"The Wind Drinkers" by Lisa Perry
ANNUAL REPORT 2019
CONTENTS FROM THE DEAN.................................................................................................. 3 COLLEGE HALLMARKS........................................................................................ 4 OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT ................................................................................... 4 LEADING THE WAY IN GLOBAL ONE HEALTH................................................... 5 VETERINARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, & OUTREACH (VERO)............................ 6 LEADING THE WAY IN VETERINARY INNOVATION.......................................... 8 PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS (DVM)................................................................... 12 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (BS IN BIMS OR USVM).................................. 16 GRADUATE STUDENTS (MS + PHD).................................................................. 18 RESEARCH..........................................................................................................20 FACULTY ............................................................................................................22 RESIDENTS & INTERNS.....................................................................................23 DIVERSITY & INCLUSION..................................................................................24 VETERINARY INTEGRATIVE BIOSCIENCES (VIBS)...........................................26 VETERINARY PATHOBIOLOGY (VTPB).............................................................27 VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY (VTPP)................................28 LARGE ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES (VLCS)...................................................29 SMALL ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES (VSCS)...................................................30 VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL (VMTH)..................................31 SCHUBOT CENTER FOR AVIAN HEALTH..........................................................34 VETERINARY EMERGENCY TEAM (VET)...........................................................35 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & STUDY ABROAD..........................................36 INTERDISCIPLINARY FACULTY OF TOXICOLOGY (IFT)...................................38 SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER......................................................................39 CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES (CET).......................................40 CVM COMMUNICATIONS ................................................................................. 41 PARTNERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & RURAL HEALTH.......42 TEXAS A&M INSTITUTE FOR PRECLINICAL STUDIES (TIPS)..........................42 CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE)........................................................................43 EQUINE INITIATIVE............................................................................................44 STEVENSON COMPANION ANIMAL LIFE-CARE CENTER...............................45 DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................................46 OUTSTANDING ALUMNI & RISING STAR.........................................................46 FUNDING PRIORITIES....................................................................................... 47 COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION............................................................................48 2 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
FROM THE DEAN This is one of the more bittersweet pieces I’ve had to write, because while the 2019 Annual Report continues in the tradition of detailing the many ways that the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) leads the way, pushes boundaries, and serves every Texan—every day, it also represents my final annual report as the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. When I arrived at Texas A&M, I was already aware of the facts and figures that contribute to the reputation of the CVM, and in these pages, you’ll see even more of those. Yet even a decade later, I am still amazed by the people behind the CVM’s achievements and statistics. Contributing to this are our dedicated faculty who have embraced new technologies, engaged our students in new methods of teaching, and utilized resources such as the Center for Educational Technologies (CET). Our Global One Health Program also contributed to last year’s President’s Dr. Eleanor M. Green National Biodefense Strategy, which contained the elements of One Health for the first time ever, showing how audiences beyond the veterinary profession have embraced the link among animal, human, and environmental health. This has also become a valuable resource for the state and federal government in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another valuable resource is the Veterinary Emergency Team (VET), which has become such a cornerstone of disaster response that it’s easy to forget that 2019 only marked the team’s 10th anniversary. Its continued excellence was on display last year when the team had several firsts, including its first deployment out-of-state, to the Camp Wildfire in California; a deployment to the Rio Grande Valley, the first in response to a large-scale animal seizure; and a deployment to Chambers County to provide animal assistance following the catastrophic flooding from Tropical Depression Imelda, the first time the team deployed back-to-back (departing within 24 hours of returning from the Rio Grande Valley). Also celebrating the end of its first decade was the Equine Initiative, a collaboration with the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences. Similar to the VET, it’s hard to imagine what life was like before the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex and the many campus-wide services and programs provided by the initiative. In addition, 2019 also marked our third consecutive year to receive the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, which recognizes schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion on their campuses. I am extremely proud of the work we have done, and continue to do, in recruiting and supporting diverse students, faculty, and staff. Last year was another tremendous year for the CVM. All of the efforts highlighted in the 2019 Annual Report validate many of the initiatives that we have taken on in recent years, but they also serve as proof that, yet again, it is the people who always have, and always will, make Texas A&M a special place. I am extremely proud to have led the CVM as dean and to have been able to witness all that our faculty, staff, and students have achieved over the last decade, and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store.
Eleanor M. Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine 2019 CVM Annual Report • 3
COLLEGE HALLMARKS For more than a century, the CVM has served our state, nation, and the world. The college continues to: • • • • • • •
Serve Texas and beyond while advancing animal, human, and environmental health. Provide viable, diverse professional career paths for Texans. Support the state’s livestock and wildlife industries. Promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. Contribute to the economic viability and job opportunities of local communities. Provide sophisticated disaster and emergency response support for animals throughout the state. Advance the veterinary medical profession.
Our strengths are many. In 2019, we were: • Ranked #1 in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and ranked in a tie for #4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the nation’s best schools and programs. • One of the largest colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S., training nearly 600 DVM students each year, with an annual entering class of 162 students. As of May 2019, the CVM has graduated 8,224 veterinarians. • Ranked #2 in the number of graduate (MS/PhD) students at a U.S. college of veterinary medicine • The home of the Texas A&M Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) program, which is the largest degree-granting undergraduate major at Texas A&M and had a student enrollment of 2,821. • The undergraduate home of BIMS majors, which made up a large portion of Aggies that matriculatd to Texas medical (42%), dental (57%), and veterinary (38%) professional schools. • Fostering partnerships with Texas A&M University System schools and other institutions of higher education around the state to provide Texans with new and innovative avenues to pursue degrees as professional DVM students and undergraduate BIMS students. • A proud recipient of the 2019 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine—our third consecutive year to be honored. • Continuing our collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston as the first recipient of a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Center grant at Texas A&M University—for the Center for Translational Environmental Health Research.
OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT Texas—the second most populous U.S. state—is a leader in many aspects of animal agriculture and companion animal care. It ranks first in the total number of cattle, at 11.8 million or 13 percent of the total U.S. inventory. When the tens of millions of livestock and the tens of thousands of companion animals are considered, the full economic value of animal health and well-being becomes apparent. Because Texas is a border state, a coastal state, and an air travel hub, its animal and human populations are threatened by emerging and zoonotic disease outbreaks with the potential for major economic impact.
TEXAS LEADS THE NATION IN ANIMAL INDUSTRIES:
$1.6 billion
Deer
$5.9 billion
Equine
$10.5 billion
$111.3 million
Cattle
Goat
$106.4 million
$3.85 billion
Veterinary
Medicine
4 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Sheep
$3.3 billion
Exotics
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TEXAS PET INDUSTRY
LEADING THE WAY IN GLOBAL ONE HEALTH
The Texas A&M Global One Health Program aims to make the world safe and secure from emerging infectious and neglected tropical diseases through emphasis of a One Health approach—which is the synergy of animal, human, and environmental sciences— to global health and security. Through Global One Health's national and international reach, collaborative advancements in zoonotic One Health research, and building of interdisciplinary learning environments, the program continues to make advancements in policy, research, education, and service.
Leadership The program acts as Texas A&M University’s focal point and university ambassador for key national and international organizations and thought leaders, including the Coalition of Universities for Global Health, the Global Health Security Agenda Consortium steering group, the One Health Commission, the Bi-Partisan Commission for Biodefense, and the Texas Task Force for Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response. The Associate Dean of Global One Health, Dr. Gerald W. Parker Jr., also holds a joint appointment as Director of the Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program at the Scowcroft Institute for International Affairs within the Bush School of Government & Public Service that links the education, research, and service missions of the two colleges together. The Pandemic and Biosecurity Policy Program brings together national and international thought leaders on pandemic and biosecurity policies providing strategic direction and policy options to government, NGO, university, and industry leaders domestically and internationally. A major emphasis is placed on the promotion and application of one health as a national and global security operation imperative to elevating one health into the lexicon of national policy leaders.
Collaborations Working across various departments, colleges, organizations, agencies, states, and countries, the Global One Health team continues to galvanize Texas A&M University's dedication to One Health by growing the institution's stakeholder network and establishing itself as an emerging leader in global health security. The program provides strategic inputs for global health-related projects and proposals collaborating closely with the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, CVM International Programs office, the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases, the Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture, Global Health Research Complex, and the Center for Global Health and Innovation In 2019, the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, with the guidance of the Global One Health program, collaborated with the School of Public Health to bring on board a National Academy of Medicine member, Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, as a Hagler Institute for Advanced Study Faculty Fellow.
Learning Opportunities The Global One Health program also advocates for experiential learning and provides mentorship and guidance for students interested in careers in global health, global health security, biodefense, and related opportunities at the intersection of health, science, and policy. Through the Global Health Next Generation Seminar series, the program seeks to highlight for students the varied and rich global health expertise of scholars, practitioners, policy-makers, and public servants both within and outside Texas A&M University. The program actively supports the MSC SCONA annual collegiate conference bringing public health and global health into the national affairs scholarly research and education discussions, giving delegates and other invited national premier academic scholars and industry leaders the opportunity to recognize the importance of one health on the national security stage. The Global One Health Program is also a champion and supports the development of one health related undergraduate, graduate, and professional coursework at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, The Bush School of Government & Public Service, and across campus. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 5
LEADING THE WAY IN VETERINARY EDUCATION, In 2009, the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) began discussions to form a partnership with West Texas A&M University (WT) to recruit and mentor young people in the region seeking careers in veterinary medicine and to serve the livestock industries and the veterinary profession through teaching, research, and outreach programs.
West Texas A&M University
Tarleton State
In 2015, the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) announced University partnerships to expand veterinary education, research, and outreach into several regions of the state through four TAMUS Texas A&M universities. These partnerships are between the CVM and WT, University Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University–Kingsville, and Tarleton State University. Prairie View A&M These partnerships provide the expertise, leadership, and resources University to meet the demand for veterinarians throughout our state, while serving rural and urban areas, protecting our food supply, doing research that matters, Texas A&M providing cost-effective educational and clinical services, and supporting a strong Texas UniversityKingsville economy. These TAMUS universities are all located within one hour of underserved areas of veterinary medicine and each has a unique livestock focus. Memoranda of Aggrement (MOAs) have been signed with all four universities to admit five students from each into the veterinary curriculum each year to enhance rural and livestock veterinary medicine and diversity. The partnership with WTAMU is the first of these to be developed, and it’s already producing results. Through the WTAMU pipeline program, 19 Texas Panhandle-area students have recently entered veterinary school and are likely to return to the Texas Panhandle to practice, which exceeds the number of posted job opportunities. In addition, WTAMU is now the largest producer of veterinary students in Texas, apart from Texas A&M. The Texas A&M Food Animal Track is also producing results and transforming veterinary education by producing more rural veterinarians.
TAMUS has invested substantially in veterinary education. • TAMUS invested $120 million for a new, state-of-the-art Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex (VBEC) to accommodate the needs of Texas for many years to come, as well as to support the best, most modern veterinary education in the nation. The VBEC opened its doors in 2016. • In December 2018, TAMUS broke ground on the $22-million, 22,000-square-foot Veterinary Education, Research & Outreach (VERO) facility on the WTAMU campus. • To date, approximately $90 million has been invested in the Texas Panhandle on the WT campus to support WT agriculture programs, CVM veterinary education, the livestock industries, the veterinary profession, local communities, and the economic well-being of the region.
WT and the Texas A&M VERO have received a four-year, $243,500 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). • Project director Dr. Dee Griffin and co-director Dr. Dan Posey, both CVM faculty, relocated to WT to serve as founding faculty for the partnership between the CVM and WT. This funding will be used to support seven veterinary-centered programs, including: • Developing fourth-year student rural clinical training externships; • Developing summer working internships for students finishing their first or second years; • Supporting food animal student mentoring for those interested in food animal practice; • Supporting an annual rural practice and livestock operations tour for selected third-year students; • Practicing sustainability workshops for Texas Panhandle & Plains (TPH&P) rural veterinarians, including training for mentoring veterinary students and improved community communication skills; • Aggressively recruiting qualified students with rural backgrounds; and • Recruiting outstanding rural students from 4-H and FFA programs to consider a veterinary career. Rural TPH&HP areas have significant, capturable veterinary opportunities. The organization and necessary collaborative partnerships are in place at WT through VERO to achieve funding objectives, and for several to become self-sustaining. 6 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
RESEARCH, & OUTREACH (VERO) The CVM is establishing a robust, large animal-focused research program at WT with the addition of Dr. Paul Morely to the VERO team. Dr. Paul Morley joined the CVM's VERO initiative at WT in early 2019. His work will focus on research initiatives and epidemiology in intensive production systems. He will create a research program through collaborations with industry partners and scientists from Texas A&M entities such as WTAMU, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), and the Texas A&MAgriLife Extension Service. He will work with students of all levels while continuing his current research projects and finding new ones to pursue. “I’m really looking forward to showing all levels of students how exciting research can be and how important it is for the future of agriculture and the future of veterinary medicine,” Morley said.
