Joanne Troutner with her two dogs, Billie Sue and Brandy.
When the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine launched its fundraising effort to secure support for the new Purdue University Veterinary Hospital facilities, it was at the time of its 60th anniversary in 2019. The need was for donors to step forward as leaders and “set the pace” for raising the needed private funds for the new hospital project. So, the college created the 60 Pacesetters giving initiative, connecting the occasion of the 60th anniversary with the call for donors to provide leadership gifts.
One of the first individuals to respond was Purdue alumna Joanne Troutner, a graduate of the College of Liberal Arts, who is an animal lover and longtime friend of Purdue Veterinary Medicine. Setting the pace as a leader in giving to the college suited Joanne perfectly, and she provided a wonderful example when the campaign needed it most. Many others also stepped forward at that time and in the months that followed and the campaign proved wonderfully successful.
Today, you can see evidence of Joanne’s pacesetting role in giving to the college when you step into the Joanne Troutner Reception Area at the front of the brand new David and Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Hospital. But her pacesetting giving extends to many other areas, both in the College of Veterinary Medicine and across the University. Her giving also not only involves financial donations, but also gifts of time and talent.
Joanne’s generosity reflects the reality that for her, Purdue University is more than her alma mater. It’s a family. “How could I not want to give back?” she asks in a story on The Persistent Pursuit website that shares inspiring features about Purdue graduates.
Joanne earned her bachelor’s degree in English and media science at Purdue in 1974 and then pursued graduate study, earning her master’s degree in library science two years later. She describes Purdue as a launchpad — “A place where I was allowed to be excellent.”
She went on to have a decades-long career as a K-12 educator, which only makes her passion for giving back to Purdue burn brighter. “Being an educator, you look at how can you impact the future. What can you do for students?” Joanne says. “Purdue gave me a lot. So they’re entitled to expect me to do a lot.”
Joanne describes herself as someone who thinks broadly, and today she is translating that into giving broadly. She is one of the University’s most frequent, and most passionate, donors.
Through her giving, Joanne supports diverse areas across Purdue’s campus, including the library system, a number of student scholarship programs (including one in the College of Agriculture named for her parents and another in the history department named in honor of her husband, Lary W. Troutner), and the Purdue Women’s Network, as well as the College of Veterinary Medicine.
“The Troutner kids have always been four-legged, so they go to Purdue as their vet,” she says. “Of course I would support the vet school.”
Longtime friend and supporter of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Joanne is pictured in the David and Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Hospital reception area named in honor of her generosity ahead of the hospital’s dedication ceremony on April 8.
For Joanne, supporting the University is about securing the future and sustaining the community. “That is the heartbeat and foundation of our University,” she says. “Without those relationships, you don’t learn. You don’t progress. You don’t pursue excellence.”
Joanne met her husband at Purdue when the two were undergrads, and the University remained integral to the Troutners until Lary’s passing in 2011. And to this day, Joanne stands tall among the University’s most enthusiastic supporters.
Joanne’s interests include wanting to do her part to make the Boilermaker community — the Purdue family — as welcoming and inclusive as possible. “I felt it was very important to have an opportunity to give back in the area of underrepresented students, staff, and faculty,” she says. “We need to be ready to prepare leaders. It’s essential that Purdue continue their pursuit of excellence by including underrepresented students and faculty and staff.”
One of Joanne’s biggest passions is mentoring young Purdue women. “It’s just part of who I am,” she says. “I wish I had someone do that for me when I was that age.” She also is quick to point out that she has learned just as much from students she has mentored as they have from her.
Looking to the future, Troutner is optimistic. “I see Purdue is still a leader across the nation. I see Purdue pursuing excellence. I see Purdue taking those giant leaps — sending the first person to Mars, making a vast number of improvements in medicine, from the Cancer Research Center to veterinary medicine to biology. The future’s so bright, because of our students and the caliber of students that we recruit.”
Ultimately, that impact is what it’s all about for Troutner. “You leave your legacy; you give back to areas that are your passion — what you find important and impactful.”
Click here to view the entire feature article about Joanne, which includes video clips from an interview she did this spring with one of her mentees, Molly Grotjan, a graduating senior with a major in agribusiness. In the interview, Joanne shares about the importance of relationships as the foundation of the Boilermaker community; the importance of giving, regardless of the amount; and her hopes for the future of the Purdue community.
Pat Lowrie (center), PVM senior diversity consultant, with the annual Faculty Women’s Luncheon panel of women deans (left-right): Dr. Julie Funk, of the University of Arizona; Dr. Eleanor Green, of Texas A&M University; Dr. Ruby Perry, of Tuskegee University; and Dr. Sheila Allen, former dean of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.
