Marshal, Perry Citizen of the Year and received numerous 4-H and FFA awards. He was active in Perry Lions Club and had been inducted into the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association Hall of Fame in 1998.

Survivors include his son, Kendell Miller of Stillwater; three daughters, Delinda Hobbs (Royce) of Stillwater, Debbie Hooper (Tim Dolezal) of Stillwater, and Diane Hines (Eric) of Perry; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Operations Smile or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in

c/o Dighton-Marler Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Perry, OK 73077.

Source: Dighton-Marler Funeral Home

Dr. Richard Lloyd “Rick” Neilson, DVM, of Alma, Nebraska, died March 7, 2019, at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was 63.

Born in Helena, Montana, he graduated from high school in Altus, Oklahoma.

He earned both his undergraduate degree in wildlife research and his DVM degree (’81) from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Neilson practiced veterinary medicine in Miller, South Dakota; Holdrege, Nebraska; and Gothenburg, Nebraska. He married Deborah Ann Gaffney in 1991, and the couple resided near Alma, Nebraska, where he built Republican Valley Animal Center. After leaving veterinary medicine, he worked as a financial adviser, most recently for Wells Fargo Advisors in Kearney, where he served as first vice president for investments.

Dr. Neilson was a passionate outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, trail running, competing in Spartan Obstacle Course Races, camping, barbecuing and fishing. His favorite travel destinations included his family’s cabin on Montana’s Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park.

His love of aviation led him to obtain a private pilot’s license. He served on the Alma Airport Advisory Board and joined the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Dr. Neilson was also a member of the Kearney Elks Lodge 984 and was active in the leadership of Ducks Unlimited in Miller for many years. He was a member of the International Essential Tremor Foundation, an organization working to address a condition that inhibited Dr. Neilson’s ability to participate in many of his favorite activities.

Dr. Neilson cherished every moment spent with his children and grandchildren. He never knew a stranger and will be remembered for his joyful laugh, generosity and kindness.

He is survived by his wife, Deb Neilson of Alma; daughter, Erin (Phil) Williams of Omaha, Nebraska; son, Jeremy (Brittany) Neilson of Denver; three grandchildren; father; three brothers and other relatives and friends. Memorial gifts may be given in his honor to the International Essential Tremor Foundation at www.essentialtremor.org/donate/.

Source: Kearney (Nebraska) Hub

Jackie Horton Parker, DVM, of Iowa Park, Texas, died Aug. 27, 2019. She was 78.

Born in Norton, Texas, she graduated from Norton High School as salutatorian and earned her DVM from OSU in 1965.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 79

IN MEMORIAM Following an internship, Dr. Parker began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a veterinary meat inspector. She retired after almost 45 years of service.

Dr. Parker also grew African violets, house-plants and orchids. She and her husband were involved for many years in the First African Violet Society of Wichita Falls, Houseplants Unlimited, the Benson Iris Society, the Red River Orchid Society and the national iris and orchid societies. She also took in many homeless cats and dogs. She was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Dr. Parker is survived by her husband, William Kenneth Parker, Jr.; daughter, Catherine Chance (Danny); son, William K. Parker III (Karen); four grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1417 11th St., Wichita Falls, TX 76301.

Source: The Times Record News

William Allen “Bill” Potts, DVM, of Mount Olive, North Carolina, died Aug. 18, 2018. He was 91.

He served in the U.S. Navy and earned his DVM degree from OSU in 1953. He owned and operated Mount Olive Animal Hospital for many years before retiring. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Olive.

Dr. Potts is survived by his wife, Ann Fitzgerald Potts; three daughters, Maridee Clark (Randy) of Cary, North Carolina, Allyson Campbell of Martinsville, Virginia, and Laura Henderlong (Michael) of Far Hills, New Jersey; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial gifts may be made to Kitty Askins Hospice, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534 or First United Methodist Church, PO Box 420, Mount Olive, NC 28365.

Source: The News & Observer

Ronald Powell, DVM, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, died Nov. 15, 2019, after suffering from brain cancer. He was 72.

Born in Las Vegas, he moved to Oklahoma with his family as a toddler. He graduated from El Reno High School and earned his DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1974.

Dr. Powell owned a small animal practice and worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 30 years as a meat and poultry inspection supervisor. He retired from the USDA in 2010. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves Special Forces and spent time in Panama. After moving to Fort Smith, he served in the Arkansas Air National Guard and was called to active duty during Desert Storm. Dr. Powell retired in 1999 as the 188th Air National Guard clinic commander with the rank of

80 V E T C E T E R A 2 0 1 9

colonel. He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America.

Community Church and enjoyed quilting, gardening and showing her animals.

He was a Boy Scout leader for many years and a very active member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 35 years.

Survivors include her husband, Dr. Stephen Travis; brother, Robert Trosper (Janet) of Anchorage, Alaska; sister, Amy Elliot (Doug) of Norman, Oklahoma; several brothers- and sisters-in-law and many friends.

Dr. Powell is survived by his wife of more than 50 years Cheryl (Hicks) Powell; sons Ross Powell (Jennifer) of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Scott Powell (Joy) of Plano, Texas; and three grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 31, 4901 Midland Blvd., Fort Smith, AR 72904.

Memorial donations may be made to the Denise Travis, DVM Memorial Scholarship Fund at www. osugiving.com/denise-travis.

