Purdue VTH ECC Team Provides Pet CPR Training to Volunteer Firemen

Make a Gift
Support the College

Members of the Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital Animal Emergency Service team, who provided training to the Wabash Township Fire Department on CPR for canine and feline pets, joined the fire department personnel for a group photo. Pictured in front (left-right) with Dr. Paula Johnson (center) are: ECC veterinary technologist Hanna Yagel, veterinary technician Megan Utley, ICU/ECC technologist supervisor Tami Lind, and veterinary technologists Katie Mowery and Melissa Campbell.

The Wabash Township Fire Department in West Lafayette completed pet CPR training thanks to Dr. Paula Johnson, Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinical assistant professor of small animal emergency and critical care, and fellow members of the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Emergency and Critical Care (ECC) Team. The training for first responders covered CPR and basic life support techniques, including performing chest compressions and the administration of oxygen, as well as other techniques related to saving the lives of pets rescued from a fire.

Wabash Township Fire Department personnel learn how to perform chest compressions on a dog.

The presence of pets in a family home does affect the firefighter’s mission. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), about 80 percent of pet owners will make an effort to save their family pet in the event of a house fire, and over 500,000 pets a year are injured or displaced in residential fires. Instead of fleeing, cats and dogs typically hide in a fire, which complicates rescue efforts.

Tami Lind, ICU/ECC technologist supervisor, and Dr. Paula Johnson demonstrate how to do a basic examination on a feline patient.

“This training sets benchmarks for first responders on how best to interact with pets in an emergency situation,” said Dr. Johnson. “They are on-site responding to the needs of these families, and many of these families have pets who require emergency medical treatment after a fire. We want to give their pets the best chance of making it to the veterinary hospital for further treatment and evaluation in an emergency.”  (Photos courtesy of the Wabash Township Fire Department)

Writer(s): Lauren Bruce | pvmnews@purdue.edu

BMS Faculty Member among Finalists for Bindley Bioscience Center Director

Make a Gift
Support the College

Dr. Sophie Lelièvre

Dr. Sophie Lelièvre, professor of cancer pharmacology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences, is among three finalists for the position of director of the Bindley Bioscience Center at Discovery Park.  The finalists were announced by the search committee yesterday (March 29).  All three will participate in two-day interviews on campus next month.

Search committee chair Alexandra Boltasseva, professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, said that as part of the process, each finalist will make a 45-minute public presentation and then take questions from the audience.  “We have three excellent candidates,” Dr. Boltasseva said. “I would like to encourage faculty, staff, and students to attend these seminars and provide us their feedback.”

All of the presentations will be given in the Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering, Room 1001.  Dr. Lelièvre’s presentation, entitled “Bindley Bioscience Center, a Beacon for Integration and Diversity in Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Research,” will be held Thursday, April 5, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

In addition to serving on the Department of Basic Medical Sciences faculty, Dr. Lelièvre also is co-leader of Drug Discovery & Molecular Sensing in the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research; serves as scientific director of the 3D Cell Culture Core Facility in the Birck Nanotechnology Center; and holds a courtesy appointment in the Department of Nutrition Science in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

The two other candidates and their presentation times are:

• Gabriel Popescu, professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and director of the Quantitative Light Imaging Laboratory in the Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology at UIUC, will give a talk entitled, “Multiscale Studies of Cells and Tissues Using Quantitative Phase Imaging,” April 16 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
• S. Ramaswamy, senior professor and dean at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bangalore, India, will give a talk entitled, “Structural Biology of Proteins Involved in Sialic Acid Uptake and Catabolism in Pathogenic Gram Negative Bacteria,” April 23 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Feedback on the candidates can be provided via the following link, which will be live after the first presentation: https://purdue.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JKdo054GKFajXf.

The Bindley Bioscience Center is a multidisciplinary research facility where life sciences and engineering researchers collaborate to explore new technologies and scientific knowledge that impact the broad boundaries of plant, animal, and human diseases.  The center’s next director will succeed Marietta Harrison, who is serving as interim director.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Student Receives Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award at WVC

Make a Gift
Support the College

Third-year Purdue veterinary student Mary Jordan (front row, fifth from right) is pictured in the “class photo” for the 2018 recipients of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award at the Western Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas.

Congratulations to Mary Jordan, of the DVM Class of 2019, who was honored at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) in Las Vegas, Nev., earlier this month as a recipient of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award.  The award recognizes third-year veterinary students who portray leadership and promote lifelong service to the profession.  Given annually, the award is bestowed upon 36 DVM students from accredited North American veterinary colleges and schools, who are actively involved and show long-term leadership potential. Additionally, two veterinary technician students are selected to receive the Award via NAVTA.

