Oath
The Special Equine Edition | Winter 2018
TEACH • HEAL • DISCOVER
Committed to Equine Health page 1
Economic Impact page 3
History of Innovation page 10
Advancing Care page 13
Extraordinary Support page 19 Photo by Scoop Dyga/Icon Sport via Getty Images
For CVM Students, A Once in a Lifetime Experience page 5
FROM THE DEAN
Committed to Equine Health The equine industry in North Carolina is a strong and growing contributor to the economic impact of animal agriculture. At a time of challenge and change in our rural communities, we need state leaders to recognize that our equine industry represents both a major economic impact within the state, and a major opportunity for the future. If we are going to support animal agriculture in North Carolina, we need to work together to provide the resources to support the equine industry as a part of that initiative.
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The equine industry in North Carolina plays a key role in modern agriculture and contemporary economic development. Throughout North Carolina, equine enthusiasts are working hard to protect and preserve their strong traditions and cultural heritage by building economic and community development strategies around the horse economy. Major new investments in equine programs in western North Carolina at Tryon and in the east in Williamston are driving job growth and prosperity in Polk, Rutherford and Martin counties. Demonstrating the American public's enduring relationship with the horse. North Carolina ranks as one of the top 10 states with a horse population of over 205,000. An economic impact study conducted in 2017(1) demonstrates that the equine industry has a $2 billion direct and added-value contribution to the
We need a strong partnership between North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Horse Council and state legislators to support equine economic development throughout the state. We must work together to address important challenges including the need for new educational facilities and programs, the impact of urbanization on rural communities and equine access. The opportunities for economic development and prosperity throughout the state are huge. At a time when other animal agriculture sectors face challenges, the equine industry offers an opportunity for growth and prosperity, and to reconnect the public with animal agriculture in a positive relationship which could be beneficial for all. Among the most important and impactful initiatives is the need for development of educational programs for future equine industry entrepreneurs. Equine health care and research are among the most important resources for the industry. We are already completing construction of a new $3 million equine reproduction clinic at Reedy Creek, where students from both the veterinary and the equine science program will get a chance to learn the skills they need to succeed.
HORSE OWNERSHIP, EQUINE INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH TOURISM HAVE A $3.44 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT IN NORTH CAROLINA state’s economy and supports over 36,000 jobs. Approximately 559,000 acres of land in the state is used for horse-related purposes. There are horse enthusiasts in over 30 percent of households in the state. When direct and valued-added impacts are combined with indirect impacts, such as tourism spending by participants and spectators, the total economic impact of the equine industry in North Carolina is $3.44 billion. These statistics clearly demonstrate that the equine industry is a major component of animal agriculture in the state, comparing favorably to any of the other sectors.
The equine industry in North Carolina supports over 36,000 jobs.
This is just the first phase of what we need to support a world class equine program. It is time to build a new equine teaching hospital at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine to support the equine industry and train future veterinarians and research scientists. This $45 million project is gathering funding momentum and needs support from state legislators and the industry to begin construction. Developing strong policy and resources is critical to the success of a growing equine industry in North Carolina. The construction of the equine hospital will educate youth and future industry leaders and continue to strengthen this important sector of the agricultural landscape in North Carolina.
~ Paul Lunn, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, NC State ~ Sue Gray, Executive Director, North Carolina State Horse Council
(1- American Horse Council Foundation (2017). North Carolina Economic Impact Study.)
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ECONOMIC IMPACT
The Equine Industry in North Carolina by the Numbers In a recent study provided by the American Horse Council Foundation, the North Carolina horse industry directly contributes over $1.1 billion to the state's economy, along with more than 25,000 jobs. From those direct effects, the horse industry's contribution ripples out into other sectors of the economy. This ripple effect results in an estimated $2 billion to the N.C. economy.
559,000 acres of land in North Carolina is used for horse-related purposes.
A study of five key equine expense sectors in 2017.
The Racing Sector
26,000 Number of North Carolina residents volunteering their time for horserelated activities.
Copyright 2018. North Carolina Horse Council.
