Effective February 28th, 2022 – The Purdue University Veterinary Hospital has reopened the reception areas of the Small Animal and Large Animal Hospitals. All clients will be required to wear a mask when interacting with hospital staff.
Our team is committed to providing the highest quality of care for all our clients and patients. In the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking additional precautionary measures to support social distancing while providing urgent and emergency patient care.
We remain open for those animal patients most in need and currently are receiving urgent and emergency cases. Though the hospital plans to maintain a level of urgent and emergency services, it is possible that in the future we will have to enact further restrictions to help maintain the health of our community as we continue providing quality care to our patients. We have developed this webpage to address changes and will update it as necessary.
We are committed to being a resource for our community and state during this challenging time and appreciate your understanding.
The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association’s (IVMA) newest elected officers are all graduates of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. The installation of the new officers took place February 3 during the IVMA’s annual Crossroads Veterinary Conference in Noblesville, Indiana.
Dr. Aaron Johnson
Newly installed IVMA Officers (left-right) Dr. Corey Swart, treasurer; Dr. Hilary Christner, immediate past-president; Dr. Greg Kurtz, president-elect; and Dr. Aaron Johnson, president.
Dr. Aaron Johnson (PU DVM 2005) will serve as the association’s president. Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Johnson moved to Indiana to attend Purdue University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in animal sciences and Master of Science degree in beef cattle reproductive physiology before enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine and earning his DVM degree in 2005. Following graduation, he worked in small animal practices in Fishers and Westfield, Indiana, and then transitioned to industry, accepting a position in U.S. Regulatory Affairs at Elanco Animal Health where he supported new drug development in R&D for both companion and food animal products. He currently serves as a clinical research scientist at Elanco in Greenfield, Indiana, where he is responsible for helping identify and advance new companion animal therapeutic molecules in Elanco’s early R&D pipeline.
Dr. Johnson also has a strong track record of involvement in organized veterinary medicine. He served on the Executive Board of the Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association from 2009-2013, including two terms as president in 2010 and 2012. During that time, he was chosen as Indiana’s representative for the AVMA Emerging Leaders Program at the 2012 annual AVMA leadership meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois. Most recently, Dr. Johnson served three years on the IVMA Board of Directors, beginning in 2017, as the District 11 (Central Indiana) representative.
Dr. Greg Kurtz
The IVMA’s new president-elect is Dr. Greg Kurtz (PU DVM ’82), a livestock veterinarian and co-owner of Kurtz Veterinary Clinic in Hagerstown, Indiana. Dr. Kurtz and his wife, Robyn, were classmates at Purdue, graduating in the DVM Class of 1982. They started practicing in Hagerstown in 1983, after spending a year in private practice in Wisconsin.
Today the Kurtz Veterinary Clinic is a four-doctor practice serving the livestock and pet owners of east central Indiana. Dr. Greg Kurtz has a primary interest in cattle reproduction and dairy herd health consulting. He services herds ranging in size from 40 to 6,500 milking cows and herds that vary from grazing organic herds to confined herds milked by robotics. The Kurtz Veterinary Clinic also services several beef cattle elite genetic herds.
Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Kurtz has served as an at-large member of the IVMA Board of Directors since 2019. In addition, he currently serves on several task forces.
Dr. Corey Swart
Another Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate, Dr. Corey Swart (PU DVM 2008), was elected as IVMA treasurer. A native of Kokomo, Dr. Swart earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology at Indiana University Kokomo before enrolling in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and earning his DVM degree in 2008.
Dr. Swart is now the managing veterinarian at the Jefferson Road Animal Hospital/Cat Clinic of Kokomo, a practice where he had volunteered and worked while pursuing his education. Dr. Swart enjoys treating dogs, cats, and pocket pets while also forming bonds with their owners.
Dr. Swart’s involvement in organized veterinary medicine has included serving on various committees and boards, which he says has been valuable in helping him to serve his community and profession, including as a member of the IU Kokomo Animal Care and Use Committee, an at-large board member of the IVMA, and treasurer for the Wabash Valley Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Swart also participated in the IVMA Power of You program.
