UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
VETREPORT FALL 2019
p. 2 Hospital Grows to Improve Lives
p. 10 Student Opportunities on the Wild Side
HOW TO HIRE AN ILLINI
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FROM THE DEAN
We’re Going to Need More Ribbon… Since March 2017, our college has held six celebrations for notable facility improvements to support animal care, student learning, and research advances. •
3 T magnetic resonance imaging capabilities to image not only small animal patients but also the heads, necks, and limbs of horses
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The college’s first new classroom space in 30 years—plus dedicated study and meeting space for students—built in what was formerly the library (which, thanks to digital media, now serves up much more information using a fraction of the physical space)
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A new home for the Wildlife Medical Clinic in our new South Clinic location (see details page 7).
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A renovated suite for the cardiology service in the hospital
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A greatly expanded hospital pharmacy (a dedicated “clean room” for the safe handling of hazardous formulations, such as chemotherapy drugs, will be completed soon)
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A new wing of the Small Animal Clinic to house a state-of-the-art linear accelerator
CUTTING THE RIBBON: Doing the honors were Dean Peter Constable; Dr. Kimberly Selting; Dr. Laura Garrett, oncology service head; Dr. Julia Whittington, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital; and Dr. Dennis French, head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine.
And there will be so much more to celebrate in the years to come. Naturally, as dean, I view these milestones with tremendous pride. And that is because I see every accomplishment not merely in terms of square feet and capital expenditures but rather as evidence of our outstanding faculty delivering excellence. Underlying every renovated facility, every technological advance, is the drive to make our world a better place: to heal more animals, to inspire students to become their best selves, to improve the health of people and the planet. I’m excited for the future at the College of Veterinary Medicine. I hope that something in this issue of Veterinary Report will spark excitement in you too. Because we’re going to need an extended community of alumni and friends to help us continue to grow. And we’re going to need more ribbon! - Dean Peter Constable
ON THE COVER: Molly Burke, Class of 2020, assists boarded criticalist Dr. Jenica Haraschak in examining a patient in the emergency service. Illinois graduates are in high demand by veterinary employers.
ACCELERATING CARE FOR PETS WITH CANCER—AND MORE T
he top-of-the-line in radiation therapy became available for our cancer patients on June 10, when the Veterinary Teaching Hospital debuted its new Varian TrueBeam® linear accelerator.
Dr. Kimberly Selting joined the Illinois faculty in the fall of 2017 to implement the acquisition of this new technology. Dr. Selting is boarded both as a medical oncologist and as a radiation oncologist. “Moving from the previous radiation modality in the hospital to the TrueBeam® is an upgrade of great magnitude, like switching from a tricycle to a Ferrari. We will be able to shorten the length of treatment needed by patients. “Ever since I was a student, I have been intrigued by all aspects of cancer care. I’m thrilled by the opportunity to translate findings in companion animal oncology to humans and vice versa. Cancer is a formidable foe, and it’s rewarding for me to have a role in helping animals and people defeat it.”
CANCER-FIGHTING TEAM (FROM LEFT): Darleen Drake, CVT; Tara Dolbert, CVT; Dr. Dana Connell, resident; Ashley Wetzel, CVT; Dr. Alycen Lundberg; Dr. Alison Masyr, intern (front); Dr. Tim Fan (behind); Dr. Laura D. Garrett (front); Dr. Mark Byrum, resident (behind); Rebecca Kamerer, CVT; Dr. Kimberly Selting; Jenny Byrd, CVT; Dr. Matthew Berry, resident. Not pictured are Dr. Sunny Kao, resident, and Becca Guess, CVT.
ANIMAL CARE
ANIMAL CARE
G ROWTH FACTOR
‘WE’RE HERE TO
IMPROVE LIVES’ Even as the finishing touches are being put on the new linear accelerator wing, the first phase of a much larger plan for hospital expansion is already under way.
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state-of-the-art small animal surgical wing, with eight operating suites and a dedicated induction area, will be completed early next year. The space vacated by surgery will be renovated for an expanded emergency services area, with improved patient flow between ER and ICU. A step-down ward will provide intermediate care for patients that don’t need full ICUlevel monitoring.
The Large Animal Clinic will undergo renovations next summer, with extensive upgrades to the equine surgical suite and installation of a 128-slice computed tomography scanner. Overall, the expansion is a $9 million effort and will touch nearly every service area in the hospital. In conjunction with these changes, primary care services will relocate from the hospital to a recently acquired building across the street to the south, aptly
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named the South Clinic. Primary care for dogs and cats as well as zoological companion species will be delivered in this new space. Senior students will be empowered to take a more active role in both patient care and clinic management. Plans are under way to offer overflow convenient care to support local veterinary clinics. “When you boil it down to its essence, the hospital is here to improve lives. It’s that simple. We do this by providing exceptional patient care, by serving animal owners and veterinarians, by advancing veterinary education, and by developing innovative health solutions,” said Dr. Julia Whittington, director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “We’re growing to expand our capacity to improve the lives of our patients, their owners, and our students.”
Veterinary Teaching Hospital by the Numbers (FY2018) + + + +
Clients served 17,076 Patients served 33,787 (15,085 as inpatients) Total inpatient days 34,760 Services performed 310,723
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ANIMAL CARE
ANIMAL CARE
OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVANCE CARE FOR ANIMALS Clinician specialists at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital are planning further facilities enhancements that will allow them to deliver the best care options for their patients. If you would like to find out more about these projects and how private giving can make them a reality, please contact our advancement team at 217-333-2761 or advancement@vetmed.illinois.edu.
INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY SUITE
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Illinois is currently the only veterinary hospital in the state where interventional cardiology procedures are performed. Often, working through a vein or an artery, we can place catheters inside the patient’s heart, fixing the problem all together. To perform these procedures, we need a dedicated operating room and specialized equipment. At the University of Illinois, innovation is an essential part of our hospital. We want to push the envelope and advance interventional medicine to greatly improve not only the lives of our patients but also the lives of patients we don’t even meet. DR. RYAN FRIES, VETERINARY CARDIOLOGIST
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I want to ensure the best possible outcome for my patients with urologic and respiratory problems. Interventional radiology uses advanced imaging techniques to solve problems inside the body in a very accurate and precise way—without surgery. When we use this minimally invasive approach, the patient doesn’t have a big abdominal incision, so that means a faster recovery time. DR. KIMBERLY HOOI, SMALL ANIMAL INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST
MORE HORSES: COLLEGE OPENS MIDWEST EQUINE In the spring of 2018, the College of Veterinary Medicine opened Midwest Equine at Illinois, an equine-only practice located six miles southwest of Farmer City, Ill. Midwest Equine at Illinois provides equine veterinary and farrier services at the clinic or on farms throughout central Illinois. Consultations with reproduction and lameness specialists from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana are available at Midwest Equine by appointment. “Midwest Equine will put our students in contact with more horses,” said Dr. Denny French, who heads the college’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine. “Senior veterinary students who plan to enter equine practice will be involved in the delivery of primary care at Midwest Equine. Other students will benefit from equine referrals to the Urbana hospital for specialty care.” The Farmer City location formerly was home to the practice of Dr. Thomas Monfort, who retired in the summer of 2018 after a brief transition period in partnership with the college. Dr. Monfort, who has since passed away, had owned the practice for decades and was a legend in the Illinois equine community. In 2019, Midwest Equine hired two veterinarians: Dr. Catherine Foreman-Hesterberg, an Illinois DVM graduate who previously practiced in Aiken, S.C., and Indianapolis, Ind.; and Dr. B. Alex Lognion, a veterinary graduate of Ross University with six years of equine-only practice in Texas and Louisiana. The team at Midwest Equine: Karen Wheatley, long-time office staff; Dr. Catherine Foreman-Hesterberg, Dr. B. Alex Lognion, Dr. Ceara Suther, and farrier Steve Sermersheim who is serving as clinic manager.
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GET TO KNOW
Katie Colegrove 2019-20 president of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine Dr. Kathleen Colegrove is on a mission to protect wild creatures of the sea, and her plan for success involves you. Although by trade a veterinary pathologist, Dr. Colegrove is using every means at her disposal to foster understanding and love for marine mammals in people everywhere. Dr. Colegrove’s intense drive to spread knowledge about aquatic animal medicine began in 2003 during her pathology residency at UC-Davis. A mentor suggested that she attend the annual conference of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine to present her research on a northern elephant seal disease outbreak.
Through CARMMHA, Dr. Colegrove has learned a bit about modeling, toxicology, epidemiology, and population biology from the experts around her. The multitude of specialties allows researchers to take into account multiple risk factors. “It’s probably some of the most scientifically rewarding work that I’ve been able to do,” said Dr. Colegrove. “It makes you think outside the box of your specialty.”
“I don’t think I’ve missed a single year since!” she said of the IAAAM meeting, which she describes as a “yearly family reunion of sorts” and a great place for students just starting out.
The Wildlife Medical Clinic had a lot to crow about as it celebrated its 40th year. For the first time in its history, the clinic has a home built specifically to accommodate its needs. A ribbon-cutting, champagne-toasting dedication drew faculty, staff, and students.
At the 2019 IAAAM meeting, held in Durban, South Africa, Dr. Colegrove assumed the role of president. At the college, Dr. Colegrove divides her time between performing diagnostic procedures at the Zoological Pathology Program’s headquarters in Brookfield, Ill., and doing fieldwork at locations such as the Gulf of Mexico. As a leader in the Consortium for Advanced Research on Marine Mammal Health Assessment (CARMMHA), which investigates the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, she guides toxicity research projects and regularly participates in marine mammal exams. “We recently developed a way to perform full cardiac exams of free-ranging dolphins right in the water. It’s like the dolphins are going into the hospital for a check-up,” said Dr. Colegrove. “They’re getting all these state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures to determine their health status.”
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WILDLIFE MEDICAL CLINIC TURNS 40!
Dr. Colegrove believes every single person can make a difference in raising awareness around conservation. As a pathologist, Dr. Colegrove uses her tools to diagnose diseases and share conservation knowledge. She’s also using social media to share news and images from her field of work directly with the public. (Follow her work and the impact of the ZPP on Instagram at ZooPathProgram.) On a local level there are tools every person — even you — can utilize. Whether it’s investing in renewable energy, taking public transit, or obtaining seafood only from sustainable sources, everyone has the ability to make a difference and build awareness for marine mammal conservation. --By Stephanie Maurer
Dr. Julia Whittington, who served as a ward manager when she was a veterinary student in the late 1990s and who returned as a faculty member in 2001 to lead the Wildlife Medical Clinic, gave the toast. She acknowledged the early founders of the clinic, college leaders who have provided resources, and the generations of student volunteers who have kept it going. She thanked Dr. Ken Welle for being a mentor for so many Illinois veterinary graduates who have successfully pursued their interest in zoological medicine over the years.
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As Dr. Whittington transitioned last year to a new leadership role as director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sarah Reich and Dr. Sam Sander took on faculty oversight of the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Dr. Reich recently left the college for a new position, and Dr. Sander now leads the Wildlife Medical Clinic while also handling other teaching and service commitments in the college.