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Horse ownership, equine institutions, tourism and other organizations are responsible for $3.44 billion in economic impact in North Carolina
1.2M
estimated North Carolina households that contain horse enthusiasts.
$2 Billion in combined impact
to North Carolina
The Competition Sector
The Recreation Sector
Equine Therapy
Equine Rescues & Sanctuaries
205,000 horses in North Carolina, one of the top 10 states in terms of horse poplulation.
The economic impact is equivalent to supporting 36,180 jobs in the horse industry. 4
EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE
For CVM Students, A Once in a Lifetime Experience Over in the southwest corner of the state, near the North Carolina/South Carolina border, the world’s equine athletic community gathered in September for its quadrennial World Equestrian Games (WEG), as unlikely and unexpected a setting for an international competition as you could imagine.
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More than 500 of the 727 competing horses from 68 different countries flew into the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport on chartered planes. All made their way to the Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC) for their required 42-hour quarantine in preparation for the 13-day competition. Almost as soon as they were settled into stalls overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hurricane Florence rumbled right over the stables, dumping rain and creating chaos with the packed schedule of eight disciplines of equestrian events for the 723 participating athletes. Not all was perfect, nor was it expected to be. The foothills area around Tryon, home to U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1940s and ‘50s, has long been a big part of North Carolina’s $2 billion equine industry. TIEC, built on top of a bankrupt golf course and opened in 2015, is still in its infancy. It had hoped to host an event on the scale of the World Equestrian Games sometime in the future.
“Our primary job was to help get these horses safely into the country and then get them out again without contracting any infectious diseases. And that was accomplished.” ~ Dean D. Paul Lunn, NC State CVM However, less than two years ago, the original host of the 2018 games (Bromont, Quebec Canada) withdrew because of a lack of funding. TIEC, the centerpiece of the 1,600-acre Tryon International Resort, offered to host in its place, creating multiple opportunities in the state, from travel and tourism to building infrastructure for a rural part of the state to showing the state’s capacity for hosting a worldwide sporting event, as it has done multiple times for golf, auto racing, professional football and NCAA athletics. Not all went as planned. But for select NC State College of Veterinary Medicine students and faculty, it was an unprecedented opportunity to provide large-animal care and oversight at the largest sporting event to be held in the U.S. this year and one of the five largest international events.
A competitor jumps a gate during the FEI World Equestrian Games at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images)
“For what we went to do, it went really well in terms of managing the veterinary issues around the games,” says CVM Dean D. Paul Lunn. “We were there to support and be part of the veterinary services team. They confronted several big challenges, but our primary job was to help get these horses 6
safely into the country and then get them out again without contracting any infectious diseases. “And that was accomplished.”
Redeveloping a Rural Area The Tryon International Resort, official host of the games, is nestled in North Carolina’s unique isothermal belt, named for the foothills-related temperature inversion that creates longer and milder growing seasons for cool weather agricultural products like apples and grapes. Mostly in Polk County — which had exactly one hotel before the WEG was awarded to the area — it’s not far from the state border, where dueling roadside fruit stands offer early-season apples and discount cigarettes on one side and late-summer peaches and discount fireworks on the other. It’s an area of gently rolling hills, like those of a kiddie roller coaster, green in the undulating fields, blue and smoky in the shadow of the Blue Ridge mountains. Not far from the tourist destination of Lake Lure, Tryon is surrounded by the old weave-and-spin foothills towns that have never fully recovered from the loss of textile manufacturing that sustained them for decades. A worldwide equestrian facility certainly offers much more economic growth capacity than the annual Dirty Dancing Festival less than 10 miles away. The WEG promised to be a godsend, with estimates of up to 500,000 spectators, $200 million in economic impact and $100 million in real estate sales. For various reasons, from unexpected weather to unfinished infrastructure, those numbers did not fully materialize. From an equine biosecurity standpoint, however, the games went well in the eyes of Lunn, who was part of the team responsible for developing guidelines that helped keep both international and domestic horses healthy, a particular challenge for one of the largest competitions of its kind, which mixes animals from all over the world, all with different backgrounds.