Women on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty received practical help and encouragement to pursue academic leadership opportunities during the 2022 PVM Annual Faculty Women’s Luncheon, which featured a panel of current and past women deans of colleges of veterinary medicine. Held on Monday, April 25, at the Purdue Memorial Union West Faculty Lounge, the event was hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Dean Willie Reed opened the luncheon by sharing about the history, progression, and importance of the event as a means of helping foster an increase in the number of women serving in leadership roles in academic veterinary medicine. Then, Dr. Latonia Craig, assistant dean for inclusive excellence, introduced the distinguished panel of women deans convened to share leadership wisdom related to the luncheon theme of “Creating Pathways to Successful Inclusive Leadership: Insights and Pitfalls.” The panel members, who represented a total of more than 30 years of leadership experience with colleges of veterinary medicine from across the country, were:
Dr. Latonia Craig, assistant dean for inclusive excellence, speaks at the Faculty Women’s Luncheon hosted by the PVM Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Eleanor Green, DVM, DACVIM, DABVP, veterinary consultant and senior advisor/consultant for the Animal Policy Group and Dean Emerita of the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences;
Sheila Allen, DVM, MS, DACVS, senior accreditation advisor for the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and Dean Emerita of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine;
Ruby Perry, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS, Dean of the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine; and,
Julie Funk, DVM, MS, PhD, Dean of the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine.
The panel presentation, facilitated by Pat Lowrie, senior diversity consultant to PVM, included discussion of such topics as career aspirations, preparation for leadership, the importance of inclusion, challenges and pitfalls, and perceptions of mentoring, coaching, and sponsorship of junior faculty. Following the presentation, the panelists joined the attendees in groups that collectively developed initial strategies for identifying necessary resources and or assets that would help facilitate a successful leadership career trajectory. At the closing, the panel members reconvened to offer their final reflections about preparing for and aspiring to leadership roles. Those insights included, “be open to opportunities,” “create inclusive team support,” “be prepared to make the hard decision and remember, no one is perfect,” and, “enjoy the successes.”
This year’s event was the 11th Annual Faculty Women’s Luncheon, which Dr. Craig describes as an important, proactive approach to equipping more women on the PVM faculty for leadership roles. “Our college’s Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan emphasizes the importance of intentionality, and that dynamic is reflected in this annual opportunity for women on our faculty to gain insights about preparing for leadership positions,” Dr. Craig said. “It is not enough for us to just talk about wanting to see more women in academic leadership. We must take the initiative to support and equip those who have that desire in their heart, and encourage them as they pursue that path. This luncheon is one of the ways we can make a difference in that regard, and I appreciate Dean Reed’s leadership and support for this effort.”
After participating in the panel discussion, the panelists joined groups of PVM women faculty for discussions about ways to form support systems for pursuing paths to leadership roles.
Dean Willie Reed and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kathy Salisbury with the top teachers in each year of the DVM program, as voted on by the students (left to right): Dr. Sarah Steinbach – Class of 2022; Dr. Andrew Woolcock – Class of 2023; Dr. Mindy Anderson – Class of 2024; and Dr. Kellie McGrady – Class of 2025.
Many enterprises utilize customer surveys to measure how they are doing. When it comes to teaching, perhaps the toughest critics are the students. The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine annually utilizes student balloting to guide the selection of recipients for several excellence in teaching awards. Four of those awards were given Thursday, April 28, at a special presentation in Lynn 1136.
Each year the college surveys the DVM students to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of the faculty based on this standard: “An outstanding teacher is one who demonstrates superior ability in communicating the chosen material to students and stimulates their desire to master the material. This teacher will also recognize their teaching responsibility does not stop at the classroom door, and therefore, will be ready to aid and motivate students in a counseling and advisory capacity, either formally or informally.”
The students provide their input by means of a student ballot. The results of the balloting guide the selection of recipients for several awards. Two of those awards, the PVM Alumni Outstanding Teacher Award and the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award, are given in the fall. The others, given in the spring, were presented by Dean Reed in recognition of the top teachers in each year of the DVM program.
Dr. Kellie McGrady, lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Administration, is recognized by Dean Willie Reed for receiving the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching First Year DVM Students, as selected by the Class of 2025.