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ZOO/WILDLIFE
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2018 WMC IMPACT REPORT
GIFTS WITH IMPACT
THE ANIMALS
2,011 PATIENTS INCLUDING:
1,306
orphans or juveniles
116 SPECIES CARED FOR, INCLUDING:
540 cottontail rabbits
38 reptiles (9 species)
60 Canada geese
11 bald eagles
4 amphibians (3 species)
45 red-tailed hawks
white pelican 1 American (first since 2012)
THE CARE
The Wildlife Medical Clinic got a new home, and so did the ambassador animals used in public outreach! For the first time, these former patients that are unreleasable in the wild will have adequate space for their species in a building with electricity and running water to meet their husbandry needs. It’s also a very cool space for public education or just quietly observing these majestic animals. Richard P. Sivicek, a retired police officer from Oak Lawn, Ill., donated the funds for this much-needed residence as well as for veterinary student scholarships, prompted by his love for animals and high regard for the people in the veterinary profession. Thank you, Mr. Sivicek!
days” (length of stay in clinic 11,857 “patient for all patients)
LONGEST STAY:
by eastern 197 days box turtle
25 surgeries
OTHER IMPACT
122
volunteers keep clinic going
counties served 45 (of 102) Illinois education where clinic experts events held lectured to rehab audiences 52 public 5 states
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When the Wildlife Medical Clinic moved across the street from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, volunteers needed a safe means of transporting patients between the two buildings. First Federal Savings Bank of Champaign-Urbana generously donated an enclosed golf car, which was given a stylish wrap in the style of a bald eagle! “Wildlife Wheels provided by First Federal” is written on the car. Thank you, First Federal!
ZOO FACULTY KUDOS DR. MATT ALLENDER received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Champaign-Urbana Schools Foundation this spring. Not only did he complete kindergarten through high school in that community, he also went on to earn BS, DVM, MS, and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois. Dr. Allender founded and directs the Wildlife Epidemiology Lab. His research has helped identify, monitor, and treat snake fungal disease and other high-profile wildlife outbreaks, and he involves students of all ages in his quest to save the world “one turtle at a time.” Follow him on Twitter at Turtle_Doc.
DR. KRISTA KELLER received the inaugural Rising Star Award from her veterinary alma mater, Ross University, in 2018. This award recognizes a recent alum who has experienced an accelerated career progression with a nationally recognized organization and exhibited excellence in their practice. Dr. Keller joined the Illinois faculty in 2016, coming from a busy referral avian and exotics practice in Denver, Colo.
DR. KAREN TERIO serves as chief of the college’s Zoological Pathology Program, a Chicago-based division of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory now in its 26th year. In addition to her scholarship and conservation with chimpanzees in Tanzania, cheetahs in Namibia, and lions of the Serengeti, to name a few species, Dr. Terio is the senior editor of Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals, the definitive textbook in this field, which was published last fall by Elsevier and received the 2019 PROSE award for the best textbook in the biological/life sciences.
GET TO KNOW
Kara Heibert Class of 2020, Student co-manager of the Wildlife Medical Clinic from 2017 to 2019
I applied to the University of Illinois veterinary school specifically for the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Becoming one of the student co-managers of the clinic allowed me to work closely with the doctors and be involved in all of the cases in the clinic, rather than just a subset, as well as to work with wildlife during academic breaks. I also saw the manager position as an opportunity to improve my time-management skills and to learn to work calmly in high-stress situations. When I first started in the manager role, my favorite part was definitely all the opportunities for hands-on experience. After two years, I realized I also really love teaching everything I have learned. It’s a huge confidence boost, and I feel like I’m making more of a difference when I’m able to help another clinic member grow in their clinical skills or knowledge rather than just performing the skill myself. I’ve enjoyed being part of so many cases, but if I had to pick one favorite, it would probably be a red-tailed hawk that I oversaw from intake to release. The hawk was found stuck in a truck grill! It was brought to us a little down and out and had a broken femur. I scrubbed into the surgery to help repair the fracture with some metal pins and an external acrylic fixator. After a month, we removed the pins and the hawk’s femur was stable (hooray!). We sent the hawk to the Illinois Raptor Center for rehabilitation, and once it was flying well enough, I actually got to release the hawk. People don’t realize just how involved students are in making decisions within the Wildlife Medical Clinic. We have wonderful veterinarians overseeing the clinic so that we don’t go astray, but our students are really the heart and soul of the clinic, and that’s unique as far as wildlife clinics go. The clinic is run by an executive board of students, student managers, student team leaders, and student volunteers, so every aspect of the clinic has student input. The amount of knowledge and confidence that students gain here is one of a kind.
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KOALAS AND ECHIDNAS AND BATS, OH MY!
“The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary hosts over 25 echidnas in breeding pairs and holds the world record for most echidnas bred in captivity at 19 puggles (the admittedly adorable name for echidna young). Echidnas and the platypus are the only two mammals in the world that lay eggs. After mating, the female echidna lays an egg into her pouch, where the egg remains until it hatches.” — JOHN WINTER, CLASS OF 2020
“Koalas feed exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, which are not only very fibrous and low in nutritional value, but toxic as well. There are over 800 species of eucalyptus trees, and koalas rotate to different species throughout the year because the toxicity of species changes with the season. Female koalas feed their babies their own feces to transfer the enzymes necessary to break down the toxic components of the eucalyptus!”
Student Experiences: A Week at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
— KIRSTEN ANDERSSON, CLASS OF 2021 Clockwise from top, the Australia delegation included John Winter, Dr. Sarah Reich, Kara Hiebert, Taylor Willis, Kirsten Andersson, and Sara Colin.
Over spring break this year, five Illinois veterinary students and instructor Dr. Sarah Reich visited the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland, Australia. Here are some highlights from their trip. Read their full blog at vetmed.illinois.edu/currumbin-wildlife-sanctuary/. “Australia has more than 75 species of bats, including both mega bat species (including flying foxes, my personal favorite) and microbat species. A common health issue for bats is collisions with barbed wire. In my week at the clinic, I saw several cases of barbed wire injuries, ranging from minor to fatal.”
“My all-time favorite patients of the week were the tawny frogmouths. (That’s Podargus strigoides, for all the nerds like me in the back.) These majestic birds are native throughout the Australian mainland and Tasmania. They are big-headed and stocky, have a cryptic coloration that resembles that of tree bark, and have an abnormally wide mouth, comparable to that of a frog.” — TAYLOR WILLIS, CLASS OF 2020
— SARA COLIN, CLASS OF 2022
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FALL CONFERENCE
FALL CONFERENCE
ST RE TC H YOUR BRAIN
Two highly successful alumni—one who led the University of Tennessee, one who started her own businesses— will deliver keynote addresses designed to stimulate thinking about the bigger picture in veterinary medicine.
