Amanda
Dunkle joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Development Office as the new director
of development operations and donor stewardship effective Monday, February 18. In
her role, Amanda will be managing all stewardship initiatives as well as advancing
annual giving efforts.
A graduate
of Butler University, Amanda has spent nearly 20 years in philanthropy, serving
as a Purdue University staff member for a large portion of her career. Previously, she worked as donor relations coordinator
and director of development for Purdue Convocations and as director of development
operations and donor stewardship for Purdue Student Life. Before starting her Purdue
career, Amanda spent six years working in human health, which will help her as
she shifts her focus to veterinary medicine. “I am excited to further expand my
knowledge of Purdue, and I look forward to meeting and supporting the College’s
generous donors and partners,” Amanda said.
Amanda lives with her husband and daughter in West Lafayette. She enjoys spending her time singing, cooking, gardening, and camping with friends. Amanda’s office area is located in Lynn 1177A. She can be reached at acdunkle@prf.org or extension 43633. Please join us in welcoming Amanda to the PVM family!
Lee Ann Happ, executive assistant to the dean, looks on as Bindi, a Moluccan cockatoo, perches on the arm of State Representative Sheila Klinker, who represents Indiana House District 27, which includes parts of both Lafayette and West Lafayette. They came together during Purdue Day at the Statehouse.
Nine Purdue Veterinary Medicine volunteers and three animal
emissaries traveled to the Indiana Statehouse on Monday, February 18, to share
information about the need for a new Veterinary Teaching Hospital with key
legislators. The PVM delegation hosted a booth as part of Purdue Day at the Statehouse. The annual event enables strategically
selected Purdue units to interact with lawmakers and explain the importance of
Purdue programs and funding.
Brittany Vale, Veterinary Teaching Hospital health information administrator, holds Chloe in front of a grand staircase at the Indiana Statehouse during Purdue Day. Chloe accompanied Brittany on the trip to help engender support from lawmakers for a new Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The caravan of PVM staff and faculty who traveled to downtown Indianapolis for the event included Chloe, a 12-year-old Golden Retriever escorted by Brittany Vale, health information administrator in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital; Kip, a two-year-old service Labrador escorted by Dr. Theresa Buchheit, continuing lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Administration; and Bindi, a 22-year old Moluccan cockatoo escorted by Laura Murray, research technologist in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. The animals were very successful in attracting visitors to the PVM booth, as they provided entertainment along with an opportunity for engagement. Between pets and squawks, the feathered and four-legged delegates helped make a compelling case to lawmakers about PVM’s One Health mission and the vital need for a new Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the Hoosier State.
A special thank you is in order for Dr. Nickie Baird, professor of large animal surgery and Large Animal Hospital chief of staff, and Lee Ann Happ, executive assistant to the dean, as well as Dr. Buchheit, Laura, Brittany, and Alex Hegg, of the DVM Class of 2019, for their volunteerism and pet management as members of the PVM delegation. Thank you also to Susan Xioufaridou and Lauren Bruce for their efforts to organize PVM’s participation in Purdue Day at the Statehouse. In addition, the College appreciates the participation of Drs. Bob Jackman (PU DVM ’67) and Rob Jackman (PU DVM ’92) who represented alumni and referring veterinarians’ interests related to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Pets use special toothpaste to clean their teeth, as illustrated in the “Donkeys Need Dentists, Too!” book – created for the This is How We “Role” program through the PVM Office of Engagement. (Illustration by CA Nobens)
February is National Pet Dental Health Month and National Children’s Dental Health Month, both of which provide a great lead-in to the next PVM Family Program Series presentation entitled, “Don’t Give Dental Care the Brush Off.” The session, coming-up on March 7 at 6:00 p.m., in Lynn 1136, will feature Liane Shaw, RVT, diagnostic imaging instructional technologist in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Families will learn why pets need to go to the dentist, too, as Liane shares about various animal species’ teeth and how veterinary nurses and veterinarians care for them. Attendees also will learn about home care of pets’ teeth. Children in attendance will receive a giveaway.
The PVM Family Program Series is designed for families with elementary school students or older who are interested in learning more about the veterinary profession. The presentations are free, but registration is requested. If you plan on attending this upcoming interactive presentation on pet dental health, please contact the Office of Engagement (pvmengaged@purdue.edu) to register. All they need is your name, how many children are attending and their ages.
