ISU CVM Gentle Doctor Fall 2023 by ISU CVM

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE FALL 2023 | VOL. 37 NO. 1

DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT PAGE 13

FALL 2023 | VOL. 37 NO. 1 Gentle Doctor is published by the Iowa State University College

Contents

of Veterinary Medicine for alumni and friends of the college. The publication of the magazine is funded by the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association at Iowa State.

Office of the Dean............................................515 294-1250 Office of Development....................................515 294-8562 Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital.......515 294-4900 Large Animal Hospital..............................515 294-1500 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory................515 294-1950

FEATURES

8 Practice Partners 9 Becoming a Reality 13 Dreams Take Flight 16 Under the Sea

Editor............................................................... Dave Gieseke Writer............................................................Tracy Ann Raef Graphic Designer..................................... Heather Brewer

We welcome your suggestions, comments, and contributions to content.

Correspondence should be directed to: Dave Gieseke Editor, Gentle Doctor College of Veterinary Medicine Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-1250

515 294-4257 dgieseke@iastate.edu vetmed.iastate.edu Iowa State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, marital status, disability, or protected Veteran status and will not be discriminated against. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3410 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, 515 294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE FALL 2023 | VOL. 37 NO. 1

IN EVERY ISSUE

DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT PAGE 13

Cover story on page 13

4 College News 25 Gentle Doctors Everywhere

28 Alumni News 30 Foundation News

FROM THE DESK OF THE DEAN On Wednesday, Oct. 4, we will dedicate Patterson Hall in a special ceremony I hope many of you will be able to attend. This will just be the first of many exciting events scheduled in the College of Veterinary Medicine in the coming months and years. In what may be a first in Iowa State University’s history, we are planning a dedication ceremony and groundbreaking ceremony on the same day.

From the Dean Dear Colleagues and Friends, It’s never a dull moment in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Whether I’m walking down the halls and seeing the excitement our graduate and professional students have for their career paths or encountering a satisfied client in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory or any of our service units, this is just a fun place to work and study. This past year was an example of even more excitement in the College. As you know we completed our year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson’s graduation from the College of Veterinary Medicine. You can read more about this celebration and Dr. Patterson’s enduring legacy elsewhere in this issue of the Gentle Doctor. Our celebration concluded with the announcement that the Board of Regents approved naming the main academic building, Frederick Douglass Patterson Hall. This honor is long overdue and will serve as a daily reminder of the impact this distinguished Iowa State graduate has had, and continues to have, on veterinary medicine, higher education, human rights, and opportunity for all around the globe.

For the past 24 months, Phase 1 of the new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has risen just across from Patterson Hall. Thanks to the generous support from the State of Iowa and our many alumni, friends, and stakeholders, the VDL will be a one-of-a-kind facility that will continue Iowa State’s commitment to agriculture not only in our state, but throughout the world. Thanks again to the State of Iowa, planning is already underway for Phase 2 of the VDL. Construction is scheduled to begin on that part of the project this spring – hence the same day dedication/groundbreaking ceremony. More details will be forthcoming on this event later this year in our monthly alumni e-newsletter. And we’re not finished celebrating. Phase 2 of the VDL will be completed in the fall of 2026. The 50th anniversary of Patterson Hall will be commemorated that same year and we’re already starting to think about our upcoming 150th anniversary in 2029. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s never a dull moment in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Dan Grooms, DVM, PhD Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine

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collegenews CVM Places High in Three Rankings The College of Veterinary Medicine has risen in three separate 2023 rankings of veterinary colleges in the United States and globally. EduRank ranked Iowa State 11th globally and fifth among U.S. veterinary schools. This independent metric-ranking utilizes the world’s largest scholarly papers database to rank universities, along with non-academic prominence and alumni popularity indicators. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked Iowa State 16th overall in the world rankings and ninth in the United States. QS measures academic and employer reputations and the number o times faculty research papers have been cited. The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of veterinary colleges, which are updated every three years, lists Iowa State as 11th out of 33 veterinary schools that were ranked. In the last rankings, CVM came in at 14th overall.

#4000 Stella, a two-year-old cat from the Animal Rescue of Carroll, was patient number 4,000 in the Community Outreach Program. Thirdyear students Amanda Stuart, Sara Crim and Melissa Svoboda were Stella’s surgical team. Photo: Dave Gieseke

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ACCREDITATION PREP The College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a Mock Site Visit for the AVMA-COE accreditation process last spring. Dr. Emma Read, associate dean for the professional programs at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Susan Tornquist, dean of the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine, were members of the site visit team. They met with faculty, staff and students and toured the College’s facilities. Photo: Dave Gieseke

Thippeswamy Named Lloyd Professor Dr. Thimmasettappa Thippeswamy, professor of biomedical sciences, has been appointed as the newest holder of the W. Eugene and Linda R. Lloyd Endowed Professorship in Veterinary Medicine. Thippeswamy’s research focuses on the field of epilepsy, and he recently received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) U01 award, which is one of the most prestigious translational research funding grants in the United States. He has served as the principal investigator on five NIH grants on neurotoxicity totaling $5.4 million since 2017. Recently, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American Epilepsy Society (FAES). The FAES designation is an honor that demonstrates professional accomplishments and dedication in the field of epilepsy through research. He was also named a Dean’s Faculty Fellow from 2019-2022 in the College of Veterinary Medicine. In the classroom, Thippeswamy is an award-winning, student-centered professor of veterinary anatomy. He was selected for the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teaching Award in the College of Veterinary Medicine by students in 2017 and that same year he was a nominee for the AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. A year later he received the CVM Award for Outstanding Achievement in Teaching and in 2019 he received a Miller Teaching Fellowship from Iowa State University. The Lloyd Endowed Professorship in Veterinary Medicine was established by Eugene Lloyd (’49 DVM, ’70 PhD) and his wife Linda.

Faculty and Staff Notes • Dr. Gayle Brown, lead public health veterinarian at the Center for Food Security and Public Health and senior lecturer in veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine, has been named to the 2023 Women Impacting ISU calendar by the Catt Center for Women and Politics. • Dr. Locke Karriker, Morrill Professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and the Dr. Douglas and Ann Gustafson Professor for Teaching Excellence in Veterinary Medicine, has been installed as vice president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. • Chimene Peterson, veterinary technician II in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, is the recipient of the “Credentialed Veterinary Technician” Veterinary Heroes recognition by dvm360. • Dr. Paul Plummer, associate dean of research and graduate studies and Anderson Chair of Veterinary Sciences, has been appointed chair of the U.S. Presidential Advisory Council on Combatting Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria. • Dr. Yuko Sato, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, was featured at a Congressional Briefing on “The Value of Large Animal Research in Biomedical, Veterinary, and Agricultural Research Progress.” • Dr. Jessica Ward, Phyllis M. Clark Endowed Professor, associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences, and assistant dean of extramural student programs, is the inaugural recipient of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine’s William R. Fenner Early Career Award for Outstanding Service.

COMPARATIVE DATA REPORT RELEASED The annual Comparative Data Report from the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has been released and the following are some of the highlights of the report for the College of Veterinary Medicine.