Dr. Hilary Christner
The IVMA’s immediate past-president, Dr. Hilary Christner, also has Purdue ties. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue University in 2003 before enrolling in the DVM program at Ross University, where she graduated in 2006. She then returned to Northeast Indiana and joined her father, Dr. Rob Bollinger, a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 1975, at the Lagrange Veterinary Clinic. Dr. Christner now owns the practice, and supports Purdue by participating in programs affiliated with the University and by hosting externs at her clinic.
Dr. Christner’s involvement in organized veterinary medicine includes participating in the inaugural class of the Power of 10 through the IVMA, serving on several IVMA committees, and participating in task force groups organized by the association. She also has been active with the USDA and the Indiana Board of Animal Health in developing guidelines for dealing with canine brucellosis and co-authoring the “Best Practices for Brucella Canis Prevention and Control in Dog Breeding Facilities” publication.
Dr. Jim Weisman and Dr. Phil Borst
In addition to the officers, two other Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni serve as AVMA delegate and alternate delegate. PVM’s own Dr. Jim Weisman (PU DVM ’97), assistant dean for student affairs and clinical associate professor, is Indiana’s delegate to the AVMA. Dr. Phil Borst (PU DVM ’75) is newly elected as the Indiana alternate delegate to the AVMA. Dr. Borst joined his father, Dr. Larry Borst, at the Shelby Street Animal Clinic in Indianapolis after earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1975, and practiced small animal medicine there for 46 years. He recently sold the clinic and now practices part-time. Dr. Borst has been very active in organized veterinary medicine throughout his career and has served in all of the IVMA’s officer positions.
At this year’s installation ceremony for the new IVMA officers, the president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Jose Arce, was present to officiate. The IVMA is the professional organization for veterinarians in Indiana who care for Hoosier pets, farm animals, zoo animals, wildlife, and public health, and is the human side of animal health.
Professor Sherry Harbin, who has a joint appointment in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, shows a high-strength collagen sheet fabricated from the proprietary collagen polymer technology that the start-up company, GeniPhys, is commercializing. (Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter)
Dr. Sherry Harbin, who holds a joint appointment in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is now linked to a $974,349 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Science Foundation. The grant was awarded to GeniPhys Inc., a life sciences company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary biopolymer technology developed in Dr. Harbin’s laboratory.
The core technology, known as Collymer, is a novel polymerizable collagen molecule that can be used to custom-design and fabricate implantable materials to address unmet functional tissue restoration and reconstruction needs, including breast tissue, skeletal muscle, cartilage, skin, voice box, and more. The SBIR Phase II grant will be used to advance the commercialization of the company’s initial product, Collymer Self Assembling Scaffold (Collymer SAS).
Collymer materials harness both the mechanical and biochemical signaling features of natural collagen found within tissues. This allows the materials to support regenerative and restorative healing without rapidly degrading and eliciting inflammation or foreign body responses. This mechanism of action has been validated in multiple preclinical proof-of-concept studies. Additionally, Collymer is highly customizable, allowing for the creation of materials with a variety of formats and mechanical properties.
GeniPhys was previously awarded a $225,000 National Science Foundation SBIR Phase I grant to perform preclinical testing to evaluate Collymer SAS prototypes for breast tissue restoration in a porcine lumpectomy model. Working collaboratively with members of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, and the Indiana University School of Medicine, all project milestones were achieved. Additionally, a peer-reviewed publication in the February 2021 issue of Scientific Reports resulted from this Phase I project, showcasing the translational potential of Collymer SAS as an easy-to-apply soft tissue filler that conforms to patient-specific defects and regenerates complex soft tissues in the absence of inflammation.
“We are honored to be selected for this grant and are excited to be able to advance Collymer SAS toward submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and further commercialization,” GeniPhys CEO Andy Eibling said. “We believe the Collymer platform will have a tremendous impact for patients globally, and this grant is an important step in the process.”