An Important CVM Experience CVM faculty Nimet Browne and Myra Durham were among the 70 veterinarians from around the world who were charged with taking care of the equine participants as veterinary services providers. It’s what they always do, caring for large animals, but with years’ worth of treatment compressed into a little less 7
than three weeks. “We worked as treating vets, taking care of the horses in the barns or in the vet center,” Browne says. “But if anyone needed us, we went to help them. Taking care of the horses and keeping them safe is our primary responsibility.” That wasn’t exactly easy when Florence circled around the North Carolina coast, fluttered around South Carolina for several days, then lumbered right over the site where horses and riders were housed the first weekend of the event. “Honestly, that was our biggest challenge,” Browne says. “On top of having to manage a competition of this scale, then
THE TEAM WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING GUIDELINES THAT HELPED KEEP BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC HORSES HEALTHY, A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE FOR ONE OF THE LARGEST COMPETITIONS OF ITS KIND, WHICH MIXES ANIMALS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
you throw a hurricane into the mix, logistically for spectators, horses, athletes, for traveling here, it was really challenging. “On our side of things, it's not that we were managing any part of that, it was just making sure that the structures the horses were in remained safe, and we did that.” Zoie Randall, a fourth-year CVM student from Mooresville, N.C., and a former competitive rider, was selected to be a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners student externship staff, along with fellow fourth-year student Kristen Livengood. They spent much of their time at the multiple event venues, keeping an eye on the competing horses and ensuring they were handling the oppressive heat and humidity that followed the hurricane and taking care of onsite issues horses may encounter. Randall’s mother is a 1987 CVM graduate and licensed veterinarian in the Mooresville area, so she was naturally attracted to NC State’s animal science program with the hopes of one day also becoming a vet.
Top photo: FEI World Equestrian Games 2018, September 23 in Tryon, Photo by Jean Philippe Martini/Icon Sport via Getty Images Jumping Left photo: College of Veterinary Medicine volunteers near the track at the World Equestrian Games. From left to right: Zoie Randall, Myra Durham, Nimet Browne, Amber Nebel and Zan Carlson.
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CVM fourth-year student Zan Carlson (left) served as a student steward during the World Equestrian Games event.
She’s accepted an internship following graduation with a Florida equine practice, and spending three weeks at the WEG was an educationally enhancing experience. “This has been a great networking and learning opportunity,” Randall says. “I’ve participated in equestrian events, though nothing on this scale, and you never realize everything that goes into organizing something like this until you see it from behind the scenes with the athletes, the animals, the vets, the physical therapists and the volunteers.”
“The best part for me is just being involved with an event of this scale. I haven’t had a lot of experience with anything like this,” ~ Alexandra Carlson CVM students Alexandra Carlson and Amber Nebel served as student stewards at both competition and practice venues and the on-site barns where horses and riders were throughout WEG. “I really had no idea what to expect when I volunteered,” Carlson says. “The best part for me is just being involved with an event of this scale. I haven’t had a lot of experience with 9
anything like this. “When I was younger, my parents said horses are expensive and riding was dangerous. I decided a long time ago that if I can’t ride horses, then I’ll learn to treat large animals. This has been a huge part of getting there.” Nebel, a former vaulter, attended the 2010 WEG in Lexington, Kentucky, as a spectator, spurring her interest in studying veterinary medicine. “Being able to work here is something I can cross off my bucket list,” Nebel says. “But it’s also the pathway for getting the experience I need to become a full-time vet. My goal has always been to be able to stand out in a field in the middle of the night with a horse, its owner and me and not freak out.” And nothing could be better preparation for that part of the students’ education than an international equestrian competition nestled deep in the western foothills of North Carolina. ~ Tim Peeler/NC State University News
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
NC State Equine: A History of Innovation Photo by Ivan Jekic/Getty Images
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We are the only university in the United States performing research on the use of stem cells for the treatment of orthopedic, gastrointestinal and ophthalmologic injuries and diseases.
The equine health team at NC State is at the forefront of exciting areas in equine research and are passionate about enhancing the equine industry.