Outgoing WVC President Darwin Yoder presented the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award to third-year Purdue veterinary student Chad Van Koot, who was joined by Dean Willie Reed at the 2019 Leadership Award Breakfast held on February 19 as part of the WVC Conference in Las Vegas.
Chad Van Koot, of the DVM Class of 2020, was honored as one of 37 DVM students selected to receive the Dr. Jack Walther Leadership Award, presented by the WVC. The award recognizes veterinary students who display leadership values at their respective schools or colleges.
The recipients were honored at the WVC annual convention
held February 17-20 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas,
Nev. The award is for third-year
veterinary students attending AVMA-accredited colleges or schools and two veterinary
technician students. The recipients are
chosen by their respective institutions for their leadership skills and service
to the veterinary profession.
The scholarship consists of a $1,000 stipend as well as complimentary registration, lodging, airfare, meal vouchers, and a $250 travel allowance to attend the WVC annual convention. Recipients also are entitled to one additional complimentary registration to a future WVC annual conference, to be used within five years of graduation.
The Purdue Alumni Reception held during the WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas brought together PVM alumni who visited with classmates, colleagues, and PVM faculty. Attendees included WVC board member Debbie White (2nd from right) and her husband and fellow PVM graduate, Kurt Mychajlonka (center).
About 40 Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni and friends turned-out for the annual Purdue Alumni Reception hosted by the College at the 2019 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. They renewed acquaintances, visited with PVM faculty who were in attendance, and heard an update on the College and new hospital project from Dean Willie Reed. The reception was held February 18 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which was the site for the conference. Two Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduates, Dr. Mark Hilton (PU DVM ’83) and Dr. Debbie White (PU DVM ’94) serve on the WVC Board of Directors. Dr. Hilton is the WVC’s immediate past president.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduates Debbie White and Mark Hilton (3rd and 4th from right) with fellow members of the WVC Board of Directors.
Matt pictured with his dog “Ducky,” who he adopted from the canine educator program.
The focus of this week’s Vet Gazette “Spotlight on Students” is SAVMA
Purdue President-elect Matt Schiffman, of the DVM Class of 2021. Originally
from New Jersey, Matt chose to pursue a career in veterinary medicine because
of his long-term passion for animals. “Throughout
my life I have always gravitated towards animals,” Matt explained. His interest in veterinary medicine surfaced when
he was in high school and began volunteering at a local small animal hospital.
Matt completed his undergraduate studies in veterinary and biomedical
sciences at Penn State University before coming to Purdue. He chose Purdue Veterinary
Medicine because he believed in both the curriculum and the “all in this
together” mindset that he sensed in the College. The family atmosphere that was
evident during the interview process set the College apart from the other
schools he was considering.
Since enrolling, Matt has found that the College of Veterinary
Medicine’s Office of Global Engagement has played a significant role in his enjoyment
of his educational experience. His interaction with the office led him to a
study abroad opportunity in Mexico, where he learned about marine mammal
medicine as he gained hands-on experience with physical exams and diagnostic
tests on dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, and sea lions.
Matt’s involvement in SAVMA Purdue has given him experience in collaboration,
leadership, and communication. As president-elect, Matt has been able to work
with students and staff throughout the College and assist in alumni relations
activities. Matt looks forward to having additional involvement in various areas
of the College as next year’s SAVMA Purdue president.
After veterinary school, Matt plans to work in a small animal practice
and eventually open up a practice of his own. During his time in veterinary
school, he has realized how much he enjoys clinical pathology. “Bloodwork is
such an important piece to the diagnostic puzzle,” Matt said. “I really enjoy thinking about the snapshot
in time we take and how it relates to the big picture of what we are seeing in
front of us and how the patient is affected.”
As a member of the PVM family, Matt exhibits the core values of the College in his academic pursuits and extracurricular activities. As he accepts his role of SAVMA Purdue president in the coming school year, Matt will be able to take advantage of even more opportunities to pursue his veterinary goals.
The Vet Gazette “Spotlight on Students” is a series featuring several student leaders in the DVM and Veterinary Nursing programs.
Kayla Hoenert, SAVMA Purdue senior delegate, at a Purdue baseball game with Rallo, her first-year canine educator.
The Vet
Gazette continues a series of profiles featuring student leaders this week by
shining the spotlight on Kayla Hoenert, who is serving as the senior delegate
in SAVMA Purdue – the Purdue chapter of the Student American Veterinary Medical
Association.