GeniPhys CEO Andy Eibling (left) with the start-up company’s Chief Scientific Officer Sherry Harbin and Product Development Manager TJ Puls. (Purdue Research Foundation/Vincent Walter)
Dr. Harbin is the founder and chief scientific officer of GeniPhys, a preclinical-stage medical technology company located in Zionsville, Indiana, focused on empowering tissue regeneration and restoration. “Purdue has a long, successful track record of developing and translating innovative biomaterials targeting tissue regeneration,” Dr. Harbin said. “This next-generation technology provides a biopolymeric material that can be broadly customized and harnesses the body’s capacity for regenerative healing by keeping inflammation and immune mediators at bay.”
Dr. TJ Puls, who trained under Dr. Harbin, now serves as product development manager for GeniPhys and the principal investigator for the SBIR Phase II award. “This grant will allow GeniPhys to scale up manufacturing capabilities for commercialization and to file key regulatory submissions,” Puls said.
GeniPhys will initially pursue regulatory filings for management and restoration of wounds and defects that affect the skin as well as other soft tissues, including breast, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. The company also will explore the use of Collymer materials in additional applications leveraging strategic partnerships with innovative, industry-leading firms.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a loyal alumnus and significant leader in organized veterinary medicine in Indiana, Dr. William (Bill) Somerville (PU DVM ‘79) of Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Somerville died February 18, 2022. He was 71.
Dr. Somerville earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Indiana University in 1973 before continuing his education at Purdue University, earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1979. He then began a successful 37-year-long career in private practice. For 33 of those years, he owned his own veterinary practice that he built from the ground up in Clinton, Indiana, where he also served as the president of the Vermillion County Board of Health and was an active member of the Vermillion Trails Alliance. In addition, he served on several other committees and boards that benefited his community.
Dr. Somerville also was active in organized veterinary medicine, serving on the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) Board of Directors, representing the association’s 7th District. In addition, he was elected to multiple IVMA officer positions, serving as IVMA vice president, president-elect and then president in 2007. He later continued his service to the IVMA as a board member and board chair of the Indiana Animal Health Foundation.
Pictured left-right: Dr. Bill Somerville with his son Brian, PVM Dean Willie Reed and then-IVMA President Tony Rumschlag on February 6, 2009 after the unveiling of Brian’s dog sculpture, “From Hand to Paw”, during the College of Veterinary Medicine’s 50th Anniversary kick-off celebration in Indianapolis.
Dr. Somerville also had a unique tie to his alma mater because of the dog sculpture entitled, “From Hand to Paw,” that is located inside the main Harrison Street entrance to Lynn Hall. The sculpture was created by Dr. Somerville’s son, Brian, and then donated to the College of Veterinary Medicine as a gift from the IVMA on the occasion of college’s 50th anniversary in 2009. The sculpture features a host of images carved in relief, including animals and Purdue symbols and landmarks.
In 2010, Dr. Somerville was recognized as the IVMA Veterinarian of the Year. He also served many years on the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Even with all of these responsibilities, family was most important to Dr. Somerville. Following his retirement, he shared much of his time with his son and daughter, and all of his grandchildren. Dr. Somerville also was an avid biker and golfer and enjoyed swimming, spending time on his boat on the river, doing projects around the house, reading, traveling, and time with his dog, Jake.
When the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) wanted to develop an inspiring story about a leader in veterinary medicine to publish during Black History Month, they knew they needed to look no further than the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and Dean Willie Reed. An article entitled, “Dr. Willie Reed: A Leader and Trailblazer,” published in the February 2022 issue of the AAVMC Vet-Med Educator newsletter, recounts the challenges Dean Reed faced as a young African American man who wanted to go to veterinary school.
The article points out how Dean Reed faced fewer options than young people today as he sought access to a veterinary medical education. There were fewer veterinary schools than there are today, and few had ever accepted an African American student. One of the very few veterinary schools that did admit Black students at the time was at Tuskegee University, and that’s where Dean Reed earned his DVM degree before coming to Purdue University to complete graduate studies and earn his PhD in veterinary pathology.
The article goes on to describe Dean Reed’s professional accomplishments and leadership roles, including serving as AAVMC president and utilizing his time in that role to focus on increasing diversity in veterinary medicine. “If the veterinary profession is to achieve excellence, it must be grounded on the foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Dean Reed is quoted as saying. “The many programs at Purdue have the overarching goal of helping individuals underrepresented in veterinary medicine achieve their dream of becoming a veterinarian.”