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Annual
THURSDAY’S KEYNOTE
JOSEPH DIPIETRO, DVM, MS President Emeritus, University of Tennessee
Gator, Volunteer, and Always Illini: Trust, Truth, Teams, and Mentorship
Follow Dr. DiPietro on his journey from horse-loving kid growing up in central Illinois to large animal veterinarian, researcher, college dean, chancellor, and university president. Along the way you’ll see how veterinary training equipped him to succeed as a university administrator, how leadership development can be incorporated into everyday practice, and how you can increase your career commitment and your organization’s success.
FRIDAY’S KEYNOTE
SARAH PROBST MILLER, DVM
FALL CONFERENCE TURNS 100
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President, AgCreate Solutions, Inc.
How Adults Learn: The Science Behind Behavior Change
Early in her career as a swine veterinarian, Dr. Probst Miller realized she couldn’t make a difference in the lives of animals without educating folks on-farm and motivating behavioral change in people. After exploring the underlying neurology of learning, motivation, and action, Probst Miller founded a company focused on innovative learning and marketing experiences. You’ll learn how to move information from heads to hands in your own practice setting.
CLASSES, REPRESENT!
As Fall Conference celebrates its 100th year, we’re not relying on the old ways of doing things. We’re focused on continually improving the conference experience.
The Wednesday night Job Fair that debuted last year will be even better. And we’ve added yoga and meditation sessions to help busy practitioners de-stress.
Veterinarians can now earn up to 20 continuing education hours in just three days, at a price that cannot be beat, when they attend a pre-conference workshop. Topics include veterinary implications of the opioid crisis, strategies for hiring new associates, shelter medicine, rabbit medicine, and USDA Accreditation.
What isn’t changing? We still aim to deliver content that is directly relevant to daily practice, with tracks focused on small animal specialties, equine, wildlife/ exotics, public health, and a whole lot more.
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SEPTEMBER 18-20 iHotel • Champaign go.illinois.edu/fallconference
Remember Vet Med Olympics? Penny Wars? Extramural basketball or softball? Vet school is over, but the competition is back on! Take part in a little friendly competition to see which class year will win the “Alumni Leading Mightily Award,” or ALMA. The class that brings the greatest number of registrants will be recognized with a sweet treat—and bragging rights—at Fall Conference.
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LIFELONG LEARNING
LIFELONG LEARNING
DEMAND IS HIGH FOR ILLINOIS VETERINARY GRADUATES Steps Employers Can Take for Hiring Success In the current economy, a reasonable salary and standard benefits are not enough to attract the best new colleague to your practice. Work-life balance is important to today’s graduates, and most mention mentorship as a top priority. Of course, salary is a big consideration, as are geography—only 55 percent of Illinois students report interest in working in Illinois—and practice interests—a desire to pursue specialization often leads students to choose an internship rather than enter practice directly.
It’s (Partly) the Economy The economy contributes greatly to the demand for veterinary graduates. In the wake of the 2008 recession, AVMA’s Workforce Advisory
Group forecast that, through 2025, there would not be veterinary jobs for as much as 14 percent of veterinary graduates. Less than 10 years later, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics was predicting a 19 percent growth in the veterinary job market between 2016 and 2026. Regardless of the economy, the College of Veterinary Medicine intends to educate the very best Day One practitioners on the market. We are committed to equipping graduates with not only the clinical skills and knowledge needed, but the leadership and confidence to be selective about their first position.
Practical Strategies for Practices We’re also here to assist practices in becoming employers of choice so that they too find the best-fit associate regardless of the economy. Dr. Larry Firkins, associate dean for public
engagement at the college, is an international speaker on veterinary employee management. In 2018, he led the first pre-conference session on “Becoming an Employer of Choice.” Whether you have an open position now or anticipate having one in a few years, Dr. Firkins advises you to start connecting with students. Formal summer experiences for students after their first and second years in the DVM program is one of his recommendations. He has helped many practitioners who attended his session last fall to develop learning objectives for these experiences. Attending the pre-conference session on “Becoming an Employer of Choice” and registering as a vendor at the Job Fair, both on Wednesday, September 18, will give prospective employers a great start on hiring the right new associate.
AT ‘BECOMING AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE,’ YOU’LL LEARN: • How to foster a culture that drives employee engagement • How to hire and retain the best people for your workplace • What our soon-to-graduate veterinary students are looking for from prospective employers Preconference workshop at iHotel conference center Wednesday, September 18, 9 am to 4:15 pm To register: go.illinois.edu/FallConference
AT THE JOB FAIR, YOU CAN:
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In 1991 when Dr. LeRoy Biehl launched the Executive Veterinary Program at the University of Illinois, he recognized that veterinarians needed to develop advanced skills in leadership, systems management, communication, and data analysis to become industry leaders.
• Network with Illinois veterinary students and other potential associates
Nearly 30 years later, the demand for executive skills in veterinary medicine has only grown, and Illinois continues at the forefront, adapting the EVP model to new aspects of the field.
• Showcase the opportunities at your practice and discuss summer employment
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T he first cohort of veterinarians in EVP: Beef completed the 18-month certificate program last fall. (That’s the class in the photo above.) Offered in partnership with Kansas State University, EVP: Beef will begin enrolling its second class in 2020.
Job Fair at the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building Wednesday, September 18, 5 to 7 pm
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E VP: International launched in Japan last year with a three-day EVP-like workshop. Dr. Jim Lowe led 38 veterinarians, representing every major swine practice and pork production company in Japan, through materials focused on core disease management skills.
Vendor spots have sold out!
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I n August 2019, the first module of the seventh offering of EVP: Swine kicked off. That class will graduate in February 2021.
• Start building relationships that could translate into future partnerships
OUR ONLINE JOB BOARD NOW FEATURES: • Searchability by location, position type, and more • Logins for employers and job seekers to manage job listings Visit the Job Board at go.illinois.edu/vetmedjobboard/
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EVP EXPANDS TO MEET DEMAND FOR EXECUTIVE SKILLS
EVP coordinators Drs. Lowe and Larry Firkins are exploring offering new EVPs designed for small animal practitioners at various stages of their careers, as well as additional EVP-like programming for food veterinarians on other continents. To find out more about future programming, contact the Office of Public Engagement at 217-333-2907.