Highlights from FY19 include: New Faculty • Dr. Paul Morley joined the VERO program as Research Director. • Dr. Sarah Capik joined the VERO team as a research assistant professor with a split appointment between the CVM at WT and AgriLife Research. WT Students and Pre-Veterinary Activities • Dr. Dan Posey is the leader of the education effort in VERO. • Drs. Griffin and Posey received excellent evaluations from their WT undergraduate and graduate classes, their service on the WT IACUC committee, and the WT animal units used for teaching and research (WT Nance Ranch, WT Horse Center, and WT Research Feedyard). • The "Pre-Veterinary Club," largely associated with improved educational activities such as suturing exercies, career education and development, necropsy, large and small animal handling, etc., has increased in membership. Veterinarian-Related and Student Activities • The veterinary student summer internship program has been well-received and is growing. • Annual outreach programs have been intitiated for veterinarians in addition to the area's workforce. These include a CE program, livestock workforce training to address the needs of feedlots and dairies, and communications workshops. Research • VERO faculty were principal investigators on 5 research intiatives, totaling $1.9 million in support, and published 16 peerreviewed research articles.
#TeamVERO from left: Dr. Dan Posey, Jaye Hawkins, Dr. Dee Griffin, Dr. Sarah Capik and Dr. Paul Morley
Artist's rendering of the VERO facility being built on the West Texas A&M University Campus. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 7
LEADING THE WAY IN VETERINARY INNOVATION The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) is harnessing innovation through ongoing programming, research projects, and technological advancements, such as the development of a veterinary telemedicine program. Education & Programming
VEA students win pitch competition.
Augmented Reality at #VIS2019
Veterinary Entrepreneurship Academy (VEA) One of the ways the world of veterinary medicine is changing is through an increased focus on the veterinarian as an entrepreneur. The CVM’s VEA has combined veterinary students, academic institutions, startup partners, and veterinary practices to accelerate animal heath innovation and empower the next generation of veterinary practitioners. Through the VEA, students from universities across North America are given the opportunity to intern with companies that are taking innovative approaches to their work in the veterinary and pet industries. The unique, 12-week works to accelerate animal health innovation in an effort to educate, inspire, and transform students into future leaders and innovators within the industry. Veterinary Innovation Summit (VIS) For three years now, the CVM, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), and the NAVC's Veterinary Innovation Council (VIC) have gathered game-changers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries for the VIS at the CVM. At the event, veterinary and non-veterinary entrepreneurs and health professionals share fresh perspectives on the latest technologies, debate controversial issues, foster new ideas, and catapult the profession into the future. The VIS is dedicated to sparking and fostering ingenuity through a combination of unique programming, a diverse attendee pool, and an immersive learning environment for veterinary professionals. One goal of the summit is to empower attendees to play a substantive role in an exponentially changing world to leverage existing and emerging technologies as they impact healthcare delivery systems, business, practice, and educational models. The VIS changes the perspectives of attendees, who represent diverse backgrounds within and beyond veterinary medicine.
Technology & Patient Care
Telemedicine Telehealth in veterinary medicine is taking shape at the CVM’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). The first telehealth faculty member ever hired at the CVM brings extensive experience in formulating veterinary medical policies on telehealth, including serving as the board liaison to a group that formulated the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) policy on telemedicine, which was adopted in July 2017. By working to create the new telemedicine service for the VMTH, the CVM is leading the way in this exciting field of veterinary medicine, as the educational opportunities extend far beyond fourth-year veterinary students who will work in the new service during their clinical rotations to the practices those students will go on to join as graduates.
Jaci Christensen uses the EASE app. 8 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
EASE The CVM’s VMTH was the first veterinary teaching hospital to introduce a new mobile application that allows families to track the progress of their pet patient. With EASE—a state-of-the-art mobile communication tool—VMTH doctors, surgeons, veterinary technicians, residents, and the hospital client liaison are now able to stay connected with, provide timely updates to, and educate the families of patients who are being treated at the hospital.
LEADING THE WAY IN VETERINARY INNOVATION EASE has been widely and successfully implemented in human hospitals and healthcare systems for years, but was only implemented in veterinary medicine in 2017, when it was adopted by the VMTH’s oncology, cardiology, dermatology, and ophthalmology services. Customized updates—through texts, photos, and videos— are sent to the families of patients as a pet undergoes treatment at the hospital, allowing patients’ family members to stay connected. Clinical Trials Through clinical trials at the VMTH, clinicians are working to solve problems that affect both animals and humans. Services including cardiology, dermatology, neurology, orthopedics, and oncology have developed large portfolios of clinical trials to help understand various conditions and treatments, from glioblastomas to lymphomas. Through partnerships with private and public entities, the VMTH has been able to grow and support its clinical trials, and recent initiatives have worked to build its capacity to conduct such studies. One way the CVM’s Small Animal Clinical Sciences (VSCS) department has done so is by building a bio-repository, which collects 10 critical tissues that are of important translational impact, by being part of a viral banking group, and by hosting a bio-banking symposium. Clinical trials allow VMTH patients access to the latest treatments not yet available to human patients. They also benefit people by saving millions of dollars in drug development and shortening the time frame for these promising new therapeutics to reach U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval status.
Clinical Trials in Oncology
Telemedicine allows veterinarians to consult with VMTH specialists. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 9
EXPENDITURES FY19 CVM Expenditures by Percentage 1% Public Service 2%
Facilities & Infrastructure
6%
Institutional Support
7%
Teaching Hospital
19%
Scholarships & Fellowships
30%
Research
37%
Teaching & Educational Support
FY19 CVM Expenditure Categories Category
Explanation
Public Service
Expenditures to support programs such as the continuing education of practicing veterinarians and technicians and the Veterinary Emergency Team (VET).
Institutional Support FY19 Degrees
Expenditures for clinical laboratories housed within the college. Many of these labs support
Conferred both the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) and research.
Scholarships & Fellowships
Expenditures that directly support our students.
26 PhD Facilities & Infrastructure
Expenditures for maintaining college facilities, landscaping, and custodial services.
Teaching Hospital
Operating expenditures for the VMTH.
Research
63
MS
131
DVM
518
BS
Teaching & Educational Support
10 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Expenditures directly supporting the research mission of the college. Expenditures directly supporting the teaching and education mission of the college.
DEGREES CONFERRED FY19 Degrees Conferred 26 PhD 63
MS
131
DVM
518
BS
Degrees Conferred Over Time 500
BS
Number of Degrees
PhD
400
DVM MS
300 200 100 0
FY2011
FY2012
FY2013
FY2014
FY2015
FY2016
FY2017
FY2018
FY2019
2019 CVM Annual Report • 11
PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS (DVM) DVM Class of 2023 Orientation
The CVM has steadily expanded the size of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) class since the fall of 2017, reaching our highest enrollment numbers in a single class in the fall of 2019 with 162 members. As one of the largest DVM training programs in the country, the CVM provides a four-year post-undergraduate curriculum based on building a solid foundation of scientific knowledge, experiential learning to master technical and professional skills, and development of competencies required for an entry-level veterinarian in any career path. Upon completion of the veterinary professional program, successful students will have demonstrated competency in each of the 37 domains outlined in the college’s New Graduate Outcomes (NGOs). The NGO document articulates the specific knowledge, skills, and attributes expected of students enrolled in our DVM program at the time of graduation. Students begin their experience with the DVM program by participating in a threeday orientation program. The orientation program is designed to introduce students to the culture and expectations of the program through experiential learning opportunities during which they begin to know their classmates. The first two years of the curriculum provide a foundation in medical science, clinical skills, critical thinking, and professional skills. Students begin to have elective course options in the second year of the curriculum that encourage exploration into area they may have previously had little exposure. These courses include, topics such as innovation and entrepreneurship, service-learning project development, rehabilitation both small and large animal, medical Spanish, and exotic and wild game medicine. The third year emphasizes diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The students also begin structuring a personalized course selection to direct learning toward individual career goals, choosing between small animal species, mixed animal species, large animal species, food animal medicine, or alternate career tracks. The student will be assigned to clinical duties in the VMTH. The fourth year is a full 12 months in length and includes rotations through the VMTH and other venues, including the Houston SPCA, as well as a four-week externship experience at a location of the student’s choice. Unique clinical opportunities in the curriculum include client communication training, rotations focusing on primary care medicine, specialty-intensive experiences, disaster preparedness, and shelter medicine. College faculty are dedicated to providing an inclusive and welcoming learning environment that provides state-of-the-art, comprehensive exposure to the art and science of veterinary medicine. As of May 2019, the college has graduated 8,225 DVMs.
"Mingle"
"Traffic Jam"
"Continental Divide"
DVM Class Size Over Time 180
Number of Students (n)
160 140 120
132
142
152
162
162
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
100 80 60 40 20 0
Class of 2020
12 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Class of 2021
NAVLE Passing Percentage Over Time
Class of 2022
20 0
PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS (DVM) 100
Class of 2020
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
NAVLE Passing Percentage Over Time Texas A&M
National
99
Passing Percentage (%)
98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91
2011
2012
2013
2014
Mean DVM Student Educational Debt
2015 Exam Year
2016
2017
2018
2019
Texas A&M
National
$199,148 $151,311 $127,494 $90,350
Mean Educational Debt
Mean Educational Debt
Includes those with 0 debt
Excludes those with 0 debt
Mean DVM Student Total Educational Debt at Graduation Over Time Texas A&M
$164,869
$164,869
$151,311
$150,025
$84,847
2016
$88,434
2017
$84,847
Year
2018
National
$90,350
2019 2019 CVM Annual Report • 13
PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS (DVM) Accreditation In 2016, the College of Veterinary Medicine received full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education for an additional seven years.
Special Collaborations 2019 marked the sixth full year of the CVM’s collaboration with the Houston SPCA to provide a clinical rotation for fourth-year DVM students in shelter medicine. The newly opened housing facility at the HSPCA allows students comfortable housing and the proximity increases opportunities for after-hours learning opportunities. The CVM also collaborates with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), providing not only hands-on training for DVM students, but also veterinary care for animals at TDCJ agricultural units. The CVM partnered with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) in the fall of 2019 to host the third annual DVM Job & Externship Fair. A total of 135 practices representing all regions of Texas met with students to arrange externships, summer employment opportunities and employment opportunities post-graduation.
The Veterinary Student Residence at the Houston SPCA allows for after-hours learning opportunities during the fourth-year clinical rotation in shelter medicine.
Student Leadership SAVMA & TVMA Representatives Many current CVM students serve in leadership roles for state and national veterinary organizations. The current CVM national SAVMA representatives are: • Amina Karedia, Senior SAVMA Delegate • Abby Hickox, Junior SAVMA Delegate The current CVM TVMA representatives are: • Kimery Hankins, Senior TVMA Delegate & second-year DVM Student TVMA Representative • Morgan Gunn, Junior TVMA Delegate & first-year DVM Student TVMA Representative • Lani Kaspar, third-year DVM Student TVMA Representative • Alicia Robinson, fourth-year DVM Student TVMA Representative The current CVM Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation representatives are: • Serene Yu, third-year DVM Student • Catherine Bristow, second-year DVM Student 14 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Third Annual DVM Job & Externship Fair
PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS (DVM) DVM Class of 2023 Student Enrollment Resident Status 10%
90%
Non-TX Resident
TX Resident
Gender
Thirty-six members of the group completed the Purdue University Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program (19 are shown above). CVM White Coats The mission of the CVM White Coats is to represent and promote the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences while exemplifying the Aggie core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. The group exhibits universal acceptance in the recruitment of new members of the veterinary profession, supports current students with a positive and resilient culture, and engages with alumni in pursuit of continuous excellence. The CVM White Coats will, under the direction of the Professional Programs Office, contribute to: • Veterinary Student Recruitment Events • Veterinary Student Interviews • Veterinary Student Orientation • Veterinary Student White Coat Ceremony • Veterinary Student Graduation • Veterinary Student Alumni Events • and other events to promote and support the DVM program and the college.