The recipient of the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching First Year DVM Students, as selected by the Class of 2025, is Dr. Kellie McGrady, lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Administration, and the Instructor of Record for Veterinary Skills and Competencies (VSAC) I and II. She also teaches in the other VSAC courses and in Applications and Integrations I, II, and III, as well as in the Veterinary Nursing Program.
The PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching Second Year DVM Students, as selected by the Class of 2024, was presented to Dr. Mindy Anderson, clinical assistant professor of basic medical sciences. Dr. Anderson is the Instructor of Record for Veterinary Pharmacology Principles and Applications and Applied Pharmacology II.
The recipient of the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching Third Year DVM Students, as selected by the Class of 2023, is Dr. Andrew Woolcock, associate professor of small animal internal medicine. Dr. Woolcock is the Instructor of Record for Small Animal Medicine II and teaches in other Small Animal Medicine courses as well as the Small Animal Medicine clinical rotation.
And, the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching Fourth Year DVM Students, as selected by the Class of 2022, was presented to Dr. Sarah Steinbach, clinical assistant professor of small animal internal medicine. Dr. Steinbach is the Instructor of Record for Small Animal Medicine III and teaches in other Small Animal Medicine courses and the Small Animal Medicine clinical rotation. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she also leads the dialysis service in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.
“These individuals are wonderful examples of outstanding teachers,” said Dead Reed after presenting the awards. “We thank you for your dedication to excellence in teaching.”
This year marks the second time these awards have been presented. Last year’s inaugural recipients were Dr. Marxa Figueiredo, associate professor of basic medical sciences, for the first year; Dr. Sanjeev Narayanan, head of the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, for the second year; Dr. Chris Fulkerson, clinical associate professor of veterinary medical oncology, for the third year; and, for the fourth year, Dr. Aimee Brooks, clinical associate professor of small animal emergency and critical care, and Dr. Emily Curry, clinical assistant professor of mobile surgery/shelter medicine. Once selected, award recipients are ineligible to receive the award again for a period of three years.
Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine Willie Reed congratulates Brenda Green during the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program Pinning and Oath ceremony as Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip and Veterinary Nursing Programs Director Chad Brown look on.
Brenda Green may have taken 17 years to complete Purdue University’s online Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program and bolster her “retirement” career in a Florida veterinary practice, but that’s understandable.
She was busy. Really busy.
For Brenda Green, studying abroad literally meant studying for her veterinary nursing degree while living abroad with her husband John and visiting places like the Dali Lama’s Potala Palace in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of southwestern China.
She earned her law degree and practiced law. She earned her MBA and Chartered Financial Analyst designation and worked in finance and executive positions, including overseas assignments managing the operations for U.S. law firms with offices in Beijing (where she met her husband John), Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Singapore. She joined the Peace Corps and taught small business development in Russia. She and her husband traveled to the Mt. Everest base camp and to North (yes, North) Korea.
Wherever she was, however, animals were always part of her life.
“I grew up on a farm in Michigan and we had the usual farm animals,” Green said. “I loved them all, especially my horse. No matter where I was or what I was doing, I managed to have some kind of affiliation with animals.”
She and her husband are avid equestrians and have done riding holidays around the world. (A trip to the Azores Islands is next.) Among other things, she also partnered with a fellow miniature pig fan to develop a miniature pig registry.
Along the way she began looking at the end of her business career, loosely called retiring in her case, as an opportunity to do more with animals.
“I have always been interested in veterinary medicine so it was only natural that I would pursue this interest through a veterinary technician program,” Green said. “The Purdue Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program suited my needs perfectly. I could take classes at my own pace wherever I happened to live, while still pursuing a 50-plus hour a week executive career. The Purdue program still suited me well when we moved back to the U.S. and became involved in helping our respective parents.”
Brenda Green and her husband, John, horseback riding in the Waterberg Region, near the Limpopo Province of South Africa.Brenda and John pause for a photo with Mt. Everest as the backdrop.
Green has been interning at a small animal hospital in Venice, Florida, where she found her rescue dog, for nearly four years. She plans to continue while she prepares for the Veterinary Technician National Examination. After that, more animals are in her future.
Brenda with Veterinary Nursing Programs Director Chad Brown and Pam Phegley, clinical rotation/mentorship coordinator.
“In the long run, I intend to increase my animal-related volunteer activities through projects with international veterinary organizations such as World Vets,” Green said.
Although she completed her coursework online, Green did make it to Purdue’s flagship campus in West Lafayette, Indiana, recently for the Purdue Veterinary Nursing Pinning and Oath Ceremony, which marks students’ completion of their program, and commencement.