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LIFELONG LEARNING
LIFELONG LEARNING
GIFTS WITH IMPACT: ONLINE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS FOR LIVESTOCK PROFESSIONALS The College of Veterinary Medicine has launched two certificate programs for the livestock industry. Both provide graduate-level credit and CE credit for veterinarians. And both allow learners to advance their professional credentials without leaving their homes. •
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The Livestock Systems Health certificate focuses on an adapted lean manufacturing model and method tailored for the management of animal health and disease in livestock production systems. The Livestock Business Operations certificate introduces business principles and applies them to livestock production operations.
Each of the certificate programs consists of three eight-week courses that require an estimated 9 hours of course work per week. “These certificate programs are designed so that the busy livestock professional can gain in-depth knowledge that is immediately relevant to their workplace,” said Dr. Jim Lowe, one of the content experts who created the courses as well as the director of the college’s new i-Learning Center, which produced the courses. For decades, Illinois has been known for its highquality, high-impact education for food animal professionals. “The problem is,” said Dr. Lowe, “that only a relatively small number of learners can participate in these traditional, in-person educational opportunities. With online learning, access to our expertise expands exponentially.” To find out more, contact the i-Learning Center at 217-300-7439 or ilearningvetmed@illinois.edu.
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At the Awards and Scholarships Celebration in May, Dr. Davis shared why they created a scholarship at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Paul Davis and Dr. Karin Crocker
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Dr. Paul Davis and Dr. Karin Crocker are both proud graduates of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine … 17 years apart. Yet they met, fell in love, and married 170 miles southwest of the Urbana campus in Collinsville, Ill., part of the Metro East region bordering Missouri in the greater St. Louis area. It was there they decided to build their life together. In 2012, they built the Davis Pet Hospital, an exclusive small animal practice that has since grown from two doctors and three veterinary technicians to five veterinarians and a 15-member support team. Committed to the region and to their profession, they recently endowed the Dr. Paul Davis and Dr. Karin Crocker Scholarship to provide financial support to Illinois veterinary students from the Metro East region. (The photo above shows Dr. Davis with Emily Michael, Class of 2022, who received the scholarship this year.)
When I graduated from veterinary school in 1992, my starting salary was $30,000 and my student loan debt was about $40,000—a 10-year payoff. When Karin graduated in 2009, her starting salary was $65,000 but her student loan debt was more than $180,000, a 30-year payoff. Any payments early in your career are cumbersome to say the least, but the terms of these loans are the length of a career! This was really brought into focus for me at the AVMA alumni reception in 2017. I sat across from a 2013 graduate and listened to her story and struggles to afford a mortgage and make student loan payments on her own.
Thanks to our donors, we were able to make nearly 250 awards totaling more than $700,000 in student support in the most recent academic year NEW IN 2019: • Animal Care Clinic Scholarship • The Clinical Skills Learning Center Achievement Award • Dr. & Mrs. Roger Dupuis Scholarship • Rich P. Sivicek Award
The bottom line for us is that we have firsthand knowledge of the need, and it is only getting more difficult for veterinarians to afford to be veterinarians. I have been blessed to be a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. I have had a long a varied practice career. Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients! We encourage them to challenge themselves in their careers.
STUDENT KUDOS Students Stand Out at Swine Vet Conference Six Illinois veterinary students received honors at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians in the spring: Zach Talbert, Class of 2021, received a $5,000 scholarship sponsored by Merck Animal Health and the AASV Foundation; Daniel Brown, Class of 2020; Brandi Burton, Class of 2019; Erin Kettelkamp, Class of 2021; and Abby Vennekotter, Class of 2020, received scholarships sponsored by Elanco Animal Health and gave oral presentations at the student seminar. Brooke Smith, in the DVM/PhD Program, received a scholarship in the veterinary student poster competition, sponsored by Newport Laboratories.
Shelby Crump, Class of 2022, was one of 10 students nationally selected for a summer research fellowship sponsored by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, in partnership with the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. Crump is working with faculty mentor Dr. Fabio Lima on a study of pregnancy-signaling pathways in cows. She’s among the inaugural recipients of the Veterinary Student Research Fellowships to Address Global Challenges in Food and Agriculture, which support research affecting global food security and sustainable animal production.
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Shiloh Landskov, Class of 2020, received the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award recognizing veterinary students who display leadership values at their school. This award is given by the Western Veterinary Conference.
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LEADERS
DISCOVERY
MEET THE DEPARTMENT HEADS Dr. Dennis French: DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY CLINICAL MEDICINE When you ask Dr. Dennis French to explain his role as department head, he can do it in five words: “Helping good people become famous.” Having achieved the rank of full professor and served as president of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, he now turns his career focus to hiring faculty members who can be productive and happy at Illinois and to garnering international recognition for the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine. Dr. French, who had led the department in an interim capacity since 2016, officially become department head in May 2018. “Dr. French has been a tireless advocate of our students, faculty, and programs throughout his tenure at Illinois,” said Dean Peter Constable.
“He is always accessible and meets everyone with a genuine welcome and interest. He’s done a fantastic job of recruiting top-tier faculty to his department.”
Dr. French believes that students are among the most important stakeholders he serves. With clinical rotations throughout the four-year DVM program at Illinois, his department is heavily involved in teaching veterinary students. He has instituted student town halls as a way to learn about and address issues where he can make a difference in students’ lives.
Dr. French earned his veterinary degree from the University of Minnesota and spent nearly 30 years on the faculty of the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary. In 2009 he was hired by Illinois to lead the Food Animal Medicine and Surgery section.
“You can’t fix things you don’t know about,” he observed. “I want to know first before the problem has a chance to grow.”
Recruiting new faculty members to match the growth in his department is an ongoing priority for Dr. French. The competition for outstanding faculty is fierce, especially given the demand in private practice. He’s also navigating the department through a series of facility improvements.