22%
Male
78%
Female
Ethnicity 1% Multi-racial, incl. Black 2% Unknown/Not Reported 2% Asian 3% Multi-racial, excl. Black 16% Hispanic or Latino 76% White
The CVM White Coat group continued to demonstrate Aggie core values through their community service activities, including the clean-up of the Brazos Valley Food Bank garden (below).
2019 CVM Annual Report • 15
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (BS IN BIMS OR USVM) The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) offers a distinctive undergraduate program in Biomedical Sciences (BIMS). BIMS is a broad field of applied biology that is directed toward understanding health and disease. The curriculum provides a strong four-year education that emphasizes versatility of the graduate in the biological and medical sciences. A highly-effective academic counseling program helps students develop individualized course packages that orient and prepare them for entry into the medical, allied health, or graduate program of their choice. Such an approach enhances their educational experiences, improves their placement in professional and graduate programs, and facilitates their entry into the biomedical sciences job market. Our mission is to educate students who will create a healthier future for humans and animals through the medical professions, biomedical innovation and discovery, global service, and outreach.
Fall 2019 Percentage of Aggies Accepted to Professional Schools who are BIMS Graduates
42%
medical
57%
38%
dental
veterinary
Highlights from FY19 include: • CVM undergraduate enrollment included 2,638 BIMS majors and 183 University Studies Veterinary Medicine (USVM) majors for a total of 2,821. • The total undergraduate enrollment was 71% female, 51.3% nonwhite (with largest subset being Hispanic at 31.16%), and 27.9% were first-generation college students. • BIMS enjoyed a record graduating class—the highest in the last 10 years—with 466 students. Along with the 52 USVM graduates, there were a total of 518 CVM undergraduates who graduated. • Of BIMS graduating seniors, 32.4% were underrepresented minorities (URM). (NIH defines URM in the sciences as American Indian/Alaska Natives, Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.) • Of BIMS graduating seniors, 24% were first-generation students. • Of BIMS graduating seniors, 34 completed the Spanish Certification program (International Certificate in Cultural Competency and Communication). • Of BIMS graduating seniors, 34 graduated with the Biomedical Research Certification program. • Our staff has expanded. We have welcomed advisors Sabrina Niemeyer, Ebony Carlisle, Yolanda Bunsie, Michael Black, Kayla Kirby, and Kristina Agan, as Administrative Coordinator II. Long-time advisor Meredith Permenter left to pursue her MFA degree. • The BIMS program had a successful Academic Program Review for SACS-COC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). External reviewers, Dr. Patricia Sollars, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and Dr. David Shubert, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, reviewed the BIMS undergraduate program. The final report detailed the alignment of BIMS with the strategic plans of Texas A&M and the CVM, the strong four-year curriculum, the dedicated, engaged faculty who develop high-impact practices to aid in student concept mastery, departmental and college support for the BIMS program, and the commitment of the advising staff. Identified curricular and programmatic challenges are currently being addressed and expansions and improvements will be reported. • The Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen welcomed their first BIMS students in the Fall 2018. A New Student Conference was held in July 2018, and an initial cohort of 44 students were registered. Josette Gonzalez is the academic advisor to our students in the Rio Grande Valley and is located at the Higher Education Center in McAllen. 16 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (BS IN BIMS OR USVM) FY19 Undergraduate Student Enrollment First Generation
Ethnicity 0.04%
27.9%
Yes
72.1%
No
Unknown/Not Reported
2.45%
Multi-racial, incl. Black
2.45% Multi-racial, excl. Black 13.68% Asian 31.16%
Gender
Hispanic or Latino
29.1%
Male
70.9%
Female
48.71% White
Number of Students
Ethnicity Over Time 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0
White Only Non-White
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Fall 2014
Fall 2015
Fall 2016
Fall 2017
Fall 2018
Fall 2019
Semester
2019 CVM Annual Report • 17
GRADUATE STUDENTS (MS + PHD) Fall 2019 Graduate Student Enrollment Gender 36%
Male
Overview The CVM houses the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) Graduate Program, the Science & Technology Journalism master’s program, the Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology master’s program, and the Interdisciplinary Degree Program of Toxicology. The largest cohort of graduate students in the CVM pursue a preprofessional master’s degree with a non-thesis concentration, a research master’s degree with a thesis concentration, or a doctoral degree through the BIMS Graduate Program.
Academic Program Reviews
64%
Female
Classification 43%
57%
Master’s (MS)
Doctoral (PhD)
Resident Status 19%
Non-Texas, Non-U.S.
25%
Non-Texas, U.S.
56%
Texas
In an effort to continuously improve the quality of academic programs, and in accordance with state law, Texas A&M University requires the external review of degree programs on a 7-year cycle. In 2019, the BIMS Graduate Program and the Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology master’s program conducted Academic Program Reviews (APRs). This process, augmented by the engagement of external reviewers and program constituents, provided the opportunity for each program to comprehensively assess performance, engage in discussions about change and strategic improvement, and ultimately develop a roadmap for the future based on a series of recommendations by the external review teams.
2019 Admissions Profile The BIMS Graduate Program and the additional master’s and doctoral degrees offered through the CVM have attracted a diverse applicant pool with nearly 300 applicants hoping to enroll in our graduate programs throughout 2019. As the principal major with four research training tracks and a separate pre-professional concentration, the BIMS Graduate Program welcomed 71 (77%) of the 92 new students who enrolled in graduate programs, including 45 Master of Science nonthesis option (MS-NTO), 4 Master of Science thesis option (MS-THO), and 22 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students. Among the newly admitted graduate students in all CVM graduate programs for 2019, Black students comprised 3.3% of the cohort, which is similar to the percentage for the graduate student population of Texas A&M University. Additionally, Hispanic or Latino/a students comprised 20% of the CVM graduate programs entering class for 2019, substantially higher than the Hispanic and Latino/a Texas A&M graduate student enrollment. FY19 Number of Graduate Students by School Texas A&M
260
Ethnicity 1% Unknown 3% Multi-racial, excl. Black
National Avg.
106
3% Black 8% Asian 16%
Hispanic or Latino/a
19%
International
50%
White only
18 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Number of Graduate Students
350
400
450
500
GRADUATE STUDENTS (MS + PHD) Graduate Student Orientation & Oath Ceremony Incoming graduate students to the college participated in a rigorous week-long orientation boot-camp that provided the following comprehensive trainings: biosafety compliance, teaching, mentor-mentee relationships, diversity and inclusion, self-care and wellness, goal-setting and motivation, and university and program requirements. Orientation week concluded with the Graduate Student Oath Ceremony, which welcomes incoming graduate students into the research community of the CVM and Texas A&M, and highlights the importance and significance of integrity and ethics as students embark upon their research careers.
Graduation Incoming Fall 2019 Graduate Students During the 2019 academic year, 96 students graduated with a master’s or doctoral degree from the CVM. The percentage of Black and Hispanic or Latino/a students who celebrated their graduation was 9.4% and 17.7% respectively, which mirrors the enrollment profile and reflects our vision for equity and inclusion.
Inclusive Programs & Practices Open Forum Advising CVM graduate students are encouraged to attend monthly open forum advising sessions. These sessions provide students the opportunity to engage with academic advisors and other students about topics or concerns that may not warrant a formal appointment. Commonly, wellness activities are incorporated into these advising sessions. Cultural InclusiviTEA CVM graduate students are invited to share information about their country/region of origin with their fellow students. Students typically share images, stories, and food from the featured region. These events are a favorite among the graduate student body. Professional Development The CVM offers of trainings and opportunities developed to equip trainees with skills that will differentiate them as they move into the workforce and establish careers. Critical Professional Skills Training Skills such as effective communication, problem solving, teamwork, leadership, and time management are the critical skills that set our graduates apart from their peers. In 2019, the CVM offered skill-specific trainings that included Scientific Writing, Grant Writing, Public Speaking, and Effective Scientific Presentation Skills. Career Preparation Equipping the Professional is a series of workshops aimed at providing graduate students with skills supporting career development. Although many graduates move into careers in academia, the CVM also encourages graduate students to pursue careers in healthcare, private industries, as well as state and federal research institutions.
Experiential Learning Graduate education has a strong impact on the student experience by fostering active and integrative learning that expects the students to apply their knowledge and expertise with an increasing level of independence, reflection, and responsibility. The CVM provides trainees with opportunities for experiential learning, within an interdisciplinary framework. Advanced Experiential Training The Advanced Experiential Training Initiative supports travel for graduate students to attend high caliber courses, trainings, and conferences that have the potential to substantially enhance their knowledge. The trainee has a unique opportunity to gain experience in laboratories that are conducting leading research for the purpose of learning specific techniques from which the trainee and the mentor's laboratory can substantially benefit. In FY19, the CVM contributed $20,000 to support this initiative. Core Facilities Experiential Learning Program The Core Facilities Experiential Learning Program enhances experience with research applications that utilize both equipment and expertise of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Genomics & Bioinformatics Laboratory and/or the CVM Image Analysis Laboratory. The program provides user fees for these valuable facilities. In FY19, the CVM contributed $40,000 to support this program. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 19
RESEARCH CVM Research Enterprise The college’s research enterprise continues to grow and diversify. The CVM’s annual research expenditures for FY19 were almost $35 million dollars, which is a 330% increase since FY13. This is a direct result of the success and quality of the faculty, whose research ranges from basic science to clinical applications. The faculty’s commitment to cutting-edge translational research seeks to bridge the gap between the basic and clinical sciences and the commitment to innovation is highlighted by an active pursuit of technology licensing and commercialization.
Research Funding Excellence in research at the CVM is evidenced, in part, by the millions of dollars obtained annually in extramural funding by our faculty members. College investigators have obtained significant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Interior (DoI), multiple private foundations, industry, and the state of Texas during recent years.
FY19 Research Highlights: • Raine Lunde-Young received the NIH F31 Ruth L. Kirschtein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship in the amount of $105, 594. • Dr. Heaps received a $2 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effects of exercise training on coronary artery diesease. • Dr. Arenas received a $5 million research grant from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to fund a five-year project to produce the first comprehensive study of brucellosis in the Republic of Cameroon. • An international team of researchers led by Dr. Andersson and his team and Upsulla University found that nearly all fish living in marine waters have a rhodopsin gene variant with phenylalanine which contributes to adaptation and convergent evolution. • Dr. Safe and his team discovered that the AH receptor may help suppress the development of glioblastomas.
CVM Patents and Invention Disclosures The CVM research enterprise is on the cutting-edge of licensing, commercialization, and patents. From 1989 through 2009, college researchers reported 105 invention disclosures, 257 patent applications, and 66 issued patents. Since 2010, CVM researchers have reported 80 invention disclosures, 128 patent applications, and 27 issued patents. Currently, 20 filings are in preparation or under review at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Dr. Michael Golding, Kara Thomas, Alexis Roach, Dr. Nicole Mehta, and Yudishtar Bedi 20 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
RESEARCH FY19 Percentage of Research Funding by Source 0.4%
NSF
0.6%
State Agency
1%
FY19 Research Expenditures by School
$35.49M
Texas A&M
$20,29M
National Avg.
Foreign
3%
Other Federal
6%
USDA
24%
Federal Flow-through
26%
Private
39%
NIH
Colleges of Veterinary Medicine
0
$10M
$20M
$30M
$40M
$50M
$60M
$70M
$80M
$90M
$100M
Expenditures
Research Expenditures Over Time
Research Funding Over Time
$40M
$40M
$35M
$35M
$30M
$30M
$25M
$25M
$20M
$20M
$15M
$15M
$10M
$10M
$5M
$5M
0
2014
2015
2016 2017 Year
2018
2019
0
Proposed Research Funding Over Time
# of Awards 133
148 137 127
113
2014
2015
2016
Year
2017
2018
2019
Number of Research Proposals Over Time
$200M
450
$180M
400
$160M
350
$140M
Submitted
Pending
Awarded
300
$120M
250
$100M
200
$80M
150
$60M $40M
100
$20M
50
0
128
2014
2015
2016
Year
2017
2018
2019
0
2014
2015
2016
Year
2017
2018
2019
2019 CVM Annual Report • 21
FACULTY FY19 Faculty by Department & Title Non-Tenure Track
Tenure-Track & Tenured
Professional Faculty
Assistant Professor
Large Animal Clinical Sciences (VLCS)
31
4
4
11
50
Small Animal Clinical Sciences (VSCS)
43
7
6
10
66
Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS)
27
3
6
17
53
Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB)
19
5
8
11
43
Department
Associate Professor Totals Professor
Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP)
15
3
5
10
33
Totals
135
22
29
59
245
FY19 Faculty Demographics Professional Faculty
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
Totals
25-34
17
**
**
**
~18
35-44
52
20
13
**
~86
45-54
29
**
11
15
~56
55-64
28
**
5
25
~58
65 and over
9
**
**
18
~27
Unknown
10
**
**
**
~12
American Indian
**
**
**
**
**
Asian
10
**
6
8
~27
Black
**
**
**
**
**
Hispanic
6
**
**
**
~10
Two or More Races
**
**
**
**
**
Demographic
Age
Ethnicity
Gender
White
105
14
20
50
189
Female
75
13
14
19
121
Male
60
9
15
40
124
Categories with less than five are masked with **.