NC State is the only University in the Southeast with a team of specialists in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. 11
The ophthalmology service is the first in the world entirely dedicated to saving vision in horses.
We have the most technically advanced endoscope on the East Coast, improving our ability to diagnose equine upper GI diseases.
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COMPASSIONATE CARE
Advancing Equine Care
You’ll see them. Drive into the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine off Blue Ridge Road and a chestnut mare is likely grazing in one of the grassy paddocks to the right. Up ahead, chances are you’ll see another being dropped off in front of the Farm and Equine Veterinary Medical Center and greeted by several veterinarians. Or you’ll hear one. That clip-clop of horseshoes may signify a gelding trotting for the first time after recovering from an orthopedic injury, a mare recovering from colic or a foal who is more than ready to head home. 13
Equine medicine has been a stand-out part of the NC State Veterinary Hospital and the CVM since we opened our doors. Today, as the North Carolina horse industry grows, as specialties become more specialized and technology flashes forward, we don’t keep pace, we set it. And we keep growing. It has been a banner year for the equine service, with the opening of the Reedy Creek Equine Farm, a modern home for reproductive services, as well as the arrival of state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment. NC State is the only university in the United States performing stem cell research for the treatment of orthopedic, gastrointestinal and ophthalmologic injuries and diseases. At the CVM, each individual equine service is a powerhouse. Together, they’re a force. When you come here, you’ll see that, too.
Gastroenterology and Colic NC State is the world leader in research-driven diagnosis and treatment of colic. Our colic specialists, widely recognized experts in equine surgery and gastroenterology, work closely with clients to offer the most personalized care for each and every horse they see. Our equine emergency, open year-round, 24 hours a day, offers immediate care for colic, the leading known cause of death in horses. Horse owners are always advised to call their primary care veterinarians when seeing signs of colic to determine whether a treatment at home or referral to NC State is the best course of action, said Anthony Blikslager, professor of equine surgery and gastroenterology. “We understand than an equine veterinarian may not be available in some parts of North Carolina or during certain times
NC STATE HAS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED TEAM OF DEDICATED GASTROENTEROLOGY RESEARCHERS LEADING ENHANCED CRITICAL CARE TREATMENT FOR HORSES WITH COLIC, THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN HORSES. of the year,” said Blikslager. “We are always here to help, so please let us know when we can serve you no matter the situation. 14
“We can save just about any horse with colic if we get them in time, so please know that time is of the essence and we’ll take care of the rest.” ~ Anthony Blikslager
the field in the study of intestinal stem cells to understand how these cells function in the horse during both health and disease. Her research has focused on advancing technologies that help measure intestinal health and regenerative potential, as well as improve therapeutic testing.
Our excellence in treatment is bolstered by the latest diagnostic procedures, including ultrasound and endoscopy, as well as high-resolution radiography and MRI techniques. Laser surgery started at NC State and we have the most technically advanced endoscope on the East Coast.
“Working with horses suffering from colic and their loving and dedicated owners has been the driving force to improve the medicine we have to offer,” said Gonzalez.
We are innovators in colic research, too. Blikslager, a leading expert in colic treatment, is one of our clinician-scientists. His research aims to control such conditions as inflammatory bowels, gastric ulcers and esophagitis.
NC State is the only regional source of specialized reproductive services in the state. Our two board-certified theriogenologists, supported by residents and a clinical technician, offer expertise in the breeding, diagnosis and management of high-risk pregnancies. Services include embryo transfer, reproductive services for stallions, semen collection/freezing and infertility evaluation.