DVM STUDENTS • Total Enrollment: #2 (680 DVM students) • Applications: #7 (1,967 applicants)

TUITION AND FEES • Resident Total Cost of Education (Total 4 Years): 4th lowest ($177,805) • Non-Resident Total Cost of Education (Total 4 Years): 11th lowest ($295,785) • Cost of Living in Ames: Lowest ($15,029) • Mean Educational Debt: 12th lowest ($153,545) • Financial Assistance: #5 ($2,904,600)

RESEARCH FUNDING EXPENDITURES • USDA: #2 ($5,796,734) • Department of Defense: #5 ($886,706) • Industry: #5 ($3,039,444) • National Science Foundation: #6 ($333,309)

BUDGET • Gift and Endowment Income: #11 ($8.9 million) • Endowment size: #9 ($95.9 million)

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RESEARCH ROUNDUP

collegenews Dr. Mark Lyte, professor of veterinary microbiology and preventive medicine and the W. Eugene Lloyd Chair in Toxicology, will work with Norwegian researchers over the next three years to see if intensive handling methods are making farmed salmon more susceptible to bacterial diseases. Lyte, who has pioneered the study of how stress hormones can directly stimulate pathogen growth, will be working with the Norwegian Veterinary Institute to determine if stress hormones produced by the fish are promoting bacterial growth and subsequently increased infections. “All of this handling is surely very stressful to the fish,” Lyte said. “Imagine if you were parboiled for a while. You wouldn’t like it. Can then we ask, ‘What is part of the stress response? ”

After pioneering a system to improve swine health by collecting and publicizing pathogen testing results from large public veterinary laboratories across the Midwest, a team led by College of Veterinary Medicine faculty is planning to bore even deeper to glean more insight from the vast data set. With a grant from the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC), the Swine Disease Reporting System (SDRS) was founded six years ago by Dr. Daniel Linhares, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine and Roy A. Schultz Professor in Swine Medicine. The goal was to compile and ana-

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lyze testing data from veterinary diagnostic labs to detect disease trends as they emerged, providing producers with an early warning system to prompt preventative responses such as increasing monitoring and heightening biosecurity measures. “The SDRS provides that foundational data to educate the industry about pathogen activity in swine populations,” Linhares said. “For the first time, it’s systematic and reported widely. It’s really a matter of knowing what’s out there and understanding that you’re not in the dark.” The initiative started with the labs at Iowa State and the University of Minnesota, collecting testing data for one pathogen. Now the consortium has five members – including the state-run lab in Ohio and labs at South Dakota State University and Kansas State University – and tracks seven pathogens, with breakdowns by location, age, farm type, and specimen type.

A College of Veterinary Medicine project has been selected for seed funding support from Iowa State’s Office of the President and are “viewed as investments in the future of Iowa State University.” Dr. Giovani Trevisan, assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, is leading a team that is developing and implementing a web-interface for real-time analysis and visualization of animal health threats. “The products generated will provide stakeholders a much-needed powerful computational tool to detect new and emerging PRRSV strains coupled

with an easy-to-use web-visualization interface,” Trevisan said.

A machine that holds more than 5,000 samples on a plate no wider than a couple of postage stamps is among the innovations that could vastly enhance molecular diagnostic testing capacity at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, advancements that would make tests more affordable and future pandemicdriven surges easier to handle. The “SmartChip” quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing technology, in combination with a separate 384-sample system that can run 24 hours a day with limited staffing thanks to automated handling features, would give the VDL a needed increase in the volume of diagnostic tests it can process, said Dr. Rahul Nelli, research assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine. “The historical patterns of pathogens are changing, so we need to be prepared for risks we haven’t seen before. Having this high-throughput capability will allow us to meet industry needs, providing more cost-efficient diagnostic tests as the need for testing grows,” he said. Nelli and his VDL colleagues were awarded a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to help refine the use of the high-volume testing methods to prepare for future disease outbreaks. Researchers will ensure that the novel high-volume testing methods are accurate and can integrate with existing systems to track and report test results.

COMBATTING Food Insecurity

t was just a run-of-the-mill meeting in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Then a group of staff members started to pitch an idea they felt was needed for the college community. “They talked about the food insecurity some of our students, faculty and staff were experiencing,” said Lisa Lund, manager of information technology support. “I knew there was a need and that I definitely wanted to help.” From that simple presentation, Lund and a group of College of Veterinary Medicine staff members have made Bone Appetit, the 24/7 food pantry a reality. Bone Appetit is available for anyone in the CVM community to use with the motto of, “Take what you need, use what you take.”

The food pantry is made possible by donations from the CVM community with non-perishable food items, personal hygiene, baby, and pet items made available. Donations have also been made to the food pantry from outside the college including local churches, the United Way and local manufacturer Barilla. Lund’s involvement comes naturally to her. She comes from a self-described “service family.” In addition to the food pantry’s creators, DeNae Foster, Melody Gustafson, Mindy Schminke, and Lisa Sebring, Lund spends several hours a week, sorting and stocking the food pantry. “We all really care about student health and wellbeing,” Lund said. “You get to know the students really well in the College and if we can play a small part in their education by providing this service, it really means a lot to us.

was launched late in the 2022 fall semester and since then, more than 300 pounds of non-perishable food and other items have been distributed to the CVM community. Lund says the most popular items are macaroni and cheese, soup, and canned fruit. “I knew the food pantry would be popular, but it has been more successful than I imagined,” she said. “It’s been overwhelming in a good way.” Lund and her colleagues are always thinking of new things to add in the food pantry. A Farmer’s Market was added in the fall semester with faculty and staff bringing in items from their gardens. The food pantry will also be expanding its inventory to include items that meet individuals’ dietary needs including gluten free, high protein and non-dairy products. Reusable grocery bags with the Bone Appetit logo will be produced. “There’s always room to grow,” Lund said. “The sky’s the limit!” gd

Bone Appetit team from left: Lisa Lund, Melody Gustafson, DeNae Foster and Mindy Schminke. Photos: Tracy Ann Raef

“We all want to find a way to help them succeed.” Personally, Lund can point not only to her family background but the help she received when she was fighting cancer in 2020. “I had a ton of people from the College help me and my family out,” the cancer survivor said. “That experience has helped push me to help people and give back to the community. This is the perfect project for me.” While Bone Appetit wasn’t Lund’s idea, she is definitely the driving force behind its success. The food pantry Fall 2023 | Vol. 37 No. 1

Matching Employees with Employers

Photo: Dave Gieseke

“What I really like about our program is that all fees generated are then given to SAVMA for their student programming,” Ward said.

The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report projects the veterinarian job market will increase by almost 20 percent over the next decade. As many veterinary clinics across the country know, it is getting harder and harder to find the right fit for any job opening.

More than 50 corporate and private-owned clinics participated in the first year of the program, among them the Galena Square Veterinary Clinic in Illinois and the Family Pet Hospital in Platteville, Wisc. Dr. Terry Beebe owns both clinics and says the practices are in rural cities with small populations.

mployment of veterinarians nationwide is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations.

Dr. Jessica Ward, assistant dean for extramural student programs, determined the College of Veterinary Medicine could do a better job connecting students and employers. “The competition for employees has never been more intense,” Ward said. “We needed a new way of communicating the opportunities that exist out there for our students.” The Practice Partners Program was created to meet the employment need. Ward worked with Iowa State’s SAVMA (Student American Veterinary Medical Association) chapter to establish the Practice Partners Program. A few of the program’s benefits are: • A monthly digest sent to veterinary students and college alumni promoting clinics and potential job opportunities. • An in-person career development workshop held in the spring at the College of Veterinary Medicine where practice partner members can participate. • The annual IVMA Networking and Job Fair, an on-campus event where potential employers meet with students. A participation fee is required for membership in the Practice Partners Program, with individual organizations determining their own contribution. Corporate practices generally pay between $1,000 and $2,000 a year to participate. Suggested fees for privately-owned practices are between $200 and $1,000 annually. 8 Fall 2023 | Vol. 37 No. 1

“It can be hard to attract new associates if they are not familiar with the area and the many opportunities for employment for significant others as well as the lower cost of living,” Beebe said. “We typically participate at the Iowa State career fair and know that it is a great way to meet future graduates and share a little bit about ourselves and the type of medicine we practice. “The Practice Partners Program is a great way to increase the networking between Iowa State’s students and the involved clinics.” In the past, Beebe’s clinics have offered preceptorships in the fourth year, but the Practice Partners Program provided an opportunity to add two additional preceptors from Iowa State this year. “It is extremely important for any practice to place a great deal of time and energy into finding the right associate with the personality and skill set that allows the associate to smoothly transition into the team,” Beebe said. “This program allows students, and private clinic owners and staff to meet and network in an efficient manner, therefore increasing the chances of finding an associate.” Ward feels the program accomplished a great deal in its first year but looks for additional things to come in the future. A new touchscreen computer has been installed in Patterson Hall which will add another layer of promotion for the available positions. A virtual event for the program is also scheduled in the spring for potential employers. gd