Dr. Cheryl Herman 22 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Dr. Gwen Levine (left)
Dr. Jayanth Ramadoss
RESIDENTS & INTERNS The college offers one-year internship programs to newly graduated veterinarians and three- or four-year residency programs in several clinical disciplines for veterinarians seeking advanced training and board certification. Residents have generally already completed an internship. Residents and interns are exposed to numerous specialties and work side-by-side with experts in their fields. Residents may apply to one of several different areas of specialty, including anesthesiology, cardiology, emergency and critical care, equine theriogenology, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, radiology, surgery, and zoological medicine. Interns in four areas (internal medicine, small animal, large animal, and zoological medicine) rotate through different specialties and spend about a fourth of their time on the emergency service. They also have some elective time to spend in an area of interest within the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH). FY19 Clinical Residencies & Internships Specialty
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Total
Large Animal Internships
3
—
—
3
Equine Practice
0
0
0
0
Equine Theriogenology
1
1
0
2
Internal Medicine
1
2
1
4
Radiology
1
2
2
5
Surgery
1
1
1
3
Large Animal Clinical Sciences Totals
7
6
4
17
Small Animal Internships
15
—
—
15
Anesthesia
1
0
0
1
Cardiology
1
1
1
3
Dermatology
0
0
0
0
Emergency/Critical Care
2
1
1
4
Internal Medicine
1
1
1
3
Neurology
2
0
0
2
Oncology
1
2
0
3
Ophthalmology
1
0
0
1
Surgery
1
1
1
3
Zoological Medicine
0
0
0
0
Small Animal Clinical Sciences Totals
25
6
4
35
Anatomic Pathology
2
2
2
6
Cardiovascular Pathology
1
0
0
1
Clinical Pathology
1
1
1
3
Comparative Medicine
1
0
1
2
Parasitology
1
0
0
1
Pathobiology Totals
6
3
4
13
Totals
38
15
12
65
Equine Practice
Cardiology
Internal Medicine
2019 CVM Annual Report • 23
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
5 ROOMS
LACTATION
28
EXERCISE ROOM DVM PROGRAM IS RANKED 5/30 FOR TOTAL URM in
RANKS 5TH IN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STRATEGIC PLAN Individual Capacity
Organizational Capacity CVM Culture & Climate Evidence & Benchmarking
24 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Diversity is a cornerstone value of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), an award-winning college, that both leads and collaborates in regards to climate, equity, and inclusion. A diverse and inclusive environment is essential for preparing veterinary leaders with an intentional, open, and global perspective. The CVM affirms diversity both broadly and specifically, and our community aims to be representative of our ever-changing state and nation. In order to maintain and grow our commitment, the CVM has developed a Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Plan. The CVM received 2017, 2018, & 2019 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Awards from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, one of only two veterinary programs to receive the award for three consecutive years. This award is a national honor recognizing U.S. health profession schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, assessed by national non-veterinary peers. Other notable highlights include faculty receiving the AAVMC Iverson-Bell Diversity and Melcher Public Policy awards, the Texas A&M ACE Faculty Service Award, two CVM Excellence in D&I faculty and staff awards, and national leadership in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Percentage of URM DVM Students by Class Year 24% Texas A&M URM
20%
National URM (excl. Tuskegee)* National URM
16%
Climate, Wellness & Inclusion Programming • Basic mediation course (182 administrators, faculty & staff) • Aggie Ally (60+ faculty and staff) • Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention • Ouch! Your Words Make a Difference • Diversity training required for search committees • Deployed staff climate assessment and charged a staff climate working group • DVM Student Wellness Cart • Yoga classes • Stress Reduction & Management • Community service projects • Committees & Groups • Council on Diversity & Professionalism (CDP) • VOICE • Broad Spectrum Inclusive Facilities • 22 gender neutral bathrooms • Five lactation rooms • VBEC Exercise Room
12% 8% 4% 0%
Recruitment, Retention & Equity 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Year * Tuskegee University is excluded here to illustrate the impact it has as a Historically Black University (HBU) on nationally representative numbers.
Percentage of URM BIMS Graduates by Fiscal Year 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Year
DVM Students • "Serving Every Texan Every Day" Texas A&M System partnerships • Food Animal Track developed to serve rural Texas communities • Diversity Scholarships Graduate students • Graduate Diversity Fellows • Diversity PhD Scholarships • Biomedical Research Immersion & Diversity for Graduate Education (BRIDGE) program attracts undergraduate and URM students • Graduate program extends communication and conflict management trainings • Deploying graduate climate assessment in 2020 BIMS undergraduate students • 17 BIMS 2+2 community college programs • High number of URM students
The CVM Executive Committee is committed to diversity and inclusion on all levels. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 25
VETERINARY INTEGRATIVE BIOSCIENCES (VIBS) VIBS carries out teaching, research, and service across a wide spectrum of biosciences. Biomedical sciences represents a vital component of the foundation of medical knowledge and includes investigation at molecular, cellular, organismal, and population levels. The faculty teach anatomy and public health courses in the DVM curriculum, as well as core and elective courses in the undergraduate and graduate curricula. Faculty and students are engaged in biomedical genetics, neuroscience, reproductive biology, toxicology, epidemiology, and public health. VIBS is also home to one of the few programs in science and technology journalism in the country. Through various outreach programs, faculty engage local, regional, and international communities.
Highlights from FY19 include: Awards • Dr. Rusyn: one of five faculty members to earn the title of University Professor, naming his professorship after the late Professor K.C. Donnelly • Dr. Gaddy: 2019 ASBMR Society Gideon A. Rodan Award for Outstanding Mentorship • Dr. G. Johnson: D.H. Barron Lecturer for the Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research Program, University of Florida • Dr. Seo: third place in the 25th annual TFRS poster competition • Dr. Abbott: Teaching & Research Distinguished DVM Alumnus, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University • Dr. Herman: The Association of Former Students University Level Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching, 2019 John Milliff Award for Teaching, & CVM AFS Distinguished Achievement in Teaching • Dr. Hamer: CVM Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award • Dr. Norman: CVM Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Award • Dr. Murphy: CVM Outstanding Research Leader Award • Dr. Meyers: 2019 Ethel Ashworth-Tsutsui Memorial Award for Mentoring • Gwendolyn Inocencio: finalist in Texas A&M 3MT Competition, with her presentation "Conflicting Nutrition Headlines." New Grants • Dr. Hamer: Three new grants for the study of Trypanosoma cruzi and Chagas disease (one with Co-I Gabe Hamer, and one with Co-PIs Heather K. Moberly and Stephanie Fulton) • Drs. Ritter and Gonzales: PESCA grant from Texas A&M Division of Research • Drs. Rusyn, Threadgill, Tretyakova, & Wright: NIH grant for the study of chromatin regions, genes, and pathways that confer susceptibility to chemically-induced DNA damage • Drs. Raudsepp, Davis, Varner, & Hillhouse: Identification of Y chromosome regions critical for stallion fertility (collaboration with Jan Janecka) • Drs. Raudsepp, Davis & Juras: Refining complex regions in horse sex chromosomes to understand functionally important genes (collaboration with Caitlin Castaneda, Matthew Jevit, Charley Love, & Malcolm Ferguson-Smith) • Drs. Cai & Zhang: Biology Hidden in RNA Structures and Modifications • Dr. Norman: Harnessing ecological dynamics of naturally occurring bacteriophage in the feedlot environment to control multidrug-resistant Salmonella in slaughter-ready beef cattle, National Cattlemen's Beef Assocation (NCBA) • Dr. J. Li & Zhilei Chen: CSTR grant for R-gen as novel therapeutics for autoimmune diseases • Dr. Q. Li: R03 grant for a novel mouse model of testicular granulosa cell tumors • Drs. Seo & Johnson: Glutaminolyisi provides TCA cycle Intermediates necessary for proliferation in the conceptus trophectoderm of pigs (USDA-NIFA grant with Co-PI Fuller Bazer) New Faculty • Dr. Rodolfo Cardoso, DVM PhD, • Assistant Professor • Dr. Patrick Wilson, DVM MS, • Clinical Associate Professor Promoted Faculty • Dr. Vaishali Katju, Professor
Dr. Gaddy with Blue 26 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Dr. Ivan Rusyn in the lab
Retired Faculty • Dr. Joe Kornegay • Dr. Lynn Ruoff • Dr. Paul Samallow
VETERINARY PATHOBIOLOGY (VTPB) VTPB focuses on advancing animal and human health through innovative research, preparing next generation veterinary and biomedical professionals and scientists through impactful teaching, and supporting animal health care through expert clinical laboratory service. VTPB faculty research strengths are in the areas of infectious diseases and immunology, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, genetics of disease susceptibility and resistance, and wildlife ecosystems and conservation genetics. Scientists and students investigate the mechanisms of health and disease at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and population levels. The department offers residency programs in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, Veterinary Clinical Pathology, and Laboratory Animal Medicine. Many faculty members also serve the VMTH, providing diagnostic support in several fields including pathology, clinical microbiology/immunology, and clinical parasitology.
Highlights from FY19 include: New Faculty • Dr. Carolyn Hodo, Lecturer, Anatomic Pathology • Dr. Yava Jones-Hall, Associate Professor, Experimental Pathology • Dr. Negin Mirhosseini, Instructional Assistant Professor, McAllen Campus • Dr. Joseph Szule, Research Assistant Professor, Image Analysis Laboratory Retired Faculty • Dr. Ian Tizard • Dr. Susan Payne
Awards/Honors/Activities
Faculty • Dr. F. Clubb: R&D 100 Award • Dr. W. Cook: testimony titled “Examining the Impacts of Diseases on Wildlife Conservation & Management” before Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works • Dr. S. Dindot: CVM Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award, 2019 Innovation Award – Texas A&M Technology Commercialization • Dr. J. Edwards: American College of Veterinary Pathologists – Harold W. Casey Award for Sustained Excellence in the Teaching of Veterinary & Comparative Pathology • Dr. S. Lawhon: Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award • Dr. H.M. Scott: Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence, invited talk titled “Antibiotics in Animal Agriculture: What You Need to Know” at the New York Academy of Sciences Symposium
• Dr. R. Vemulapalli: CVM Excellence in Diversity Award • Dr. D. Wiener: CVM–VMTH Clinical Service Award Staff • Dana Cornett: CVM Staff Award • Shelley Sides: CVM Staff Award • Debra Turner: CVM Staff Award, 2019 Women of Distinction Award – Girl Scouts of Central Texas
Graduate Students/Trainees • A. Blick: American College of Veterinary Pathologists – First Place Veterinary Student Clinical Cases poster • C. Chu: American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology – Young Investigator Award • P. Escandon: CVM John Paul Delaplane Award, Schubot Avian Health Center Director's Award • S. Jessen: Postdoctoral Association Travel Award • G. Levent: Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases – Mark Gearhart Memorial Award • A. Myers: C.L. Davis Foundation Scholarship Award • J. Ogunrinu: Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases – Platform Presentation Award • S. Schlemmer: CVM L.P. Jones Pathology Resident Award • C. Smith: CVM Outstanding PhD Student Award • L. Stranahan: Brucellosis Research Conference – Young Investigator Award • B. Taylor: American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology – Third Place in Diagnostic Pathology poster
U.S. Senator John Barrasso (left) shakes hands with Dr. Walt Cook (right) after Cook's testimony before the Senate Committee on the Environment & Public Works on Oct. 16, 2019.
