PVM Partners with the State Fair to Shine the Light on Veterinary Medicine

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The PVM tent at the Indiana State Fair included interactive displays and opportunities for faculty and staff to educate the public about the many facets of veterinary medicine.

PVM faculty and students assisted during the Indiana State Fair providing veterinary evaluations for 4-H Dog Show competitors.

Over 860,000 fair goers attended the Indiana State Fair this year over its 17-day run August 3-19, including a record-breaking 91,000 attending in a single day. On a peak day during the fair, there are more than 1,000 animals present. For the fifth consecutive year, Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and veterinary students stepped-in to partner with the State Fair in providing veterinary care for all the fair’s exhibition animals. Dr. Jon Townsend, Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinical assistant professor of dairy production medicine and director of Extension, assisted in coordinating all the veterinary services for the exhibition animals on the fairgrounds, including most of the 4-H animals. The veterinary team provided 24/7 on-call care throughout the fair, which proved a mutually beneficial partnership allowing students to put their training into practice. “There is always a human attached to that animal and so you really have to have good bedside manner, good empathy, and that’s what this is developing,” said Dr. Townsend in an interview with WFYI Indianapolis. “How do you work with your clients, how do you talk to your clients?” Common ailments treated at the fair include respiratory disease or mild sprains. The experience also provided an opportunity for faculty and students to engage with the community and hopefully inspire future veterinarians.

Purdue veterinary students Maddie Bryan, of the DVM Class of 2021, and Kristi Crow, of the DVM Class of 2020, teach suture techniques to fair goers in the College’s tent at the Indiana State Fair.

In addition to veterinary services provided, the College had a strong presence at the fair once again offering hands-on learning for kids with PVM’s Indiana State Fair Vet Camp. Fair goers also had the opportunity to view daily live surgery demonstrations and interactive displays in the College’s tent along with presentations on topics such as physical therapy for dogs, dairy calves, and veterinary dentistry. A team of faculty and students also assisted with the 4-H Dog Show providing veterinary evaluations.

Many thanks to the many volunteers who make the College’s extensive involvement in the State Fair possible!

The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association and Purdue Veterinary Medicine teamed up to once again offer live spay surgeries for State Fair attendees.

Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

College Bids Farewell to International Exchange Students

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Members of the visiting delegation from the Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences in Japan join together for a group photo at a farewell reception held in their honor: Dr. Hiromi Ikadai, Kitasato faculty advisor, and veterinary students (left – right) Ami Fukui, Chika Koyama, Shinichiro Yamamoto, Tatsuya Heishima, Yumeho Wakayama, and Yuuki Niikura.

Kitasato veterinary student Shinichiro Yamamoto, as well as all of the other members of the Kitasato delegation, took turns at the podium during the farewell reception to express, in English, their appreciation for the hospitality, activities, and learning opportunities they enjoyed during their visit to Purdue.

Six veterinary students and their faculty advisor from the Kitasato University School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences in Towada City, Japan, wrapped up a two-week visit to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Friday, August 24, with a farewell reception held in their honor in Lynn Hall, Room 1192. The Japanese veterinary students visited Purdue as part of a long-standing exchange relationship between Kitasato University and Purdue Veterinary Medicine dating back more than 20 years. During their stay, they spent time in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital gaining first-hand exposure to veterinary clinical education in the U.S. Their itinerary also included a variety of fun activities to introduce them to Indiana and area attractions and culture, including a summer picnic at Squirrel Park in Lafayette and visits to the Indiana State Fair and the Indianapolis Zoo.

Kitasato veterinary students and faculty pause for a photo-op after a lecture with Dr. Steve Thompson, PVM clinical assistant professor of small animal community practice and director of pet wellness.

“We’re sorry that you’re going to be leaving, but we’re really glad that you’ve been able to be here for the last two-weeks,” Dr. Jim Weisman, PVM assistant dean for student affairs, told the Kitasato delegation at the farewell reception. “We look forward to your visit every year, and we really enjoy having you here, adding to our cultural diversity in our college, and we hope that you’ve had a really good time.” Dr. Weisman also thanked all of those in the PVM family who helped host the Kitasato delegation, assisting with outings and the daily activities in Lynn Hall. “We appreciate your support for cross-cultural understanding and international education that really has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” Dr. Weisman said. “So, thank you to all of you who made this program possible.”

The students and their faculty advisor, Dr. Hiromi Ikadai, each expressed appreciation at the reception for the hospitality and learning opportunities provided for them during their visit.

Kitasato veterinary students shared that touching an elephant at the Indianapolis Zoo was among the highlights of their trip to Indiana. For some, this was their first visit to the U.S.

Writer(s): Chelsi Laposi | pvmnews@purdue.edu

VTH Staff Member Featured in Purdue Today

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Brittany Vale wears many hats. One of them is operating as health information administrator in the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, but as of June 1, she also dons a new hat as the 2018-2019 chair of the Purdue University Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee (APSAC).

APSAC was established in 1988 to build a formal communication link between administrative and professional (A/P) staff and the central administration, advocates for A/P staff interests across the university, and helps keep A/P staff aware of policies and administrative changes that affect their pay, benefits, and daily work.

