Purdue Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome the newest addition to the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Jessyca Waddell, who accepted the position of Vet Up! Outreach Coordinator, effective February 10. As part of her new role, Jessyca is responsible for recruiting participants at conferences and career fairs, working with new and current program participants to refine their applications to veterinary school, and helping Purdue DVM students who are Vet Up! participants on their road to graduation and beyond.
Originally from northern Indiana, Jessyca has always loved animals and is a ten-year 4-H member, as well as a collegiate 4-H member. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue University in 2014 and was actively involved in campus life during her studies. She served as the historical co-chair of the Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, the secretary of Purdue Collegiate 4-H, and held various offices with the Purdue University Pre-Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association.
After graduating, Jessyca worked as the project assistant at the National AgrAbility Project. Housed in Purdue’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building, the program strives to improve the quality of life of agricultural workers with disabilities. Jessyca also worked with Tippecanoe County’s 4-H program as the veterinary science superintendent, a responsibility which triggered her interest in education. She went on to earn a master’s in youth development from Kansas State University in 2019.
While pursuing her master’s, Jessyca moved to California for a short time to work for the Nsefu Wildlife Conservation Foundation as their director of philanthropy. She later returned to Purdue as an Instructor for the Purdue Athletes Life Success Program (PALS), where she developed an animal-centric curriculum for the participants, all of whom are low-income youth of elementary and middle school age.
“The unique combination of my degrees gives me a strong background in animal and veterinary sciences, as well as in education and development that will help me guide students,” said Jessyca. “My own personal experiences also will allow me to help them realize their dreams of becoming veterinarians. I worked in the Animal Sciences Department while I was a pre-veterinary student at Purdue University and advised many students in that role.”
Jessyca has two dogs, a Malipom named Cappie and a Maltese named Fynn, and you can find pictures of both of them in her office in Lynn 2133. You can also reach her at 496-4997 or via e-mail at jlwaddell@purdue.edu.
Please join us in welcoming Jessyca to the PVM family!
The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) recently honored three Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni as award recipients at the organization’s 2020 Crossroads Veterinary Conference. Drs. Jerry Rodenbarger (PU DVM ‘79), Steve Sunbury (PU DVM ’93), and Denise Katz (PU DVM 2011) each received prestigious IVMA awards during the annual meeting, which was held in Noblesville, Ind. from January 30 to February 1.
Dr. Jerry Rodenbarger
Outgoing IVMA President Matt Cantrell presents the IVMA Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Jerry Rodenbarger.
Dr. Rodenbarger was honored with the IVMA Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an IVMA member for cumulative service and accomplishments benefiting the profession, organized veterinary medicine, and the community. A native of West Lafayette, Ind., Dr. Rodenbarger earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1979 and then worked for two years at a small animal hospital in South Bend before moving to Valparaiso, Ind., where he took a position in a small animal/equine practice. During the past 39 years, he has owned or partnered in three practices in the Valparaiso area. Dr. Rodenbarger also has been actively involved in community and charitable organizations, serving on boards and committees for such organizations as the Boys’ and Girls’ Club, the United Way, and Our Greater Good, while also being actively involved in his church. Along the way, he and his wife have received a number of awards, including the Park Foundation Legends Award, the United Way Dorothy Porter outstanding volunteer award, the Valparaiso Chamber Legacy of Service Award, and the Carolyn and Dr. John Wolf YMCA Legacy Award.
A strong believer in supporting organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Rodenbarger has served the veterinary medical profession in several capacities, including as the District 1 representative to the IVMA Board of Directors. He also has chaired the IVMA Ethics Committee and will continue as the Region I representative to the IVMA board in 2020. In addition, Dr. Rodenbarger currently serves on the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and as the secretary/treasurer for the board of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association.
Dr. Steve Sunbury
Dr. Steve Sunbury accepts the IVMA President’s Award from outgoing IVMA President and fellow Purdue alumnus Matt Cantrell.
Dr. Sunbury received the IVMA President’s Award, which was presented by outgoing IVMA president and fellow Purdue alumnus Matt Cantrell (PU DVM 2010). The award recognizes an Indiana veterinarian or citizen who has made exceptional contributions to the association during his or her term in office. Dr. Sunbury earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1993, and comes from a family of veterinarians, including his father, his brother, and his uncle. After graduation, Dr. Sunbury joined the Seymour Animal Hospital in Seymour, Ind., to work with his father and now co-owns the practice, which expanded in 1996.