The popularity of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s annual Equine Wellness Forum persists, even with presentations given virtually. Historically conducted as an in-person event, the 2022 program, held last Saturday, February 12, featured presentations given over the Zoom platform covering topics ranging from basic preventative healthcare to the latest medical advancements.
The forum began with a welcome by Dr. Ellen Lowery, director of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, who led a virtual walkthrough of the new Veterinary Hospital facilities that are nearing completion. Following her introductory remarks, the program continued with talks by six special speakers.
Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Director Ellen Lowery kicked-off the virtual Equine Wellness Forum with a virtual tour of the hospital’s new facilities nearing completion.
The educational sessions were kicked-off by Dr. Stephanie Thomovsky, clinical associate professor of veterinary neurology, who gave a presentation entitled, “The Use of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy In Veterinary Species.” Another lecture featured Dr. Erin Wilson of Nutrena, who addressed the topic, “Nutritional Management of Equine Chronic Myopathies.” A Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumna, Dr. Wilson included in her presentation a discussion of healthy types of grains and grass to feed horses, and the proper mixture for each.
Forum attendees also were treated to presentations by three veterinarians who are new clinicians in the Large Animal Hospital. Dr. Sarah Gray, large animal internal medicine clinician, gave a talk on “Choke and its Complications.” Dr. Michelle Tucker, assistant professor of large animal surgery, spoke on the topic of “Head Tilt and Bell’s Palsy.” And Dr. Sarah Gray, large animal surgery clinician, provided an “Update on Navicular Syndrome.” The day also included an overview of Purdue Veterinary Medicine equine health research by Dr. Sandy Taylor, associate professor of large animal internal medicine.
The forum was open to veterinary medical professionals, who were able to earn continuing education credits for participating, but most of the attendees were horse owners looking to expand their knowledge. More than 80 people registered to participate in the virtual Equine Wellness Forum in its live online format. All of the lectures given that day were recorded and can be accessed by attendees for a limited time. “Given that it was not possible to safely hold the event in person this year, we were excited to have the opportunity to still provide this valuable information and education for the equine industry virtually,” said PVM Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events Susan Xioufaridou. “The presenters did a fantastic job and the sessions went off without a hitch. We are thankful for everyone who registered to participate, thereby making this virtual Equine Wellness Forum a success.”
The ISPA Annual Banquet was held February 8 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis.
“An Evening Under the Stars with the Indiana State Poultry Association” was the theme for the association’s Annual Banquet last week at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in Indianapolis, where a special display showcased the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The more than 200 attendees at the event on Tuesday, February 8, represented poultry producers, allied industry, Indiana’s Congressional delegation, the Indiana General Assembly, and the State of Indiana executive branch and agencies, as well as the USDA and Purdue University.
Kelly Dold, marketing and communications manager for the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, attended the event to share about new testing available at the ADDL as well as the pre-Thanksgiving testing the ADDL did for “Peanut Butter” and “Jelly” so they could meet the requirements for traveling to receive their Thanksgiving pardon at the White House.
Throughout the evening, attendees had the chance to make new contacts and renew connections with old friends, as well as to share with the representatives of Indiana’s Congressional delegation and the General Assembly how Indiana’s poultry industry strengthens our communities and the state. Gourmet recipes such as Duck Wontons, Turkey Wellington, Buttermilk Crusted Chicken in a waffle cup, and made-to-order omelets were just a few of the delectable items on the evening’s menu.
The ISPA Annual Banquet also provided an opportunity to say thank you to the many dedicated elected officials and public servants whose ongoing support is essential to nurturing Indiana’s poultry producers and helping the industry thrive and grow in the future. Purdue University, including the ADDL and the College of Agriculture, was well represented during the evening with display tables and features in the program highlighting, in particular, the National Thanksgiving Turkeys, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and their journey last Thanksgiving. That’s when they traveled from the Welp Farms in Indiana to the White House and finally to Purdue University to live at Purdue’s Animal Science Research and Education Center.
Kelly Dold, marketing and communications manager for the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, attended the event to share about new testing available at the ADDL as well as the pre-Thanksgiving testing the ADDL did for Peanut Butter and Jelly so they could meet the requirements for traveling to the White House to receive their Thanksgiving pardon by President Biden.