Brittany’s tenure for the year ahead is dedicated to communication planning around the university-wide Human Capital Management Program and educating the campus community about the APSAC role, including the annual resource fair, professional development opportunities, benefits guidance, and more.

Brittany was featured in the Thursday, August 23, issue of the Purdue Today with a Q&A about her role as APSAC chair. Click here to read the full article.

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

In Memory: Dr. Kimberly McDole

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened to share the passing of a beloved local veterinarian and former PVM graduate student, Dr. Kimberly McDole, of Lafayette, Ind., who died Monday, August 27, from injuries suffered in a tragic hit-and-run crash on August 1.  She was 61. Dr. McDole leaves behind two sons and two grandsons.

Dr. McDole graduated from Texas A&M University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science followed by a master’s in nutrition in 1987, as well as a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1989.  For over 25 years, Dr. McDole owned and operated Mobile Veterinary Service of Lafayette and Tippecanoe providing in-home veterinary care for dogs and cats. A familiar face for many in Lynn Hall, Dr. McDole was a graduate student in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences from January 2008 until August 2015 working toward a PhD degree with a focus in diet, epigenetics, and breast cancer.  She also recently participated in the College’s Beekeeping for Veterinarians Workshop earlier this summer.

Dr. McDole was a member of the Clarks Hill Christian Church and enjoyed animals, helping others, crocheting, singing, playing musical instruments, and writing short stories and poetry. She also enjoyed living in the country and being outdoors, but above all she loved being a mother, grandmother, and spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service on Saturday, September 1, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Boulevard, Lafayette, Ind.  Also, a benefit to help raise money for her family is scheduled for Saturday, September 8, in Clarks Hill. Click here for additional details on the benefit.

Click here to read the full obituary published in the Journal & Courier.

Writer(s): Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

New Therapy Could Reverse Type 1 Diabetes In Humans And Dogs

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Researchers at Purdue University and Indiana University School of Medicine (IU) are working with man’s best friend to cure one of his most insidious diseases.

The scientists say a new therapy shows promise for long-term reversal of Type 1 diabetes in both humans and dogs.

Purdue reported this week that scientists achieved normal glucose levels in diabetes-induced mice by injecting them with a collagen solution mixed with pancreatic cells. It is the first minimally invasive therapy to successfully reverse Type 1 diabetes within 24 hours and maintain insulin independence for at least 90 days, scientists report.

Researchers effectively ushered in healthy pancreatic cells like a Trojan horse, with the Trojan horse being a protein the body already makes for building muscles, bones, skin and blood vessels—collagen.

Read more at New Therapy Could Reverse Type 1 Diabetes In Humans And Dogs on Forbes.com

Writer(s): Robin Seaton Jefferson

Source: Forbes

New Year Begins for DVM and Veterinary Nursing Students

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The orientation program for the incoming DVM Class of 2022 included gathering in teams with PVM student ambassadors for get-acquainted activities, like this game in which the new students had to pass children’s toys to each other while introducing themselves to learn each other’s names.

Students in the incoming DVM Class of 2022 started their orientation Monday, August 13, as Dean Willie Reed led them in reciting the Veterinarian’s Oath.

“Welcome” and “welcome back” were familiar sayings heard in the hallways of Lynn Hall in the past couple of weeks as new students arrived for the start of their veterinary education while other Purdue Veterinary Medicine students who were away for summer break returned to campus.  Sights and sounds of students visiting in the hallways and meeting-up at favorite gathering spots around the building signaled the start of classes Monday, August 20, and a return to the typical hustle and bustle associated with the beginning of a new academic year.

PVM Clinical Year 2 students in the Veterinary Nursing Program gathered on the steps of Lynn Hall for a class photo during their orientation program Friday, August 17.

There are 84 students in the incoming first-year DVM class – the Class of 2022.  The students come from across the country, with a total of 20 states represented as well as Puerto Rico.  The class also includes three international students.  The class members began their Purdue veterinary education with a comprehensive week-long orientation program that started Monday, August 13.

Meanwhile, the Veterinary Nursing Program also welcomed new and returning students, both on-campus and online. The Veterinary Nursing on-campus program has 28 incoming Clinical Year 2 students enrolled for the fall semester. The class includes students from Indiana as well as North Carolina. Orientation for the Veterinary Nursing on-campus program began Friday, August 17.

Please help extend a warm “welcome” or “welcome back” to the new and returning students in our PVM family.

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

PVM Bone Marrow Workshop Draws International Crowd

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Dr. Rose Raskin leads a hands-on session utilizing a multi-headed microscope during the 2018 Bone Marrow Workshop in Lynn Hall.

Participants from nearly 20 states and three other countries came to Lynn Hall for the biennial workshop on bone marrow hosted by Department of Comparative Pathology faculty member Joanne Messick and Professor Emerita Rose Raskin.