Kayla is
focusing her studies toward large animal medicine. Her passion for veterinary
medicine started when she was a little girl. She decided by a very early age
that she wanted to be a veterinarian. Her passion grew when she reached high
school and became more involved with agriculture and livestock production. After
Kayla started showing dairy heifers for 4-H, her focus on large animal medicine
was solidified.
Kayla chose
Purdue University because of her desire for hands-on learning opportunities and
small class sizes. She knew she would benefit from the kind of one-on-one help
from the professors that Purdue offered. Now, as a second-year DVM student, she
feels that she has been able to experience all the reasons why she chose Purdue
Veterinary Medicine. Kayla said she loves the family feel and comradery.
SAVMA Purdue also is a positive influence in Kayla’s life as a veterinary student. As a participant in the organization, Kayla said she has realized how the College is responsive to concerns within the profession involving such areas as wellness, diversity, and inclusion. By being a delegate, she has recognized how much work SAVMA and it’s parent organization, AVMA, does for students and veterinarians. “SAVMA is a grassroots organization that enables students to guide the direction of the organization as the needs of our student body shifts and evolves,” Kayla said. She enjoys being a part of the organization, which she credits for setting the foundation for her to be a leader in organizations in the future, so she can continue serving her profession and her colleagues.
Outside of class and studying, Kayla likes spending her time doing DIY projects and taking dance lessons. She has a passion for health and fitness and strives to set an example for her classmates on how to be a veterinary student, while not sacrificing mental or physical health. After graduation, she hopes to work under an experienced bovine or mixed-animal veterinarian to gain the experience she would need to open her own practice.
Kayla sets
an example both inside and outside of the classroom, as she pursues her goals,
with the dream of one day owning her own large animal practice, and utilizing
the leadership experience she is gaining through SAVMA Purdue as a basis for serving
her profession throughout her career.
The famous novel “Call of the Wild” by author Jack London comes to life at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center February 24, preceded by a chance for people to interact with Pets for People Club therapy dogs. (Photo courtesy of Purdue Convocations)
Jack London’s “Call of the Wild” is a classic tale that will come to life on stage at Purdue on Sunday, February 24, preceded by an event in which Purdue Convocations is teaming-up with Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Pets for People Club. The thrilling story of courage and survival penned by author Jack London will be presented as a multimedia adventure of performance, storytelling, and projected images at 3:00 p.m., in Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse. Prior to the performance, at 2:00 p.m., attendees can join Purdue Convocations and the Pets for People Club in the Stewart Center Lobby to learn more about the novel and to meet trained therapy dogs.
In the book, Buck — the offspring of a St. Bernard and a Scottish Collie — is kidnapped and put to work as a sled dog in Canada’s Klondike Gold Rush of the 1800s. As the call of his ancestors courses through his blood, Buck discovers his own endurance and strength to become the most famous dog in the northland’s history. Tickets for the performance are $15 for adults and $10 for children 18 years and younger, Purdue students, and Ivy Tech Lafayette students, and are available at the Stewart Center box office or online at Purdue Convocations.
Dr. Timothy Ratliff, distinguished professor of comparative pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Robert Wallace Miller Director of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research
Dr. Timothy Ratliff, a Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member who helps lead Purdue’s efforts to find treatments and potential cures for cancer, served as the featured speaker at an event honoring the University’s inventors who received a patent in the most recent fiscal year. The Purdue’s Inventors Recognition Reception, an annual event held February 6, celebrated innovation at the University. Several PVM faculty members are among those who received patents in 2017-18.
Dr. Ratliff, distinguished professor of comparative pathobiology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Robert Wallace Miller Director of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, works with professors and researchers from across the University to translate basic research into lifesaving treatments. “Working with world-class researchers to discover new ways to treat and eradicate cancer while enhancing the lives of those touched by this devastating disease is truly a lifetime commitment for all involved,” Dr. Ratliff said. “In this endeavor, we are bringing together the best minds and using the highest level of technology and fundamental science to accomplish things that could not be done without collaboration to make a profound impact on those touched by this terrible disease.” Dr. Ratliff, who lost his father and father-in-law to cancer, said some of the current research being done at Purdue focuses on immunotherapy, chemotherapy sensitivity, nanoparticle development, and drug discovery.