Dr. Sunbury’s record of involvement with organized veterinary medicine includes serving as secretary/treasurer, vice-president and president of the 9th District IVMA, and as an IVMA board member and officer, fulfilling a variety of responsibilities including board chairman and, in 2010, IVMA President. Currently a member of the board of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association, Dr. Sunbury also has served on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Admissions Committee, the PVM Veterinary Nursing Advisory Committee and the PVM 60th Anniversary Planning Committee. He also serves on the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and is a life-long member of the IVMA and the AVMA.
Dr. Denise Katz
Dr. Denise Katz receives the IVMA Volunteer of the Year Award, which was presented during the Crossroads Veterinary Conference in Noblesville, Ind. January 31, 2020.
Dr. Katz was awarded the IVMA Volunteer of the Year Award, in recognition of her leadership and service related to the IVMA. After earning her Purdue DVM degree in 2011, Dr. Katz began her career in private practice at Noah’s Animal Hospitals in Indianapolis. In 2013, she took a hiatus from general practice to pursue her interest in shelter medicine and worked at the Houston SPCA and appeared on the Animal Planet series “Animal Cops Houston.” She also served as an adjunct professor for the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, teaching shelter medicine to clinical fourth-year veterinary students. In 2014, she received the Award for Excellence in Teaching from Texas A&M.
Eventually Dr. Katz returned to Indiana to be the shelter veterinarian for Indianapolis Animal Care Services, where she was instrumental in developing the medical team, increasing the live release rate, and assisting with the passage of city ordinances to improve animal welfare in Marion County. She also received the Meritorious Service Award in 2015 and Mayor’s Performance Award in 2016 for her service as the city’s shelter veterinarian. In 2017, Dr. Katz returned to Noah’s to start All Pet Health Care, which focuses on access to care for underserved communities. A year later, she assumed the role of chief medical officer for all eleven Noah’s Animal Hospitals. Dr. Katz is passionate about providing excellent veterinary care to all patients and meeting the needs of their owners.
IVMA Officers
Include PVM Alumni
In addition to presenting awards, the IVMA also installed new officers at the annual meeting, some of whom are Purdue alumni. Dr. Matt Cantrell (PU DVM 2010) is the immediate past president. Dr. Kyle Shipman (PU DVM 2015) was elected as treasurer. And Dr. Hilary Christner, who earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences at Purdue University before completing the DVM program at Ross University, is president-elect.
Writer(s):
Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr
| pvmnews@purdue.edu
Dr. Debbie White (PU DVM ’94) and Dr. Miguel Ortiz (PU DVM 2009) both attended the Purdue Alumni Reception during the WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas and spoke to fellow alumni about their candidacies for leadership positions on the organization’s Board of Directors.
Two Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduates recently won election to key leadership positions on the Board of Directors for the WVC, now known as the Viticus Group, which hosts the annual WVC Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. Dr. Debbie White (PU DVM ’94), who just completed a five-year term as a director, was elected vice-president. Dr. Miguel Ortiz (PU DVM 2009) won election as a new director on the board.
Dr. White earned both her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and her DVM degree at Purdue University in 1991 and 1994, respectively, before relocating to Las Vegas with her husband and fellow Purdue veterinary graduate, Dr. Kurt Mychajlonka (PU DVM ’93). With more than 20 years of private practice experience, Dr. White owns two veterinary practices, including the Lone Mountain Animal Hospital, where she works as a small animal and exotic animal veterinarian. She also is a partner in several other veterinary practices in the Las Vegas area. Since 2008, Dr. White also has been involved in Animal Radio, a weekly radio program during which she has answered questions from pet owners across the country.
As a veterinarian who has a passion for continuing education
and career development, Dr. White has been involved with WVC in many capacities
throughout her career. She is especially interested in mentorship roles and the
promotion of personal and professional wellness.
Dr. Ortiz was elected to a five-year term on the WVC Board of Directors. Born and raised in Guatemala City, Guatemala, Dr. Ortiz moved to the United States and earned his DVM degree at Purdue University in 2009. He then entered private practice at the Munhall Veterinary Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he currently serves as the medical director. His areas of professional interest include preventive medicine, chronic disease management, palliative care, behavior, and dermatology.
The election results were announced during the conference February 19. That’s also when WVC’s name change was announced. The Viticus Group is in the process of expanding its continuing education offerings in both veterinary and human medicine.
Congratulations to our alumni on their new leadership roles!
Writer(s):
Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr
| pvmnews@purdue.edu
Dean Willie Reed honored seven first-year DVM students in VM 82500 at the beginning of class on February 25 for earning their Certificates of Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine: (back row, left-right) Evan Ward, Malaycia Goldsmith, Keri Anderson, and Samantha Larkin; (front row, left-right) Jenny Oberhelman, Taryn Stevens, and Elimar Ruiz Cortes.
