PVM students heard a presentation about the topic of Intersectionality during a “Lunch and Learn” session organized as part of Inclusive Excellence Week. The talk was given by Ralph Amos, former president and CEO of the Purdue Alumni Association.
The week of Martin Luther King Jr. Day was filled with a variety of events for the PVM family, organized by the College’s chapter of VOICE (Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment), as part of its third annual Inclusive Excellence Week January 20-23. VOICE is a student-run organization that aims to increase awareness, respect, and sensitivity to diversity among all individuals and communities in the field of veterinary medicine.
The Purdue VOICE chapter established Inclusive Excellence
Week as a way to increase community engagement around issues that are central
to the organization’s mission. VOICE Chapter President Maya Patterson, a member
of the DVM Class of 2023, said Inclusive Excellence Week gives everyone in the
College a closer look at diversity and inclusivity. “Our College is one of the
most diverse veterinary schools in the country, so it is important that people
understand how to be inclusive towards all the people who are different from
themselves.”
Members of PVM’s VOICE chapter gathered at the Córdova Recreational Sports Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 20, to participate in Purdue’s MLK Day of Service.
This year’s Inclusive Excellence Week events began with the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Monday, January 20. Several PVM students participated in the University-wide event that honored King’s legacy by deploying Purdue volunteers to help at local community action agencies. The next day, Tuesday, January 21, VOICE and PVM’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinated arrangements for a PVM group to see the movie “Just Mercy” at the Lafayette 7 Theater. The movie depicts Bryan Stevenson, a renowned civil rights attorney, fighting to free a wrongly-convicted prisoner on death row. On Wednesday, January 22, Marian Vasser, executive director of diversity and equity at the University of Louisville, gave an invited presentation on the topic of Implicit Bias during a “Lunch and Learn” event. The week’s line-up of activities concluded Thursday, January 23, with a presentation about Intersectionality at a similarly-styled event featuring former president and CEO of the Purdue Alumni Association Ralph Amos.
“We had greater numbers of people at our ‘Lunch and Learn’ events than ever before, so I would definitely say this year’s Inclusive Excellence Week was a success,” said Maya. “I loved Marian Vasser’s session on Implicit Bias and the way Ralph Amos approached the topic of Intersectionality,” Maya commented. “He talked about diversity in a way that helped people realize that everyone is diverse because nobody is the same. It is possible for people who look like everyone else to still feel out of place and it is important to recognize that.”
Even though Inclusive Excellence Week is over, another “Lunch and Learn” program is coming-up next week. On Tuesday, February 4, VOICE and SAVMA Purdue are hosting a “Lunch and Learn” presentation by veterinarian Diarra Blue about Diversity in Veterinary Medicine at 12:30 p.m. in Lynn 1136.
Heidi Lescun, RVT, senior service technician and sales associate with Vetamac, presented a talk entitled, “Form and Function of the Anesthesia Machine” to a full auditorium in Lynn 1136 during the 2019 Veterinary Nursing Symposium.
The sixth annual Purdue Veterinary Nursing Symposium will be held in Lynn Hall on Sunday, March 22, providing veterinary assistants, veterinary nursing or technology students, and veterinary nurses/technicians the opportunity to obtain up to 7.5 continuing education credits. Both small and large animal sessions will be offered during the symposium, and attendees will learn practical information that they can apply in practice.
Small animal topics covered at the symposium will include neurology, oncology, clinical pathology, radiology, and anesthesiology. Large animal sessions will address the topics of equine medicine, equine behavior, equine shoeing and foot problems, and llama and alpaca dentistry. A keynote lecture on CBD products will conclude the day with Saralyn Sharp, RVT, VTS (CP-SA, Canine/Feline), giving a presentation entitled, “Clearing the Fog Around CBD Oil.”
New for 2020, the symposium will feature an optional wet lab on
clinical pathology. Pam Schendel, BS,
RVT, VTS (Clinical Pathology) and Dan Walsh, MS, RVT, VTS (Clinical Pathology),
will present the wet lab following a clinical pathology lecture earlier in the
day. The wet lab will include a demonstration
of a rapid, logical approach to the blood film as well as discussion about other
hints for obtaining the most accurate data from a hematology instrument. The wet lab requires an additional $15 fee,
and is limited to 20 participants.