Receivers of patents in 2017-18 included the following
Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty members and professor emeritus:
Dr. Harm HogenEsch, associate dean for research and professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Dr. Sophie A. Leliévre, professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences; co-leader of the Drug Discovery and Molecular Sensing Program, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research; and scientific director, 3D Cell Culture Core (3D3C) facility
Dr. Joanne B. Messick, professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Dr. Timothy Ratliff, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Pathobiology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology; Robert Wallace Director of the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research
Dr. Mohamed Seleem, professor of microbiology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Dr. John J. Turek, professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences
Dr. Sherry L. Voytik-Harbin, professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
A service dog trained by Canine Assistants gets a loving scratch from its handler. A recent Purdue Veterinary Medicine study shows that service dogs can have measurable positive effects on the health and well-being of individuals with physical disabilities. The participants from the study were recruited from Canine Assistants, a national service dog provider. (Photo/David Scott, Canine Assistants)
Low self-confidence. Social isolation. Longing for
independence. Service dogs have been
long thought to help individuals with physical disabilities find some relief
from these feelings. The waiting lists for these dogs continue to grow, but the
evidence to support their effectiveness has been missing – until now.
A recent study led by researchers in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine shows how service dogs can have measurable positive effects on the health and well-being of individuals with physical disabilities. Kerri Rodriguez and Dr. Maggie O’Haire of the College’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond led the study, which was published in Disability and Rehabilitation and funded by Elanco.
Dr. O’Haire is associate professor of human-animal interaction and Rodriguez is a graduate student of human-animal interaction in the College’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology. Their focus during this study was to discover just how much these dogs affected the overall well-being of their handlers. A major finding of the study was how service dogs affect the psychosocial health of their handlers, which is an individual’s state of mental, emotional, and social well-being.
The study recruited 154 individuals from the databases of
national service dog provider Canine Assistants to participate in a survey. A
total of 97 individuals had a service dog from Canine Assistants while 57 were
on a waiting list to receive one.
“We found that compared to individuals on the waitlist, those who had a service dog had significantly better psychosocial health including better emotional, social, and work/school functioning. However, we found that having a service dog was surprisingly not related to other indicators of well-being such as anger, sleep quality, or social companionship,” Dr. O’Haire said. “These findings help shed light on the fact that having a service dog may impact some areas of life more than others.”
Service dogs – more specifically, mobility and medical alert service dogs – can be placed with individuals with a variety of different conditions or disabilities, such as seizures disorders, quadri- or paraplegia, or cerebral palsy. Service dogs can benefit them through helping with mobility – including helping with basic tasks such as opening and closing doors – or they can be trained to recognize and respond to the onset of a medical emergency, such as a seizure.
Dr. Maggie O’Haire, associate professor of human-animal interaction, leads a Purdue Veterinary Medicine team that is conducting groundbreaking research, including studies showing how service dogs can benefit veterans experiencing PTSD. (Purdue University photo/Rebecca Wilcox)
Kerri and Dr. O’Haire said the findings help shed light on how service dogs may impact their handler in ways that extend beyond what they are directly trained for. “Our findings are important because they empirically validate the numerous anecdotal reports from individuals with service dogs that say that these dogs really have an impact on their life,” Kerri said.
But if service dogs provide these sorts of benefits, what about dogs in general? “We are still unsure how having a service dog and a pet dog may differ,” Kerri explained. “Although these service dogs are extensively trained to provide medical or physical assistance, we know that their companionship and unconditional love are important factors in the relationship.” Kerri also said future research will benefit from measuring well-being, self-esteem, or sleep quality both before and after an individual receives a service dog to measure change over time.
Dr. O’Haire also has been leading research regarding how psychiatric service dogs may help veterans with PTSD. Click here to view a news release and video summarizing this research, which so far has revealed how service dogs might offer both psychosocial and physiological benefits to veterans. Dr. O’Haire’s research group is currently conducting a clinical trial that is studying veterans with and without service dogs over an extended period of time.
Dr. O’Haire’s research on service dogs and veterans with
PTSD has garnered major media attention. In fact, it was #2 in Purdue’s list of
the Top 10 research news stories released in 2018. On average, each of the top ten stories were
covered by 225 media outlets, reaching an estimated total potential audience of
224 million readers (not including social media shares). Click here to view
a story about the Top 10 Purdue research stories.