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is recognizing a group of DVM and veterinary nursing students who recently completed their Certificates of Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. Developed in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, the certificate program is offered through PVM’s Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine.
Requirements for earning the certificate include cultural competency assessments, completion of a series of online modules, community service, participation in approved activities, and submission of a capstone paper detailing how the person will use the information learned through the program to strengthen diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine. All students currently enrolled at PVM are registered for the program and are required to complete the online modules. Then they may choose to complete the rest of the requirements on their own time.
First-year DVM students finish the online modules as part of the required VM 82500 class, “Current Issues in Veterinary Medicine.” Seven of the students in the DVM Class of 2023, six students in the Veterinary Nursing Class of 2020, and a fourth-year DVM student, who is away on a study abroad experience, went the extra mile to earn their Certificates of Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine by completing the additional requirements. The first-year students in VM 82500 who completed the program were recognized individually by Dean Willie Reed at the beginning of class on February 25, when he personally presented their certificates.
Congratulations to all of the following PVM students for recently
completing the Certificate of Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine
program:
The Dubai Equine Hospital, one the largest private-practice equine hospitals in Dubai, has a selective externship program and accepts only two students from the same country per year.
For Caitlin Smith, a member of the DVM Class of 2020, the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap took her across the globe to Dubai, where she became the first Purdue veterinary student to participate in the highly selective Dubai Equine Hospital Externship Program. Caitlin stayed in Dubai on the hospital’s campus for the entirety of her externship, which ran from November 30 to December 29, 2019.
Caitlin took some time out of her busy externship schedule to go riding at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre.
The Dubai Equine Hospital is one the largest private-practice equine hospitals in Dubai and is located less than two miles from the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. There are usually anywhere from 20 to 50 horses at the hospital at a time. The externship program takes one applicant every month from countries all over the globe, and does not take more than two externs from the same country in the same year. The students’ travel and food costs are covered and they are housed in an apartment on the hospital campus. When horses are not in the ICU, each student extern is responsible for conducting all treatments from six in the morning until midnight.
Caitlin loved the flexible schedule she had, which enabled her to make the most of the many educational opportunities the externship afforded. “When I wasn’t doing treatments, I was able to make my own schedule. I could scrub into surgeries, do appointments, look at the radiographs, and talk to the other doctors,” said Caitlin. “This program requires that you are fully invested in being an equine veterinarian, as you work strictly on horses 18 hours a day for 30 days straight.”
Many of the horses that come through the hospital are high quality racehorses or endurance horses, as Dubai has a large horse racing industry. Caitlin was able to visit and work behind the scenes at the largest racecourse on the planet, the mile-long Meydan Grandstand in Dubai. The Meydan Racecourse is home to an almost six-month long racing season, as well as the Dubai World Cup, which is the world’s richest race day at $35 million.
Caitlin Smith, of the DVM Class of 2020, was able to visit the Meydan Grandstand in Dubai, the largest racecourse in the world.
“I hope to eventually work on equines at world-class shows,
so it was great to get a taste of that through this externship program,”
reflected Caitlin. “I would recommend this study abroad experience to other
equine-track DVM students because it gave me global exposure to the horse racing
industry and allowed me to build a lasting network of equine veterinary
professionals.”
“Something interesting that I learned while at Dubai Equine
Hospital was that there are so many ways to achieve the same result through
different approaches,” said Caitlin. “This is why I believe it is important for
all DVM students to study abroad at some point; it provides you with a
different perspective.”
Caitlin is from South Bend, Ind., and while at Purdue Veterinary Medicine, she has participated in the Equine Club (AAEP), served on the College’s wellness committee, and served as an officer for the International Veterinary Student Association (IVSA). After graduating in May, she plans to pursue an equine-based internship at a private practice in Connecticut.
More information on study abroad and externship opportunities is available through the PVM Office of Global Engagement.
Dr. Jennifer Sexton (left) of the DVM Class of 2016 with fellow alumni in the DVM Class of 2018, Drs. Lilliana Munoz, Kristen Mozeika, Elexa Baron, and Sarah Dengler, at the Purdue Alumni Reception during the WVC Conference.
The first recipient of a scholarship created by the DVM Class of 1983, Dr. Cody Land of the of the DVM Class of 2019 (2nd from left), enjoyed visiting at the reception with three Class of ‘83 members (left-right), Drs. Bandon Mills, Kevin Bannister, and Mark Hilton.