Graduation indeed was a time of celebration for Green and her family, who joined her at the ceremony, because Green not only finished the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program, she excelled in it. Green graduated with highest distinction, earning a GPA of 3.98, all at the age of 68. Green says, while her mom calls her a “perpetual student,” she thinks of herself as a lifelong learner, and she is happy to share her story with the hope that it inspires others.
The same versatility that made Purdue’s Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program a good fit for Green makes it a good fit for nontraditional students in general. They make up the majority of those completing the program, said Dr. Chad Brown, director of Veterinary Nursing Programs for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
For more information about the Purdue University Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning program, visit the program website.
Though educated in America’s heartland at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, two Boilermaker veterinarians are at the leading edge of scientific discovery in aquatic medicine. Both successfully pursued careers as veterinarians in marine science and hold key positions at well-known enterprises focused on marine mammal health. Their scholarship was spotlighted in an article in the February edition of The Scientist magazine.
The article celebrated a breakthrough in aquatic biology research regarding treatment of infections in fish. The story covers the history of the problem, including preliminary contributions made by the two Purdue alumni — Dr. Andrew Stamper (PU DVM ’93) and Dr. Michael Murray (PU DVM ’77) — over the last several years. Antifungal and antiparasitic drugs were decaying in quarantine tanks, making the treatment of infections more difficult. The article discussed research that finally proved prior suspicions about microbial organisms causing these disappearing drugs.
Future research will seek to find more practical solutions for balancing the microbiomes of aquariums so that sick fish can be treated efficiently and effectively. Dr. Stamper’s and Dr. Murray’s contributions built a foundation for continued research, and Dr. Murray has plans for further investigations of his own.
About Dr. Andrew Stamper
Dr. Andrew (Andy) Stamper is the conservation science manager and veterinarian for Disney Conservation. Raised in the Midwest, Dr. Stamper spent his summers in high school traveling to Maine and working for Project Puffin on offshore islands where he enhanced his passion for marine life. As he pursued his interests, Dr. Stamper studied marine sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and then returned to the Midwest to enroll in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where, as a student, he represented Purdue in studies of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, examining the effects of the oil on marine river otters. He earned his DVM degree in 1993 and, for the past 21 years, has been with Disney’s Animal, Science, and Environment team, focusing on marine animal and ecosystem health.
About Dr. Michael Murray
Dr. Michael Murray (often referred to as just “Dr. Mike”) earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue University in 1977 and is currently the Jane Dunaway Director of Veterinary Services at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium, as well as a research associate at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In addition, he serves on the Accreditation Commission of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which honored him as Accreditation Inspector of the Year in 2011. Dr. Mike is a leading authority on sea otter conservation efforts from California to the Russian Far East. He provides routine healthcare for animals in the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s living collection, from sea otters to shorebirds to giant Pacific octopus and also is deeply engaged in the exhibit and field research activities of the Aquarium. He was honored by his peers in 2002 as Exotic Veterinarian of the Year.
About The Scientist Article
The Mystery
Dr. Andrew Stamper (PU DVM ’93), conservation science manager and veterinarian for Disney Conservation (Photo provided)
It comes as no surprise to any seasoned aquarist that microbes and bacteria are abundant in tank ecosystems. As quoted in the article, Dr. Stamper commented that, “…if you actually look at the bioload in an aquatic system, the bacteria either equals or outdoes the fish.” Of course, some bacteria can benefit the health of the tank and its inhabitants, while others can cause serious harm. The harmful types of bacteria must be studied to reduce and prevent harm for fish and other aquatic life. Starting in 2015, Dr. Stamper noticed that formalin, which is used as an antifungal and antiparasitic drug in fish medicine, was disappearing from treatment tanks faster than it could cure afflicted fish. The concentration of the drug was decreasing exponentially, rather than linearly, suggesting that the cause was biotic (caused by living organisms).
In 2016, Dr. Stamper hypothesized in a paper that bacteria may be the cause. He suspected that the connection had not been investigated previously because much aquarist research focused on the benefits of certain bacteria which metabolized ammonia in tanks. The thought that microbes might be able to influence drug concentrations to such a large extent “…wasn’t an idea that was floating around in our circles at the time,” Dr. Stamper noted. He intended to further this investigation, but sequencing technology to explore the details of a tank’s microbiome was not readily available. Curious to pin down the cause for this mystery, though, Dr. Stamper continued to build a body of supporting evidence, ruling out other causes as best he could in publications that documented similar losses of the antiparasitic drug, Praziquantel. In the case of that drug, too, Dr. Stamper proposed bacteria as a possible explanation after noting that Praziquantel did not degrade in tanks that had been sterilized.