New D-Lab Becomes Reality

hen it was built in 1976, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was a state-of-the-art building, whose 30 faculty and staff worked on 16,000 cases a year. As the years went by the annual caseload increased dramatically to well over 100,000 cases. To meet that demand, the number of faculty and staff working in the facility also increased. Overcrowding, biosafety and biocontainment issues, and the lab’s continued growth led College of Veterinary Medicine leaders to find a solution. Phase 1 of their solution will become a reality this fall when the new VDL opens in a facility befitting the nation’s top veterinary diagnostic laboratory, one that sees the largest food animal caseload in the country. Construction of the new facility was made possible through $63.5 million in appropriations from the Iowa Legislature over a six-year period. Additional funding for Phase 1 has been provided by the VDL, the College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, and private donors. “The largest champions for the project have been the VDL’s stakeholders across all aspects of veterinary medicine and animal agriculture,” said Dr. Rodger Main, VDL director. “They educated legislators about how the lab impacts their veterinary clinics, farming operations, and local communities. They were just tremendous advocates to raise awareness of the need for a new lab.” When the lab opens in November of 2023, faculty, staff and operations in receiving/accessioning, necropsy, sample processing, histopathology, bacteriology, pathology, and an incinerator will be the new facility’s residents. However, many of the key components of the VDL will be “left behind” in the current facility.

But their stay in the aging laboratory won’t be for long. The Iowa Legislature has once again come through with funding, approving an appropriation of $18 million for Phase 2. This is in addition to $40 million in funding from funds directed to Iowa in the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Fundraising and internal funding will make up the rest of the proposed $66.5 million project.

Photos: Mary Breuer

Phase 1 was constructed so Phase 2 could be readily built on, allowing the remaining VDL operations to come under one roof. Even as the first group of operations moves into the new building, work will already be underway on Phase 2. Pending final approval by the Board of Regents, construction could begin as early as the spring of 2024, with completion slated for the fall of 2026. Phase 2 will include the critical diagnostic services including molecular diagnostics, serology, virology, analytical chemistry, toxicology and pharmacology, genetic sequencing, bioinformatics, BSL-3 lab, and the VDL’s research and development function. “The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is absolutely critical to support and protect our state and country’s agriculture industry and food supply,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said. “This investment in Phase 2 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.” gd

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A New Environment

melia Dohlman was looking to create a more welcoming environment to the Anesthesia Suite in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital.

And with assistance from the College of Design, she has more than achieved her goal. “We wanted to change the space to enhance the learning and working environment,” said Dohlman, the Hixson-Lied manager of clinical support. “There was no personality in this area and there was no recognizable trait to this service.” Dohlman reached out to the College of Design and Cameron Campbell, associate professor of architecture. Campbell says College of Design students work with units throughout campus including previous projects with the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Student projects obviously can’t be at a scale much larger than what we did on this project because of liability, sophistication, time that students have, cost, and experience. But what we can provide is some beginning ideas to help with fundraising and early thoughts about what is possible,” Campbell said. “All parties win in this scenario because students gain valuable experience in actual situations and whomever we work with gets the creativity and basic services we can offer.” For the Anesthesia Suite, senior architecture student Allison Morgan was selected. Morgan met with Dohlman, developed the design, and helped find materials and specify colors.

That design included adding wall color, signage, and images to several rooms in the anesthesia area including the rounds room, induction space, technician office, recovery room, and cleaning room. “Allison and I met frequently, and she was an absolute delight to work with,” Dohlman said. “If I ran into a reason why a certain element would not work, she would work to find a solution or alternative route.” “I did research on the effect that color has on humans and small animals alike,” Morgan said. “I found a color palette with commons colors that people, dogs, and cats all find calming and soothing. Natural materials such as woods and stones also provide a calming effect on patients for healing, which is how I decided to incorporate organic material into the design.” Still, this wasn’t a simple design. Morgan created a unique way to present the service’s faculty and staff photos which required drilling 200 holes to hang all the frames. “That was challenging to make it come to fruition,” Dohlman said, “It is an aspect to the project that is not only eye-catching, but allows us to interact with the staff by celebrating birthdays and career anniversaries.” This may have been the most challenging aspect of the suite’s redesign, but Dohlman’s favorite part was the simple act of repainting the walls. Campbell agrees.

Photos: Dave Gieseke

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“A quality environment is better for both the patient and the caregiver,” he said. “Living and working in a windowless space all day is not healthy, so giving a sense of light like Allison did with the new paint can improve outcomes for all parties.”gd

At a Moment’s Notice

t didn’t take long for Maddie Moree to jump right into the fray. On her first day as the new veterinary social worker in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, she was called into action by a somewhat reluctant hospital worker. “They knew it was my first day and were very apologetic about calling me,” Moree said. “But that’s why I’m here. I must be available on a moment’s notice and be very flexible. “I can always catch up on the other stuff.” In her new role, Moree is responsible for a variety of tasks including crisis intervention with clients, following up with clients’ post-euthanasia, staff training, and supporting the hospital’s staff. “I’m not anyone’s therapist,” Moree said, “but I am that person in between where they are, and where they need to be.” An Iowa State graduate, Moree spent the past several years in a job drastically different from her appointment in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center. She worked for the City of Frisco (Texas) Police Department, focusing on the mental health of the department’s employees, as well as serving as a crisis negotiator.

Photo: Dave Gieseke

“I’m not anyone’s therapist,” Moree said, “but I am that person in between where they are, and where they need to be.”

Despite being happy in her job, the Iowa native and her husband wanted to move back to the Midwest. But it had to be the right opportunity. Then she found the veterinary social worker position posted at Iowa State. “I wanted to find a job that I was just as passionate about as I was in Texas,” Moree said. “Being able to build a program from scratch as well as being a huge animal lover made this a job I couldn’t pass up.” “I’m very excited to see what this program can turn into,” she continued, “and anxious to get into the trenches and make this a successful program.” gd

“I loved my job, it was very challenging,” she said. “That job taught me how to stay calm in stressful situations and I’ve found if I’m calm it bleeds over to others.” Fall 2023 | Vol. 37 No. 1

Any Day with Pigs is Great

“C

an you imagine having 13 other brothers and sisters?” Justin Hennessy, a fourth-year veterinary student, asked a young girl visiting the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair.

It’s something that comes naturally to him. “I’ve been showing pigs since I was four years old, so I’m used to being at a fair,” the Nebraska native said. “I’ve basically been in the classroom for three years, so it is a pleasure to be here.

The only answer Hennessy gets is a big eye roll from the little girl.

“Any day I’m with pigs is great.”

“What surprises people the most is the number of pigs a sow can have,” he said, “but there are always a lot of questions.”

Hennessy is the first fourth-year veterinary student to do a swine rotation at the Iowa State Fair. He had previously worked with SMEC.

Hennessy, along with faculty and staff from the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC), provided the health and care of the eight pigs and their litters at the farrowing display at the state fair. They were assisted by FFA students from Central Iowa high schools and the exhibit is funded and staffed with volunteers from the Iowa Pork Producers Association. The sows are provided annually by AMVC.

“I approached Drs. (Locke) Karriker and (Justin) Brown about the possibility of doing a rotation at the fair,” Hennessy said, “and fortunately they said they could find a spot for me.”

SMEC has taken on a larger level of responsibility for the exhibit in recent years, not only caring for the health of the sows and the piglets born during the fair but interacting with more than 100,000 individuals who make their way through the Animal Learning Center.

“I enjoy helping people learn about the swine industry and swine medicine,” he said. “From day one (of the Iowa State Fair), this was by far the best rotation I’ve had, mainly because I get to work with pigs.” gd

And even after the Iowa State Fair concluded, Hennessy moved onto another two-week rotation – this time at the Nebraska State Fair, working at the birthing center.