The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization has awarded more than $143,000 from the Trask Innovation Fund across three projects, including one involving researchers in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Engineering. That project is being led by Dr. Deborah Knapp, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology and director of the Purdue Comparative Oncology Program, and Dr. Saeed Mohammadi, professor of electrical and computer engineering. Working as co-primary investigators, the pair is seeking to develop a faster, noninvasive and low-cost cancer screening technique.
The research involves creating a prototype which would allow bladder cancer in dogs to be detected from urine samples. Project leaders will distribute prototype devices to researchers at Purdue and elsewhere who work on transitional cell carcinoma, or TCC, in dogs. Provided these trials prove effective, the long term goal would be to detect bladder cancer and other diseases in humans as well. The innovation has been licensed from the Office of Technology Commercialization to Molecular Diagnostics, a startup company.
“Dr. Knapp is a world-renowned researcher on TCC. She will help with testing TCC and control samples,” Dr. Mohammadi said. “We hope to improve the sensitivity and specificity of our technique so it can be used to detect the disease at early stages and improve the prognosis of the disease. If this can be established, there will be a good potential for the application of such a simple and noninvasive technique for screening cancer in humans.”
The two other projects receiving Trask Innovation Fund support involve research in the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agronomy and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. The Trask Innovation Fund was established in 1974 by a gift from Verne A. Trask in memory of his wife, Ramoth Trask. The objective of the Trask Innovation Fund is to support short-term projects that will enhance the commercial value of Purdue University intellectual property assets. The fund is a competitive program available to Purdue innovators to fund activity in the innovators’ Purdue laboratories. Over $2.6 million dollars have been donated to 69 technologies over the last 10 years.
Dr. Audriana Ballard received the IVMA’s Achievement Award.
The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association’s (IVMA) 2022 Crossroads Veterinary Conference featured an awards program at which several Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni were recognized. The conference, held February 3-5 in Noblesville, Indiana, served as an appropriate venue for the IVMA to present its Achievement Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, President’s Award, and Volunteer Award.
Dr. Audriana Ballard (PU DVM 2019) of Goshen, Indiana, received the Achievement Award, which recognizes an IVMA member who has graduated within the last five years and displayed outstanding accomplishments in veterinary research, civic activities, academia, and/or organized veterinary medicine. Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Ballard, who earned her Purdue DVM degree in 2019, practices at the Animal Aid Clinic South in Elkhart. She got involved in organized veterinary medicine right away in her veterinary career, participating as an IVMA representative on a veterinary technician site visit.
IVMA’s outgoing president, Dr. Hilary Christner, with the recipient of the IVMA Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Steve Sunbury.
The IVMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Steve Sunbury (PU DVM ’96) of Seymour, Indiana. This award honors an IVMA member for cumulative service and accomplishments benefiting the profession, organized veterinary medicine, and the community. After earning his Purdue DVM degree in 1996, Dr. Sunbury joined the Seymour Animal Hospital to work with his father, Dr. Larry Sunbury, and became a partner in the expanding practice. Today, he continues working at the practice where he is co-owner. Dr. Sunbury has a history of being involved with organized veterinary medicine, serving as secretary/treasurer, vice-president, and president of the 9th District IVMA. He also has served the IVMA Board of Directors in a variety of positions, including as committee chairman and board chairman, in addition to holding each of the elected officer positions of the IVMA, including a term as IVMA president in 2010. Dr. Sunbury also has served the veterinary medical profession in other roles, including as a member of the PVM Admissions Committee, the PVM Veterinary Nursing Advisory Committee, and the PVM 60th Anniversary Planning Committee. He now sits on the Indiana Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Board. A lifelong member of the IVMA and the AVMA, Dr. Sunbury has been actively involved in his local community as well.
Dr. Rob Bollinger received the IVMA President’s Award from his daughter, Dr. Hilary Christner, as she finished her term as president of the association.