Intestinal stem cells have been heralded as the greatest potential therapeutic because of their tremendous capacity for proliferation and mucosal repair. Liara Gonzalez, assistant professor of gastroenterology and equine surgery, is leading
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Theriogenology and Neonatology
We are dedicated to the most effective breeding strategies and
NC STATE PIONEERED THE FIRST SIGHT-SAVING CYCLOSPORINE IMPLANT FOR THE TREATMENT OF EQUINE RECURRENT UVEITIS, THE LEADING CAUSE OF BLINDNESS IN HORSES. treatments. Our neonatal specialists are part of a dedicated team approach to prenatal monitoring and postnatal intensive care for high-risk pregnancies. We help horses get pregnant, stay pregnant and deliver a healthy foal. We recently broke ground on our Reedy Creek Equine Farm, right down the road from the CVM. Opening in 2019, it will be our new center for mare and stallion management, offering cutting-edge educational and patient services. Additionally, we have the top group of researchers working on placentitis and high-risk pregnancy research, including Scott Bailey and Sara Lyle, associate professors of theriogenology, and Theresa Beachler, theriogenology graduate research assistant. Placentitis is the leading cause of reproductive loss. We are also on the leading edge of research on biofilm in
the mare’s uterus. NC State was the first to document the prevalence of bacteria that produces biofilm in the reproductive tract. “NC State’s Comparative Medicine and Translational Research Training Program, led by Sam Jones, is a leading program that trains the next generation of clinician-scientists who will continue to make substantial contributions to animal health and welfare,” said Johanna Elfenbein, assistant professor of equine medicine.
Ophthalmology NC State isn’t just the worldwide leader in equine ophthalmology — we started the game. We were the first service entirely dedicated to saving vision in horses. And we’re still known internationally as one of the best. Without clear vision, horses cannot perform at their highest level. We pioneered the first sight-saving cyclosporine implant for the treatment of equine recurrent uveitis, the leading cause of blindness in horses. The implant is one of the most effective long-term treatments for the condition. Among other innovations, we were one of the first university 16
veterinary facilities to adopt the same retinal imaging device used by human pediatric ophthalmic specialists. We also use ophthalmic ultrasound radiography specific to both equine and small animal treatment. Our state-of-the-art phacoemulsification machine used in cataract surgery is what is used in human cataract surgery. “NC State equine ophthalmology not only provides state of the art ophthalmic care,” said Brian Gilger, professor of ophthalmology and ophthalmology service head. “As one of the largest equine ophthalmology practices in the United States, horses travel from all over the world for our care and treatments, including stem cell therapy and advanced surgical techniques." Gilger’s work has led to innovations in many equine ocular conditions.
“Our research laboratories study the most common eye diseases in horses and our work directly impacts how we treat our patients, now and in the future.” ~ Brian Gilger 17
LAMENESS IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF POOR PERFORMANCE IN HORSES. ADVANCED IMAGING AND REGENERATIVE THERAPIES SUCH AS STEM CELLS ARE THE FUTURE OF EQUINE LAMENESS TREATMENT AND WE ARE LEADING THE WAY AT NC STATE. Gilger’s research also focuses on innovative drug delivery and wound healing. Our research and treatment advances also focus on fungal keratitis, another one of the most common causes of vision loss.
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation The future of equine sports medicine is here at NC State. As the only university in the Southeast — and one of just a few in the United States — with a team of specialists in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation, NC State is dedicated to the effective treatment of elite equine athletes, returning them quickly to peak performance. The latest additions to the Tiffany and Randy Ramsey-endowed
sports medicine program are some of the newest rehabilitation equipment available: a cold/hot water spa and an underwater treadmill. Horses with musculoskeletal injuries can go straight into a salt water spa, which quickly alleviates inflammation. Cold therapy decreases swelling and hot therapy stimulates blood flow and helps ease sore muscles.
“We find the specific cause of the lameness, treat it with the best therapies available and design a rehabilitation program specifically for your horse and their discipline to regain and maintain optimal performance." ~ Lauren Schnabel Schnabel’s laboratory is pioneering the effort to enhance the safety and effectiveness of stem cells to improve a horse’s chances of recovery. The lab has also recently developed a unique strategy to cure infected joints in horses, which will prevent arthritis from developing in the joint and save lives.
“Lameness is the leading cause of poor performance in horses,” said Schnabel. “At NC State, we find the specific cause of the lameness, treat it with the best therapies available and design a rehabilitation program specifically for your horse and their discipline to regain and maintain optimal performance. “Your horse deserves the best treatment possible. We are always here to provide that.”