Dr. Sara Lawhon
Dr. H. Morgan Scott
2019 CVM Annual Report • 27
VETERINARY PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY (VTPP) VTPP is a multidisciplinary basic science department that strives to shape the future of research and education in human and veterinary medicine. Research in VTPP is expansive and incorporates excellence in toxicology, reproductive and developmental biology, cardiovascular biology, regenerative sciences, bone biology, and pharmacology. The high level of cooperation among the various departments within the CVM and the Texas A&M University scientific community produces an unparalleled research and teaching environment. VTPP faculty are integral to many of the leading research centers both on and off the Texas A&M University campus. The department supports the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Reproductive Biology, and is home to the Michael E. DeBakey Institute for Cardiovascular Science and Biomedical Devices. VTPP maintains a scientific community that fosters excellence in teaching and research in an effort to train the next generation of biomedical professionals through the efforts of faculty, students, and staff. Collaboration is the essence of the VTPP faculty and drives our commitment to excellence in a highly interactive, collaborative, and multidisciplinary teaching and research environment. There were 65 faculty peer-reviewed publications and 44 external grant submissions with five awarded, including the first Keck Foundation grant at Texas A&M awarded to Dr. Michael Golding entitled, “Parental contributions to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: questioning the prevailing paradigm”
Highlights from FY19 include: Promotions • Dr. Luke Lyons, Clinical Assistant Professor • Dr. Amanda Davis, Clinical Assistant Professor New Staff • Mandy Sachgo • Sybil Camacho • Trudy Bennett Study Abroad • Germany: Drs. Fajt & Wasser • South Africa: Dr. Blue-McLendon • Bulgaria (new program): Drs. Ivanov and Stankova • Awards/Honors/Activities Dr. Virginia Fajt
Dr. Stephen Safe
28 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
International • Dr. Safe: 2019 Society for Toxicology Merit Award & NAI Senior Member • Dr. Long: 2019 Indo-U.S. Genome Engineering/Editing Technology Initiative (GETin) Visiting Fellow National • Dr. Fajt: developed “Understanding Susceptibility Test Data as a Component of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings, 1st Edition” • University • Dr. Hinrichs: Association of Former Students Research Excellence Award • Connor Dolan: Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award
• Destiny Mullens: Graduate Oral competition winner in the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Category at Student Research Week College • Raine Lunde (mentored by Dr. Ramadoss): George T. Edds Award • Keshav Karki (mentored by Dr. Safe): George T. Edds Award • Julie Austin: CVM Outstanding Staff Award • Dr. Patterson: Juan Carlos Robles Emanuelli Teaching Award • Dr. Heaps: Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award • Karis Tang-Quan (mentored by Dr. Taylor): 2019 CVM Symposium Platform Presentation Award Departmental • Aggie Research Program: created 2,061 UG research opportunities in 4 years • New Debakey Executive Leadership Program provides elite leadership training across campus • Connor Dolan (mentored by Dr. Muneoka) and Elena Martinez De Andino (mentored by Dr. Hinrichs): McCrady Awards for best VTPP trainee presentations at CVM Research Day • Dr. Long: 2018 VTPP Mentor of the Year • Keshav Karki (mentored by Dr. Safe): 2018 VTPP graduate student of the year
LARGE ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES (VLCS) VLCS trains large animal veterinarians through teaching; delivers veterinary care to our clients’ large animals through our staffed hospital services; and creates, disseminates, and clinically applies knowledge through research and continuing education. Faculty researchers are recognized leaders in the fields of stallion and mare reproduction, equine infectious diseases, equine gastrointestinal disease and microbiome, and equine regenerative medicine. Their results have translated from the laboratory to clinical application in patients. Students benefit from the truly unique, experiential learning environment, while providing veterinary care to over 100,000 livestock, poultry, and canines at Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) agricultural units. The department offers one-year internships, for newly graduated veterinarians, and two- or three-year residency programs in several clinical disciplines for veterinarians seeking advanced training and board certification. These include: • Equine Field Service Internship • Equine Practice Residency • Radiology Residency • Medicine Internship • Medicine Residency • Theriogenology Residency • Surgery Internship • Surgery Residency
Highlights from FY19 include: Faculty Grants • Dr. Bordin received $57,067 from the American Quarter Horse Foundation for her grant, "Entry and Modulation of Signaling Pathways of Microphages by Rhodococcus equi." • Dr. Coleman received $15k for her grant, "The Association of Equine Asthma and Obesity in Horses," from the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. • Dr. Cohen received $330,080 for his grant, "Efficacy of Maternal Immunization Against PNAG to Protect Newborn Foals Against Rhodococcus equi Pneumonia,” from Merck Animal Health. He also received $169,487 from Morris Animal Foundation for "Immunogenicity and Efficacy of an Intranasal PNG Vaccine Against Strangles." • Dr. Whitfield-Cargile received $96k from Grayson Jockey Club Research Foundation for Dr. Angela Bordin his grant, "Non-invasive Evaluation of Host-Microbiota Interactions." • Dr. Thompson received $148,500 from the NIH for his grant, "Estimating and Communicating Spatial Certainty when Childhood Cancer Co-Clusters." • Dr. Watts received: $49,769 from USDA-FAH for her grant, "Understanding the Role of MHCl Compatibility in Equine Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells"; $850k from Dechra Pharmaceuticals for "MiR29 Replacement Dosing Optimization"; $48,500/ year from the Link Equine Endowment for "Equine Regenerative Medicine Program"; an NIH T35 grant for "Novel Anti-TNF-Alpha Therapy to Improve Equine Performance and Quality of Life"; and a $30k Texas A&M T3 Triads for Transformation Grant for "Bioteching and Bone Fracture." • Dr. Easterwood received $5k from Purdue University for her grant, "This is How We Role. Inspiring Future Researchers Through Veterinary Medicine." • Dr. Morley received funding from the National Catteleman's Beef Association for his grant, "Does Antimicrobial-Free Production of Beef Cattle Reduce Foodborne Dr. Noah Cohen Transmission of Resistant Bacteria to Human Consumers?" and from USDA-NIFA for "Metaphylaxis for Respiratory disease in High-Risk Stocker Cattle: Impacts on Mannheimia Haemolytica, the Microbiome, and the Resistome." • Awards/Honors/Activities National • Dr. Cohen received the AVMA Clinical Research Award, and was a Keynote Speaker at the University of Georgia's Veterinary Research Symposium. • Dr. Varner was inducted into the Universty of Kentucky, Gluck Equine Research Center Equine Research Hall of Fame. College • Dr. Cohen received the Outstanding Research Leader Award. • Dr. Cleet received the VMTH Clinical Service Award. • Dr. Voges received the Juan Carlos Robles Emmanuelli Teaching Award. • Dr. Griffin completed board certification by the American College of Veterinary Radiology in Equine Diagnostic Imaging. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 29
SMALL ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES (VSCS)
Dr. Unity Jeffrey in the lab
VSCS has three major missions: innovative education, leading-edge veterinary care, and clinical research and therapeutic trials. Each of these activities is intended to improve the quality of life for companion animals and their owners. The VSCS department provides clinical education in canines, felines, and exotics. The department’s researchers study health issues common to both humans and animals in areas such as cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, orthopedics, aging, and oncology. VSCS has dedicated space for clinical trials and biobanking, and is focused on innovative teaching through collaborations with the Center for Teaching Excellence, the Center for Educational Technologies, and through departmental grants for the scholarship of teaching. VSCS offers the following one-year internships and three-year residency programs: • Internal Medicine Internship • Internal Medicine Residency • Ophthalmology Internship • Neurology Residency • Surgical Oncology Internship • Oncology Residency • Surgery Internship • Ophthalmology Residency • Anesthesiology Residency • Surgery Residency (four years) • Cardiology Residency • Zoological Medicine Residency • Emergency & Critical Care Residency
Highlights from FY19 include:
Dr. Jörg Steiner mentors a student.
Research • Dr. Steiner was named a university distinguished professor, the only clinician to hold this rank. • Cardiology, with Dr. Hamer in VIBS, was awarded funding by the American Kennel Club to assess the epidemiology of Chagas disease in dogs and develop better treatments and diagnosis. • Dr. Jeffery developed a clinical trial examining the effect of durotomy on dogs with severe spinal injuries. • Dr. Creevy is a lead investigator of the Dog Aging Project, seeking to answer fundamental questions about lifespan and healthspan. Clinical Service • A third opthalmologist, Dr. Sean Collins, has joined the team, enabling us to better serve referring veterinarians and clients. • Dr. Vanna Dickerson was hired as an assistant professor in soft tissue surgery. • Dr. Shay Bracha, developer of Oregon State University's oncology program, was recruited as an associate professor of medical oncology. • Dr. Keila Ida was hired as a clinical assistant professor in anesthesia after completing a European College of Veterinary Anesthesia residency in Belgium • Dr. Igor Yankin was hired as a clinical assistant professor to help us better serve patients in Emergency & Critical Care.
Dr. Kate Creevy and friends
30 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Teaching • Our faculty have developed new courses associated with the third year of the DVM curriculum, focusing on day one competencies for generalists, small animal focused residents, and opportunities to learn about research and specialties. • We continue actively generating new scholarships related to education, including methods for selecting residents, case-based learning in large classrooms, and assessments of student performance.
VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL (VMTH) The VMTH at the CVM provides leading-edge compassionate care for animals while ensuring that our students receive the highest standard of veterinary medical education. The VMTH was the first teaching hospital to receive the prestigious American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Referral Practice Accreditation and is certified as a Level II facility by the Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Society (VECCS). This year, the hospital was awarded the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) – Gold Level designation The VMTH shares a unifying mission and vision and a set of core values with Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, and the department of Veterinary Pathobiology. These shared standards align our missions of teaching, research, and service, and serve as a foundation for strategic objectives that will propel our teaching hospital forward as a leader among academic veterinary medical centers. Mission: A better life through compassion, innovation, and discovery. Vision: To be the premier veterinary teaching hospital in the world. Core Values: Excellence, integrity, teamwork, communication, respect, and service.
Highlights from FY19 include: • The VMTH treated 23,555 patients in the Small Animal Hospital and 7,080 patients in the Large Animal Hospital. • The increased caseload resulted in a strong hospital operating margin facilitating the addition of 18 new technical and nursing staff positions to maintain around-the-clock patient support and care, and funding facility infrastructure and clinical service/equipment needs. • Continued growth of the Hospital's compassionate care funds, including support for the military, low-income clients, senior citizens, and large animals. These funds, known as Save the Animal Funds (SAF), provide financial assistance to clients who could not otherwise afford a lifesaving procedure for their animal, especially those that might have to be euthanized due to prohibitive financial hardship to the family. Through the generous donations towards these funds, the VMTH was able to provide more than $268,000 in financial support towards patient care. • Our Small Animal Oncology Service received a $200,000 grand from the Petco Foundation to financially assist owners with their pets’ cancer treatments. The Pet Cancer Treatment grant, supported by the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Cancer Research, Inc., provides support to pet parents of modest means or whose pets have provided a service to others for treatment of their domestic companion animals suffering from cancer. • The VMTH was awarded the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) Cat Friendly Practice (CFP) – Gold Level designation. The Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital is committed to ensuring that cats receive the best care possible when they are in our hospital. • Small Animal Oncology staff were awarded the prestigious 2019 President’s Meritorious Service Team Award, recognizing their commitment to the Aggie core values of excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, and selfless service. • The VMTH continues to invest in education and training of hospital staff, including Recovery CPCR certification for staff, Human Animal Bond certification, and extensive communication training between internal services.
Large Animal Hospital
Small Animal Hospital
2019 CVM Annual Report • 31
VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL (VMTH) Shaping tomorrow’s veterinarians while providing an unmatched patient and client experience is how the VMTH operates. The entire team of clinicians, staff, and veterinary students are committed to providing state-of-the-art care and making the CVM's teaching hospital a model for excellence in Texas and beyond.
Small Animal Hospital The Small Animal Hospital is home to 17 services. Patients have access to the full spectrum of veterinary care—from annual preventive medicine through the Primary Care Service to comprehensive cancer treatment through the Oncology Service.
Large Animal Hospital The 14 services of the Large Animal Hospital provide the best medicine available for horses, cattle, goats, sheep, swine, and camelids. Patients receive the total package of veterinary care both in the hospital through a variety of clinical services and at home or on-farm through Equine and Food Animal Field Services.
FY19 Large Animal Hospital Caseload* by Species
FY19 Small Animal Hospital Caseload* by Species
63 Birds** 91
264 Birds
Exotics**
129 Sheep
341 Exotics
267 Dogs** 270 Pigs
2,976
363 Goats 1,021
Cattle
4,876
Horses
Cats
19,974 Dogs
Hospital Caseload*
Number of Visits
30,000
Small Animal Caseload
Large Animal Caseload
Total Hospital Caseload
25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Year *Caseload: Each discharged case record is counted as one case. A case record may have multiple animals. Example: a mare/foal, litter, or herd are on a single case record. **Animals treated by VLCS at TDCJ agricultural units.