Alumni and friends of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, gathered for the annual PVM Alumni Reception during the 2020 WVC Annual Conference in Las Vegas, Nev. The event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Monday evening, February 17, attracted about 45 attendees who were able to renew acquaintances, catch-up with classmates, visit with PVM faculty who were present, and hear an update from Dean Willie Reed about the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital project.
Attendees also had the opportunity to meet the two Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduates who ran as candidates for WVC leadership positions. Dr. Debbie White (PU DVM ’94), a candidate for vice president, and Dr. Miguel Ortiz (PU DVM 2009), a candidate for director, both were introduced by Dean Reed and had the opportunity to speak to their fellow alumni. The results of their successful campaigns for seats on the WVC Board of Directors were announced two days later.
Professor J. Paul Robinson in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s
Department of Basic Medical Sciences worked with a team of Purdue researchers to
develop new technology to help stop the spread of foodborne illnesses, which
kill 3,000 people a year. The technology combines innovative assays with laser
pulses to detect these illnesses more efficiently.
The research team developed a lanthanide-based assay coupled
with a laser that can be used to detect toxins and pathogenic E. coli in food
samples, water and a variety of industrial materials. The two key features of the new technology
are the incorporation of lanthanides and simple lateral flow paper-based
assays.
Purdue innovators have developed a lanthanide-based assay coupled with a laser that can be used to detect toxins and pathogenic E. coli in food samples, water, and a variety of industrial materials. (Image provided)
The Purdue team created a method for combining different heavy metals that, when linked to antibodies, can detect multiple agents in a single analysis. Their work is published in the January edition of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry.
“Our goal was to incorporate easily detectable elements into a paper-based assay which is low-cost and effective,” said Dr. Robinson, who holds a joint appointment as the SVM Professor of Cytomics in the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of biomedical engineering in Purdue’s College of Engineering. “Designing a technology that is both low-cost but also accurate and can detect multiple antigens simultaneously was a critical factor in our decision to work on this problem.”
The innovators worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC) to patent the technology in the United States and in Europe. “We are very excited about the acceptance of the intellectual property as this will enhance the possibility of finding commercial partners,” Dr. Robinson said. “The potential for moving this to handheld, field deployable use is something we see in the future.”
The approach uses a high-powered laser pulse to obliterate a
sample, while simultaneously collecting the spectral signature of the resultant
emission. These signals are then compared with a database that translates the
signals into an identification of the toxin or pathogen.
The work published in the journal article shows the proof of
principle and is the basis for significant expansion of the studies. The team
is looking for partners. For more information, contact Dipak Narula of OTC at
dnarula@prf.org and reference track code 2019-ROBI-68413.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) and Center for Food Safety Engineering (CFSE) provided funding
for the technology research in addition to Hatch Funds, which support
agricultural research at land-grant institutions across the U.S.
The online platform ecancer, which seeks to raise the
standards of care for cancer patients across the world through education,
recently posted a video of an interview with Dr. Sulma Mohammed, professor of
cancer biology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative
Pathobiology. Dr. Mohammed discussed the
state of cancer research in Africa and explained her passion for African cancer
research that has led her to play an active role over a dozen years in a major conference
addressing cancer on the continent.
Her video is part of ecancer’s coverage of the 12th
International Conference on Cancer in Africa, which was hosted by the African Organisation for Research and
Training in Cancer (AORTIC) in Maputo, Mozambique last November. With the
theme, “Cancer in Africa: Innovation, Strategies, Implementation,” the 2019
AORTIC Conference focused on cancer control in Africa, and featured an in-depth
scientific program with local, African, and internationally-renowned keynote
speakers. Dr. Mohammed chaired a session
during the conference entitled “Cancer Biology from the Bench to Bedside.”
During her interview
with ecancer, Dr. Mohammed noted
that the conference was primarily patient-oriented. “I’m an advocate for cancer research in
Africa. We know that in Africa we don’t have much cancer research,” Dr.
Mohammed explained, adding that she is advocating to have basic science
research in every country on the continent.
She pointed out that currently, all the medicine is being developed and
tested on people in more developed areas of the world, where people live different
lives than people in Africa. “We need to identify our own markers, like in our
indigenous people. And accordingly, we
can develop our own medicine that can fit our own people.”
During her interview, which was posted on the ecancer website February 5, Dr. Mohammed
also described current challenges facing cancer research in African countries,
where she said treatment is valued more than investment in science. Noting that many of the 2019 AORTIC Conference
attendees were clinicians, Dr. Mohammed expressed her hope that more research scientists
from around the world will participate in the future. Last year was the 12th year that
Dr. Mohammed led a session at the conference.