A total of 40 clinical pathology professionals came to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine from across the globe to participate in the biennial Bone Marrow Workshop.  Hosted by Dr. Joanne Messick, professor of veterinary clinical pathology, and Dr. Rose Raskin, professor emerita, the two-day workshop, August 11-12, gave participants the opportunity to review normal and pathologic bone marrow in companion animals via cytology and histology.  Attendees came from as far away as the State of Washington, Oregon, California, Florida, and North Carolina, as well as from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Brazil.

Blood and bone marrow data from case examples were used to demonstrate the correlation between the different methods of performing biopsies.  Participants learned through group discussions and personalized microscopy study, enabling them to gain confidence in evaluating bone marrow samples.  In addition to the hands-on educational training, the workshop provided attendees with valuable networking opportunities as well as an evening social gathering at Nine Irish Brothers.

Writer(s): Andrea Brown | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Thanks Faculty and Staff with “Out of This World” Appreciation Event

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“Flying saucers” (aka donuts) were among the attractions at the space-themed PVM faculty and staff appreciation event Thursday, August 16. The event doubled as the venue for a cornhole tournament supporting PVM’s participation in the Purdue University United Way campaign.

Volunteers welcome attendees to the “Out of this World” faculty/staff appreciation event held in Lynn G119/155.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff enjoyed a “Far Out” experience during a special appreciation event last week.  Staged in Lynn G119/155 due to inclement weather, the “Out of this World” themed event on Thursday, August 16, featured a host of creative decorations, including Flying Saucers (aka donuts), Missile Dogs (aka corn dogs), Astronaut Food (Dippin’ Dots ice cream), Moon Rocks (aka popcorn), and Rocket Fuel (aka punch).

Attendees were invited to write their zodiac signs and related personality characteristics on their name tags to share with their colleagues.  Those who completed the assignment to list the signs and traits from ten of their colleagues earned an Astro Pop.  Special thanks to Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Susan Xioufaridou for developing the inter-galactic theme and coordinating the event, with the help of several Office of Engagement and Department of Veterinary Administration colleagues.  And a big thank you to the fantastic group of dedicated PVM faculty and staff members who truly are Out of This World!

The beverage station included “Rocket Fuel” for thirsty attendees.

Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Special Tradition Kicks-off School Year for Veterinary Nursing Students

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Second-year veterinary nursing students donned new stethoscopes and posed for a group photo Monday night (August 20) at the seventh annual Veterinary Nursing Stethoscope Dinner, which marks the start of the clinical phase of their education. The members of the Veterinary Nursing Class of 2021 enjoyed a complimentary meal and the opportunity for networking at the Purdue Memorial Union West Faculty Lounge before they received their complimentary stethoscopes and signed the Veterinary Technician Code of Ethics that will be displayed outside the Veterinary Teaching Hospital pharmacy.

The annual Veterinary Nursing Stethoscope Dinner is co-sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and Patterson Veterinary. During the dinner, the students heard from Dr. Bianca Zenor, director of the Veterinary Nursing Program, and Dean Willie Reed as well as Dr. James Stepusin from Boehringer Ingelheim and Mr. Rob Fulkerson from Patterson Veterinary. Also presenting inspirational messages at the event were Holly McCalip, RVT (PU BS-VT 2001), representing the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association, and Julie Commons, RVT (PU BS-VT 2003), representing the Indiana Veterinary Technology Association.

Writer(s): Susan Xioufaridou | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Cornhole Competition Generates Support for Purdue United Way Campaign

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With competitor Christa Crain, research versa technician (foreground), looking on, PVM Comparative Pathobiology Department Head Sanjeev Narayanan puts his skill to the test in the cornhole tournament to support the Purdue United Way Campaign during the faculty/staff appreciation event Thursday, August 16.

“Corn Stars” team members Andrea Brown and Osmar Lopez celebrate their success in the cornhole tournament.

Gearing up for the Purdue University United Way Campaign, United Way committee members Barbara Cochran, Julie Lewellen, Jessica Mabbitt, Andrea Waibel, and Brittany Vale, organized a cornhole tournament as part of the Faculty Staff Appreciation Event Thursday, August 16.  Two sets of cornhole game boards were set-up in Lynn Hall G119/G155, where teams competed in a single-elimination tournament for only $5.00 per team with all proceeds benefitting the United Way of Greater Lafayette.

Account clerks Lisa Wright and Zach Wise formed the team “Strictly Business” and will compete in the championship round of the cornhole tournament September 12.

As the tourney progressed, the intensity of the competition increased.  Ultimately, three teams vanquished the other competitors, and earned the right to vie for the Cornhole Tournament Championship.  The final championship match will take place at the United Way Campaign Kick-off event on September 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., in front of the Continuum sculpture adjacent to Harrison Street.

The teams competing in the round-robin style grand championship will be:

The Corn Stars: Andrea Brown and Osmar Lopez;

Air Force I: Dr. Sandy San Miguel and Will Smith; and,

Strictly Business: Lisa Wright and Zach Wise.

Drop by to cheer on our cornhole championship teams.  You also will be able to fill out your pledge card for the opportunity to win fantastic prizes and receive a sweet treat from the Dean.

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