The award is named in honor of the late Dr. Jack Walther, who attended the annual WVC for more than 50 years, serving as a committee chairman, board member, and president. He also served as president of the American Veterinary Medical Association from 2003-2004. After earning his DVM degree at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963, Dr. Walther served two years in the US. Army Veterinary Corps before opening a small animal practice in Reno, Nev., and later expanding the practice to three veterinary hospitals.  In 2002, Dr. Walther championed the program that later would bear his name to bring one veterinary student from each veterinary school in the U.S. and Canada to the WVC Annual Conference.  Dr. Walther passed away in November 2017.

Each recipient of the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award receives $1000, along with complimentary registration, airfare, and a daily stipend to attend the WVC, which this year was held March 4-8. The recipients also receive an additional complimentary registration to attend a future WVC Annual Conference.  Click here for more information including a complete list of recipients.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Influenced Competency-Based Learning Program Introduced at AAVMC Meeting

Make a Gift
Support the College

Dr. Kathy Salisbury, PVM associate dean for academic affairs, gives a presentation at the 2018 AAVMC Annual Meeting about Entrustable Professional Activities that are part of the new Competency-Based Veterinary Education Framework. (Photo courtesy of AAVMC)

This year’s annual meeting of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) was focused on the theme “Innovation in Education,” and, fittingly, included the unveiling of a new Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) framework.  Designed to improve veterinary medical education and quality assurance, the program was developed by the AAVMC CBVE Working Group, consisting of ten national and international veterinary medical professors, including Dr. Kathy Salisbury, Purdue Veterinary Medicine associate dean for academic affairs and professor of small animal surgery.

The CBVE program is an outcomes-based, learner-centered approach to veterinary medical education that uses a shared framework and language to help ensure that every veterinary medical college student graduates with competencies that enable them to be successful from their first day as independent veterinarians.  In developing the program, the CBVE Working Group built upon existing frameworks deployed in other areas of health education and incorporated extensive feedback from employer and graduate surveys.

Dr. Salisbury was among the speakers who gave presentations about the CBVE program at the AAVMC Conference, held March 2-4 in Washington, D.C.  Since the CBVE Working Group was convened, the members have logged thousands of emails, over 100 video-conference meetings, 20 face-to-face meetings, 20 stakeholder engagements to gather input and ideas, two formal surveys, multiple expert consultations, and communications with the AVMA Council on Education.  The resulting CBVE framework seeks to clarify what abilities students need upon graduation and to elucidate steps that demonstrate the progression of necessary expertise.

“This framework, which represents the latest pedagogical thinking and best practices, lays the foundation for colleges and schools to develop competency-based education,” said AAVMC Chief Executive Officer Andrew Maccabe, noting that the CBVE program is one of the most substantial pedagogical initiatives ever undertaken by the AAVMC.

“Colleges and schools will benefit from a common language and a more comprehensive picture of graduate outcomes based upon evidenced-based criteria and agreed-upon standards from some of veterinary medicine’s best educators and the latest research,” Dr. Maccabe said. “It’s not a final product, but a first step in a journey of co-creation.”  The working group is currently developing milestones that represent steps in the mastery of competencies, on a scale from novice to proficient.

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine was among 20 veterinary schools and colleges represented at the Career Fair held March 4 in conjunction with the AAVMC Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of AAVMC)

Click here for a complete story about the CBVE program.  Two booklets were published and distributed at the AAVMC meeting and can be downloaded from the AAVMC website.  One is an overview of the CBVE framework, which consists of nine domains of competence, each representing a group of related abilities necessary for veterinary graduates.  The other booklet on “Entrustable Professional Activities” (EPA) identifies eight core EPAs for veterinary education and outlines the relationship between each EPA and its associated domains and competencies.

The AAVMC annual meeting was attended by some 265 educators who gathered to gain fresh ideas and new perspectives on technology, assessment, multicenter collaboration, international academic veterinary medicine, and a host of other topics.  Presentations ranged from a virtual reality excursion through a dog’s circulatory system to an examination of how the veterinary medical profession’s counterparts in human medical education handle quality assurance in professional education.  The conference wrapped-up with the AAVMC Career Fair that drew an estimated 500 prospective veterinary students and guests.  A total of 20 veterinary medical schools and colleges, including the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, participated in the career fair with display tables staffed by college representatives.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Purdue SAVMA President Brenda Najar Joins Dean Willie Reed for AAVMC Advocacy Day

Make a Gift
Support the College

Dean Willie Reed with U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Purdue SAVMA President Brenda Najar (right), and Dr. Yava Jones-Hall, PVM associate professor of veterinary pathology, who accompanied Dean Reed on the Capitol Hill visit as part of her participation in the AAVMC’s Leadership Academy.