Dr. Carol Maddox: DEPARTMENT OF PATHOBIOLOGY In January 2019, Dr. Carol Maddox took on the role of interim head of the Department of Pathobiology. Dr. Maddox, who joined the college faculty in 2000, is currently a full professor as well as head of the microbiology section of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
those two responsibilities within the department will be a key focus.” Dr. Maddox takes the departmental reins from Dr. Joanna Shisler, professor in the Department of Microbiology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, who served as interim head in 2018.
“We are grateful to Dr. Maddox for agreeing to lead the department as we carry out a search for a permanent head,” said Dean Peter Constable. “She has shown tireless dedication to the college over nearly two decades, not only as an outstanding diagnostician and researcher but as a teacher, mentor, and valued colleague.”
“Dr. Shisler did a wonderful job of mentoring the department’s many junior faculty members,” said Dr. Maddox. “I am especially committed to carrying forward that attention to ensuring their success as I guide the department over the next eight months.”
“I have a keen interest in the teaching mission and in research,” said Dr. Maddox, “and balancing
Before coming to Illinois, Dr. Maddox held positions at the University of Missouri and Penn
State. Her educational background includes dual bachelor’s degrees, a master’s in veterinary science, and a PhD in microbiology, all from Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa. Outside of the college, Dr. Maddox has served as co-chair of the University of Illinois Institutional Biosafety Committee and of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Bacteriology/Mycology Subcommittee and Steering Committee.
Dr. Uwe Rudolph: DEPARTMENT OF COMPARITIVE BIOSCIENCES Dr. Uwe Rudolph joined the college as professor and head of the Department of Comparative Biosciences in August 2018. “He is an outstanding international scholar in the fields of neuroscience, pharmacology, and molecular genetics,” noted Dr. Jodi Flaws, a professor of comparative biosciences who served as interim department head. Before coming to Illinois Dr. Rudolph held the dual positions of professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and director of the Laboratory of Genetic Neuropharmacology at McLean Hospital, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. He was also an affiliate of the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
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Dr. Rudolph, who has maintained licensure as a physician in Germany since 1987 and was certified there as a medical specialist in pharmacology and toxicology in 2004, feels as comfortable at a veterinary college as at a medical college. Research has been his focus throughout his career.
His research team identified the distinct GABAA receptor subtypes that mediate anxiety and sedation, opening new possibilities for the development of anti-anxiety drugs. At Illinois, Dr. Rudolph will continue to study the effects of GABAA receptor subtypes in specific populations of neurons in the brain.
“Since graduation from medical school my ‘patients’ always had four legs,” he said. “Advances in basic scientific understanding of physiological and pharmacological processes can be translated into an improvement of animal health as well as human health.” Dr. Rudolph has published important findings derived from molecular genetics in mice. His neuropharmacological studies focus on gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system.
“We may develop novel tools that enable us to understand these effects in greater detail than ever before. Such research might lead to novel insights into mechanisms of drug abuse and regulation of a variety of cognitive functions,” he said.
RESEARCH AT VET MED Whole-genome Sequencing Yields Results for Research, Practice Veterinarians, public health officials, and biomedical researchers can now incorporate genomic findings into their work rapidly and inexpensively with the whole-genome sequencers available at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and operated by Dr. Leyi Wang, who joined the faculty in 2017.
is caused by a double-stranded segmented icosahedral RNA virus. EHDV utilizes point mutations and reassortment strategies to maintain viral fitness during infection.
“The affordability of this technology will enable veterinarians and others to screen more samples and detect pathogens involved in diseases, offering much more robust diagnostics than were possible through previous technologies, such as q/RT-PCR,” said Dr. Wang.
Whole genome sequencing was conducted for two 2018 EHDV2 isolates (IL41747 and IL42218) from a 2018 outbreak in deer. The sequence analyses indicated that IL42218 was a reassortant between different serotypes, whereas IL41747 was a genetically stable strain. The data suggest that multiple strains contribute to outbreaks in deer each year. The research was published in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.
“You can have the whole picture now,” he said. “It’s kind of like a net. We can catch everything inside of the sample. That’s the principle for all of next-generation genome sequencing.”
Unlike the sequencing of a few segments as in previous studies, whole genome sequencing of all ten segments of EHDV allowed analysis of genetic changes and reassortment, providing a complete picture of virus evolutions.
Dr. Wang recently coauthored a study of an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in deer in Illinois. EHD
Mouse Study Suggests a Vaccine Strategy for Immunocompromised Patients A study led by Dr. Som Nanjappa, pathobiology, identified a cellular target that may improve efficacy of vaccines designed to protect immunocompromised individuals from potentially deadly opportunistic infections.
Additionally, to be safe for use in immunocompromised patients, such a vaccine would need to be based on an inactivated rather than live pathogen. Yet inactivated vaccines stimulate a weaker immune response.
While fungal pathogens rarely sicken healthy individuals, the incidence of fungal infections in people with HIV/AIDS or other immune deficiencies is rising; these infections result in as much as 70 percent mortality even, when treated with antifungal medications.
To address these obstacles for vaccine development, Dr. Nanjappa and his colleagues sought cellular targets that could give a boost to the efficacy of fungal vaccines. Using a mouse model, researchers determined that Casitas B–lymphoma-b (CBLB), a protein important in regulating immune response, can be targeted in combination with an inactivated vaccine to elicit immunity through a unique T cell pathway.
“Because prevention is better than cure, the ideal solution would be to vaccinate immunocompromised individuals against such opportunistic infections,” said Dr. Nanjappa, at right in the photo with graduate student Dr. Srinivasu Mudalagiriyappa. Currently, however, there are no licensed fungal vaccines.
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This approach may lead to protective vaccines for immune-impaired patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy.
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THE SURVEY SAYS…
CAT OWNERS ADVANCE
RESEARCH!
ats come in all shapes and sizes,” says Dr. Heidi Phillips, a “C veterinary surgeon who recently called upon cat owners
everywhere to share information about their pets. “That’s one of the beautiful and amazing things about them.