As of Monday, January 27, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has a full-time licensed counseling psychologist on staff with almost 20 years of experience providing counseling for college students. Colleen Maguire Jackson, PhD, HSPP, has provided a range of clinical services to students at Purdue University for the past 15 years. After completion of her doctoral degree, she held positions at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) as a staff therapist, coordinator of alcohol and other drug services, training director, and assistant director. Dr. Maguire Jackson also previously provided mental health services to Purdue veterinary students, interns, residents, veterinary nursing students, and graduate students at a CAPS satellite office that was located in Lynn Hall from 2006 to 2012, prior to the College’s creation of an in-house, full-time therapist position.
Dr. Maguire Jackson said she is passionate about promoting
the wellness of professional degree students who seek to better themselves
through growing their minds and spirits.
“I take a holistic approach in supporting students’ development as they
adjust to the rigors of veterinary medicine, which often challenge even the
best practiced self-care regimes,” she explained. Dr. Maguire Jackson brings expertise in the
treatment of depression, anxiety, relational distress, grief, personal and
professional adjustment, stress management, substance abuse, and identity
development.
Dr. Maguire Jackson also said she greatly enjoys working
with a wide range of students through a lens of cultural humility, building
upon students’ strengths and empowering all of their identities. Her philosophy of mental wellness honors an
understanding that everyone needs help sometime and counseling can be one of
many paths toward more balance and self-compassion. In her free time, Dr. Maguire Jackson enjoys
quiet time and travel with her family and dog.
She maintains her own wellness through the practice of mindfulness,
prioritizing time for relationships, life-long learning, and engaging in
meaningful work as a therapist.
Dr. Maguire Jackson’s office is in Lynn 1245 (the same office used by the former therapist, Dr. Luana Nan). You can contact her by phone at 765-494-9759, email at cjackson1@purdue.edu, or feel free to drop-in when her office door is open. Dr. Maguire Jackson’s arrival this week completes PVM’s therapist team, as she joins Catherine Lawhorne, who started as the College’s new part-time therapist January 13, and has an office in Lynn G158E, across from the G167 classroom. Information about how to schedule appointments will be available on the Counseling and Wellness Services website. Please help extend a warm PVM welcome to both of our new therapists!
A banquet at the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom last Friday (January 24) concluded the first of two interview days, when prospective veterinary students seeking admission to the DVM Class of 2024 had a chance to interact with faculty, staff, and current DVM students.
A host of people visiting Lynn Hall today (Friday, January 31) signaled the second of two DVM interview days, with prospective students coming to the College of Veterinary Medicine from around Indiana and across the country in hopes of being admitted to the Purdue DVM Class of 2024. In addition to the interviews, other activities planned for the prospective students and their families include informational sessions and opportunities to hear from Dean Willie Reed and to meet with Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence Latonia Craig. The interview day concludes tonight with a banquet at the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom, where the prospective students and their families can meet faculty, staff, and current DVM students. Out of a total of more than 1,600 applicants for the DVM Class of 2024, about 300 prospective students were invited to interview for admission either today or during the first interview day, which was last Friday, January 24.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened to learn that Dr. Scott E. Borter (PU DVM ’89) of Odon, Ind., died Friday, January 24. He was 55.
After earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1989, Dr. Borter owned and operated the Bloomfield Veterinary Clinic for more than 30 years. He was described as having a true passion for caring for animals that was evident in his work. Dr. Borter also served on the Greene County Humane Society Board and was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Odon United Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and tractor rides with his granddaughter. He also was regarded as a great mentor who loved life, laughter, telling jokes, and going out to eat with his family. His favorite activities included spending time with friends and family outdoors water skiing, snowboarding, riding roller coasters, and bailing hay.
Pictured (left-right): Mary Jayne Downey, Danielle Buchanan, and Susan Xioufaridou were recognized for 15 years of service to Purdue University during PVM’s annual service anniversary recognition program in December.
Photos taken at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual year-end recognition and awards ceremony now can be viewed in an online gallery. The ceremony on December 17 in Lynn Hall, Room 1136, honored staff members who reached key service anniversaries in 2019, and recognized those who recently completed the Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine Certificate Program. In addition, several Bravo Awards were presented to recognize substantial accomplishments by Purdue employees that extend well beyond regular work responsibilities.
Prospective students began checking in for their interviews at 7:00 a.m.
Prospective students hoping for a seat in the Purdue DVM
Class of 2024 are visiting the College of Veterinary Medicine today (Friday,
January 24)! This is the first of two
interview days being conducted by the College.
The second interview day will be next Friday, January 31.