On the eve of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) annual meeting March 2-4 in Washington, D.C., dozens of veterinary medical educators visited with federal lawmakers as part of “Advocacy Day.”  Among the veterinary school representatives participating were Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s own Dean Willie Reed and Purdue SAVMA president, Brenda Najar, of the DVM Class of 2019.

Each year, the AAVMC organizes “Advocacy Day” in conjunction with its annual conference to encourage attendees to take part in advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill with government and NGO leaders. This year, Brenda delivered 27 letters with real-life stories from Purdue students in each year of the veterinary program to the office of Indiana 4^th District Congressman Todd Rokita, urging him to join the Veterinary Medicine Caucus as the congressional representative of Lafayette, Ind., and ultimately work to help lower student debt for veterinary students. “You will hear a common theme discussing the importance of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that strongly affects many of our long-term loan repayment plans,” Brenda wrote in her letter to the congressman.  “You will find disturbing totals of current federal loan debt, including sky-high interest rates between 6 and 8.5 percent, and what that looks like over 20 years. You will read compelling examples of how veterinarians are healthcare superheroes, and ultimately, why the government should be investing in us. I have compiled these stories and given them to you for a better glimpse of the upstanding, role-model citizens of your Lafayette district.”

In addition, Brenda and Dean Reed also paid a visit to United States Senator Joe Donnelly.  Afterword, Brenda said, “I had a wonderful time on Capitol Hill talking to representatives about the changes we’d like to see. It was an honor to speak for my peers.”  A total of 72 educators representing 27 states participated in Advocacy Day, making the trek to Capitol Hill where 138 meetings were held at scores of Congressional offices.

Writer(s): Helen Thimlar, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Retirement Reception Honors Long-time PVM Staff Member Rose Killian-Alenduff

Make a Gift
Support the College

Long-time PVM staff member Rose Killian-Alenduff displays a commemorative clock she received in honor of her retirement at a reception March 27 in Lynn Hall.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff members gathered Tuesday (March 27) to celebrate the career of Rose Marie Killian-Alenduff and congratulate her on her retirement.  Rose was a familiar face and well-loved staff member in Lynn Hall for many years.  She joined the staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986, after working at the University for a number of years as a secretary in Biological Sciences and Mechanical Engineering.

When Rose started in Lynn Hall, she worked initially as a secretary to the head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, and continued in that role when the department was merged with Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology to become the current Department of Basic Medical Sciences.  In 2002, she became the department’s grants coordinator and graduate secretary.  Dr. Harm HogenEsch, PVM associate dean for research, who spoke for the College at the reception, observed that when Rose accepted her new role, that set-up a career for her in grants management and grant proposals.  “And since that time, you’ve really become for many of us, if not all of us, the go-to person for grants and grant proposals,” Dr. HogenEsch said.

Dr. Harm HogenEsch, PVM associate dean for research, spoke for the College in congratulating Rose on her retirement.

Rose, who served many years as secretary to the head of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS), is congratulated by long-time BMS faculty member Ron Hullinger.

In 2010, Rose accepted a new position with Purdue’s Sponsored Program Services as a pre-award specialist, but she didn’t leave Lynn Hall, since the Ag/Vet pre-award office at the time was located on the building’s ground floor.  That arrangement continued several years until the office moved.  It is now located in Young Hall.

At the reception held in Lynn 1192, Dr. HogenEsch praised Rose as a great person to work with, noting how she worked with great dedication to finish grant proposals.  “You have been a really valuable source of information for all of us and we will greatly, greatly miss you,” Dr. HogenEsch said.  “We hope you really enjoy your retirement and wish you many, many healthy and happy years.  Of course be sure to come back and visit us.”  He then presented Rose with a commemorative clock in recognition of her retirement.

Rose responded by sharing how she called the veterinary college her home.  “People here are family,” Rose said.  “I will miss all of you, but I am in town and will definitely be popping in.”  Congratulations, and thank you Rose!

Rose with her colleagues from the Sponsored Program Services Pre-Award Center, who attended her retirement reception (left-right): Manager Bryan Scott, Renda Bryant, Jessica Huffield, and Heather Underwood. Rose said Jessica and Heather will be taking on a large portion of the individuals she had worked with previously.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Symposium for Veterinary Technicians Draws 100 Participants

Make a Gift
Support the College

Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff leads a session titled “Update on Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism” as part of the Small Animal Track at the fourth annual Veterinary Technician Specialty Symposium Sunday, March 25, at Lynn Hall.

The fourth Veterinary Technician Specialty Symposium at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine last weekend attracted about 100 attendees who came from as far away as Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio.  The one day program on Sunday, March 25, covered a range of topics and included both small and large animal tracks.

The annual symposium is designed to provide veterinary assistants, veterinary technology students, and veterinary technicians the opportunity to obtain approved continuing education credits.  Participants were eligible for up to seven hours of continuing education (CE).  Special speakers included several Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff.