“In some cases, a cat’s breed, coat or eye color, body size, or face shape can be linked to particular behaviors and habits. Coat color, for example, has been linked to personality.” Dr. Phillips, surgery resident Dr. Hadley Gleason, and others at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital are hoping to determine whether a cat’s face shape is associated with lifestyle and wellness characteristics. To gather information about whether the shape of a cat’s face could be related to its overall wellness, cat owners everywhere were invited to complete a short online survey. “As veterinarians dedicated to improving our understanding of pets, we are trying to determine if any aspect of cats’ health, habits, or daily activities is related to appearance,” says Dr. Phillips. “By participating in this study, cat owners will provide valuable information that may lead to improved quality of life for cats.” The online survey was completed by more than 1,700 cat owners. The survey asks owners about the frequency of their cats’ behaviors related to eating and drinking, breathing, sleeping, grooming, playing, and other daily activities. Responses from all owners will be collated and compared to learn if any noteworthy conclusions can be made. To thank owners for completing the survey, they have the opportunity to submit a photo of their cats. The beautiful faces on the preceding page are just a sample of those submitted. All are featured on the hospital’s Facebook page!
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IN SOME CASES, A CAT’S BREED, COAT OR EYE COLOR, BODY SIZE, OR FACE SHAPE CAN BE LINKED TO PARTICULAR BEHAVIORS AND HABITS. - Dr. Heidi Phillips
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RESEARCH AT VET MED
FACULTY KUDOS
I-TICK, Take Two In 2018, the Illinois Tick Inventory Collaboration Network, or I-TICK, collected over 900 ticks from 70 Illinois citizens in 28 counties. This summer, the program hopes to gather even more data about disease-carrying ticks in the state to help guide public health policy. “By knowing more about the timing and location of ticks, public health personnel can better inform the public about tick prevention strategies and provide information that guides efforts to reduce the number of ticks,” said Dr. Lee Ann Lyons, a PhD candidate and a 2008 Illinois veterinary graduate.
Volunteers who spend time outdoors collect ticks they find on themselves or their animals for five days over a two-week period and submit information to the program.
Small-Exposure Phthalate Study Showed Lingering Effects on Fertility in Mice A phthalate found in many plastic and personal care products may decrease fertility in female mice, suggests a study conducted at the College of Veterinary Medicine and published in the journal Toxicological Sciences. Dr. Jodi Flaws and doctoral student Katie (Catheryne) Chiang led the study in which female mice were fed corn oil solutions containing concentrations of phthalates comparable to the levels of exposure that people may experience during their daily living and work activities. After the 10-day dosing period ended, the phthalate-treated female mice and their counterparts in the control group were paired with untreated male partners twice for breeding.
“At three months post-dosing, a third of the females that were treated with the lowest doses of DEHP and DiNP were unable to conceive after mating, while 95 percent of the females in the control group became pregnant,” Chiang said. “The thing that was really concerning was that these females’ fertility was impaired long after their exposure to the chemicals stopped,” said Dr. Flaws, a professor of comparative biosciences. The findings add to a growing body of research that links phthalates, also called plasticizers, with various reproductive abnormalities and other health problems in rodents.
Pathway to Better Breathing Brachycephalic dogs have a host of health issues linked directly to their shortened faces. In many cases, surgical treatment can improve the health of these dogs. But what about brachycephalic cats? Persians, exotic shorthair cats, and Himalayans may also be affected by brachycephalic syndrome. With funding from the Winn Feline Foundation, Dr. Heidi Phillips and Dr. Hadley Gleason, a small animal surgery resident, intend to address the knowledge gap between dogs and cats by gathering comprehensive data on the evaluation and treatment of brachycephalic cats.
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R E M B E R I N G
The I-TICK program is funded through the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Upper Midwest Center of Excellence in Vector-Borne Disease. Dr. Rebecca Smith, pathobiology, and Drs. Chris Stone and Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, both with the Illinois Natural History Survey, lead the study.
“This study seeks to establish whether brachycephalic cats suffer health consequences from their shortened face shape and, hopefully, to document improvement with surgeries similar to those performed in dogs,” said Dr. Gleason. “Imagine if you had a cold your whole life. You can’t breathe through your nose. That’s not a great quality of life.” Drs. Phillips and Gleason have treated four cats so far with a surgical procedure to open the nasal passageway to allow for better airflow. They plan to perform 16 procedures before the end of 2019 to complete the study.
DEAN VALLI Dr. Rustin Moore (at right), dean of the Ohio veterinary college, presents a plaque to Dean Constable.
DEAN PETER CONSTABLE received a Distinguished Alumni Award from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine “for his extensive contributions to the improvement of veterinary education, animal health, and public awareness of veterinary medicine’s contribution to human health.” Dr. Constable completed an ambulatory internship and a food animal medicine and surgery residency at The Ohio State University. He also earned both a master’s of science degree and a PhD in cardiovascular physiology there. Dr. Constable was selected for being an accomplished teacher, mentor, and world-renowned speaker. He has continually worked to advance the impact of the profession, including influencing the role of veterinary medicine in public affairs. Dr. Constable has also been named one of the “Legends of Large Animal Medicine” by his peers for his contributions to large animal practice. DR. ADITI DAS, comparative biosciences, has been named the 2019 recipient of the Mary Swartz Rose Young Investigator Award from the American Society for Nutrition and its Foundation. This award recognizes an investigator who is within 10 years of postgraduate training and who has contributed outstanding research on the safety and efficacy of bioactive compounds for human health.
DR. JODI FLAWS, comparative biosciences, was recently selected to serve as chairperson of the Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, for a two-year term. DR. TISHA HARPER, veterinary clinical medicine, recently became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. She has long been boarded through the American College of Veterinary Surgeons with a Small Animal specialization and is also a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner. DR. JOHN “JACK” HERRMANN, veterinary clinical medicine, received the Health Policy and Administration Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois-Chicago School of Public Health. In addition to being a faculty member since 2004, Dr. Herrmann is a 1978 graduate of our college and a 2003 graduate of the UIC master of public health program. DR. SUMITI VINAYAK, pathobiology, has received a two-year, $426,511 R21 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a tool that will make it possible to decipher the function of essential genes in the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium.