Several informational sessions, including this presentation on the topic of financial aid, are offered for prospective students and their families during DVM Interview Days.
About 300 of the more than 1,600 DVM program applicants are being given the opportunity to be interviewed for admission to the Class of 2024. Interview sessions will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on both days. Additionally, the prospective students can sit in on discussions that will be held each day about topics ranging from “Life as a 4th Year Veterinary Student on the Equine Track” to “International Programs,” as well as hear comments from Dean Willie Reed and meet with Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence Latonia Craig.
The visitors also will be able to take scheduled tours of Lynn Hall, both in the morning and afternoon, and are welcome to explore the Purdue campus on their own. Additionally, the Vet Shoppe will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during both interview days so the students can look over PVM gear. An evening banquet at the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom will conclude each interview day, and provide the prospective students with opportunities to meet and mingle with faculty, staff, and current DVM students.
The prospective students have traveled from around Indiana
and across the country to complete this step toward their goal of earning a DVM
degree. Please help extend a warm PVM welcome
to the students and their families!
Dr. Zenithson (Zenny) Ng, who gave the Human-Animal Bond Lecture at the VMX Conference, with Dr. Alan Beck, director of Purdue’s Center for the Human-Animal Bond.
Attendees at the VMX national veterinary conference in Orlando, Fla., had an opportunity to learn about correlations between the human-animal bond and mental health issues facing the veterinary medical profession during a special lecture co-sponsored by Purdue Veterinary Medicine and Elanco Animal Health. The evening industry lecture on Saturday, January 18, featured Dr. Zenithson (Zenny) Ng, clinical assistant professor of community practice at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, who spoke on the topic, “The Secret Life of Vets: Embracing the Human-Animal Bond.”
Dr. Ng earned his DVM degree from Cornell University and completed a small animal rotating internship at the Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital of the ASPCA in New York City before entering a combined American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (canine/feline) residency and master’s degree program in human-animal bond studies at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Through this unique program Dr. Ng was able to enhance his medical and surgical skills while developing expertise in human-animal relationships.
In
his presentation, Dr. Ng noted that veterinarians are arguably the
professionals who are most attuned to the human-animal bond and all that it has
to offer. Research has shown the benefits
of human-animal interactions, and yet the veterinary profession is facing a
mental health crisis. Shouldn’t
veterinarians be in excellent mental health if they are interacting with
animals on a daily basis? Unfortunately,
as Dr. Ng explained, it’s not that simple.
Dr. Ng looked at research related to animal assisted interventions and shared how interactions with patients might not cause the same reactions for veterinarians. Instead, veterinary professionals are concerned with proper diagnosis, treatment plans, euthanasia and client conflict, among other things, when they see patients. His presentation included practical strategies and future research directions for utilizing the human-animal bond to improve the welfare and well-being of both veterinarians and animals.
Additionally,
Dr. Ng provided useful information on mental health resources and tips for
overcoming potential barriers to seeking help.
He encouraged attendees to not only prioritize their own self-care, but
to also be a support system for colleagues who may need help. He closed with a reminder about how veterinarians
should remember what we know about the benefits of the human-animal bond, and, when
possible, take a moment to enjoy a few snuggles with a healthy animal
companion.
PVM Chief Development Officer Tanya Finkbiner with Pacesetter donors, Dr. Raechel Willard (PU DVM ’96) and her husband Chris Ormsby, along with their daughter Matilda, at the Purdue Alumni Reception in Orlando, Fla.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni, friends, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to gather together in Orlando, Fla. at the annual Purdue Alumni Reception hosted by the College during the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) annual VMX Conference. More than 50 people attended the event on Sunday night, January 19, at the Hyatt Regency adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center.
Alumni enjoyed the opportunity to catch-up with classmates and colleagues and hear an update about the new Purdue Veterinary Hospital project from Dean Willie Reed. Attendees included some of the 60 Pacesetter donors who made significant gift commitments in support of the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital in conjunction with the College’s 60th Anniversary in 2019.
Kris Kazmierczak, third from left, is joined by (left-right) Robyn McCain, Dr. Gert Breur, Laura Murray, Christa Crain, and Jordan Keehn at the reception honoring her retirement.
After more than four decades of service to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Kris Kazmierczak, RVT, has retired as the veterinary research technical assistant for the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. PVM faculty and staff congratulated Kris at a farewell reception held in her honor January 16 in the Veterinary Medical Library.