For Hennessy, a day at the Iowa State Fair starts early and ends late. Some days he will help a sow deliver her litter. Other days, it is making sure the litter born the day before are provided with the best health care possible, checking on them every 30 minutes. And then there are the questions. As the multitudes of visitors make it through the exhibit, Hennessy sits patiently while engaging with children and adults who have never seen a live pig.

Photo: Dave Gieseke

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DREAMS

TAKE FLIGHT Story: Dave Gieseke

o young Chris Brown, there was no better place in the world than Uncle Fred’s study. “Every year my family and I would visit Uncle Fred in New Rochelle (New York),” Brown remembers. “I would go into his study and just wander around, checking out all the things he had there.”

graduates. Founder of the United Negro College Fund, president of Tuskegee University, proponent for aviation and the Tuskegee Airmen, graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine – Patterson secured his place among history’s greatest academic visionaries and social advocates.

What drew Brown’s attention most were the wall decorations.

A GIANT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

“Uncle Fred had photographs on the wall of him with every president, from FDR to Reagan,” Brown says. “I’m a history teacher now, and wandering around Uncle Fred’s house was where I became fascinated with history.”

Photos: Patterson Archives

Uncle Fred is Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson, one of Iowa State University’s most distinguished

Dr. Patterson (DVM ’23, MS ’27 veterinary pathology) became the third president of Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) at the age of 33. Tuskegee already held an esteemed reputation based on the achievements of its founder, Booker T. Washington, and its most famous faculty member – George Washington Carver. But it was Dr. Patterson who transformed the baccalaureate

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Photos: Patterson Archives

institution into a prestigious university with cutting-edge graduate programs, all of which are flourishing to this day. “Being president of Tuskegee was the greatest experience of my life,” Dr. Patterson wrote in his autobiography, Chronicles of Faith. “Although I had loved veterinary medicine and had enjoyed practicing and teaching, I realized in 1935 that presidency of Tuskegee Institute was a larger opportunity – particularly in an educational institution with Tuskegee’s reputation – for service to humanity.” Dr. Patterson founded Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine,

which has graduated 75 percent of the nation’s African American veterinarians. He also established the college’s commercial dietetics program. It infused professional cooking with business and service savvy and placed African American students in unprecedented high-level internships across the country. Dr. Patterson was always fascinated with flight. He not only founded the commercial aviation program at Tuskegee, but he also learned to fly himself. In the late 1930s, he defied all the political, social, and financial odds of the day to train African American youth to fly military airplanes. He persuaded the government to establish a full air base at Tuskegee, which gave birth to the now legendary Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.

FUELING THE FUTURE Dr. Patterson’s impact on the world of higher education wasn’t confined to the Tuskegee campus. In 1944, he

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founded the United Negro College Fund and continued to work with that philanthropic organization long after he retired as Tuskegee’s president. “We tried to present the needs of Black youth in the private Black colleges, as a matter of only local or restricted concern, but as something Americans of goodwill would take to heart,” Dr. Patterson wrote. “People could, we hoped, be united in an organizational relationship and we could then jointly solicit gifts from donors large and small all over the country.” The United Negro College Fund continues to provide scholarships for African American students for 37 private, historically black colleges and universities. The organization has raised almost $5 billion for scholarships since its founding. “Dr. Patterson should definitely be considered a giant of higher education, right next to other education pioneers of the day,” says Brian Bridges, vice president of research and member engagement of the United Negro College Fund.

“He is one of those unsung heroes of the 20th century whose contributions literally changed two fields for the better – the postsecondary education landscape and America’s World War II efforts,” Bridges says. “I do not believe the United Negro College Fund would exist today, or if it did, it would not have the same lengthy and impactful legacy – one that spans over 75 years –without Dr. Patterson’s leadership.”

Celebrating the Centennial

During his lifetime (1901-1988), Dr. Patterson was a champion for human rights, equality, and opportunity for all. His vision and courage continue to open doors.

Over the past year, the College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the centennial of the graduation of Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson (DVM ’23).

“As much of a legacy that Uncle Fred left the world, he also left a legacy for our family,” says Heather Brown, Dr. Patterson’s niece. “For our family, we were so privileged to have known him and to have been influenced by him.”

The celebration highlighted the immense impact Dr. Patterson had on the veterinary profession, and on higher education.

Siblings Chris and Heather Brown both say their parents made sure they knew what a “big deal” Uncle Fred was, not only to their family, but to the world. That reality hit home one day when they opened the mail. “I don’t know if I recognized just how fabulous he was until the invitation came from the White House,” Heather Brown says. “I thought to myself, ‘Maybe there’s really something here.’” The White House invitation was for the Browns’ mother, Patricia, to attend a ceremony honoring their uncle with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. The honor is reserved for those who make an especially meritorious contribution to, among other things, significant public or private endeavors. To date only 630 individuals have been honored with the award.

Some of the celebration’s highlights were…  Brad Kuennen, CVM librarian, documented the life and legacy of Dr. Patterson at the College’s first day of class lunchtime seminar.  At Homecoming, the College celebrated with members of Dr. Patterson’s family as he received the Stange Award, the College’s highest alumni award.  Each month, the Patterson Spirit Award was awarded to students, faculty, and staff for their efforts in creating a more inclusive community, a recognition that reflects Dr. Patterson’s desire to create a welcoming community for all.  A $1 million endowment was established in Dr. Patterson’s name that will forever provide resources to support student, faculty, and staff success.  In January, Dr. Tara Grinnage-Pulley (’09), who is also an alumnus of Tuskegee University, shared how the legacy of Dr. Patterson shaped her career as a distinguished scientist.  The next month, Dr. Latonia Craig, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for the American Veterinary Medical Association, gave the keynote address at the winter IVMA meeting.  The 2023 CVM commencement speaker was Dr. Ruby Perry, dean of Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, the college Dr. Patterson founded in 1945.

Photo: Patterson Archives

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Dr. Patterson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan in 1987 with the inscription… “by his inspiring example of personal excellence and unselfish dedication, he has taught the nation that, in this land of freedom, no mind should go to waste.”

CHARTING HIS OWN COURSE

Photos: Patterson Archives

New AVMA DEI Award Named After Patterson The American Veterinary Medical Association has announced establishment of a new annual diversity, equity and inclusion honor, the Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement award, named after the trailblazing veterinarian and academic administrator. The award will recognize excellence through innovative and transformative leadership in promoting DEI. Dr. Chuck Lemme (’75), chair of the AVMA Board of Directors, was instrumental in the creation of the award. “We want to recognize member veterinarians who have made significant contributions to the veterinary profession through advancing DEI,” said Dr. Lori Teller, AVMA president. “There is no better way to do this than by bestowing an annual award named after Dr. Patterson, who was such a visionary leader.” Dr. Willie Reed, dean of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, was the award’s inaugural recipient. gd

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Born in Washington, D.C., Dr. Patterson attended Prairie View Normal School where he met Dr. Edward B. Evans, who also graduated from Iowa State and the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1918. Dr. Evans became a mentor to Dr. Patterson and encouraged him to enroll at Iowa State to earn a veterinary degree. Even though Dr. Patterson was the only African American in the school during his tenure, he wrote years later that his experience in Ames was, for the most part, a positive one. “In the veterinary program, I did not feel odd being a part of the group of students working in the veterinary clinic although I was the only Black person there,” Dr. Patterson wrote. “The absence of animosity encouraged me to see veterinary medicine as a field in which I could practice without being hampered by the racial stereotypes and obstacles that would confront me as a medical doctor, for example. I found the teachers of Iowa State helpful whenever I approached them. Educationally, it was a fine experience.” His journey to his degree was difficult at times, however. He lived in a boarding house in downtown Ames while working at both a sorority house on campus and at a downtown hotel. “I learned a lesson with regard to race that I never forgot – how people feel about you reflects the way you permit yourself to be treated. If you

permit yourself to be treated differently, you are condemned to an unequal relationship,” he wrote. Dr. Patterson’s association with his alma mater didn’t end with his graduation. He returned to campus in 1970 to deliver the keynote address for the dedication of Carver Hall, named in honor of his Tuskegee colleague and fellow Iowa State graduate. He received countless honorary degrees and awards, including Iowa State’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1980.

