Kraus Inaugural Holder of New Hoefle Professorship

A ceremony was held during the fall semester honoring two long-time members of the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital’s surgical unit.

Dr. Karl Kraus, professor of veterinary clinical sciences since 2007, was recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Hoefle Professorship in Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery. The professorship was established by Dr. William Hoefle and Judy Hoefle.

Dr. Hoefle graduated with his DVM from Iowa State in 1966 and joined the faculty four years later. He retired last summer after more than 50 years on the college’s faculty.

“Hopefully, this professorship will enhance the small animal surgery program for the benefit of the students and residents,” Hoefle said. “Additionally, the professorship will be helpful in retaining and recruiting the most talented small animal orthopedic surgeons.”

Governor Provides Funds For Vdl Phase 2

Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced $40 million in funding for phase 2 of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

The governor also proposed in her budget an additional $20 million from the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund -- $10 million each in fiscal years 2024 and 2025 -- to total $60 million in state support for the project.

“The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is absolutely critical to support and protect our state and country’s agriculture industry and food supply,” Reynolds said in a news release. “This investment will significantly expand the VDL’s capacity to support Iowa’s $32.5 billion animal agriculture industry and will keep this nationally-recognized lab on the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Iowa will remain a global leader in agriculture, combatting foreign animal diseases, and recruiting and retaining veterinary talent.”

In its fall funding requests to the 2023 Iowa Legislature, the university sought $62.5 million in state support over four years for the proposed $66.5 million second phase of the state laboratory. Rounding out the funding would be $2.7 million in university funds and $1.3 million in private gifts. Reynolds’ announcement provides 60% of the funds needed for a second phase, which, when completed, would allow all VDL operations to be in one facility.

Faculty and Staff Notes

• Dr. Rachel Derscheid, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, has been appointed the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Equity Advisor.

• Dr. Ron Griffith, professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, has been selected to receive the American Society for Microbiology Award for Graduate Education. The award “recognizes general excellence in microbiology education.”

• Dr. Heather Greenlee, the Lora and Russ Talbot Endowed Professor in Veterinary Medicine and professor of biomedical sciences, has been appointed an associate dean for student and scholar success in Iowa State’s Graduate College.

• Dr. Rodger Main, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, received the 2022 Meritorious Award from the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians.

• Dr. Jodi McGill, the John G. Salsbury Endowed Chair in Veterinary Medicine and associate professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, has been appointed the assistant dean of research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

• Dr. Paul Plummer, professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and the Anderson Chair in Veterinary Medicine, has been named the associate dean of research and graduate studies.

• Dr. Katie Steneroden, lead public health veterinarian with the Center for Food Security and Public Health, has been presented with the Helwig-Jennings Award for outstanding and prolonged service to the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.

• Dr. Jessica Ward, associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences and the Phyllis M. Clark Professor in Veterinary Cardiology, has been appointed the assistant dean for extramural student programs.