Source: Hayes Funeral Home

Source: Times Record

Martin “Doc” Anthony Spindel, DVM, of New Orleans, died Feb. 19, 2019. He was 88.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Louisiana State University and a DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1956.

Dr. Spindel practiced equine and large animal medicine in New Orleans, which included many years as the track veterinarian at the Fair Grounds Race Course and Jefferson Downs.

After retiring, he enjoyed volunteering for open hearth cooking at area historic sites and plantation homes.

Dr. Spindel was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Patricia McWilliams Spindel. He is survived by children Brian M. Spindel (Cathy), Allison Travers (Tom), Kimberly Perniciara and Marcia Weilenman (Chris), eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine (vetmed.okstate.edu/giving) or the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medcine (lsu.edu/vetmed/giving).

Source: Spindel family

Denise Lynne Travis, DVM, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, died July 15, 2019, after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 63.

Born in LaRochelle, France, she graduated from Lawton Eisenhower High School in 1974. A National Merit Scholar, she attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology. She earned her DVM degree from Oklahoma State University in 1988.

In 1999, Dr. Travis moved from Oklahoma City to Guthrie to work at Guthrie Pet Hospital. She served as a relief veterinarian for nearly 20 years and handled many surgeries.

She was a charter member of the Friends of Guthrie Animals, showed whippets and was a longtime member of the Oklahoma City and American Kennel Clubs. She also belonged to the

Raymond “Buck” Darrill Young, DVM, of Pleasanton, California, died Oct. 5, 2019.

He was 95.

Born in Hollis, Oklahoma, 2nd Lt. Young served in the Army Air Forces during World War II as a flight engineer and navigator on B-29 airplanes, mapping the Japanese coastline.

Upon his return, he married Willa Lurleen Lutner in 1947. In 1952, he earned his DVM degree from then-Oklahoma A&M School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Young worked in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana before moving to California in 1960 to become the zoo director and veterinarian of the Oakland Zoo in Knowland Park. He oversaw the building of the first Oakland Zoo exhibits that included exotic animals from Africa and Asia. Dr. Young designed the “squeeze cage” to handle big exotic cats without endangering them or their handlers. It was one of the first of its kind and was later adopted by several other zoos nationwide.

In 1969, Dr. Young opened Town and Country Veterinary Hospital and Young’s Veterinary Hospital, both in Pleasanton, where he practiced for more than 20 years. He developed a course of treatment for canine parvovirus, a highly contagious disease, using aloe vera gel from plants grown in his backyard and other natural ingredients. He was able to save the lives of many dogs that would have died without his intervention.

Dr. Young enjoyed working, exercising and fishing.

He took his family on numerous trips to Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Oregon and New Zealand to fish. The general fishing rule was never let him eat more than a candy bar for lunch or you’d never make it home for dinner if the fish were still biting.

Dr. Young is survived by his wife of 72 years, Willa Lutner Young of Pleasanton; daughter, Patricia Young Toombs (Larry) of Gilroy, California; granddaughter, Erin Melissa Toombs of Atlanta; and sister, Mildred Hicks of Montrose, Colorado.

Memorial donations may be made to the GraceWay Church, 1183 Quarry Lane, Pleasanton, CA 94566.

Source: Family of Dr. Raymond Young

More Than Cats and Dogs

Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Hospital handles “exotic” spays — including one done last spring on this bearded dragon named Thor.

Turns out, spay and neuter advice goes for reptiles, too

S

paying and neutering dogs and cats is common and fundamental to prevent reproductive and other disorders.

But this advice applies to most animals — and reptiles are no exception.

In fact, some female reptiles are commonly affected by reproductive problems. Lizards (including bearded dragons, leopard geckos and iguanas), aquatic turtles and terrestrial tortoises are all frequently diagnosed with problems related to reproductive activity.

The most common disorders include pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory stasis.

The ovaries typically remain extremely large for several weeks, creating discomfort. The post-ovulatory stasis, also called dystocia, occurs with the inadequate expulsion of the eggs. Eggs that remain in the oviduct (basically

the uterus of reptiles) are prone to break and may result in infection of the abdomen (coelomitis).

Often, the only evident signs of these problems are lack of appetite and decreased activity. Since these signs can be ascribed to many diagnoses, veterinarians may need to perform several additional tests including blood work, radiographs, ultrasound and even a CT scan for a final diagnosis.

Since these problems may be detected late, the animal may not be in ideal condition for surgery and could require hospitalization for several days before its problems can be resolved. An early spay resolves most of these problems.

Thor, a beaded dragon bought to OSU last spring, was admitted for a normal spay, but her ovaries were already altered. There were many hemorrhagic follicles, and the size of the ovary was

STORY DR. NICOLA DI GIROLAMO | PHOTO COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

consistent with active ovulation and potentially pre-ovulatory stasis. Since the follicles were already so altered when they were removed, Thor required a full-body blood transfusion and two additional days of hospitalization.

Everything went well, and Thor recovered nicely.

Since reptiles are extremely different from mammals, and there is significant variability not only between species but also between individual animals, there is no common recommendation for all of them. Instead, owners should book an appointment with a veterinarian who specializes in exotic animal health care to discuss this important issue.

OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital has two board-certified specialists in avian, exotic and zoo medicine for exotic animal owners.

O K L A H O M A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y 1

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