The word is out – Purdue University has a new look and a new
framework for sharing its powerful story in a unified voice focused on
Boilermaker determination and achievements toward building a better world
together. Captured in the phrase,
“Purdue University, the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap,” is the
essence of the new branding that officially launched January 30.
Evolved from the highly successful 150th Anniversary
celebration theme of “Take Giant Leaps,” the new branding emphasizes small
steps and persistence toward the next giant leap. Visual components include a new logo that
combines the widely recognized “Motion P” with the Purdue University wordmark,
as well as new fonts and a new color palette.
Unified around the philosophy of what it means to be Purdue University, the
color palette utilizes only shades of gold and black, and makes Athletics Gold,
now called “Boilermaker Gold,” Purdue’s primary gold color creating a cohesive
look across Purdue Athletics and academics.
As important, if not more so, than the visual aspects, are the messaging elements, summarized in the following statement of who we are as an institution – the “big idea” that forms the foundation of our brand: “Purdue University is about the persistent pursuit of innovation where people bring their best and learn to build a better world together.” Or, simply put, “Persistent Innovation. Together.”
Details of the new branding are available on Purdue Office of Marketing and Media’s brand website, which addresses everything from brand strategy, to writing style, to visual components and social media. There is no need to discard existing materials. The new branding will be phased in over the coming year as new materials are produced and existing supplies run out, including such items as business cards.
Purdue Email Signature Generator
One thing to do right away, however, is to update your email signature to the new brand standard using the new generator available on the Purdue Brand website. As we are communicating with clients, research collaborators, vendors, colleagues, and students, it’s important that we present a consistent look for the University. As you fill in the forms on the generator, three options will auto-fill your content to the right. Depending on content length, some options may display better than others. Once all the content has been added and you’ve decided which option you like best, click on the option header, right click the highlighted signature, and copy into your email program of choice. In Outlook, go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures, clear the existing content in the signature editor, and paste. In order to keep the text black and gold and eliminate links coming through as blue in color, simply select the link and change the color from “Automatic” to “Black, Text 1”. You’re all set!
Following the brand standards is essential to the success of the University and our College. Protecting the integrity of the brand by being faithful to the messaging as well as the visual brand standards is vital. Purdue Veterinary Medicine is in the process of transitioning to the new brand with more details coming soon. Please contact Allison Carey, assistant director of communications, with any branding questions at aacarey@purdue.edu.
This illustration shows how a team of scientists from Purdue University and institutions around the world have come together to better understand the growing number of worldwide patented innovations available for gene therapy treatment. (Image provided)
The global gene therapy market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2024 as new treatment options target cancers and other diseases. Dr. Marxa Figueiredo, associate professor of basic medical sciences in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, has helped lead a team of scientists from Purdue and other research institutions around the world who came together to better understand the growing number of worldwide patented innovations available for gene therapy treatment.
Dr. Figueiredo and her fellow team members specifically focus on nonviral methods, which use synthetic or natural compounds or physical forces to deliver materials generally less toxic than their viral counterparts into the therapy treatments. “The possibility of using nonviral vectors for gene therapy represents one of the most interesting and intriguing fields of gene therapy research,” said Dr. Figueiredo, who works with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent her technologies related to health. “This is an innovative method for identifying the technological routes used by universities and companies across the world and uncovering emerging trends for different gene therapy sectors.”
The scientists used big data, patent, and clinical data mining to identify technological trends for the gene therapy field. The team’s work is presented in the February 7 edition of Nature Biotechnology. They envision that their analysis will help guide future developments for gene therapy.
The research project brought together investigators from across the globe in a joint effort to use new databases and methods to better understand the trends of the gene therapy field in respect to nonviral vectors. Dimas Covas, coordinator of the Center for Cell-based Therapy, affiliated with the University of São Paulo in Brazil, lent his extensive experience in cell therapy. Dr. Figueiredo, Aglaia Athanassiadou, and Virginia Picanço-Castro contributed their extensive experience with nonviral vectors for gene therapy. Cristiano Pereira and Geciane Porto brought their expertise in economics and business administration to the analyses. Each contribution was fundamental to achieving a new way to identify technological trends in this field.
“This work brought together investigators from very diverse
disciplines to create a different perspective on the gene therapy field,” Dr. Figueiredo
explained. “Our groups continue to work individually or in collaboration to
generate and patent new vectors to help fill the needs of this re-emerging
field of nonviral gene therapy.”
The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by the office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university’s academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property.