A LIVING LEGACY The Frederick Douglass Patterson Research Institute was established in 1996 by the United Negro College Fund. In honor of its namesake, the institute focuses on the education status of African Americans. On the Tuskegee campus there is a building and street named after Dr. Patterson. Family members, including siblings Chris and Heather Brown, attended Iowa State’s homecoming activities in 2022 where Dr. Patterson was honored with the Stange Award, the College of Veterinary Medicine’s highest alumni honor. “In honoring our uncle’s legacy, you are honoring our family,” Heather Brown said. “He was a wonderful example for all of us and a wonderful human being.” The United Negro College Fund’s Brian Bridges goes further. “Dr. Patterson’s accomplishments and his dedication to providing educational opportunities to disenfranchised populations, particularly African Americans, make him a figure worthy of celebration in American history,” Bridges said. gd

Frederick Douglass Patterson Hall

The Board of Regents has approved naming the main academic portion of the College of Veterinary Medicine building to Frederick Douglass Patterson Hall. The naming does not include the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, the new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, or other buildings outside the main College of Veterinary Medicine complex.

“Dr. Patterson is one of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Iowa State University’s most influential and celebrated alumni,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “He was a champion for human rights, equality and opportunity during his lifetime. “This recognition will honor Dr. Patterson’s legacy and in turn the legacy and impact the College of Veterinary Medicine has had on society around the world.”

Photo: Christopher Gannon

ne hundred years after his graduation from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson’s name has been bestowed upon the college’s main academic building.

The College of Veterinary Medicine building opened in 1976 and has remained unnamed since then. gd

Photo: Patterson Archives

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Under the Sea Stories: Dave Gieseke

Dr. Gerald Pribyl (’80) As a founding owner of the Veterinarian Aquarium Group, Gerald Pribyl has provided the veterinary care of the marine animals at the Shark Reef Exhibit at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. “Working on aquatic animals is similar to small animal practice, but the physiology is different and the handling is completely different. Working at the Shark Reef is exciting and challenging.”

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he Pacific Ocean at San Diego is 1780 miles from Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

It’s just 1265 miles to Morehead City, North Carolina. The lack of an ocean in Ames didn’t deter a small group of CVM graduates from pursuing their career goal of working with marine mammals.

A Great Adventure

is decision to become a veterinarian was made early on. Dr. Shawn Johnson’s (’96) decision was also an easy one. Growing up in Colorado, his father had been a high school agriculture teacher. His family raised sheep and horses on their small family ranch. “I was exposed to animal science early on in my life,” Johnson said. But his ultimate career route was shaped not by life on the farm but from his summer vacations. “My parents were originally from California, and we always spent summers and holidays there,” Johnson said. “That’s where I really became interested in the ocean and the animals who live there.” That interest became more of a passion while working on his DVM at Iowa State with Johnson going all in. Today he is an expert in marine mammal medicine and anesthesia with over two decades of experience. His career has taken him from Iowa State to working with marine mammals in the field around the globe. He has worked for the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, the National Marine Mammal Foundation, Alaska SeaLife Center, and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. For eight years he led the world’s largest marine mammal teaching and rehabilitation hospital at The Marine Mammal Center. There he directed a large team of veterinary and scientific professionals in animal care, research and rescue of marine mammals.

These days, Johnson is the chief operating officer and director of innovative medicine at Sea Change Health, a company he started with his wife, Dr. Claire Simeone, also a veterinarian with expertise in marine mammal health and conservation. “My passion is developing innovative treatments and techniques for marine mammal patients,” he said. Johnson has nothing but praise for the education he received while at Iowa State. “While at Iowa State I focused on getting a strong, basic education,” he said. “Dolphins are basically the cows of the sea.” Despite being enrolled at a veterinary school in the middle of the nation’s heartland, Johnson said he wasn’t discouraged from pursuing his dream of becoming a marine mammal veterinarian. “No one told me this was a bad idea,” he said, “although I was the oddball at Iowa State. My professors were not only intrigued by my career goals, they were also very supportive of what I wanted to do.”

Submitted Photos

And even though he was constantly pushing to learn more, taking a six-week preceptorship in Alaska, volunteering at aquariums and rehab centers, and serving as one of the first students in the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Johnson’s chosen career path is not one easy to break into. “There are very few routes to get in this field,” he said. “I did relief work in California after I graduated and stayed in contact with people I had met in the profession.” After working as an oil spill veterinarian for two years and then Fall 2023 | Vol. 37 No. 1

Photo: White Oak Conservation

Dr. Justin Rosenberg (’13) When the Turtle Survival Alliance, an international organization, put out a call for help to save 10,000 radiated tortoises seized by authorities from an abandoned house in Madagascar, Justin Rosenberg answered the call. The endangered animals had been poached from a protected area by humans looking to make a profit by selling them for food and medicine or in the illegal pet trade. “I oversaw the rehabilitation of the tortoises at the original facility where the endangered animals were brought,” Rosenberg said. This is just one of the many conservation projects Rosenberg, now an associate veterinarian at the Pittsburg Zoo and Aquarium, has been a part of over the years.

What If

hen he looks back on his career, Dr. Craig Harms must wonder, “what if?”

“What if” he wouldn’t have taken a gap year after graduating from Harvard. Back then he was waffling between a career as a marine biologist or a wildlife biologist. “What if” Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine didn’t admit him after that gap year. “I didn’t think I was going to get in my first year,” Harms said. “Iowa State took a chance on me because I hadn’t taken an animal nutrition course.” “What if” after graduating from Iowa State (’89), he wouldn’t have been selected for an internship in zoo, exotic and wildlife medicine at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “I spent two years in Alaska in private practice after graduation and thought ‘I could live here,’” he said. “If I wouldn’t

Regardless of where he has worked, Johnson has been driven to solve the mysteries of the seas.

Dr. Shawn Johnson. Submitted Photo

A Great Adventure continued…

at the Alaska Sealife Center, Johnson’s career took off when he joined the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program as a civilian contractor. There he served as a clinical veterinarian caring for the Navy’s marine mammals.

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“There is so much we don’t understand about marine mammals,” he said. “I’m always trying to find ways to innovate, apply different technologies, develop novel treatments. “I like to solve mysteries.” Which is exactly what Johnson is doing at Sea Change Health, an organization dedicated to safeguarding ocean health, and all who rely on it. The organization has taken Johnson around the world including a recent

have gotten that internship, I would probably be living in Alaska now.” “What if” he wouldn’t have transitioned from a residency in zoology medicine at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine into a PhD program at that same school. “When I finished my PhD, CMAST was looking for bodies to fill the offices and I’ve stayed here ever since,” Harms said. There are no more “what ” in Craig Harms’ life. He has remained at North Carolina State’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he directs the Marine Health Program at CMAST (Center for Marine Sciences and Technology). There he conducts clinically applied research on health and diseases of aquatic and nondomestic species. Some of his recent research has included identification of novel and emerging animal pathogens

stint with Weddell seals in Antarctica and sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. He and his family currently live in Valencia, Spain, and is a scientific collaborator with Oceanografic, the largest aquarium in Europe. There Johnson is helping the Oceanografic’s veterinarians with marine mammal anesthesiology and developing a post graduate program to train future veterinarians in aquatic animal medicine. “Like the rest of my career, it’s been a great adventure,” Johnson said. “I’m fascinated by the mystery of the ocean and what marine mammals do in the water.” gd

Dr. Craig Harms Photo: Dave Gieseke

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ca studying hawksbill sea turtle hearing as part of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management project. There he sedated the turtles for in-water hearing testing.

“All these ‘jobs’ have cross over contributions for my research projects,” Harms said. “I collaborate with a lot of different researchers.”

One article is titled “Craig Harms: Saving Lives, One Sea Turtle at a Time.” Another highlights his work investigating turtles’ sound threshold. Yet another one chronicles his work caring for cold-stunned sea turtles.