Veterinary Technician Specialty Symposium attendees listen to a Large Animal Track presentation on “Blood Gas Analysis in Equine Emergencies” by PVM Anesthesiology Technologist Jordan Williams.

After opening remarks by Dr. Bianca Zenor, Veterinary Technology Program director, the program gave participants the chance to choose between large and small animal topics, ranging from a presentation on “Update on Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism” by Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, professor of small animal internal medicine and head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, to a talk about “Cattle Behavior and Stockmanship” by Dr. Bethany Funnell, clinical assistant professor of bovine theriogenology.  Other sessions were led by Kimberly Sederquist, cardiology technologist; Crystal Hagan, large animal medicine technician; Tami Lind, ICU/ECC technologist supervisor; Lara Luke, dermatology technician; Jordan Williams, anesthesia technologist; and Kelly Guy, diagnostic imaging technician.

Afternoon sessions included a talk on the “General Husbandry of Pet Birds” by Wellness Technician Saralyn Sharp and a presentation entitled, “Behavior Modification Techniques to Reduce Reactivity and Build Impulse Control in the Canine Patient,” by Behavior Technician Melinda Cotton.  Becky Murray, CVT, MA, LCPC, from the Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove, Ill., wrapped up the program with her presentation on wellness titled “Strengthening Boundaries to Reduce Stress in the Workplace.”  The symposium also gave participants the opportunity to develop their professional networks and meet PVM staff and faculty members.  Special thanks go to symposium sponsors Elanco and Hill’s.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Alumnus Receives Distinguished Service Award from AAVLD

Make a Gift
Support the College

Dr. Matti Kiupel, a Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine alumnus who earned his master’s degree in 1999 and PhD in 2001 in veterinary pathology, was honored by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), which presented him with the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Kiupel was recognized for volunteering his time, energy, and professionalism to substantially enrich and advance the AAVLD in the field of veterinary diagnostic medicine.

Dr. Kiupel earned his DVM degree at Freie Universitat Berlin in Germany in 1996. He is currently a professor and section chief of anatomic pathology in the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), he has chaired the AAVLD Pathobiology Committee for eight years.  The Distinguished Service Award was presented during the AAVLD’s annual meeting last fall in San Diego, Calif.

Click here to read more about the veterinarians honored at the AAVLD’s 60^th annual meeting.

Writer(s): Helen Thimlar, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

For military veterans suffering from PTSD, are service dogs good therapy?

Make a Gift
Support the College

Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Dr. Maggie O’Haire’s work into treatments for PTSD is being covered by the Washington Post.

Read Article: For military veterans suffering from PTSD, are service dogs good therapy?

Writer(s): Karin Brulliard

Source: The Washington Post

National SAVMA Symposium Recognizes PVM Faculty and Students

Make a Gift
Support the College

Purdue veterinary students at the national SAVMA Symposium in Philadelphia, Pa., attend the Closing Gala March 17 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Grand Hall.

Purdue Senior SAVMA Delegate William Willis with Junior SAVMA Delegate Kayla Hoenert (center) and Purdue SAVMA President-elect Kristi Crow at the 2018 SAVMA Symposium, which they and Purdue SAVMA President Brenda Najar participated in as Purdue representatives. William and Kristi are holding awards that they accepted on behalf of Drs. Sandy San Miguel and Kevin Hannon, who they had nominated for the SAVMA Community Outreach Excellence Award and the SAVMA Teaching Excellence Award, respectively.

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine was well-represented at the 2018 SAVMA Symposium, which is the annual national conference of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association.  During the event held March 15-17 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, two PVM faculty members received awards and more than two dozen PVM students participated in various lectures, labs, and special events.

The faculty members honored were Dr. Sandy San Miguel (PU DVM ’93), associate dean for engagement and professor of swine production medicine, and Dr. Kevin Hannon, associate professor of basic medical sciences.  Dr. San Miguel received the SAVMA Community Outreach Excellence Award.  The award selection is based on a nomination process.  The nomination is intended for students to publicly acknowledge how faculty members, clinicians, and other respected individuals engaged in a veterinary field have gone above and beyond their own professional responsibilities and duties to interact with and make a difference in the local and/or global community as servant leaders.  Dr. Hannon received the SAVMA Teaching Excellence Award.  The award is designed to honor outstanding teachers in the veterinary medical profession who deserve to be recognized for their impact on veterinary students.  Congratulations to both Dr. Hannon and Dr. San Miguel!

With support provided by Purdue SAVMA, 26 Purdue veterinary students attended the national SAVMA Symposium in Philadelphia.  In addition to attending lectures and wet-labs, the students also were able to participate in competitions and special events.  Special congratulations are in order for the Purdue Trivia Team, which received the highest score and won a new Merck Manual from Zuku Review.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu