Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch is joined by AAVLD Executive Director David Zeman and Immediate Past President Deepanker Tewari at the AAVLD annual meeting.
The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) recognized two Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate students, Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch and Dr. Daniela Peña, at its annual meeting last month. Both are residents in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Peña, a microbiology resident who received the Brenda Love Best Student Bacteriology Poster Award for her diagnostic microbiology research on Salmonella, was featured in last week’s Vet Gazette. This week, we are spotlighting Dr. Hill-Thimmesch, who received the second place award as part of the 2021 Diagnostic Pathology Slide Seminar for her presentation titled, “Multiple Viral Agents in Racing Pigeons.” An award of up to $300 was given to the three residents delivering the best diagnostic slide seminar presentation.
Meet Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch
Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch joined the Department of Comparative Pathobiology in September 2017 as a poultry diagnostic medicine resident. Her residency was under the mentorship of Dr. Pat Wakenell, who is now professor emerita, Dr. Tsang-Long Lin, professor of veterinary pathology and head of the ADDL Avian and Aquatic Section, and Dr. Geoff Lossie, clinical assistant professor of pathology and avian diagnostician.
Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch stands beside her research poster entitled, “Mycobacterial Infection in a Pet Zebra Finch.”
Upon completing her poultry residency, she was accepted as an anatomic pathology resident at Purdue and is following a program prescribed by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) that includes diagnostic pathology service in the ADDL, diagnostic research, and teaching assignments. Her anatomic pathology residency is under the mentorship of Dr. Abigail Cox, associate professor of veterinary anatomic pathology, Dr. Nobuko Wakamatsu-Utsuki, clinical associate professor and anatomic pathologist, and Dr. Lin.
In addition to her outstanding accomplishment at the AALVD Conference, Dr. Hill-Thimmesch also has passed the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (ACPV) certification exam and is now approved for diplomate status in the ACPV. Additionally, she has passed Phase I of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists exam and plans to take Phase II in August 2022. Before beginning her residencies, Dr. Hill-Thimmesch visited Purdue University as part of her fourth year clinical rotation as a poultry extern. She earned her DVM degree from Iowa State University with a focus on poultry health and medicine. Her career goal is to become a diplomate of both the ACPV and the ACVP and work in an animal disease diagnostic laboratory.
With issues related to COVID-19 vaccines continuing to dominate news headlines, the 2021 Coppoc One Health Lecture provided enlightenment on the topic for more than 80 attendees who watched a virtual presentation by Dr. Noni MacDonald, professor of pediatrics and former Dean of Medicine at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. An infectious disease specialist and vaccinologist, Dr. MacDonald is a passionate global health advocate and the first woman in Canada to have become a Dean of Medicine.
Hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, the annual campus-wide Coppoc One Health Lecture, which is free and open to the public, focuses on the symbiotic relationship between veterinary and human medicine and its world-wide impact. In her talk on November 4, Dr. MacDonald described how vaccine hesitancy in both routine and COVID-19 immunizations is a growing problem that will need to be addressed over the next decade and beyond. She said that a multitude of factors influence rates of vaccine hesitancy in a variety of manners and contexts. Looking deeper into these contexts and factors can provide insight into how the problem can be addressed in a tailored approach.
Dr. MacDonald emphasized that using evidence to develop strategies for overcoming vaccine hesitancy is the way forward into a future of high vaccine acceptance. Strategies to emphasize include addressing subgroups, utilizing the influence of health care workers, using effective discussion techniques, addressing pain and fear, making vaccine access easier, managing misinformation, and speaking up to peers.
The following summary recaps several of the issues that Dr. MacDonald addressed.
Vaccine Hesitancy
Vaccine hesitancy is the delayed acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability. Rates and severity of hesitancy is widely varied and influenced by a number of factors. Hesitancy exists on a spectrum ranging from complete acceptance to complete refusal. Not all individuals who choose to be vaccinated do so without questions or concerns. In high income countries, about 10-20% of the population is expected to be hesitant about some or all vaccines. Meanwhile only 1-2% will be truly anti-vaccination and fall on the complete refusal end of the spectrum. These rates of hesitancy vary across time, location, and vaccine.
In response to vaccine hesitancy and challenges presented by COVID-19, the World Health Organization and the World Health Assembly endorsed the Immunization Agenda 2030. This strategic plan for equity in immunization emphasizes the importance of leaving no one behind to extend the benefits of vaccines worldwide. Over the next decade, this plan will be implemented to increase vaccine access globally and reduce vaccine hesitancy through people-focused, country-owned, partnership-based, and data-enabled strategies.
“Even pre-COVID, the World Health Organization said that vaccine hesitancy was among the ten threats to global health. This is a big deal,” said Dr. MacDonald.
Contextual Factors
One thing that must be addressed in any attempt to reduce vaccine hesitancy is that the individual decision to be vaccinated or not is complex and context-specific. People also have certain tendencies and instincts when it comes to information that can either be damaging or can be used to the advantage of vaccine acceptance programs. First, people pay more attention to negative information than positive. People also tend to rely on anecdotal evidence over empirical data. When people hear a story about someone they know who had a bad experience with a vaccine, it sticks with them. That impact is not easily overwritten with spreadsheets and statistics.
The factors that contribute to hesitancy have been broken down and categorized in many ways. As Dr. MacDonald said, “There have been a number of models that have been developed to talk about the many, many, many factors that influence your decision to get a vaccine.” One model, known as the “Five Cs,” suggests that the primary barriers to vaccine acceptance are as follows:
Complacency When the perceived risk is low and other priorities are placed higher, people are less likely to act on getting vaccinated.
Confidence People must feel that they can trust the vaccine, its delivery, and the policy makers who require them.
Constraints Structural: low availability or high costs can be a major barrier to vaccination. Psychological: appeal, acceptance, social norms, and other internal psychological factors have a great effect on hesitancy.
Calculation The amount of time an individual commits to extensive information gathering can determine their acceptance of a vaccine.
Collective Response The willingness to protect others goes a long way when it comes to vaccine acceptance. People who wish to protect those around them are much more likely to be vaccinated than those who are only concerned with themselves.
Dr. MacDonald also said that beyond the Five Cs model, other factors that influence vaccine hesitancy include politics and health care workers. She noted, when health care workers are vaccinated themselves and recommend immunizations, their patients are much more likely to also get vaccinated.
Evidence-Based Strategies
Dr. MacDonald said, with such a wide range of influences and varying degrees of vaccine hesitancy, it is important to look at strategies to combat hesitancy which are founded on evidence and efficacy. Many such strategies exist with ample research to support the techniques.
Detect and Address Subgroups with Lower Uptake
Certain groups of people will be more or less receptive to certain vaccines for many of the reasons previously discussed. When addressing these groups, taking that specific context into consideration is vital. Dr. MacDonald noted that not all people in these groups are strictly anti-vaccination and they should not be considered or treated as such. In order to address these different groups, data is needed. Coverage data can show how many people are not vaccinated or under-vaccinated, and where pockets of these individuals live. Program data shows the efficacy of the vaccine distribution. Behavioral and social data reveals barriers to vaccine uptake among certain groups.
Utilize Health Care Workers
The recommendation of a vaccine by a health care worker is extremely influential in the decision to accept vaccines. “Educating health care workers about vaccines and the strategies that work can very much increase a vaccine’s uptake,” said Dr. MacDonald.
Use Effective Discussion Techniques
Poorly delivered messages do not have as great of an impact as messages that are delivered well. Even when the content is accurate and sound, if the presentation fails to convey that, the communication will be ineffective. It is also important to remember that high acceptance rates do not indicate that there are no concerns regarding a vaccine. These concerns need to be addressed in well-constructed messages to increase confidence in vaccination.
Address Pain
Something often overlooked when attempting to increase vaccine acceptance is the factor of pain and needles. Dr. MacDonald said at least 10-15% of adults fear needles or the pain inflicted by receiving shots. Others have a much more severe phobia, which can be completely debilitating when it comes to getting immunized. Finding ways to reduce the pain and associated fear of vaccines is an important step to reducing hesitancy among these individuals. Decreasing pain will also decrease immunization stress-related responses such as fainting, headache, fatigue, and nausea which often serve to reinforce fears and anxiety about vaccines.
Make Access Easy
Dr. MacDonald pointed out that studies have shown that when an immunization is provided through a school, acceptance rates are significantly higher than when the same vaccination is offered through a doctor’s office. The access is made easy for parents who don’t have to coordinate getting their child out of school and to the doctor’s office. For the students, acceptance rates are high because it becomes a social norm. Other ways to improve ease of access include bundling vaccines, and having more vaccine sites, especially in rural or low income areas, with extended hours. Meeting the needs of disabled individuals and ensuring privacy for people also are important factors.
Manage Misinformation
Dr. MacDonald emphasized that there is a vast array of misinformation and it has been proven that such misinformation reduces vaccine acceptance significantly. Being aware of strategies and techniques used to spread misinformation can help people identify when they are being misinformed. It also is important to disprove and correct misinformation when it arises.
Speak Up
Dr. MacDonald concluded her presentation by emphasizing the importance of people speaking up to share accurate information. She explained that fear is powerfully persuasive and silence is easily misconstrued as support. Providing information to address the concerns of peers can make a big difference. Dr. MacDonald observed that it’s okay to agree to disagree with someone who won’t trust the information you give them. But, she said it is crucial to point out that there is no debate in science regarding the importance of immunization.
About the Coppoc One Health Lecture
Established in 2014, the Coppoc One Health Lecture Series is named in honor of Dr. Gordon Coppoc, Purdue professor emeritus of veterinary pharmacology, and his wife, Harriet. Dr. Coppoc is the former head of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences. He also served as director of the Indiana University School of Medicine-Lafayette and associate dean of the Indiana University School of Medicine before retiring in 2014.
Congratulations are in order for six Purdue DVM students who were recognized recently upon completion of the requirements for the Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. Dean Willie Reed presented the certificates on November 9 during the Current Issues in Veterinary Medicine course and expressed his appreciation for the students’ hard work in completing the program. The certificate program is open to faculty, staff, students, and practicing veterinary professionals.
The recipients honored include:
Tyra Jenkins, of the DVM Class of 2024
Allison Megl, of the DVM Class of 2024
Kristen Sequeira, of the DVM Class of 2023
Jessica Sexton, of the DVM Class of 2024
Jasmine Stephen, of the DVM Class of 2024
Stephanie Verkuilen, of the DVM Class of 2024
The certificate program, which is presented through the Purdue University Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, is designed for people with demanding schedules and combines distance learning, life experiences, and written reflections. Visit the Human-Centered Veterinary Medicine website for a program overview. The certificate is available to all PVM faculty, staff, and students free-of-charge. For questions about the requirements or help signing up, contact hcvm@purdue.edu.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday full of laughter, family gatherings, and feasts with more food than can ever be finished in one sitting. But while the holidays roll around, bringing fun and feelings of joy and thanks to many, these exciting settings can cause some dangers for our beloved pets. In order to keep your furry friends safe on Thanksgiving, follow the pet tips below – your pets will thank you!
FOOD
Most of us have shared a little human food with our pets before, but did you know that 60% of people share holiday meals with pets? During the holidays, most animal ER visits are due to eating something that is unhealthy or toxic for pets. Many foods can lead to upset stomachs, are poisonous to pets, or can cause life-threatening obstructions in small animals. To avoid discomfort or illness for your pet on Thanksgiving, avoid exposing them to these foods:
Poultry bones, especially cooked – these can break off and cause a perforation of the digestive tract, and consumption of large amounts could cause an obstruction
Grapes and raisins
Excessively salty foods
Foods flavored with onion or garlic powder
Desserts and sweets containing Xylitol (sugar-free candy) or chocolate
Macadamia nuts
Raw salmon
Mushrooms
Coffee
Avocado
Rhubarb
Bread dough
Alcohol/ethanol
The temptation to share your scrumptious meal becomes increasingly exciting on Thanksgiving, but the foods mentioned above may cause serious complications to your pet’s health. In order to reduce the risk of exposure to these foods, inform your guests of these unhealthy foods for pets, as well.
ENVIRONMENT
The risk of exposure to unhealthy or toxic foods isn’t limited to the dining table. Pets can get their sneaky paws on a snack if food is not handled properly during prep or clean-up. Keep trash cans secure at all times – many items used in meal preparation can become dangerous if thrown away carelessly. Turkey string, foil wrappers, and other inedible items may smell like food and be eaten by a curious pet. When cleaning up after a meal, keep all leftovers securely sealed behind a pet-proof door.
Also, some like to decorate for the holidays early, but keep in mind that some of these cheery decorations can be dangerous to pets. Decorative plants such as mistletoe and holly can cause vomiting and lilies are often deadly to cats. Ribbons and tinsel are especially attractive and hazardous to cats and other curious critters. Keep these decorations off the floor and out of reach of your furry friends, and keep an eye on electrical cords to ensure puppies and kittens don’t chew on them.
RECOVERY
What do you do if you believe your pet’s curious paws have landed them in a dangerous situation? Dr. Lorraine Corriveau (PU DVM ’99), small animal primary care clinician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, provides helpful advice.
If a pet consumes something they shouldn’t have, it is possible for them to vomit it up on their own. If they don’t, it can be tempting to make your dog or cat throw up in an attempt to save them. Dr. Corriveau warns, however, that inducing vomiting can be dangerous and should only be done under the supervision of a veterinarian. Batteries and sharp objects can cause dangerous and even lethal harm if regurgitated. Swallowed objects can cause blockages or perforations and the act of inducing vomiting itself comes with risks, such as aspiration pneumonia, especially in Pugs or Pekingese.
“Do not induce vomiting if your dog is lethargic or comatose or if they are having seizures,” Dr. Corriveau explains. “The safest thing to do is take your pet to a local veterinarian immediately. Inducing vomiting at home should be a last resort.”
Dr. Corriveau also advises that you should have a plan in case your pets consume food that is toxic to them, get injured, or escape on Thanksgiving – or any other day. Know the phone number and location of your local veterinarian along with their daily hours of operation. Many veterinary clinics do not take after-hours emergencies, but refer them.
Purdue’s Animal Emergency Service, however, takes emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can contact the Animal Emergency Service at 765-494-1107.
About the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Primary Care Service
During regular business hours, the Veterinary Hospital’s Small Animal Primary Care Service provides full-service primary veterinary care to pets, emphasizing communication, education, and service to clients, while operating as a model of private small animal practice to allow veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing students to gain experience in primary veterinary care and client communication. The service provides veterinary care for dogs and cats as well as a variety of other exotic animal species including birds, fish, rabbits, ferrets, reptiles, and more. To schedule an appointment, call the Veterinary Hospital at 765-494-1107.
The Purdue Veterinary Exotic Animal Club (PVEAC) will be hosting the third biennial Medicine of Aquatics, Amphibians, and Reptiles (MOAAR) Symposium this weekend, November 20 and 21. The goal of the symposium is to educate students about medicine for exotic species that are not focused on as part of their general veterinary studies.
This year’s symposium will be held virtually, and registration has been a huge success. Thus far, nearly 200 participants from more than a dozen different countries are registered for this weekend’s event! The Saturday session will begin at 9:00 a.m. (EST) and end at 5:30 p.m., and the Sunday session will start at 12:30 p.m. Registration is still open this afternoon, but closes at 4:30 p.m. today (Friday, November 19)! The registration fee is $12 per participant.
The symposium offers two tracks on Herptile Medicine and Aquatic Medicine. The tracks will run simultaneously to allow participants the option to switch between them. Dr. Chelsea Anderson, associate veterinarian at the Georgia Aquarium, will present the Keynote Lecture on “Beluga Whale Reproduction.”
The event will provide veterinary professionals and students the opportunity to learn about treating aquatic, amphibian, and reptilian patients from experts in these fields. The MOAAR Symposium is open to all students, as well as graduate and undergraduate students outside of PVM and practicing veterinarians and veterinary nurses. The inaugural MOAAR Symposium was held in 2017 with the intent of hosting it every other year.
Speakers at this year’s symposium include experts from several universities, including Purdue, as well as zoo veterinarians, avian and exotic animal veterinarians, and Dr. Andy Stamper, PVM alumnus and conservation science manager for Disney Conservation. Purdue speakers include Dr. Steve Thompson, clinical associate professor of small animal primary care, and Dr. Lorraine Corriveau, primary care clinician with Small Animal Primary Care in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, as well as Nicholas Burgmeier, research biologist and extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.
The MOAAR Symposium is the sister symposium to the Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species (MMAS), which is offered in alternating years. PVEAC is responsible for organizing and hosting the MOAAR Symposium. The club has members with a variety of career interests, ranging from zoo medicine to exotic animal private practice, and seeks to provide students with the knowledge, understanding, and experience that will help them give excellent veterinary care to their future exotic animal patients.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family mourns the passing of Dr. John Thomas “Tom” Ross, a member of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s fourth graduating class, who died November 3 in Danville, Ky. He was 81.
Born in Clark County, Ind., Dr. Ross came to Purdue University as an undergraduate student, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences in 1962, and his DVM degree in 1966. He worked in private practice for 55 years, doing small and large animal medicine as the owner of The Animal Clinic in Danville, Ky. After selling his veterinary clinic, Dr. Ross continued to practice large animal medicine and worked as Stockyards Veterinarian for the Somerset Stockyards.
A founding member of the Boyle County Chapter of The FFA Alumni Association, Dr. Ross served as the organization’s president and treasurer. He also was a founding member of the Boyle Co. Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and served as regional director. He held memberships in the Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association, the Mule & Donkey Association, the Boyle County Goose Hunting Club, Rotary Club, and the Shrine Temple Jesters.
Dr. Ross is remembered for his love of fishing, hunting, trail riding, working with young people, and spending time with family. He also regularly planted a large vegetable garden, harvested and canned the produce, and shared his abundance with others. Dr. Ross wanted his legacy to be “mentoring the next generation, that they may be a little better than the last.”
Visitation will be held tomorrow (Saturday, November 13) from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., followed by a 3:00 p.m. memorial service at Perryville United Methodist Church, 206 E. 2nd St., Perryville, KY. Memorial donations may be made to the Boyle County FFA Alumni Scholarship Fund, 1637 Perryville Road, Danville, KY 40422, or the Danville Boyle Humane Society, P.O. Box 487, Danville, KY 40423. Click here to view a complete obituary.
Just a week away from the end of the Purdue United Way Campaign, the College of Veterinary Medicine is within a few percentage points of its goal of raising $18,080 for local agencies that serve the Greater Lafayette Community. So far more than $16,500 has been raised, which is 91% of the goal, with still a few days left for PVM faculty and staff to make their pledges.
“We need everyone’s help in reaching the goal for PVM,” said Dean Willie Reed. “The College of Veterinary Medicine has always been generous in helping the University reach the Purdue United Way Campaign goal. Thank you for the incredible support thus far! I know that I can count on the PVM family to be a model within the University of strong support for the United Way agencies that do so much to help our Greater Lafayette Community.”
If you haven’t contributed already, please consider donating to the campaign by November 17. Donations/pledges can be made at www.purdue.edu/unitedway. And with ePledge, it’s easier than ever to donate by simply following these three steps:
Use your Purdue career account ID and password to login to ePledge
Once logged in, you will see a welcome message from Purdue United Way
Follow the steps to make your pledge by payroll deduction, credit card, check, bill me, stock/securities or select not to participate this year
University-wide, the Purdue campaign has raised more than $480,300 toward the goal of $725,000. Purdue United Way Director Megan Eberly reminds Purdue employees that pledges are not automatically renewed from year to year, so they need to log on to the Purdue United Way website to renew their pledges for this year.
Donors can make an unrestricted gift to the United Way of Greater Lafayette or can choose a specific United Way agency. Gifts can be made through payroll deduction or as a one-time donation. For credit card transactions, the United Way of Greater Lafayette contracts with CyberSource, a trusted name in e-commerce meeting industry security standards.
If a paper pledge card is preferred, you may contact Megan Eberly at meberly@purdue.edu or call 317-695-5740.
The Purdue United Way campaign will wrap up at the United Way of Greater Lafayette’s campaign victory celebration November 18 at the West Lafayette Golf and Country Club, and members of the campus community are invited to attend the celebration. Click here to donate and learn more about the Purdue United Way Campaign. Steve Abel, associate provost for engagement, is this year’s campaign chair. Linda Mason, dean of the Graduate School, is the vice chair.
Thank you for your continued support! We have one life. Living better means living United!
Dr. Daniela Peña is joined by American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians Executive Director David Zeman and Immediate Past President Deepanker Tewari at the AAVLD annual meeting.
Congratulations are in order for two graduate students in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Dr. Daniela Peña and Dr. Kristen Hill-Thimmesch, who both received special recognition during the annual meeting of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). Dr. Peña, who is completing a residency in microbiology, received the Brenda Love Best Student Bacteriology Poster Award for her diagnostic microbiology research on Salmonella titled, “Comparison of a Commercial Kit and Traditional Culture Method for Detection of Salmonellaspp. on Spiked and Environmental Samples.” The award of up to $500 is given to the student delivering the best poster presentation on a bacteriology topic. Dr. Hill-Thimmesch, an anatomic pathology resident, received the second place award as part of the 2021 Diagnostic Pathology Slide Seminar for her presentation titled, “Multiple Viral Agents in Racing Pigeons.”
The 2021 AAVLD annual meeting was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) October 22 – 26 in Aurora, Colo. The AAVLD is a leading organization in the advancement of the discipline of veterinary diagnostic laboratory science and provides students access to peer-reviewed publication, collaboration, outreach, and laboratory accreditation.
We would like to spotlight each of the award recipients, beginning this week with Dr. Peña and continuing next week with Dr. Hill-Thimmesch.
Dr. Daniela Peña stands beside her award-winning poster entitled, “Comparison of a Commercial Kit and Traditional Culture Method for Detection of Salmonella spp. on Spiked and Environmental Samples.”
Meet Dr. Daniela Peña
Dr. Daniela Peña joined the Department of Comparative Pathobiology in January of this year as a graduate student and teaching assistant and the first resident of the new Diagnostic Microbiology training program. She has worked as a research assistant in the College of Veterinary Medicine since 2018, conducting studies on multiple drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. As a microbiology resident, Dr. Peña follows a program prescribed by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists that includes diagnostic microbiology service in the ADDL, diagnostic research, and teaching assignments.
Dr. Peña’s research focuses on enhancing diagnosis of animal disease, as well as working alongside clinicians on their microbiology-related studies. Before beginning her own graduate research, Dr. Peña was a visiting student through the Undergraduate Research Experience Purdue-Colombia Program. During her time in Colombia, she earned her DVM degree from the National University of Colombia and worked in the poultry industry. Her career goal is to become a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists and work in an animal disease diagnostic laboratory.
Information packets and fun giveaways were among the items PVM students received at the 2021 Career Fair held in the Veterinary Medical Library November 5.
Booths set-up by nearly 50 veterinary practices lined the open areas of the Veterinary Medical Library for students to visit during the PVM Career Fair.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine hosted its annual career fair in the Veterinary Medical Library this past Friday, November 5, and the event was a great success! DVM and Veterinary Nursing students attended the three-hour afternoon event to engage with representatives from a wide-range of veterinary practices. A total of 48 veterinary exhibitors provided students with the opportunity to learn about a variety of practices, ranging from small practices within Indiana to corporations with locations across the country, which enabled the students to tailor their career fair experience to their individual career goals.
“The ability to network, make connections, and talk face-to-face was great for everyone,” said Paige Allen, assistant director for academic advising and recruitment for the College of Veterinary Medicine. “Matching jobs and applicants is not a perfect science and having the ability to connect with others helps both sides to make informed decisions about what job to take and who to hire.”
The event prompted extra excitement as it was the first time the career fair had been held in-person since 2019, due to last year’s career fair being hosted virtually because of the pandemic. The veterinary practice displays included games, treats, and trinkets along with more customary informational packets, all of which put smiles on students’ faces as they visited with the representatives.
“It was great to be part of an event that brought people together,” said Paige. “The job market right now is an employee market and I hope providing our students with the chance to evaluate so many great opportunities reminds them of their great worth and value in the veterinary profession.”
Thank you to everyone who was involved in organizing the 2021 PVM Career Fair and all who attended!
Dr. Debbie White, a PVM alumna and practice owner came all the way from Las Vegas, Nev., to host a booth for the Craig Road Animal Hospital.
Veterinary nursing students visit with a representative of the Heritage Animal Hospital, which has two locations in Terre Haute, Ind., during the Career Fair.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication and website in higher education, has recognized the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as a 2021 Diversity Champion and a 2021 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipient. The dual honors mark the first time that the publication has named a veterinary college as a Diversity Champion.
The Health Professions HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. INSIGHT Into Diversity further recognizes those colleges and universities that rank in the top tier of HEED Award recipients as Diversity Champions.
Known for visionary leadership, Diversity Champions are institutions that serve as role models and set the standard for thousands of other U.S. college campuses striving for inclusive excellence. These institutions are recognized for exemplifying an unyielding commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus communities, across academic programs, and at the highest administrative levels.
“The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is a visionary leader among institutions of higher education striving for inclusive excellence throughout its campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “As a Diversity Champion school, the college exceeds everyday expectations by developing successful strategies and programs that serve as models of excellence for other higher education institutions.”
The college will be featured, along with 50 other 2021 Health Professions HEED Award recipients, in the December issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Recognition as a Diversity Champion is more selective. The college is one of only 16 academic institutions to receive the 2021 Diversity Champion designation in addition to the HEED Award.
“Our college is playing a leadership role nationally with model initiatives to advance diversity and inclusion both in academic veterinary medicine, and in the veterinary medical profession as a whole,” said Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed. “This achievement is the result of years of sustained effort, dedication and innovation aimed at making measurable progress as a college and as a health profession in being truly welcoming and supportive of everyone. That accomplishment is only possible because our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, is much more than just something we talk about. We live it, day in and day out, and this award reflects that reality.”
Dr. Latonia Craig, assistant dean for inclusive excellence, said the award is an important acknowledgment of the college’s noteworthy progress even though there’s much more to be done. “The Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to promoting a college-wide culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are threaded throughout our programming. This award in no way says that we are a perfect college because we know and understand we still have a lot of work to do. The Diversity Champion award conveys how our progress is on an upward trajectory and that we have a college invested in the work and positioned to take us to greater heights,” Dr. Craig explained. “Our efforts moving forward will focus on narrowing gaps where perception and reality may not always agree. We all understand the value of sustaining a climate that supports our faculty, staff, and students’ working and learning experiences. We will continue to raise the bar in this space through critical reflection, engagement, innovative programming, and always leading with an intentional desire to do and be better.”
For more information about the HEED Award or the Diversity Champion recognition, visit insightintodiversity.com.
About Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine seeks to advance global animal and human health and well-being through excellence in learning, discovery and engagement while serving as a major referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases. Faculty research both animal and human health, with an emphasis on animal welfare science and the human-animal bond; infectious diseases and immunology; cancer; neuroscience; and musculoskeletal biology and orthopedics. The college also is one of only a few nationally that educate all members of the veterinary team, offering the doctor of veterinary medicine degree as well as bachelor’s and associates degrees in veterinary nursing, post-graduate internships and residencies for veterinarians seeking specialty training, and graduate degrees in the departments of Basic Medical Sciences, Comparative Pathobiology, and Veterinary Clinical Sciences. For more information visit vet.purdue.edu.
About INSIGHT Into Diversity
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.