Hospital Visits
Number of Visits
30,000
Self-Referred Visits
Referral Visits
Total Visits
25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Year 32 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL (VMTH) FY19 Clinical Service Activity: Large Animal Hospital
FY19 Clinical Service Activity: Small Animal Hospital
Clinical Service Name
Clinical Service Name
YTD Sales
YTD Caseload
YTD Sales
YTD Caseload
Emergency & Critical Care
$417,005
169
Cardiology
$877,577
881
Equine Community Practice
$151,705
387
Critical Care
$467,253
292
Equine Field Service
$213,348
744
Dental
$456,106
526
Equine Internal Medicine
$672,902
449
Dermatology
$306,378
635
Equine Orthopedic Surgery
$1,025,355
456
Emergency
$3,782,721
4,796
Equine Soft Tissue Surgery
$542,693
426
General Surgery
$117,177
507
Equine Sports Medicine & Imaging
$890,617
690
Internal Medicine I
$1,469,925
1,315
Equine Theriogenology
$307,784
316
Internal Medicine II
$932,307
944
Farrier
$31,417
179
Neurology
$2,007,493
1,257
Food Animal Field Services
$37,778
119
Oncology
$3,327,809
3,299
$685,925
1,396
$436,339
1,136
$86
1
$2,464,462
1,822
$161,374
168
$848,840
3,599
$8,976
1,572
$5,170
11
$573
8
$133,898
1,169
Gross Sales
$5,147,545
Total Caseload:
$1,383,390
828
Net Revenue
$4,806,704
7,080
$222,525
538
Gross Sales
$19,239,377
Total Caseload:
Net Revenue
$18,162,040
23,555
Food Animal Medicine & Surgery Food Animal Theriogenology Ophthalmology TDCJ Ultrasound
Ophthalmology Orthopedics Primary Care Radiology Rehabilitation Soft Tissue Surgery Zoological Medicine
VMTH Net Revenue + College Support Area
FY14
FY15
FY16
FY17
FY18
F19
Large Animal Hospital
$3,663,623
$4,253,080
$4,450,376
$4,393,072
$4,854,500
$4,806,704
Small Animal Hospital
$11,991,528
$13,270,547
$14,533,673
$14,710,375
$16,305,727
$18,162,040
$169,442
$150,382
$169,983
$209,244
$218,936
$206,139
Total Revenue
$15,824,593
$17,674,009
$19,154,032
$19,312,691
$21,379,163
$26,903,305
Total Revenue + College Support
$18,812,374
$20,814,399
$22,512,252
$22,936,063
$24,815,614
$30,631,727
Other
Dr. Noah Cohen (far left) and Dr. Angela Bordin (third from right) with students in the Large Animal Hospital
Dr. Lori Teller (far right) with students and Reveille in the Small Animal Hospital 2019 CVM Annual Report • 33
SCHUBOT CENTER FOR AVIAN HEALTH The Schubot Center for Avian Health is an academic center within the CVM. Our mission is to conduct research into health issues affecting pet, wild, and exotic birds. This includes the physical health of birds as well as their mental health and the health of the environment in which they live. Physical Health: We research solutions to diseases involving infections, parasites, genetics, and nutrition of a diverse array of wild and captive birds. Mental Health: We study the mental health of birds in captivity and investigate the role of stress and training in improving their well-being. Environmental Health: We investigate the behavior and health of wild birds, especially macaws and other parrots, in their natural state in the Amazonian rain forests of Peru.
Dr. Sarah A. Hamer, with her African Gray parrot, Togo
In addition to conducting research, we also have a major teaching responsibility. We instruct professional students in the DVM program on avian health and conservation medicine. Our generous laboratory space is designed for studies on infectious diseases, pathology, genetics, and behavior. Our Avian Health Complex—with aviaries, isolation facilities, a laboratory, a clinic, and a classroom—is the largest and best equipped of its kind in the United States.
Highlights from FY19 include:
The new graphic element for the Schubot Center for Avian Health features the Whooping Crane, the Scarlet Macaw, and the Monk Parakeet.
34 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Our center is now officially called the Schubot Center for Avian Health. We are excited for the center name to reflect our broad, inclusive, and expanding work to study birds, ranging from caged birds to wild populations, conservation, genetics, health, and more. Our new logo features a few key species with great significance to the center: The endangered Whooping Crane, whose only natural migratory population winters exclusively here in Texas. Schubot members have been studying crane disease ecology and have sequenced the genome of the species to open new doors for conservation. The Scarlet Macaw, which is a large parrot popular in the aviculture community. Researchers with Schubot work on conservation and chick survival of macaws in the wild, including a longstanding conservation program based in Tambopata, Peru. The Monk Parakeet (aka Quaker Parrot), which is endemic to South America, has many feral/invasive populations across cities in the USA, Europe, and more. The Schubot Aviary has >100 monk parakeets that are used for research, teaching, and outreach. We initiated a $2,500 research mini-grant, a $1,000 travel grant program, and awarded 11 grants in their inaugural round. Recipients span undergrads, grad students, postdocs, and faculty across 5 different departments and 3 colleges. We implemented a Schubot Seminar series, and have had 5 external speakers in the last 12 months present on topics spanning wild and captive bird health, zoonotic disease, animal behavior, and conservation. The Schubot Avian Health Director’s Award was established, in honor of Dr. Ian Tizard (Schubot Director from 1999–2017), for an undergrad, graduate, or veterinary student who excels in avian health research and has contributed to the mission and operations of the Schubot Center. The award recipient should have demonstrated research excellence on a topic regarding health issues affecting exotic or wild birds. PhD student Paulina Escandon and recent graduate Dr. Jeann Leal were selected as recipients of the inaugural Schubot Director’s Award in 2019 to recognize the contributions of trainees to advancing bird health research.
VETERINARY EMERGENCY TEAM (VET) The Texas A&M VET serves our state and nation every day through deployments of the largest and most sophisticated veterinary response team in the country. We provide service-oriented educational opportunities for veterinary students through collaborations with Texas agencies and jurisdictions, and build regional preparedness/response capabilities through partnerships with other Texas A&M University System universities and private-sector veterinary medical professionals. We continue to support the Texas Task Forces by providing veterinary medical support to their canine teams during trainings and deployments. We also help Texas communities develop emergency plans for animals.
2019 Disaster Deployments 2019 represented a year of "firsts," solidifying the VET's position as the preeminent veterinary medical emergency response team in the nation. The year proved to be an active response season with the team being deployed to three incidents: the Camp Wildfire near Paradise, California; the Cameron County, Texas animal seizure; and our Tropical Storm Imelda response in Chambers and Jefferson Counties. Camp Wildfire Response The Cameron County deployment was the first time that the Texas A&M VET has been ordered to deploy by the State of Texas in response to a large-scale animal seizure. There were 270 animals seized as a result of animal cruelty from a warehouse in the Rio Grande Valley. This was a unique deployment in that none of the animals were owned and all would be looking for new homes. Most animal’s health status was significantly compromised and took a valiant effort by all faculty, staff, and students to prepare them to join new families. This was an overwhelmingly satisfying mission from the perspective that our team was able to play an integral role in getting these animals into a better and more stable situation. It also provided an outstanding opportunity for our students to develop and hone medical skills while also learning the larger impact that a veterinarian can have by addressing health issues at the population level Cameron County Animal Seizure The Cameron County deployment was the first time that the Texas A&M VET has been ordered to deploy by the State of Texas in response to a large-scale animal seizure. There were 270 animals seized as a result of animal cruelty from a warehouse in the Rio Grande Valley. This was a unique deployment in that none of the animals were owned and all would be looking for new homes. Most animal’s health status was significantly compromised and took a valiant effort by all faculty, staff, and students to prepare them to join new families. This was an overwhelmingly satisfying mission from the perspective that our team was able to play an integral role in getting these animals into a better and more stable situation. It also provided an outstanding opportunity for our students to develop and hone medical skills while also learning the larger impact that a veterinarian can have by addressing health issues at the population level Tropical Storm Imelda The Texas A&M VET was returning home from Cameron County when we were ordered to deploy to Chambers and Jefferson County, Texas in response to Tropical Storm Imelda. We deployed to this area during Hurricane Harvey and have a very close working relationship with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents and other personnel from these jurisdictions, so this was a homecoming of sorts. Both counties suffered significant damage during Hurricane Harvey and Tropical Storm Imelda brought historic flooding. This incident demonstrated the resilience of our state’s citizens and their commitment to providing for animals even when disasters strike.
VET deploys to California for support in the aftermath of the Camp Wildfire.
VET members treat neglected animals seized in Cameron County.
Counties – Deployments Counties – Deployments & Emergency Planning Counties – Emergency Planning Cities, Universities, or Other Entities – Emergency Planning as of April 2019
Brazoria
This map of Texas details VET deployments, as well as counties and cities where the team has helped develop emergency preparedness plans for animals. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 35
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & STUDY ABROAD
DVM student Amanda Day attending a lecture in Quintana Roo, Mexico
The CVM's International Programs office encourages faculty and students to look beyond our borders and to be problem solvers on an international scale through education and research. Under the leadership of Dr. Linda Logan, the office facilitates ongong and new education abroad opportunities, international student and faculty exchange, and CVM contributions to international development projects. The progam also provides mentorship and guidance for students interested in international experiences and careers. In FY19, the CVM hosted 20 international visitors from countries including China, Taiwan, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, Canada, Italy, Hungary, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and France.
International Program Advisory Committee (IPAC) Composed of faculty members from across the CVM, the IPAC manages a number of annual travel awards for students and faculty and provides strategic inputs for strengthening ongoing international programs. With the Dean's concurrence, department heads appoint two faculty members per department for three-year terms. IPAC members then elect the committee chair annually. Currently, Dr. Jan Suchodolski holds the chair position. In FY19, the IPAC issued 106 travel awards to students and faculty, enabling 100 students to attend faculty-led programs, 4 students to defray costs for independent education abroad programs, and 2 faculty members to build upon international research collaborations and develop new education abroad programs.
Study Abroad Opportunities
2019 Bulgaria Biomedical Sciences cohort with Dr. Ivanov & Dr. Stankova
Since 2013, the number of BIMS, DVM, and CVM graduate students enrolled in study abroad opportunities has increased dramatically. This was the first year of our faculty-led program in Bulgaria and groundwork was laid for the first program in Taiwan to be held in FY20. In addition to BIMS, DVM, and CVM graduate students, the CVM faculty-led programs served students from major programs across the university, including Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences, Psychology, and Biology. Costa Rica Biomedical Science Semester (Fall) During this semester-long experience, BIMS students live and study at the Soltis Center in Costa Rica under the guidance of Dr. Donald Brightsmith. The trip includes coursework in genetics, microbiology, ecology, Spanish, and biomedical writing. For three weeks, students live with a host family to better understand the local culture. Peru Veterinary Field Experience (Winter) This program, led by Dr. Donald Brightsmith and Dr. Sharman Hoppes, immerses veterinary students in a long-term research program studying the health, conservation, and natural history of large macaws and other psittacines in the lowland rain forests of southeastern Peru. The students work alongside veterinarians, biologists, foresters, and other researchers from the U.S., Peru, and other countries as they collect health and conservation information on macaws and parrots.