One of Harms’ most significant research projects is the sea turtle hearing project. Sea turtles do most of their hearing in water and have ears that are not externally visible. “We do the testing in water, which is more difficult than testing them in air, but they spend way more time in water than on land,” Harms said. He spent most of last March and April in the island nation of Domini-

“That was a tall order,” Harms said, “but it is challenges like this that really stimulate me.” The Dominica study is just one of the many projects that takes Harms around the world. Google “Craig Harms DVM” and you come up with countless stories of Harms and his aquatic adventures.

Just this past summer he spent a month in Norway as part of a team conducting research on minke whales. And Harms is one of the few veterinarians in this country who focus on marine mammal medicine.

“There’s just a couple hundred of us,” he said. “But it’s the quality of our care that matters, not the quantity providing that care. “Working with aquatic animals doesn’t need to be harder than practicing on dogs and cats. The same basic veterinary principles apply. We use the same tools.” gd

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meeting unique anesthetic challenges for in-water sensory biology research; assessing and mitigating physiologic impact of capture techniques for wildlife research; welfare concerns for stranded large whales; and pharmacokinetics in nondomestic species. Harms also provides veterinary services and support throughout North Carolina and the Atlantic Coast including at the North Carolina Aquariums, the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, marine mammal and sea turtle stranding networks, and marine laboratories.

Dr. Heather Bjornebo (’07) Long before she was a veterinarian, Heather Bjornebo was interested in wildlife. Back in 1998, she founded Caudata Culture, an informational, science-based website about the captive care of newts and salamanders. In addition to practicing exotic pet medicine in Arizona, Bjornebo is a certified aquatic veterinarian and has served as a consulting veterinarian for the Arizona Sea Life Aquarium.

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Dr. Pete Schroeder (’66) Throughout his 50-year career of studying marine mammals, Pete Schroeder applied his learning to improve the lives of these animals, through direct veterinary care, advocacy, and education. He worked as a veterinarian for the U.S. Navy, as the lead veterinarian for the 2003 rehabilitation of Springer the orca calf – the only successful capture, translocation and reintroduction of an orca calf ever achieved – and worked as a consultant and contributor to NOAA Fisheries’ Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Plan. His laboratory at the Naval Ocean Systems Center in Hawaii was the site of his research programs that looked at marine mammal reproductive physiology and stress physiology. When he received the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award in 2016, Schroeder’s nominator wrote, “What Pete does, makes a difference. He is passionate about conservation and gives his time, effort, knowledge, support, and enthusiasm to this cause.”

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Following Their Dreams

ow did a pair of Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine graduates wind up working together in the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program in San Diego? It sure wasn’t a straight path. For Dr. Eric Jensen (’90), his journey to becoming a marine mammal veterinarian began at age 6 or 7. “My dad took me to a mall parking lot where a group had set up a pool and were charging admission to see a dolphin,” Jensen recalls. “When I looked in, the dolphin was just floating, and I thought ‘someone needs to take care of that animal.’ “Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about that dolphin. I kept going back and thinking, who was taking care of those animals?”

Dr. Abby McClain (’16) started her journey to the U.S. Navy’s Marine Mammal Program just as young. “I’ve always had a love affair with the ocean,” she says. “Instead of boy band posters growing up, I had surfing posters.” When McClain and her family traveled to San Diego to go to Sea World, the experience exposed the landlocked Iowa girl to the sea. “I just fell in love with it, and I wanted to combine medicine and the ocean. Today I have the opportunity to take care of the most magnificent animals in the world.” Both Jensen and McClain learned early on it would take more than just a desire and a veterinary education to work with marine mammals. And even though they attended veterinary

While Sea World played an important role in McClain’s career, it was another theme park that Jensen relied on to get experience. He had a friend who was working at Disney’s EPCOT in the Living Seas exhibit who encouraged him to go to Florida. A college internship at the University of Hawaii’s Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory was the beginning for Jensen. After that it was a summer job at Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, MS, and a preceptorship at a small animal/exotic practice in Central Florida that eventually led to a job opportunity back at that Mississippi theme park. McClain took a mixed animal track during her fourth year in order to learn as many species as possible. At the time, it also provided her with several rotations outside the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center.

“That was the hardest year not doing what I wanted to do as a veterinarian,” she said. “I had a few setbacks, but I continued and would volunteer to take all of the exotic animals that came through the emergency room. “I never gave up on my dream.” That’s important Jensen says for other veterinarians who wish to work with marine mammals. He readily admits there are few opportunities in this field. “I never had a Plan B to fall back on,” he said. “You have to have a lot of patience and perseverance to find a career in marine mammal medicine.” While in Mississippi, Jensen worked with dolphins and sea lions at zoos and amusement parks across the country. After three years he moved to Orlando, FL, and was employed at a small animal and exotic clinic that also consulted for Disney, Universal Studios, and a marine mammal facility in the Florida Keys.

She took immediate advantage. “I really worked hard to build my resume,” she said. “I did two aquatic preceptorships, along with a shelter medicine and zoo rotation. I just wanted to get my foot in the door and be as competitive as possible if the door wasn’t open for me. I used every bit of spare time I had in my fourth year to get more experience.”

While he enjoyed the work, he knew his ultimate goal was to work with the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program and Dr. Sam Ridgway, the “Dolphin Doctor.”

Dr. Joe Flanagan (’82) As the chief veterinarian for the Houston Zoo, Joe Flanagan is responsible for the healthcare of 6,000 animals ranging from invertebrates to great apes. He is also active outside his job, providing medical care to the National Marine Fisheries Sea Turtle barn in Galveston, advising the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station, and extensive work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. During the long-term Giant Tortoise Restoration Initiative, Flanagan helped restore giant tortoises in Galapagos to their original populations and densities. “While my main job concerned tortoise health and prophylactic treatments for potential disease organisms, I also joined the team that searched a patch of Wolf Volcano’s lower slopes for tortoises, going ashore each morning,” Flanagan said.

“I wrote a few research proposals for the Navy, and I was lucky to get a call from Dr. Ridgway asking me to be a contract veterinarian,” Jensen said.

But a marine mammal job after graduation wasn’t forthcoming and McClain did a small animal rotating internship at a Boston veterinary hospital, Angell Animal Medical Center.

The only problem was the offer was for 30 days only with a possibility of renewal. Jensen took a chance, pulled up stakes in Orlando and headed to San Diego.

“I wanted to get as much experience as possible,” she said. “The internship made me a better veterinarian.”

“I worked on 30-day contracts for the next 12 months,” he recalled, “before I transitioned to working full time for a Navy contractor and eventually becoming a civil servant.

It wasn’t easy though.

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school decades apart, both said their dreams were encouraged by their Iowa State instructors.

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Dr. Abby McClain, left. Submitted Photo

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“In this line of work, you do what you have to do,” Jensen continued. “I was young enough, had no family. It was just me and my dog. I thought if I came out here and poured my heart into the job, they wouldn’t kick me out.”

Dr. Bruce Heath (’62) After retiring from the faculty at Colorado State University, Bruce Heath had a second career in anesthesia for marine mammals, a job that took him around the world. “Dr. Terry Spraker was a student of mine, doing a lot of sea lion and fur seal work early on,” Heath said. “He came to me to help him figure out how to anesthetize these marine mammals for longer periods of time as they placed radio transmitters.” Heath developed one of the first portable, backpack anesthesia machines that he initially field tested in Alaska. Those trackers transmitted invaluable data to federal and state agencies about the location of the animals and the depth and temperature of the water.

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Eventually McClain also made it out to San Diego and was doing a fellowship at the National Marine Mammal Foundation and Navy Marine Mammal Program. She met Jensen but didn’t realize he was a fellow Iowa State veterinary graduate. Today, the two work together, Jensen as a civil servant, McClain as a civilian contractor for the Navy at the Navy Marine Mammal Program. It’s a job both love. The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program has a long history of teaming with marine mammals – principally bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, dating back to the late 1950s. It trains and works alongside more than 120 animals to perform tasks such as ship and harbor protection, mine detection and clearance, and equipment recovery. The animals, located in San Diego, Washington, and Georgia, are cared by Jensen, McClain and their

fellow veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal trainers, and supporting staff. “We provide the highest quality of care to the animals as called out for in a Secretary of Navy instruction,” Jensen said. For years, Jensen helped provide the day-to-day care of the animals as the program’s managing veterinarian. Today he is the program’s Senior Scientist for Animal Care. McClain has stepped into some of his former role working daily with the animals. “I do miss working with other species, but it is nice to get to know two species inside and out like I do these,” McClain said. “I always get chills when I talk about being a veterinarian, especially when I discuss being an advocate for our animals. I feel a responsibility because they rely on us to advocate for them and be their voice.” “I’ve had the opportunity to work here since 1994,” Jensen said. “I have a long relationship with many of these animals. I’ve been blessed to see the care of all of our animals continue to get better every year.” gd

’16

Sara Bell was among an international group of veterinarians and technicians who traveled to South Africa to help protect rhinos from poaching through a unique method – removing their horns. Loop Abroad organized the mission, which facilitated the dehorning of 50 white rhino and 10 critically endangered black rhinos in an attempt to spare them from the imminent threat of poaching. “This mission was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Bell said. “It was an honor to work alongside dedicated veterinarians and technicians to protect critically endangered black and white rhinos. We all have a responsibility to conserve for future generations and I feel blessed to have been able to help in this impactful way.”

A Good Story to Tell

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#GentleDoctorsEverywhere

Blaine Johnson

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Most of the clients walking through the doors at the Midland Prairie Veterinary Services are bringing their dog or cat to be seen. It’s a familiar tale for Meredith Johns, one of the owners of the veterinary clinic which has offices in Colfax and Maxwell, Iowa. It was the same story at the mixed animal practices she worked at in Moberly, Mo., and in her hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa. While she enjoys working with companion animals, Johns has a special interest in large animals. “One of the reasons why I came to Midland Prairie was because I wanted to get back in a mixed animal practice,” Johns said. “I’ve always liked working with people in the agriculture industry. It’s the variety of a mixed animal practice that excites Johns professionally. “It’s like it’s an adventure every day, it’s always something different,” she said. “Years later I am still learning and something almost always surprises me. I just like to have a good story to tell at the end of the day.”

Community-Driven Approach

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Meredith Johns

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Sara Bell

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Blaine Johnson’s fascination with animal health started as a child when he encountered his local veterinarian on his family’s farm. As time went on, he realized just how instrumental veterinarians are to farmers and ranchers within an agricultural community. This motivated him to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, ultimately leading him to join the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. “I am very passionate about animal agriculture, particularly feedlot production, and I am looking forward to working with veterinarians and producers,” Johnson said.

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Jim McMillan

After 17 years as a member of the Pottawattamie County Board of Health, Barbara Lee decided it was time to step away when her current term ended. Lee joined the City of Council Bluffs Board of Health in 2006 just a couple of years after opening Valley View Veterinary Clinic with her husband Jody Strohbehn (’79). And she was the only board member who remained on the board after the public health department was moved under the purview of the county in 2016. When it came time to replace her on the board, the county’s Board of Supervisors didn’t have to look far to find a replacement, selecting Lee’s daughter Amber Strohbehn, a Kansas State DVM graduate, to fill the long-held family “job.” “I’ve always been proud of Amber for whatever she’s done and I’m happy she’s going to continue the community service the Strohbehns have done all these years,” Lee said. Dr. Barbara Lee, right, with her daughter Dr. Amber Strohbehn

Nebraska VDL Head

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Dustin Loy

All in the Family

Dustin Loy has been selected as the next director of the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Loy is currently a professor, veterinary diagnostic microbiologist and faculty supervisor for the bacteriology and molecular diagnostic laboratories in the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center. Prior to joining UNL, he worked at a biotech startup developing RNA-based vaccines for animals. “Dr. Loy is an outstanding researcher and instructor, who has made many important contributions to UNL and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” said Dr. Scott McVey, director of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UNL. “I believe he will be a strong leader for the Nebraska Veterinary Diagnostic Center, and I’m excited to see him in this new role.”

Master Pork Partner Jim McMillan’s first job was at a cow-calf practice in southwest Iowa. But he wanted to diversity and particularly missed treating pigs. This desire eventually led him to the Winthrop Veterinary Clinic where McMillan remains to this day. Being on farms daily gives him a front-row seat promoting animal welfare and food safety while helping producers succeed and achieve their goals. That hard work led McMillan to be named a 2022 Master Pork Partner by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

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Barbara Lee

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Follow ISU CVM Alumni Career Accomplishments

’69

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Merlin Van Zee

Dick Moeller puts service above self in all he does. The retired Waverly veterinarian is a humanitarian who has made a difference in his community with his professional skills and his talents as a trumpet player in the orchestra of Shell Rock’s Spring Swing Show, at the Waverly Community Band and the New Horizons Band. He is also a pillar in the Waverly Rotary Club where his contributions and presence have made a substantive difference in the local group. Long before he became a Rotarian in 1990, Moeller was already practicing the organization’s motto, “Service Above Self.” So it came as no surprise to his peers, during the Rotary District Conference at Wartburg College, Moeller was honored with the Service Above Self Award.

Looking Back In any occupation, a steadfast passion for the work involved is essential for longstanding success. This is the formula that has carried Anna Ouverson through a veterinary career that has lasted almost 50 years. “I love my job,” she said. “I’ve never had to work a day in my life.” Last December, Ouverson retired from the Lake Veterinary Clinic in South Dakota, where she served as the small animal doctor alongside her husband Richard (’69) and son Bill (’97), who took over her duties following her exit.

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Anna Ouverson

Service Above Self

Honoring His Memory

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Dick Moeller

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View full stories at vetmed.iastate.edu/gentledoctorseverywhere

Many people in the Burlington community were saddened and shocked when they learned of Merlin Van Zee’s passing. A veterinarian and co-owner of Summer Street Animal Clinic, Van Zee treated an untold number of pets and helped countless families over the span of three decades. But on March 2, Van Zee passed away in Pella, Iowa, at the age of 45 after losing his battle with depression and mental illness. He left behind Magon, his wife of 15 years; his three children, Ty, Meadow, and Amos; his parents Arvan and Betty; and many other family members and friends that he made over the years. In the months since his passing, Van Zee’s loved ones are still working to honor his memory, as well as educate and help others who find themselves going through the same struggles that Van Zee fought over the years.

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alumninews Alumni Award Recipients Announced The College of Veterinary Medicine will present five individuals with its alumni awards during the fall 2023 Homecoming celebration. Recipients include:

Mark Your Calendars for these Upcoming 2024 Alumni Reunions Saturday, January 13 Veterinary Medical Expo (VMX) The Pub Orlando, Florida 7-9 pm Monday, February 19 Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) Hussong’s Cantina Las Vegas, Nevada 7:30-9:30 pm

Alumni E-Newsletter Can’t wait until the next Gentle Doctor magazine hits your mailbox for news about the College of Veterinary Medicine? Then check out the College’s monthly alumni e-newsletter. CVM Alumni News features news and updates from the College including alumni events, features on CVM alumni and notices of recent deaths. If you don’t currently receive the CVM Alumni News please send your e-mail address to dgieseke@iastate.edu.

Stange Award Dr. Karen Becker (’97) is the world’s most followed veterinarian on social media and the co-author of The New York Times bestseller The Forever Dog, the first dog health book ever to hit number one. Dr. Bryan Buss (’89), CDC Career Epidemiology Field Officer in Omaha, Neb. after serving as Nebraska’s State Veterinarian where he managed the statewide public health responses and enhanced Nebraska’s public health infrastructure and capacity. William P. Switzer Award Dr. Adam Christman (’04) serves as the chief veterinary officer for Fetch Conferences and ACVC Conference. Christman has also created Strategic Alliance Partnership, a network for veterinary professionals and organizations to share ideas, thought leaders and education for the profession. Lorriane J. Hoffman Graduate Alumni Award Dr. Larry Sadler (PhD ’13, biomedical science) is vice president of animal welfare for United Egg Producers, an organization representing more than 90% of the eggs produced in the U.S. He works to collaboratively address legislative, regulatory and advocacy issues impacting the poultry industry. Outstanding Young Alumni Award Dr. Cara Haden (’14), associate veterinarian at Pipestone Veterinary Services in Independence, Iowa, where she educates people on misconceptions of the swine industry through social media posts.

