Veterinary research conducted by Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Dr. Maggie O’Haire has established evidence of the effectiveness of service dogs in aiding veterans with PTSD.
The Qalibra system, recently installed in the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, enables the CT machine to be adjusted in height to the size of the horse and moved horizontally over the patient during the scan, allowing the patient to stand without restraint. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)
A sagittal CT slice of a horse that presented with chronic lameness localized to the fetlock with previous diagnostic efforts unable to conclusively provide a diagnosis. The fetlock joint of the standing horse was examined in the CT with intra-articular contrast agent administration (arthrography). The patient’s veterinary team was able to diagnose the horse with mild osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)
Equine athletes in Indiana now have access to the latest diagnostic imaging technology thanks to installation of the Qalibra Computed Tomography (CT) machine at the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, a satellite facility of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine located in Shelbyville, Ind. The helical (spiral) CT features the world’s largest field-of-view and can be adjusted in height according to the size of the horse, making it possible to scan patients while they are safely standing or under general anesthesia or light sedation.
Developed in Germany by equine specialists in conjunction with Canon Medical, the Qalibra CT system also will be installed in the new David and Bonnie Brunner Equine Hospital that is being built on the Purdue University campus with an anticipated opening in spring 2022. At that point, of the three known Qalibra CT installations in the United States, the College of Veterinary Medicine will have two of them.
A front view of the gantry on the Qalibra CT machine, which was specially designed to serve equine patients. (Photo courtesy of Qalibra)
Located near Indiana Grand Racing and Casino, the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital provides expert veterinary medical diagnostics and treatment for Indiana’s growing equine industry. Dr. Timm Gudehus, the hospital’s senior equine surgeon, explains the facility offers such specialized services as advanced equine surgery, including long-bone fracture repair; orthopedic examinations involving advanced diagnostic imaging, including nuclear scintigraphy (bone scan); other diagnostic services such as ultrasound and dynamic endoscopy; and treatments that incorporate a range of biologics and stem cell therapy.
A longstanding Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine tradition of recognizing outstanding faculty during the annual Purdue Veterinary Conferencecontinued in a virtual format in 2021. The annual Awards Celebration September 10 included the presentation of the prestigious Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award along with several other awards for faculty service, research, and teaching.
Dr. Darryl Ragland, associate professor of food animal production medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and section head for production medicine in the Purdue University Large Animal Hospital, is the 2021 recipient of the Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award.
The Raymond E. Plue Outstanding Teacher Award is funded by an endowment established by Dr. Plue, a member of the DVM Class of 1968, to recognize faculty members for their teaching ability as well as their role in fostering interest in research. To be considered for this honor, a faculty member must be nominated by veterinary alumni in the five most recent graduating classes. The 2021 recipient is Dr. Darryl Ragland, associate professor of food animal production medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and head of the Production Medicine Section in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.
Dr. Ragland earned his DVM degree at Tuskegee University before coming to Purdue for a residency in food animal medicine and surgery. After earning his PhD, Dr. Ragland joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty in 1999 as an assistant professor.
Dr. Ragland splits his time between clinical practice, teaching, and research. Much of his research focuses on swine nutrition, though recently he also published a study entitled, “Assessment of Biosecurity Policies and Practices for Controlling African Swine Fever Virus on Ukrainian Pig Farms.” To date, Dr. Ragland’s research has been published in 52 peer-reviewed publications.
Dr. Ragland also fulfills multiple teaching responsibilities in the college including teaching swine production medicine and nutrition to DVM students. In addition, Dr. Ragland recently became very involved in creating a new food animal medicine course for which he is now instructor-of-record. He also played a major role in the college’s animal husbandry courses, working with emeritus professor Michael Hill. In addition, Dr. Ragland has served as the faculty advisor for 38 DVM students and has participated on graduate committees for more than 30 graduate students.
In addition to the Plue Award, eight other faculty awards were presented during the virtual awards program. The honors recognized outstanding teaching, research, and engagement. The awards and the recipients are:
Dr. John Christian, associate professor of veterinary clinical pathology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, and director and section chief of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, was honored with the Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award.
Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence | Dr. Ann Weil,Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Anesthesiology Section Head for the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital
Nominations for this award are submitted by faculty and the selection is made by a committee of faculty and alumni on the basis of the nominee’s performance and contributions in research, scholarly, or creative endeavors; instruction and related activities; and/or public and professional services and relations.
Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award | Dr. Kevin Hannon, Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences
This award is one of two selected on the basis of an annual ballot completed by Purdue veterinary students indicating the degree to which the faculty members demonstrate superior ability in communicating the chosen material to students and stimulate their desire to master the material, while also being ready to aid and motivate students in a counseling and advisory capacity, either formally or informally. The Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award is given annually to an outstanding teacher at each veterinary school in North America. Each award recipient also is eligible to compete for the National Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award.
Dr. Marxa Figuiredo, associate professor of basic medical sciences, was recognized with the 2021 Excellence in Research Award.
Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award | Dr. John Christian, Associate Professor of Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Director and Section Chief of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory
This award also is selected on the basis of the student ballot and recognizes the recipient’s role in helping the students succeed.
Excellence in Teaching Award | Dr. Andrew Woolcock, Associate Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
The recipient of this award is chosen from nominations made by peers. The award includes $3,000 in funds to support scholarly teaching activities.
Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence | Dr. Maggie O’Haire, Associate Professor of Human-Animal Interaction in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
This award recognizes faculty members for their role in generating new knowledge through basic and clinical research.
Excellence in Research Award | Dr. Marxa Figueiredo, Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences
Dr. Rebecca Wilkes, associate professor of molecular diagnostics in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and head of the Molecular and Virology Sections in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, was honored with the 2021 Excellence in Service Award.
This award recognizing outstanding basic and clinical research is sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Excellence in Service Award | Dr. Rebecca Wilkes, Associate Professor of Molecular Diagnostics in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and Head of the Molecular and Virology Sections in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Established to honor Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty who have demonstrated consistent and sustained delivery of services through our college, this award was given to recognize Dr. Wilkes as a national leader in molecular diagnostics and for her instrumental role in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory’s success in supporting the Protect Purdue initiative by testing human samples for COVID-19.
Faculty Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion Award | Dr. Susan Mendrysa, Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences
This award honors faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine who demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion through active recruitment and retention efforts, teaching, research, multicultural programming, community outreach activities, or other initiatives.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened by the passing of an alumnus who was in the college’s sixth graduating class, Dr. Charles Sink, of Peoria, Ariz. He was 77.
Raised in Frankfort, Ind., Dr. Sink came from a long line of farmers. According to a biography posted on the website for the Grand Paws Animal Clinic, a practice that he founded in retirement, Dr. Sink was just a farm boy from Indiana at heart. While helping on the family farm at the young age of five, he developed his passion for caring for animals and nursing them back to health. Fascinated by medicine, he became a trusty assistant to the area veterinarian and then went on to enroll in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1968.
After graduation, Dr. Sink began working in private practice in a small animal veterinary hospital in the Chicago area. A year later, he purchased the hospital with his classmate, the late Dr. James Scott.
The practice grew rapidly, leaving the two veterinarians wishing for more time to spend with their young families. When they spotted an ad for a practice for sale in Cheyenne, Wyo., they hastily arranged a plane trip, purchased the practice and moved their families to the western state. There they were able to grow the practice without sacrificing the time that they wanted to spend hunting, fishing, camping, and skiing with their children.
Dr. Sink remained in Wyoming until 1999, when he sold the practice and moved to Arizona to be closer to his children and grandchildren. Being semi-retired and not wishing to open a new practice on his own, he opted to join a national corporation and worked for the chain of animal hospitals for five years before choosing to fully retire.
That retirement ended relatively quickly, however. Dr. Sink found that he missed the cats and dogs, the surgeries, and the people. So he and his wife decided to open a new practice, and in 2008 established Grand Paws Animal Clinic in Sun City, near Phoenix, with three staff members. Once again, Dr. Sink was in a rapidly growing practice with expanding caseload and staff. In 2014, Grand Paws relocated to a new, larger location nearby in Surprise, Ariz. and continued to flourish.
Dr. Sink spent a total of 53 years in small animal practice. He also was very active in numerous organizations and churches. Known as someone who “never met a stranger,” he particularly loved his time with North Christian Church, Church of Christ in Cheyenne and serving the Wyoming Veterinary Medical Association, as well as the Cheyenne Frontier Days PR Committee.
In the Phoenix area, Dr. Sink was an active member of Christ Church of the Valley – Peoria and traveled frequently with groups there. He had a particular zeal for working with the Rapha House, an organization that is committed to the prevention of sex trafficking and sexual abuse of young women in Cambodia and Thailand.
Dr. Sink will be remembered as a dedicated veterinarian who lived life well with passion and zest. He will be missed by many.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened to learn that retired staff member Nancy A. Martin of West Lafayette, Ind., passed away August 27 at IU Health Hospital of Lafayette. She was 80.
Nancy worked as a histologist in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Pathology Laboratory. She retired in 2006, after a career that spanned 46 years.
A 1959 graduate of Chalmers High School, Nancy went on to attend the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in Lafayette. She is remembered as someone who had a passion for helping others and supporting many causes that were meaningful to her. A long-time member of Reynolds United Methodist Church, she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A memorial service was held September 4 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston. The family asks that memorial contributions in Nancy’s name be made to the Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, the Reynolds United Methodist Church, or a charity of your choice. Click here to view and share memories and condolences.
As a Gold Lever sponsor, Purdue Veterinary Medicine hosted a display at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette’s Art, Bark, ‘n Brew festival that drew a crowd of people and dogs Saturday, September 11 in the museum parking lot.
The PVM booth, staffed by Marketing and Communications Manager Kelly Dold, featured art activities, including opportunities to decorate PVM dog bandanas.
“Come. Sit. Stay.” That was the fun motto for a festive outdoor event called “Art, Bark, ‘n Brew” held during the beautiful weather last Saturday, September 11, at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, with the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as a Gold Level sponsor. Both people and dogs were invited to the event, which featured live music by the Fergus Daly Band, pup-friendly activities at booths set-up by several organizations, including the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the EMT Food Truck and Thieme & Wagner Brewery, which provided food and brew. Natalie’s Second Chance Dog Shelter also was on-hand with adoptable dogs.
The popular event was well-attended by children and adults along with plenty of well-behaved pooches. As a sponsor, the College of Veterinary Medicine received prominent mention in event promotional materials as well as prime booth space. Kelly Dold, the new marketing and communications manager for the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital and Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, organized and staffed the booth, which featured a table with information and promotional items as well as dog bowls and scarves that children could decorate with markers. The PVM display was a hit with both young artists and pups! Booth visitors included several PVM employees and students. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and to Kelly and her husband, Chris, who set-up and took down the booth.
In addition to the college, other event sponsors included Pooch Palace Resort , Stepping Stone Animal Training, Pawsitive Pets, LLC, Pets and Vets as Partners, Paw Partner: VCA Paw Prints Animal Hospital/ VCA Lafayette Animal Hospital, and Pooch at Play Doggie Daycare.
Attendees are all smiles at the Art, Bark, ‘n Brew. (Photo courtesy of the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette)
Members of the DVM Class of 2025, along with Dean Willie Reed, celebrate the beginning of their veterinary medical education at the 2021 Stethoscope Ceremony.
In keeping with a beloved tradition, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine celebrated the incoming classes of DVM and veterinary nursing students recently by hosting a combined Stethoscope Ceremony event. The program honored the first-year veterinary medicine students as well as the clinical year 2 veterinary nursing students who began coursework in Lynn Hall for the first time with the start of the fall semester. Held on Thursday, September 2, the Stethoscope Ceremony was co-sponsored by the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association(PVAA), the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association(IVMA), and Patterson Veterinary Supply.
Veterinary Nursing students in the Class of 2024 are joined by Dean Willie Reed at the annual Stethoscope Ceremony.
Memorial Island in Lafayette’s Columbian Park provided an idyllic setting for the ceremony, which combined what previously had been two separate events. In keeping with the college’s dedication to educating the entire veterinary team, this year’s program involved recognizing the DVM and veterinary nursing students together, in contrast to the previous practice of holding separate events for each group of students. “In many ways, this event is a picture of the teamwork that is so vital to the success of the veterinary medical profession,” Dean Reed said. “As you progress through your education here, I hope you feel like you really are part of a team, working and learning together with your fellow students, and witnessing the teamwork modeled by our faculty and staff.”
Myia Ratcliff, of the DVM Class of 2025, is joined by proud dad, Michael, who surprised her at the event.
Dean Reed continued by thanking Patterson Veterinary for providing the stethoscopes, as well as the IVMA and PVAA for their support of the event. “In addition to providing financial support, our sponsors also have vital insights to share about veterinary medicine,” Dean Reed said.
The representatives of the sponsors then were given the opportunity to speak to the students. Dr. Hilary Christner, president of the IVMA, described the IVMA’s journey alongside the students throughout their four years in veterinary school. The president of the PVAA, Dr. Erin Kosta-Wilson (PU DVM 2008), welcomed the students to the Purdue Veterinary Medicine family on behalf of the association and advised them to achieve a good balance between their academics and personal lives. Rob Fulkerson, of Patterson Veterinary, wrapped-up the remarks by acknowledging the difficulty of going through veterinary school and emphasizing the importance of having a strong support system during school and beyond.
Veterinary nursing students celebrate with Paige Allen, MS, RVT, assistant director of academic advising and recruiting, at Columbian Park.
Then, the students ascended the stage as their names were read and accepted their stethoscopes from Mr. Fulkerson before posing for a photo with Dean Willie Reed. When the event concluded, the students posed for group photos on the steps of the nearby Rush Pavilion, where the college hosted a reception.
With several IVMA board members present for the ceremony, along with the other sponsor representatives and PVM faculty and staff, the students had great opportunities to network during the reception. The jubilant students also enjoyed posing for photos with their friends and their stethoscopes in the serene setting of Columbian Park.
Dr. Andy Stamper, conservation science manager/ veterinarian with Disney Conservation and a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 1993, delivered the Dr. Jack and Naomi Stockton / Class of 1971 Lecture during the 2021 virtual Purdue Veterinary Conference.
Even as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continued to influence events and programs at the start of the new academic year, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine successfully hosted the 2021 Purdue Veterinary Conference, conducting the entire continuing education program virtually. Held September 7-10, the conference attracted 645 registered attendees, including veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff, and students, who were able to attend without leaving home or office.
The conference line-up featured 67 sessions presented by 40 speakers. In the virtual Exhibit Hall, a total of 17 exhibitors provided videos, chat opportunities, and prizes for attendees who were able to peruse the virtual exhibits with a simple click or two. Conference participants also found ample opportunities to network through the conference app, “Whova.” The attendees utilized the app to share more than 1,280 messages and over 240 photos either privately or via community message boards.
Conference highlights included several keynote lectures and special presentations. The Dr. Jack and Naomi Stockton / Class of 1971 Lecture focused on the environment, as Dr. Andrew Stamper, conservation science manager/veterinarian with Disney Conservation addressed the topic, “Marine Ecosystem Health: One Vet’s Adventures Using Veterinary Skills to Save Coral Reefs.”
Ashli Selke, CVT, clinical lab coordinator and distance learning instructional technologist, conducts a session as part of the conference track focused on topics of interest to veterinary nurses.
The Diversity Keynote was delivered by Dr. Ian Moore, investigative veterinary pathologist and section chief of the Infectious Disease Pathogenesis Section at the National Institutes of Health. Entitled, “The Ever Evolving Role of Veterinary Medicine in World Health: COVID-19 and Beyond”, Dr. Moore’s presentation spotlighted the roles of veterinary medicine in identifying emerging viruses, developing vaccines and predicting the next pandemic. He emphasized that animal and human health care no longer exist merely as disjointed issues, but are now tethered tightly together by the fabric of One Health with all of the world watching.
Dr. Jen Brandt, director of member wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion initiatives for the American Veterinary Medical Association delivered the Wellness Keynote, with a captivating talk entitled, “Wellbeing and the Snake Oil Parable: Discerning and Deconstructing the Current Wellbeing Landscape in Veterinary Medicine”. She addressed the widespread scope of practice issues that frequently impact veterinary professionals and invited the audience to deconstruct popular social media wellbeing-based narratives. Dr. Brandt then concluded with six foundational criteria everyone can apply to become more qualified discerners of wellbeing programming, to maximize safety and efficacy, and to reduce the risk of unintended harm.
Dr Carla Olave, a Purdue Veterinary Medicine resident in large animal internal medicine, gives a food animal presentation entitled, “A Novel Cause of Epistaxis in a Herd of Related Pigs.”
Kicking-off the conference Tuesday evening, September 7, the annual Elanco Human-Animal Bond Lecture featured a talk by Dr. Sandra Barker, professor emeritus of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her talk entitled, “Who Let the Dogs In? The Challenge of Canine-Assisted Interventions in Hospitals and the Need for Veterinary Involvement,” focused on the expansion of canine-assisted interventions to healthcare facilities as an emerging trend in human-animal interactions. She addressed the challenges of implementing sound canine-assisted interventions in hospitals and the need for veterinary expertise to maximize human safety and canine welfare.
In the true “can-do” spirit characteristic of Purdue Boilermakers, the virtual conference-goers attending the Purdue Veterinary Conference took advantage of the all of the opportunities to participate in four days of high-quality tracks on small animal, equine, food animal, practice management, exotics, and topics focused on veterinary nursing. In the process, they were able to earn up to 24 hours of continuing education.
Mindy Cotton, RVT, behavior technician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, instructs veterinary nursing students Amber Bakker, Joahan Monge, and Madison Blaettner on how to handle canine patients, with the help of a “Pet Professor” – a PVM faculty or staff pet that helps students learn non-invasive techniques.
New beginnings are the order of the day for Purdue University Veterinary Nursing students in the incoming Clinical Year 2, as they begin coursework in Lynn Hall for the first time. Monday, August 23, was orientation day for students in the Veterinary Nursing Class of 2024, 26 of whom are from Indiana. The class also includes students from Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts.
The Clinical Year 2 students now will be seen daily in Lynn Hall as they advance through the courses and clinical experiences specific to veterinary nursing. “Right off the bat, I could tell that this cohort of second-year students had personality plus,” observed Dr. Chad Brown, director of the Veterinary Nursing Program. “They are so excited to begin the clinical year of their education where they can focus on the subjects of their chosen careers – like small animal nursing and veterinary dentistry.”
To help prepare them for the new academic year, the orientation day involved several components, including touring Lynn Hall, signing Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Seven Pillars of Professionalism document, and meeting with their fall semester instructors. The orientation also gave the students an appreciation for what makes Purdue’s on-campus program so very unique – the student clinical rotations in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Brown explained that during years 2 through 4 of their Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing (BSVN) plan of study, the students will complete 1,340 clinical rotation hours in specialized areas such as oncology, large animal surgery, and physical rehabilitation, to name a few.
Cass Simmons, RVT, VTS (Surgery), small animal surgery technologist in the Veterinary Hospital, explains proper handling and care of surgery gowns to veterinary nursing student Kayleigh Clevenger.
“Purdue Veterinary Medicine is one of only four U.S. colleges with both DVM and Veterinary Nursing (VN) Programs housed together,” noted Dr. Brown. “This makes us quite unique in that our students are exposed to virtually all specialties during their more than 1,300 required clinical rotation hours. In addition, our college really embraces all available opportunities for team-based learning between the DVM and VN students, which serves as a great building block for their future careers working together as a symbiotic unit.”
The Veterinary Nursing Program also welcomed 110 new distance learning students who registered for Fall 2021. Purdue’s 70 credit-hour Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program (VNDL) enables students to earn their Associate of Applied Science degree remotely. In addition to online coursework, the students also complete required mentorships during which they receive hands-on clinical training. After completion of the degree program, they are eligible to take their Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) and then state licensing exams to become credentialed veterinary technicians.
“On August 19, we had a virtual orientation for all of our students scattered across the world,” explained Dr. Brown. “What differentiates this program is that it enables our students to remain employed in their own communities, while completing their degree.” With the 110 new students, there now are a total of 394 students enrolled in the online degree program.
A warm welcome to all of the new veterinary nursing students, both on campus and online!
Did you know that the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is home to the Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine? Established in 2013 through a partnership with the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the center offers a professional certificate for diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine. This certificate program is available to anyone in Purdue Veterinary Medicine, as well as faculty, staff, and students from other colleges and schools of veterinary medicine and people working in private practice or veterinary industries. The program offers nine hours of continuing education (CE) credits. Nearly 3,000 people have registered for the program since it began and that number continues to grow.
Faculty, staff, interns, and residents in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine are invited to enroll in this certificate program free-of-charge (Purdue veterinary students already are registered). The program delivers practical information for fostering an inclusive and supportive work and learning environment as a means of moving the veterinary profession forward.
An updated version of the program was launched August 2, so now is the perfect time to enroll for anyone in the PVM family who has not already completed the program. Click here to view a short introductory video on the program.
Contact program manager, Adrianne Fisch, with any questions and to sign-up at hcvm@purdue.edu.