Dr. Brightsmith in Costa Rica 36 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Germany Biosciences Semester (Spring) Led by Dr. Jeremy Wasser, this program is offered to biomedical science and bioengineering majors. In addition to coursework, it includes a semester-long project in collaboration with a German biotechnology company that offers real-world experience in research and design. The program also includes many field trips to museums, research institutions, human and veterinary medical schools, and other sites of historical and cultural importance throughout Germany and neighboring EU countries.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS & STUDY ABROAD Food Safety from the European Perspective (Summer) Hosted by the University of Padova, Italy, veterinary students interested in learning about food safety and public health can participate in a summer short-course led by Dr. Christine Budke. Students learn about the European Union’s food safety regulatory system and interact with peers. Bulgaria Biomedical Sciences (Summer) While immersed in Bulgarian culture, undergraduate students study the neurobiology of developmental disorders. This program, led by Dr. Ivan Ivanov, gives students the opportunity to understand the differences and similarities between Eastern European and American perspectives of developmental disorders. It also serves as a catalyst in international health career development by providing a specific global perspective on developmental health issues. Barcelona Global Health (Summer) Dr. Maria Esteve-Gassent coordinates this program for undergraduate students interested in careers in veterinary medicine, human medicine, and public health. This immersive program focuses on how to communicate about global health within the context of both Spanish language and culture. History of Medicine in Europe (Summer) Dr. Jeremy Wasser leads this program designed to introduce undergraduate students to the historical development of human and veterinary medicine in Europe. It includes visits to museums, medical schools, hospitals, research institutions, and sites of general cultural and historical importance throughout Germany and neighboring countries. This program maximizes the international impact for students interested in pursuing careers in human medicine, veterinary medicine, or biomedical research. South Africa Conservation Medicine (Summer) Veterinary students, led by Dr. Alice Blue-McLendon, visit the Eastern Cape Province to observe the management of African species at wildlife parks and games preserves. They will become familiar with certain aspects of hoofstock medicine, including common diseases and preventative medicine, and will gain direct experience with many aspects of chemical immobilization, including drugs and darting equipment. African Wildlife Conservation and Health (Summer) Led by Drs. Jim Derr, Walter Cook, and Linda Logan, this program takes students to Limpopo Province, South Africa and Botswana. They study the role of veterinarians in large landscape wildlife conservation medicine and develop skills to apply to wildlife health and sustainability issues across the State of Texas. Wildlife experts guide participants through various activities, including animal restraint, administering drugs, field surgery, and darting. Other experiential learning can include interaction with crocodiles, buffalo, and rhinos.
African Wildlife Conservation Medicine cohort
Thailand Global One Health (Summer) This program, led by Michelle Yeoman, is a hybrid study abroad experience incorporating four weeks of study abroad instruction with six weeks of on-campus instruction in College Station. In this course, students use case studies to explore the connections between human, animal, and environmental health. The course is designed for undergraduate students interested in veterinary or human medicine, including public health, and wish to explore Global One Health issues. The students work with elephants, rescued sea turtles, and other exotic species at a sanctuary.
Current Research Projects A number of CVM faculty have projects with international components. Each year, the CVM enters into new agreements with universities and research institutes around the world. CVM faculty collaborate on international programs with Texas A&M faculty from the Norman Borlaug Institute of International Programs and Development, the Institute of Infectious Animal Diseases (IIAD), as well as international organizations, such as the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Faculty have diverse sources of funding for their research projects, educational endeavors, and capacity development projects from private foundations, federal agencies, and international organizations that promote development, food security, and public health. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 37
INTERDISCIPLINARY FACULTY OF TOXICOLOGY (IFT)
Dr. Weihsueh Chiu, CVM Professor, served on the national committee to update DRIs established in 2005.
The IFT is a degree-granting graduate program that is composed of faculty from twenty Texas A&M departments in five colleges, three divisions of the Health Science Center, and three associated laboratories. Since 1989, the IFT has awarded over 50 MS degrees, nearly 200 PhD degrees, and two DVM/PhD degrees. In addition, well over 100 postdocs have trained in toxicology at Texas A&M University. The IFT is housed administratively at the CVM. Training future generations of toxicologists in novel scientific discoveries should go hand-in-hand with ensuring that trainees develop a broad set of complementary competencies that span multiple disciplines from basic biology to exposure science, biostatistics, and epidemiology. In addition, trainees must understand how these data and knowledge are translated into decisions and policy. Areas of research include: Regulatory Toxicology & Public Health, Cellular & Molecular Toxicology, Reproductive & Developmental Toxicology, Behavioral & Neurotoxicology, Environmental & Veterinary Toxicology, and Applied Toxicology & Food Safety.
Highlights from FY19 include: National/International Service • Dr. Chiu participated on the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee that evaluated sodium, potassium, and intake values. • Dr. Rusyn completed service as chair of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs working group on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans (Volume 125): “Some Industrial Chemical Intermediates and Solvents.” • Dr. Rusyn was appointed to the Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology (BEST). Accomplishments • Dr. Safe was elected to the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) inaugural class of senior members.
Dr. Weston Porter speaking at the NIEHS Keystone Science Lecture Seminar Series.
Krisa Camargo, recipient of the DoD SMART Scholarship, and Reveille. 38 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Research • Dr. Safe, in collaboration with colleagues at the Detroit Medical Center, found that AH receptors in the brain could be used to develop a drug that would inhibit the development of glioblastomas. • Dr. Porter's research found that time of day should become a standard element for characterizing potentially toxic polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Trainees • Krisa Camargo received a DoD SMART Scholarship which will fund her graduate studies and provide employment upon their completion. • N. Roberto Fuentes, Jr., PhD, received an MD Anderson CPRIT TRIUMPH Postdoctoral Fellowship.
IARC Monographs working group including Dr. Ivan Rusyn (front, left), also appointed to BEST.
SUPERFUND RESEARCH CENTER The Texas A&M Superfund Research Center, with scientists from across campus, will conduct four environmental research projects funded by a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Established in 1987, the NEIHS Superfund Research Program is a highly competitive, grant-based program that funds a network of 16 university-based multidisciplinary research teams that study human health and environmental issues related to hazardous chemicals, with a goal of understanding the link between exposure and disease. Texas A&M Superfund Center researchers, led by Dr. Ivan Rusyn, professor in VIBS at the CVM, and Dr. Anthony Knap, professor of oceanography and director of the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group in the College of Geosciences, will work to translate science into the practice of mitigating the health and environmental consequences of exposure to hazardous chemical mixtures. The ultimate goal of the program is to create packages that will serve as “howtos” for affected areas during any form of environmental emergency situation, from weather-related disasters, to chemical spills, to industrial accidents.
Highlights from FY19 include:
Dr. Ivan Rusyn, professor in VIBS, chair of the Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, and director of the Texas A&M Superfund Research Center testifies in Congress on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) chemical assessments.
• Project 2 faculty and trainees developing sorbent materials to prevent exposures to environmental contaminants during disasters. • Community Engagement Core, Exposure Science Core, Decision Science Core, and Project 3 collaborate to address commnuity concerns following chemical fires at the Intercontinental Terminals Company facility in La Porte, TX. • Disaster research efforts resulted in development of international relations. Research & Other Activities • Student, Postdoc, and Faculty training in hazardous waste operations. • CEC: Long-term community engagement through imporved resiliency. • CEC: Longitudinal Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) - Empowering communities to be prepared for disaster response. • RTC: Faculty conducted staff-training in new approach methods and read-across for California EPA. • RTC: Workshops and webinars serve to translate the Center's findings and approaches to the wider research and regulatory communities.
Back row, left to right: Dr. Robert Burghardt and Dr. Weihsueh Chiu Front row, left to right: Dr. Arum Han (College of Engineering) and Dr. Ivan Rusyn
Trainees participate in a Disaster Research Training Workshop held by the Texas A&M Superfund Research Center.
Mya Morales collects a water sample from Galveston Bay for a Texas A&M Superfund Research Center project. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 39
CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGIES (CET) STR
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The CET's mission is to advance education by developing, implementing, and evaluating innovative educational tools and resources. The CET continues to serve our state, nation, and world through various research, teaching, and entrepreneurial endeavors—all of which are centered on providing engaging online educational resources. For more information on our educational resources visit: http://www.tamucet.org.
Research 4 grant proposals submitted 1 accepted 1 rejected
Instruction 8 trainings held and 13 educational resources developed
Enterprise $50,369 in new contract, educational resource, and hosting services revenue
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The CET continues to work collaboratively with other university entities, state, federal, and international agencies, other colleges of veterinary medicine, nongovernmental agencies, and industry to provide access to innovative and engaging educational resources anytime and in any place. The approach has led to the CET’s international reputation for excellence in curriculum development and resource hosting services.
Lunch & Learn series offers professional development to faculty and staff.
Developing curriculum for Syndaver models with the pre-clinical skills lab.
40 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Key Collaborators
Institutions Using CET Resources
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
West Texas A&M University Prairie View A&M University Texas A&M University-Kingsville Tarleton State University Cornell University Colorado State University Ohio State University University of Guelph Oklahoma State University University of Georgia VetFolio Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP) Primary Care Veterinary Educators (PCVE) With partnerships and end users from all over the world, the CET’s work has growing global impact.
VetFolio USDA-APHIS USAID University of California–Davis Cornell University University of Illinois Kansas State University University of Missouri The Ohio State University Colorado State University Oklahoma State University University of Tennessee Texas A&M College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (COALS) • Partners for Healthy Pets (PHP) • Texas A&M Medical Sciences Library • PCVE
CVM COMMUNICATIONS CVM Communications supports the college through the implementation of strategic marketing and communications services that range from branding and identity, media and public relations, graphic design, and printing and copying to digital marketing, web and digital communications, photography and videography, and merchandise sales.
Communications The communications team writes and distributes college news through press releases, the weekly Pet Talk column, the monthly Dean's Corner enewsletter, the CVM Annual Report series, and the semi-annual CVM Today magazine. Read our news stories and publications online at https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news. Our team also coordinates all media interaction with CVM faculty, staff, and students. We provide graphic design, photograph and videography, digital marketing, and website support for the CVM Dean's Office, departments, centers, hospital services, research units, and college events. We also provide services to other entities on the Texas A&M campus, including Mays Business School and The Bush School of Government & Public Service. We coordinate the digital signage within CVM buildings and the official social media channels for the college. We also provide undergraduate BIMS and professional DVM students with notes for classes taught by college faculty. Members of our team are Texas A&M adjunct faculty, active in professional communication organizations, give presentations and seminars within the college, university, and at local and regional conferences, deploy with the VET, and design the merchandise sold in the CVM Marketplace.
CVM Today, Spring 2019
CVM Ambassadors The CVM Ambassadors are an important part of the welcoming and inclusive environment the CVM provides to visitors. As the public face of our college, Ambassadors welcome guests to our campus, share information with visitors, assist with special functions, and offer daily tours that showcase our teaching spaces. In FY19, 4,538 guests took 536 ambassador-led tours of the CVM. Ambassadors are dedicated to selflessly serving the college by building and strengthening the CVM’s relationship with prospective and current students, faculty and staff, alumni and donors, and other guests. Managed by CVM Communications, the program comprises first-, second-, and third-year veterinary students and undergraduate BIMS majors of all classifications who demonstrate the Aggie Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. Meet our current ambassadors, and read more about their experiences as students and ambassadors through their semi-weekly CVM Ambassadors Blog at https://vetmed.tamu.edu/ambassadors/blog.
CVM Today, Fall 2019
Marketplace CVM Marketplace is the place to purchase college merchandise. From apparel to pet items, if you're looking for a special gift with a CVM or veterinary theme, it is the place to shop. Order from us online at https://tx.ag/CVMMarketplace.
CVM Marketplace
CVM Ambassadors 2019 CVM Annual Report • 41
PARTNERSHIP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION & RURAL HEALTH The Partnership for Environmental Education & Rural Health (PEER) provides multifaceted outreach for science and veterinary medical education. Middle and high school curricula, state and nation-wide video conferencing and webcasts, and presentations to K-12 students stimulate career interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). PEER partnered with KAMU-TV to produce high-quality, professional presentations and recordings for K-12 students across the nation as PEER reaches out to rural schools and minority populations in its STEM promotion among youth. Each presentation was recorded in high definition and archived on the PEER YouTube channel for future viewing at https://tx.ag/PEERWebcasts.
FY19 PEER: Impact Measured by the Numbers
Dr. Larry Johnson, Director of PEER
PEER at Texas A&M YouTube Channel • Total views • New subscribers • Total subscribers
84,267 581 1,320
Downloads of curricular materials • 2,184 teachers (~13 downloads per teacher*) • 203,112 students impacted (~93 students per teacher*) • 52% were students with minority status*
22,472
Downloads/views of science/veterinary-related videos
4,735
Downloads of science/veterinary-related magazines
233
Students participating in FFA state veterinary science events
627
Students attending outreach events
2,060
*Based on results of a survey of teachers
TEXAS A&M INSTITUTE FOR PRECLINICAL STUDIES (TIPS) The Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies (TIPS) is a one-of-kind laboratory engaging in many collaborative research efforts and incorporating the use of spontaneous animal models into clinical trials of new drugs and devices. Its imaging capabilities rank among the best in the world. Housed within the CVM, TIPS is a uniquely qualified and positioned entity to conduct medical device and combination product safety studies in large-animal models in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations.