Dr. Victor E.O. “Ted” Valli, who served as the fifth dean of our college from 1989 to 2001, passed away on August 9 in in Visalia, Calif. We remember him as deeply committed to veterinary students, a mentor to more than 30 master’s and PhD students, a tireless researcher and diagnostician who made tremendous contributions in the field of veterinary hematopathology, and a skilled statesman in veterinary academia. He was also, as fondly recalled by his student and colleague Dr. Anne Barger, “funny, practical, and brilliant—a wicked combination for an educator.” During Dr. Valli’s tenure as dean, our college benefited from nearly $6 million in state funding through a new venture technology program. He fostered strong connections with veterinary students by hosting fall welcome and graduation celebrations in his home and by lecturing in histology. His professional recognitions include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology in 2011, the Theilen Tribute Award from the Veterinary Cancer Society in 2015, and the designation Distinguished Member—the highest honor bestowed by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists—in 2017. Dr. Valli was raised on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, and served in the South Alberta Regiment from 1945 to 1954. He received a DVM degree from the University of Toronto and master’s and PhD degrees from Ontario Veterinary College and was board certified in both anatomic and clinical pathology. Before his appointment as dean at the Illinois college he chaired the Department of Pathology and served as associate dean of research at Ontario Veterinary College. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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CONNECT
MEET THE VET MED ADVANCEMENT TEAM CHRISTINE DIETRICH
DAVID HAMILTON
Associate Director of Annual Funds 5.5 yrs at Vet Med, 27 yrs at Illinois Hot spot: Serving as a gift officer focused on veterinary student scholarships, research support, and corporate sponsorships Turn-on: Cooking, music, and long walks with yorkies Brodie and Clare
Assistant Dean for Advancement 5.5 yrs at Vet Med, 8 yrs at Illinois Trajectory: After serving a major gift officer at the college, where she addressed the need for veterinary student scholarships, research support, funding for wildlife programs, Dietrich stepped into the assistant dean role last year.
LAURI QUICK
Personal high: The graciousness and generosity of alumni and grateful clients
Superpower: Streamlining processes to add efficiency
Administrative Aide 2 yrs at Vet Med, 15 yrs at Illinois
Will You Be There?
WHO’S WHO Dr. Peter Constable, dean, College of Veterinary Medicine
For details and to RSVP for alumni receptions, see our website: vetmed.illinois.edu
SEPTEMBER 18 . . . . . . . . Job Fair, Urbana, Ill. 18-20 . . . . . Fall Conference, Champaign, Ill. 20 . . . . . . . . Alumni Reception, Champaign, Ill. 28 . . . . . . . . Bags and Bogeys with the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association, Urbana, Ill.
OCTOBER 2 . . . . . . . . . Exoticscon/AAZV Alumni Reception, St. Louis, Mo. 6 . . . . . . . . . Open House, Urbana, Ill.
NOVEMBER 9 . . . . . . . . . ISVMA Alumni Reception, Tinley Park, Ill.
DECEMBER 9 . . . . . . . . . AAEP Alumni Reception, Denver, Colo.
Dr. Uwe Rudolph, head, Department of Comparative Biosciences Dr. Carol Maddox, interim head, Department of Pathobiology Dr. Dennis French, head, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine Dr. Richard Fredrickson, director, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Dr. Julia Whittington, director, Veterinary Teaching Hospital Dr. Drew Sullivan, medical director, Medical District Veterinary Clinic at Illinois Dr. Samantha Sander, medical director, Wildlife Medical Clinic Dr. Jonathan Foreman, associate dean, Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Lawrence Firkins, associate dean, Public Engagement Dr. Lois Hoyer, associate dean, Research and Advanced Studies Christine Dietrich, assistant dean, Advancement Dr. Matthew Stewart, director, Clinical Skills Learning Center Dr. Will Sander, director, DVM-MPH Joint Degree Program Dr. James Lowe, director, i-Learning Center Dr. Yvette Johnson-Walker, coordinator of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. Loukia Agapis, coordinator of International Programs
VET REPORT CREDITS Published by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine for alumni and friends. Copyright University of Illinois Board of Trustees 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana IL 61802 217-333-2709; editor@vetmed.illinois.edu; vetmed.illinois.edu Managing editor, Chris Beuoy Graphic design by Design Group at Vet Med Photography by Bradley Leeb, L. Brian Stauffer, Fred Zwicky, Wikipedia, and others
KEEP IN TOUCH Facebook: /VetMedIllinois /IllinoisVTH /MedicalDistrictVet /UIWMC (Wildlife Medical Clinic)
Veterinary Medicine
BOB NELSON
Office Support Specialist
VLAD PETKOVICH
Assistant Director of Advancement 20 yrs at Vet Med, 22 yrs at Illinois
6 mo at Vet Med, 2 yrs at Illinois
8 mo at Vet Med, 3 yrs at Illinois
Main groove: Managing the Companion Animal Memorial Fund program
Focus: Working with grateful clients and other animal lovers to support the animal care at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Medical District Veterinary Clinic, Wildlife Medical Clinic, and Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
GINGER PASSALACQUA
You may recall her as: Referral coordinator at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Current status: Planning alumni receptions and other events, including the annual scholarship celebration, and serving as treasurer for the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association board
Major Gift Officer
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 10 am to 4 pm
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FADRMISESIEON
Dependents: Augustus, a collie, and Chipsy Russel, a corgi
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2001 South Lincoln Avenue Urbana, IL 61802 vetmed.illinois.edu
Pow! FIFTH ANNUAL SUPERHERO DAY: Dr. Amy Somrak, who leads our dentistry service, shared a super-identity with a young guest. On June 4, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital celebrated the super spirit of everyone involved in delivering veterinary care and the everyday superheroes in our midst. The event originated to honor Ian Wagner, the superhero-loving four-year-old son of one of our technicians, who died in 2014.