For more information on NC State’s equine veterinary service, go to: go.ncsu.edu/EquineHealth
Photo: Generous support from Tiffany and Randy Ramsey has helped fund advanced treatment capabilities within the CVM's equine sports medicine program.
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SUPPORTING THE FUTURE
Reedy Creek Equine Farm Breaks Ground
CVM Dean Paul Lunn breaks ground with Reedy Creek Equine Farm donors Lynn and Cliff Leath. The next chapter of NC State’s innovative equine medicine program is taking shape at the Reedy Creek Equine Farm. Construction on the facility, minutes away from the College of Veterinary Medicine, continues as we quickly move toward the projected April 2019 opening. Reedy Creek is a bold expansion of the CVM’s worldrenowned equine service. It will be a modern home for equine reproductive services and a shared space for faculty and students from the CVM and the NC State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation President Cliff Leath and his wife, Lynn, are major donors for the farm. In dedication remarks at a May ceremony, CVM Dean Paul Lunn emphasized the educational and service potential of the new equine farm. He noted that Reedy Creek will not only make equine reproductive services more accessible to the Triangle, but will add momentum to the CVM’s effort to update 19
and enlarge its equine services over the next few years. The Reedy Creek Equine Farm, along with the recently established Tiffany and Randy Ramsey Equine Sports Medicine Program, are part of a $37.9-million plan to strengthen and widen NC State’s state-of-the-art equine services. That plan includes a new on-campus equine and farm animal veterinary center. ~Steve Volstad/NC State Veterinary Medicine
SUPPORTING CARE
Pictured: Scott Bailey, associate professor of theriogenology
Horse Farm Owner Honors Extraordinary Care
Annie Eldridge puts her heart and soul into Settlers’ Run, her horse farm in Vass, N.C., and it means a lot to her when others care for her horses as much as she does. So when she found kindred spirits at the NC State Veterinary Hospital, she did something special. Eldridge presented Rich Redding, clinical professor of equine orthopedics and lameness, with a Coat of Excellence, a white lab coat honoring a faculty or staff member who profoundly touches the lives of an animal patient and owner. The coat, part of a $10,000 donation to the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Foundation, is embroidered with the name of the honoree and the animal or client. For Redding, the coat was not the result of a single case, but a track record of exceptional care. “He has helped countless performance horses, both young and old,” Eldridge said. “He has often produced miracles for us. He’s tireless and never gives up.” Because Setters’ Run Farm has both breeding and eventing horse training programs, Redding deals with both the younger horse developmental problems and adult horse competition injuries. He estimates that each year he performs surgery on about six of Eldridge’s horses.
a Coat of Excellence. In 2015, she presented one to associate professor of theriogenology Scott Bailey, who has closely worked with Eldridge in the hospital’s equine reproduction service. Bailey and his team, Eldridge said, has helped her mares produce 15 foals over the past five years. “No case is too difficult for him,” Eldridge said of Bailey. Bailey called Eldridge an amazing horsewoman with a wonderful vision for her mares. "At the beginning of breeding season we sit down and lay out the options,” he said. “She takes the time to do it and is very supportive of us. Along with her primary vet in Southern Pines we have great teamwork.” Eldridge has worked hard to develop her program on Setters’ Run Farm, which is named after her four English setters. Once an event rider herself, Eldridge has had health issues that forced her to retire from competition in 2009. Since then, she has been devoted to her horse farm. Eldridge is grateful to NC State’s equine team for helping her get to where she is today.
“It’s a pleasure to work with an owner like Annie,” Redding said. “This means a lot coming from somebody like her.”
“We are lucky to have such a wonderful institution so close by,” she said. “I will always be a supporter — as all local horsemen should be.”