The reception included a program led by Dr. Gert Breur, professor of small animal surgery and director of the Center for Comparative Translational Research. Dr. Breur praised Kris for her dedication and professionalism over her 44-year-long PVM career, during which she held a number of positions, including key roles in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Dr. Breur described how Kris initially was recruited by the
surgery faculty in 1976 because the College needed someone who was well-versed
in anesthesia. In 1983, she became the chief small animal anesthetist and remained
in that position until 1994, when Dr. Breur asked her to work in his
laboratory, where she learned how to do quantitative morphology. Two years later, Kris was named as the Veterinary
Teaching Hospital’s first referral veterinarian communications coordinator. In
this position, she was responsible for getting patient information from
referral veterinarians to the hospital clinicians and vice versa.
In 2006, Kris transitioned back to a lab setting and began working in Dr. Breur’s Gait Laboratory. She managed the lab and taught students how to conduct gait analyses. “She helped convert the Gait Lab from being research-focused to clinical-focused,” Dr. Breur explained. “Several gait labs around the world have implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) that Kris developed. She has been consulted frequently about how to start a gait lab and succeed at running it.” Kris remained with the Gait Lab until July 2019, when she accepted the position of clinical trials coordinator, and began working with Dr. George Moore, veterinary clinical trials director and professor of epidemiology.
Dr. Breur concluded his remarks by noting that he and Kris had worked together for 18 years in different capacities. “I would be remiss if I did not mention her contributions as a photographer for many events and research projects,” Dr. Breur added. “On behalf of all faculty, staff, and students of the College, I would like to thank you for your contributions to the College over the past 44 years.”
Dr. Breur then presented Kris with a commemorative gift in honor of her service. Attendees also had the opportunity to sign a frame mat to be given to Kris with a photo of the Continuum sculpture.
Dr. Gert Breur presents Kris Kazmierczak with a commemorative gift in recognition of her retirement after 44 years of service to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine Larry Adams autographs a picture frame mat that was placed with a photo of the Continuum sculpture for Kris in commemoration of her retirement.
Dr. Breur also shared the podium with several other faculty members who thanked Kris for making a lasting positive impact on the College. Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, pointed out how Kris worked to get the referral veterinarian communications coordinator position off the ground. “Kris quickly became known as the face of the Small Animal Hospital among our referral veterinarians,” Dr. Scott-Moncrieff said. “In 2003, she won the Outstanding Staff Award. Kris is an amazingly hard worker. Whatever she commits herself to do, she does it 100 percent. Even if it was something outside the scope of her comfort zone, she did it and did it well.”
Dr. Jim Toombs, former professor of small animal orthopedics and neurosurgery at Purdue, also attended the reception and recalled how Kris played a pivotal role in the Small Animal Hospital. “When I came to work at Purdue in 1987 as a small animal orthopedic surgeon, I was terrified at the fact that we had no veterinary anesthesiology faculty,” Dr. Toombs remembered. “My concerns were quickly put to rest by the skills, dedication, and professionalism of Kris Kazmierczak. She was an outstanding leader in small animal anesthesiology.” Dr. Toombs also emphasized how, as referral veterinarian communications coordinator, Kris made sure the clinicians got the most complete information about hospital patients from the referring veterinarians. Dr. Toombs left Purdue in 2003 to become head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where he served until his retirement in 2016. “I’ve worked at five institutions during my career and Kris is in that very tiny group of individuals that made the greatest difference in the well-being of my patients and students,” Dr. Toombs said.
After additional words of commendation were shared by Veterinary Clinical Trials Director George Moore, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kathy Salisbury, and Assistant Professor of Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery Sarah Malek, Kris stepped to the podium to share her thoughts, recalling how she was hesitant about taking the job when she was first contacted by the College in 1976. “I told myself, ‘I’ll try it out, six months and I’ll be home again.’ Well six months has turned into 44 years and it’s been a great career for me,” Kris said. “I learned so much about myself. Teaching and working with students was a great experience. I felt a great amount of responsibility when I took on the referral coordinator position. I was the voice of the referring vet in the hospital.” Kris also explained how her work ethic was something she learned from her parents. “They told me that if you say you’re going to do a job, you have to give 100 percent to it. I will really miss interacting with everybody here and teaching students and all the other great parts of working at PVM.”
Reception attendees included Kris Kazmierczak’s mother, who enjoyed visiting with her daughter’s colleagues, including Associate Professor of Cardiology Henry Green.