Dr. Rob Bollinger (PU DVM ’75) of LaGrange, Indiana, received the IVMA President’s Award, which was presented by his daughter, Dr. Hilary Christner, who was completing her term as president of the association. The President’s Award is given by the IVMA president to recognize an Indiana veterinarian or citizen who has made exceptional contributions to the association. Dr. Bollinger earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1975 and is the owner of the LaGrange Veterinary Clinic. He was recognized for having served as an advocate for involvement in organized veterinary medicine during his career.
IVMA President Hilary Christner with the recipient of the IVMA Volunteer Award, Dr. Katelyn Macy.
Dr. Katelyn Macy (PU DVM 2015), of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, received the IVMA Volunteer Award, which is presented to an IVMA member who has provided leadership or service to a particular project or program of the association. A 2015 DVM graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Macy has been an active member of the IVMA, participating in the “Power of 10” and “Power of You” leadership programs. She also has been a member of the IVMA Health and Wellness Working Group for the last three years. In 2021, she took over as chair of the group and reenergized the wellness efforts of the IVMA, leading to the development of the Member Assistance Program for all IVMA members.
Congratulations to each of these IVMA award recipients!
The Purdue Chapter of Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) kicked-off the spring semester last month with a virtual version of its Inclusive Excellence Week. The annual event that coincides with the week surrounding Martin Luther King Jr. Day featured an array of lectures, presentations, and Q&A sessions with guest speakers who have a wealth of a veterinary-related experiences and perspectives to share.
This year one of the special presentations was a Q&A session entitled, “Vets on TV” that featured Drs. Terrence Ferguson and Vernard Hodges, of the National Geographic show “Critter Fixers: Country Vets.” Through the informal Q&A format, students were able to ask questions and learn about these veterinarians’ experiences practicing veterinary medicine in front of TV cameras for the television program. Attendees also were able to gain valuable advice and inspiration for their own careers.
Dr. Vernard Hodges, one of the veterinarians on the National Geographic television show “Critter Fixers: Country Vets” participates in a virtual Q&A session during PVM’s Inclusive Excellence Week.
Highlights of the session included a discussion of the advice that Dr. Hodges and Dr. Ferguson said they wish they had received while they were in veterinary school. Dr. Ferguson encouraged students to learn about business ownership and the requirements of running their own veterinary practice. More broadly, Dr. Hodges advised students, “don’t sweat the small stuff” in their coursework and remember that learning is the ultimate goal.
Another major piece of advice shared by both doctors was the importance of finding a role model or advisor to guide and support their journeys through veterinary school. Both doctors emphasized that their mentors were essential to their success in building their careers and becoming the accomplished veterinarians they are today.
Both doctors also recommended that students care for their mental health by participating in hobbies that are entirely removed from the field of veterinary medicine. They said having activities that serve as a break from the intense studies in veterinary school is an important part of maintaining work-life balance.
Another Q&A session focused on the topic, “Vet Med Around the World” and featured Dr. Lajoya Wilburn (PU DVM 2017), a PVM alumna who serves as USDA export veterinary medical officer in Austin, Texas; Amber LaRock, a veterinary nurse in Thailand who volunteers around the world; and Dr. Heather Fowler, director of producer and public health for the National Pork Board, who has a particular interest in global public health issues. The special guests emphasized the importance of setting boundaries and having a good support system. Dr. Wilburn also advised the students to be open to gaining varied experience with multiple species, noting that her first job involved working along southern border ports, regulating trade of Mexican cattle and horses coming into the U.S. from Mexico. She also stressed the importance of understanding your job and having self-confidence, recalling her own experience as a minority woman in a male dominated culture.
The Inclusive Excellence Week concluded with a movie night Friday, January 21, featuring the movie King Richard, about the rise of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams with coaching from their father, Richard Williams.
Purdue VOICE Chapter president Tyra Jenkins said the successful week provided an important way to focus attention on diversity and inclusion in the College of Veterinary Medicine. “We are grateful to be able to provide such constructive and important programming for PVM students by PVM students,” Tyra said. “Inclusive Excellence Week is our largest event and during that week we saw a great turnout and powerful conversations. Our chapter is humbled to have received the [national] chapter awards recognizing the work we do here at PVM.”
Writer(s):
Hailee Rolofson, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr
| pvmnews@purdue.edu