This is the second time Eldridge has recognized a clinician with
~Steve Volstad/NC State Veterinary Medicine
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EXTRAORDINARY PURPOSE
A Groundbreaking New Medical Education Journal The first-ever medical education journal originating from a veterinary school has been released by the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine Education in the Health Professions, launched Oct. 1 and available for free at ehpjournal.com, is a peer-reviewed compendium of education research spanning the medicine and health fields spectrum. The journal was founded by Kenneth Royal, it’s editor in chief and CVM assistant professor of educational assessment and outcomes. “Just imagine what we could do if we could get educators from all the health professions together to share ideas on a common platform. We could effect change on a massive scale,” said Royal. “The CVM is already a leader in veterinary education. However, I think we can become a leader in all of medical education.” Among the topics in the first issue: a review of active learning versus lecture debates; eight barriers to change that stymie innovation; and an exploration of the prevalence of experimental designs in medical education research (Royal is a co-author on that last one). Research is authored by professors, clinicians and industry leaders, who retain their work’s copyright. Most papers include a discussion of how the research can be applied to a variety of health professions. In a world of medical journals typically populated by dense research, Education in the Health 21
Professions is flexible enough to bend in different ways. “We’re covering topics that most journals aren’t covering and providing perspectives that other journals aren’t providing,” said Royal. An internationally recognized expert in educational assessment and measurement, Royal has authored or co-authored more than 200 academic papers.
“Just imagine what we could do if we could get educators from all the health professions together to share ideas on a common platform. We could effect change on a massive scale.” ~ Ken Royal His research often covers the psychological, social and physical factors affecting how people learn, measurement of student performance and academic policies related to equality. It’s work that reflects and informs the CVM’s robust veterinary education. “My goal with Education in the Health Professions is to provide a place in which educators from various fields can converge to collectively tackle some of the most important, and most common, challenges facing us in medical education today,” said Royal. ~ Jordan Bartel/NC State Veterinary Medicine
THINK & DO
Extraordinary Leadership Paul Hess, associate professor of oncology and immunology, is a recipient of a 2019 Chancellor Innovation Fund award from NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson. The CIF awards up to $75,000 for commercially focused research projects across the university. The funding supports a clinical trial for a new vaccine that Hess developed for dogs with canine lymphoma. Hess’ project is one of five receiving CIF funding this year. Derek Foster, assistant professor of ruminant health management, was given the Student Chapter Advisor Award from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners during its annual conference. The award recognizes Foster’s impactful mentorship within the CVM’s AABP student chapter. Brian Gilger, professor of ophthalmology, was honored with the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2018 Clinical Research Award, recognizing a veterinarian whose research has an impact on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of animal disease. Gilger is a world-renowned expert in equine eye disease whose work has led to innovations in treating glaucoma among other conditions. This year, he was also honored with the CVM’s Huffman Leadership Award for faculty. Barbara Sherry was named the head of the CVM’s Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences. Sherry, a virology professor, has served as interim head since last November. A member of the CVM faculty for nearly 20 years, Sherry is a two-time winner of the CVM’s Huffman Leadership Award and previously received the Pfizer Award for Veterinary Research Excellence. Ed Breitschwerdt, professor of medicine and infectious diseases, won the 2018 Global One Health Award from the Small Animal Veterinary Association. Breitschwerdt, a worldwide leader in infectious disease, shares the award with Christopher Woods, a professor in Duke University’s medicine and pathology departments. Both have made a tremendous impact on the study of the bacterium Bartonella and Bartonellosis, the family of diseases it causes.
Faculty and staff recognition news? Email CVMCommunications@ncsu.edu.
Top-bottom: Paul Hess, Derek Foster, Brian Gilger and Barbara Sherry. 22
NC State Veterinary Medicine NC Veterinary Medical Foundation 1060 William Moore Drive • Raleigh, NC 27607 Give Now: Use the giving envelope enclosed, (checks payable to “NCVMF”), or give online at cvm.ncsu.edu/giving. Contact Us: Giving Office: 919-513-6660 cvmfoundation@ncsu.edu The Oath is published by the NC State Veterinary Medicine Communications and Marketing office. Contact us at CVMCommunications@ncsu.edu This magazine was printed for a total cost of $4,500, or $1.33 per copy. No state funds were used.
New Cancer Therapy Treats Common Equine Tumors Electrochemotherapy, or ECT, enhances traditional chemotherapy injection into cancerous tumors by using short electric pulses, tremendously increasing cancer cells’ drug absorption. Read more at go.ncsu.edu/equine-cancer
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