IN MEMORIAM Notices of recent deaths are available online at vetmed.iastate.edu/ alumni-giving/alumni/memoriam. If you know of a recently deceased CVM alumnus, faculty or staff member please send the notice to dgieseke@iastate.edu.

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ALUMNI UPDATES • Dr. Gary Althouse (‘94), professor of reproduction and swine health at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Swine Academic of the Year award from the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. • Dr. Eric Burrough (’97), professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, has been named the recipient of Iowa State’s Outstanding Achievement in Extension or Professional Practice Award. • Dr. Hans Coetzee (PhD ’05), university distinguished professor and head of anatomy and physiology department at Kansas State University, has been named a recipient of the Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award.

• Dr. Jennifer Schleining (’01), clinical professor and large animal surgeon, has been selected to head the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. • Dr. Randy Wheeler (’77), executive director of the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association, was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by the Veterinary Medical Association Executives (VMAE) at their meeting in Denver in July. Wheeler has served on VMAE committees, the Board of Directors and as an officer over the last 10 years.

• Dr. John Greving (‘13) has been awarded the 2022 Beef Quality Assurance Cow-Calf Award at the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit. • Dr. Marthina “Marty” Greer (‘81) is the recipient of the second annual Veterinarian of the Year Award from the Westminster Kennel Club in partnership with Trupanion. Greer and her husband, Dr. Daniel Griffiths (‘81), own three practices in Lomira, Wis., and she has a special interest in pediatrics and reproduction. She is the author of numerous books and serves on various veterinary committees and dog clubs. • Dr. Kenneth Harkin (’89), the Steve and Colleen Hodes Professor of Veterinary Medicine and board-certified small animal internist in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teaching Award. This is the fifth time Harkin has received this award, having been the recipient in 2001, 2008, 2013, 2017, and now in 2023. The Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teaching Award is presented annually at each of the U.S. veterinary colleges to an outstanding teacher who advances the veterinary profession by inspiring students to their highest levels of achievement and professionalism. • Dr. Charles “Chuck” Lemme (‘75) was elected Board Chair for 2023-24 AVMA Board of Directors. Lemme has served on the AVMA Board of Directors since 2018 and operated a small animal practice in Cedar Rapids until his retirement in 2018. • Dr. Fabian Kausche (MS ’89), owner of FK Consulting, LLC, is the 2023 recipient of the Iron Paw Award from the Animal Health Corridor given to an individual from research, academic, industry, or government who has provided a significant impact on or contribution to the global animal health industry.

Photo: Dave Gieseke

Fall Alumni Reunions The scheduled reunions and class contacts include: • Class of 1958: Sept. 22 in West Des Moines, Dr. Roger Hogle • Class of 1964: Sept. 12-13, Dr. Nolan Hartwig • Class of 1968: Sept. 22-23, Dr. Marv Johnson • Class of 1970: Sept. 28-29 in Okoboji, Dr. Mark Schulz • Class of 1973: Oct. 6-7, Dr. Arlen Wonderlich • Class of 1975: Sept. 29-30, Dr. Wendell Davis • Class of 1976: Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Dr. Jim Illg • Class of 1982: Sept. 23-24, Dr. Diane Noll • Class of 1983: Nov. 11, Dr. Mary Bishop • Class of 1993: Oct. 20-22 in Dubuque, Dr. Jeff Husa • Class of 1998: Sept. 22-25, Dr. Stephanie White • Class of 2003: Nov. 3-4, Dr. Stephanie Cotton

All reunions will be held in Ames unless noted. For more information on the CVM alumni reunions contact Tracy Ann Raef at traef@iastate.edu.

Fall 2023 | Vol. 37 No. 1

foundationnews

New Funds to Support Research, House Officers

Dr. Chris Siepker, clinical assistant professor in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, recipient of Schwartz Clinical Faculty Fellowship Photo: Dave Gieseke

When she was named the first recipient of the Dr. Tom Juergens Equine Reproduction Excellence Fund, Dr. Theresa Beachler, assistant professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, knew exactly how she would utilize the funds.

Like the Juergens Fund, the Schwartz Clinical Faculty Fellowship was established by an Iowa State veterinary alumnus. Dr. Kent Schwartz (’78) was a long-time faculty member in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory before recently retiring.

The same was true for Dr. Chris Siepker, clinical assistant professor in the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, after he was awarded the Schwartz Clinical Faculty Fellowship.

The fellowship will allow term clinical faculty within the VDL to pursue new ideas, creative projects and research that allow them to develop professionally and provide services valued by the VDL’s stakeholders.

Beachler wanted to support the house officers in her department and has directed funding to Dr. Giuliana Maria Gianino, a second year theriogenology resident. “I wanted to support Giuliana’s graduate school education and research,” Beachler said. “For me it’s a good investment that puts the donation to good use.”

Dr. Giuliana Maria Gianino, second year theriogenology resident, has received funding from the Dr. Tom Juergens Equine Reproduction Excellence Fund Photo: Mary Breuer

Dr. Tom Juergens (’75) established the fund to provide, among other things, general support for theriogenology efforts with a preference for work advancing knowledge, clinical best practices, and instruction related to equine theriogenology. In the future, Beachler hopes the Juergens Fund can be used to improve the department’s theriogenology equipment, thus expanding equine services for the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center’s clients.

Siepker plans to use funding from the Schwartz Fellowship to research challenging respiratory diseases of cattle, like atypical interstitial pneumonia (AIP). There is no known cure for the disease. “Even though this affects a small percentage of a herd, AIP has been affecting feed lot producers for decades,” Siepker said. “Hopefully others will benefit from this research.” While at Iowa State, Schwartz was known for pursuing issues that would answer his clients’ questions. Siepker plans to follow in those footsteps. “All of us here in the VDL have this mindset,” he said. “Obviously we can’t pursue everything you see when looking through a microscope, but then again, I go into every day with the thought that any slide I see could be the next big thing. “Maybe this is the next big thing.”

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Changes in the CVM Development Team Trent Wellman, senior director of development and a member of the College of Veterinary Medicine fundraising team since 2013, has been named the new lead of the development team. In his role, Wellman works personally with alumni, clients, and friends whose gifts transform the lives of students across the college. The Iowa native is a 2006 Iowa State graduate.

Wellman

Mather

In addition, Angeline Mather has also joined the CVM fundraising team. The senior director of development has worked at the ISU Foundation since 2017 and has been a member of the fundraising units in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. Other members of the CVM fundraising team are Rachael Rail, associate director of development, and Jade Link, development coordinator.

Donations Top $13 Million The College of Veterinary Medicine raised $13,784,411 in cash and deferred gifts in the recently completed fiscal year. The total exceeded this past year’s goal of $12 million. Students remain the primary beneficiaries through endowments and expendable funds for scholarships and programming. Other priorities, including the new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, received fundraising support last year. “Every dollar makes a difference,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, the Dr. Stephen G. Juelsgaard Dean of Veterinary Medicine. “On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I would like to thank all of our generous contributors for creating futures in education, research and patient care.”

REMEMBERING An electronic kiosk highlighting the Companion Animal Fund has been located in the lobby of the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital. A registry of donations to the fund are chronicled in the new kiosk, which was made possible through a special gift donated by compassionate clients Stan and Amber Sherman. The Shermans made the donation on behalf of their own precious pet, Mr. Cleo – a sweet Maltese who was cared for by the Emergency and Critical Care team in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital. Photo: Dave Gieseke

Winter 2023 | Vol. 36 No. 2

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