Texas A&M Institute for Preclinical Studies 42 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
TIPS state-of-the-art surgical suite
CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) In FY19, the CVM's Office of CE offered the perennial favorite conferences: Feline, Canine, Food Animal, Veterinary Technicians, and Emergency & Critical Care. In addition, we hosted five conferences organized by other entities and offered three additional specialized conferences and workshops. In FY20, we are turning the page in the history of CE at Texas A&M. The Feline, Canine, and Food Animal conferences will be discontinued as we introduce the Texas A&M Annual Veterinary Conference to our portfolio. This multi-species, multitrack conference will provide veterinarians with an opportunity to choose from five simultaneous didactic tracks over two days, the first of which will feature a menu of hands-on laboratories and workshops. It will also be a venue for veterinarians throughout the region to network with colleagues, classmates, and industry representatives at our state-of-the-art facility. Throughout the rest of the year, we will continue to host conferences organized by industry and professional organizations, as well as our own conferences and workshops. Our goal continues to be to provide a wide range of CE activities as a means for veterinarians and technicians in the region to hone their knowledge and skills so they can better serve the needs of their patients and clients.
Hands-on experiential learning
FY19 Continuing Education Conferences Statistics Conference/ Seminar
Chair(s)
Dates
Participants
Total Hours
ACVIM Resident Bootcamp
Drs. Navas de Solis & Chaffin
October 2018
20
34
Equine Gut Health
Sponsor
October 2018
29
8
Emergency & Critical Care
Drs. Heinz & Rutter
October 2018
134
16
BioMedtrix Canine Orthopedics
Dr. Saunders
November 2018
29
29
Canine Abdominal Ultrasound
Drs. Voges & Glimour
December 2018
23
16
Small Animal Oncology
Dr. Robles
March 2019
79
17
AAEP 360: Lameness of the Lower Limb
Drs. Navas de Solis & Glass
March 2019
18
10
Food Animal Conference
Drs. Dominguez & Schleining
May 2019
87
15
Veterinary Technicians Conference
Ms. Scanlin
June 2019
281
13
AAEP 360: Equine Respiratory Disease
Drs. Chaffin & Whitfield
July 2019
20
24
Feline Forum
Dr. Roussel
July 2019
115
16
Canine Conference
Dr. Heseltine
August 2019
189
16
Nuclear Medicine Short Course
Dr. Voges
August 2019
49
17
Totals
1,073
231
Stimulating Didactic Presentations
CE conferences provide networking opportunities. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 43
EQUINE INITIATIVE The Texas A&M Equine Initiative is a collaboration between the CVM and the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences (COALS). As a gateway to equine education, research, outreach, and services at Texas A&M, the Equine Initiative utilizes the expertise of the CVM and the COALS Department of Animal Science, as well as contributions from colleges across campus, to create a program that will educate the industry’s future leaders, as well as generate research and veterinary medical care that will improve the industry and the care and welfare of the horse. Four major imperatives have been developed to enhance and improve upon Texas A&M’s existing strengths to facilitate the vision of the Equine Initiative. These imperatives are: curriculum enhancement; outreach, engagement, and expansion; facility construction; and partnership development.
Highlights from FY19 include:
Dr. Jim Heird
• With the hiring of Dr. Jim Heird in October 2009, executive professor and coordinator of the Equine Initiative and Glenn Blodgett Equine Chair, the Equine Initiative celebrates 10 years. • The Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex continues to provide support for teaching, research, extension, and outreach initiatives dedicated to equine programs. • The campus-wide resource that is the Equine Complex is home to the Texas A&M NCAA Equestrian Team and the cross-country course for the Texas A&M Track and Field and Cross-Country Team. • The Equine Complex has already hosted 475 events, with a current estimated attendance total of 40,000 this year. • The second Master of Equine Industry Management cohort graduated in May 2019 • The third Master of Equine Industry Management cohort began in September 2019. • The second annual Ranch Horse Program was created as part of the Beef Cattle Short Course and was held at the Thomas G. Hildebrand, DVM ’56 Equine Complex. • Equine researchers from the CVM and the Department of Animal Science discussed potential research collaboration ideas. • Several trainers in the Thoroughbred racing industry agreed to assist with a project with CVM orthopedic veterinarians. • The Equine Orthopedic & Wellness Center received its final architectural plans from Populous.
Dr. Glenn Blodgett
Statue by Kelly Graham, donated by the Hildebrand family 44 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
STEVENSON COMPANION ANIMAL LIFE-CARE CENTER The Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center provides for the physical, emotional, and medical needs of companion animals whose owners are no longer able to provide that care. Clients of the center include pet owners who want to ensure their pet’s future prior to entering a retirement home, being hospitalized for an extended period, or predeceasing their pet. The center was established by the college in 1993, at the suggestion of Dr. E. W. “Ned” Ellett, former head of the Small Animal Clinical Sciences department. Dr. Ellett’s dream became a reality with generous donations from the Luse Foundation and Mrs. Madlin Stevenson. Mrs. Stevenson said she chose to support the center because, “animals are especially important to the elderly and this center is dedicated to them and their pets.” Mrs. Stevenson, a life-long animal lover, passed away in September of 2000, and her four cats, seven dogs, pony, and llama came to reside at the center. The center is a focal point of compassion for animals and dedication to their optimum care for life in a home-like environment.
Dr. Sonny Presnal, Director Ellie Greenbaum, Associate Director
About the Stevenson Center: • The center is beginning its 27th year of operation. • Companion animals can live out their lives at the center in a home-like environment after their owners can no longer care for them. • 109 pets have lived out their lives at the center since 1993. • Over 679 companion animals, owned by 276 owners from 33 states and one country outside of the U.S., are enrolled to enter the center when their owners can no longer care for them. • Four veterinary medical students live at the center to care for the resident pets on nights, weekends, and holidays. • The center is located next door to the VMTH, which provides exceptional veterinary care for the residents.
Stevenson Center Current Residents
3 4 7
Rabbits
Chen
Stevenson Center Future Enrollments 2 Donkeys
Resident Caretakers Non-Resident Caretakers
13 Cats 13 Dogs
3 Other 3 Rabbits 15 Horses 22 Birds 307 Dogs 327 Cats
Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center permanent staff
Residents with their student caretakers 2019 CVM Annual Report • 45
DEVELOPMENT Texas A&M’s third comprehensive fundraising campaign, Lead by Example, will draw to a close in 2020. This successful joint effort between the university and its affiliate organizations: the Texas A&M Foundation, The Association of Former Students, the 12th Man Foundation, and the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation, is the largest higher education campaign in Texas history and the third largest conducted nationally by a public university.
What does it mean to Lead by Example? At Texas A&M, we believe leading by example means taking initiative. It means demonstrating our commitment to excellence. And, it means exploring, innovating, and effecting change to create a better world. The Lead By Example Campaign started in January of 2012, and publicly launched in November 2015, with a goal of $4 billion university-wide. Over the course of the campaign, former students and friends are uniting with our faculty and staff to enhance the CVM's ability to tackle real-world problems—such as threats of infectious diseases, world hunger, and the advancement of human and animal health—while also preparing future generations of uniquely qualified leaders. The Lead by Example campaign will continue through 2020, with a goal of $200,000,000 for the CVM. As of November 2019, generous donors to the college have contributed 115% of the goal, or $223,666,604 in research grants, current gifts, and planned gifts to the campaign. These contributions are impacting students, faculty, staff, and research by enriching academic programs and practical learning experiences at the college.
Gift Type
Gift Use
56%
Planned Gifts
Programs
13%
83%
31%
6%
Private Support to Research
Current Gifts
Facilities 1%
10% Students
Faculty
OUTSTANDING ALUMNI & RISING STAR In 2019, the CVM recognized six alumni for their commitment, service, and leadership in the veterinary and biomedical sciences fields, as well as to their communities. According to the dean, “These alumni are ambassadors for the CVM, and we are proud of their commitment to service, education, and leadership. We are honored and privileged to recognize our former students and the impact of their work on our college, our state, our nation, and the world.”
Dr. Anmarie Macfarland ’90 2019 Outstanding Alumna
Dr. Sydney Moise ’77 2019 Outstanding Alumna
46 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Dr. Phillip Sponenberg ’76 2019 Outstanding Alumnus
LTC Nicole Thompson Stoneburg ’96 2019 Outstanding Alumna
Dr. Peggy Tinkey ’83 2019 Outstanding Alumna
Dr. Cassandra Tansey ’15 2019 Rising Star
DEVELOPMENT Planned Giving During the university’s $4 billion Lead by Example campaign, the CVM has received 241 planned gifts totaling more than $125 million. Simply put, the impact of planned gifts to the campaign—and to the college’s future—cannot be understated. By committing planned gifts, donors are creating ways to provide for loved ones, receive tax benefits, generate potential retirement income and support Texas A&M, all at the same time. Most importantly, donors are able to direct their generosity with a sense of joy and achievement, secure in the knowledge that generations of Aggies will benefit through their lasting impact. When Melissa and John Kauth ’77 met with an attorney to discuss their wills, they struggled to decide how to settle their assets. They were given an insightful piece of advice that ultimately benefited the university and a cause they cherished: “Give to something you love.” “We both adore dogs, and I immediately thought of Texas A&M and the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center,” said Melissa. “The animals at the Stevenson Center are cared for with professional expertise and profound love.” The Stevenson Center is a unique retirement home for pets whose owners can no longer care for them. It also provides veterinary students Melissa and John Kauth '77 left a gift for the Stevenson Companion with in - valuable hands-on experience, but will need funding for Animal Life-Care Center in their wills. expansions, upgrades and new equipment in the future. A charitable bequest is one of the easiest ways to leave a lasting impact at Texas A&M. A bequest allows you to retain assets during your lifetime and lessen the burden of taxes on your family. Because the Kauths don’t have children, they won’t have a taxable estate. “Bequests have the potential for financial benefits,” added John, “but our gift to the Stevenson Center benefits us emotionally.”
FUNDING PRIORITIES The CVM Development Team is committed to building relationships between the college and friends of the college who have an interest in enhancing its financial resources. In the process of carrying out this commitment, the Development Team makes numerous individual and group presentations on the wide variety of activities that take place at the CVM. In response to those efforts, CVM donors provided current and planned giving support of over $30 million in FY19. The total CVM endowment in FY19 was $117.86 million.
Lead by Example Campaign Priorities During the Texas A&M Lead by Example Capital Campaign the following funding priorities have been identified for the CVM by college administration and the Texas A&M Foundation. • Build a new Small Animal Hospital ($100 Million) • Support Veterinary Medical Innovation initiatives ($20 Million) • Fund the Center for Translational Medicine ($20 Million) • Support the Courtney Grimshaw Fowler Equine Therapeutic Program ($12 Million) • Support the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) ($10 Million) • Create a comprehensive Shelter Medicine program ($10 Million) • Create scholarships for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) ($5 Million) & Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) ($3 Million) students To find out more about these priorities or learn about endowment opportunities, contact the CVM Office of Development at 979.845.9043 or development@cvm.tamu.edu. 2019 CVM Annual Report • 47
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Eleanor M. Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP The Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine
Kenita S. Rogers, DVM, MS, DACVIM Executive Associate Dean & Director for Diversity & Inclusion
Karen K. Cornell, DVM, PhD, DACVS Associate Dean, Professional Programs
Robert C. Burghardt, PhD, MS Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Susan Eades, PhD, DVM, DACVIM Dept. Head, Large Animal Clinical Sciences
Jonathan Levine, DVM, DACVIM Dept. Head, Small Animal Clinical Sciences
C. Jane Welsh, PhD Interim Dept. Head, Veterinary Integrative Biosciences
Michael Criscitiello, PhD, MS Assistant Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Belinda Hale, MBA Assistant Dean, Finance
Misty Skaggs Chief of Staff, Office of the Dean
48 • 2019 CVM Annual Report
Elizabeth Crouch, PhD Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
Ramesh Vemulapalli, BVSc, MVSc, PhD Dept. Head, Veterinary Pathobiology
Chastity Carrigan, MS Assistant Vice President for Development (Texas A&M Foundation)
Gerald W. Parker Jr., DVM, PhD, MS Associate Dean, Global One Health
Larry J. Suva, PhD Dept. Head, Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology
Kris Guye, MBA Executive Director, Information Technology Services & Assistant Chief Information Officer (Texas A&M University)
"One & One-Half Horse Power" by Star Liana York
Editorial, design, and production by CVM Communications cvmcommunications@cvm.tamu.edu | vetmed.tamu.edu/communications 2019 CVM Annual Report • 49
"The Legacy Breed" by Payton Lara
vetmed.tamu.edu