Meanwhile, Dr. Murray noticed similar problems with the antiparasitic drug, Chloroquine, also used as a human antimalarial drug, which was degrading during the treatment of tropical fish with parasitic infections. Like Dr. Stamper, Dr. Murray began conducting his own small-scale experiments to rule out other abiotic causes. “We had a number of meetings trying to figure out why it was happening,” Dr. Murray said in the article. After these experiments, Dr. Murray and his team continued to work under the assumption that bacterial degradation was taking place because they couldn’t figure out another explanation for it. Validating this assumption, though, would prove difficult.
The Research
Staff at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago had found the same Chloroquine degradation patterns. Dr. Bill Van Bonn, Shedd’s vice president of animal health, knew of the work by Drs. Murray and Stamper suggesting bacterial causes. He then partnered with Dr. Erica Hartmann, environmental microbiologist at Northwestern University. The experiments they did together found nearly 800 types of bacteria in tank samples. About 20, all members of the same phyla, seemed to be connected to the degradation of Chloroquine. Further examination showed that these microbes were involved in the breakdown of nitrogen, using it as a source of food.
As the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s director of veterinary services, Dr. Mike Murray (PU DVM ’77) oversees the care of hundreds of species. Here, he extracts hemolymph from a sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) to evaluate the animal’s cell types and numbers. (Photo courtesy of The Scientist, Monterey Bay Aquarium)
The Answer
The article also quoted a microbial ecologist from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dr. Pia Moisander, who, though not involved in the work, said she was not surprised by the phyla responsible for the degradation of these drugs. They are quite common in tank samples. Dr. Moisander believes that specific species within this phyla group could be identified using fluorescent labeling on different isotopes to make it easier to track the drugs and how they are broken down. She also noted that it could be worthwhile investing time and money into finding the solutions to questions that are yet unanswered even after the work at Shedd Aquarium.
For now, aquarists have a few ways to manage the degradation of important drugs in their tanks. Temporary tanks or smaller tanks may be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide before being used to treat infected fish. Because this is not feasible for larger, permanent tanks, the pipes can be flooded with fresh water and scraped clean every few months to kill the microbials responsible for this effect.
The Future
The Scientist article adds, “Species-level resolution might help explain why degradation happens in only some tanks, or only sometimes, and resolve some remaining mysteries.” One such mystery, pointed out by Dr. Murray, is that Chloroquine degrades faster in less crowded tanks. There may be a connection between high ammonia levels in crowded tanks and the persistence of drug-eating microbials. Dr. Murray began testing the outcomes when fish-excreted ammonia is not filtered out as drugs are introduced – the hypothesis being that bacteria with access to alternative food may not consume the drugs as quickly. Meanwhile, Shedd Aquarium is searching for bacteria species that may be able to compete with the varieties that are consuming drugs. There are many possible avenues for this research to continue, leading to better care for ill fish. While several of these possibilities are being explored now, there is a lot left to understand about the phenomenon.
Dean Reed and Veterinary Nursing Programs Director Chad Brown gather with Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program graduates (center, left-right) Brenda Green and Jennifer Gershkoff.
The evening before the Purdue University Spring Commencement, two graduates of the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program were honored at a special ceremony held in Lynn Hall. “These individuals have taken a non-traditional path into this great profession of ours,” Dean Reed said as he began the program. “So, graduates, as a result of your outstanding effort and accomplishment, we have the extra-special opportunity to continue a long-held and beloved tradition of our college on the eve of your commencement ceremonies.”
Dean Reed explained that the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Graduation Celebration acknowledges the graduates’ great achievement as they join the ranks of the Purdue University Veterinary Nursing alumni. “They have worked extremely hard throughout their educational journey to earn their degree.” Associate degree graduates from AVMA-accredited programs are eligible to become registered veterinary technicians upon passing the Veterinary Technician National Examination.
Dean Reed then introduced Dr. Chad Brown, Veterinary Nursing Programs director who announced the Veterinary Nursing Associate in Applied Science degree graduates, Jennifer Gershkoff and Brenda Green, and called them forward to receive the Purdue University Veterinary Nursing pin, which was presented by Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip. Then, Instructional Technologist Jennifer Smith led them in reciting the Veterinary Technician Oath of Ethical Conduct, which symbolizes their acceptance into the veterinary nursing profession.
Veterinary Nursing Instructional Technologist Jennifer Smith leads the graduates in reciting the Veterinary Technician Oath of Ethical Conduct, as they are joined by veterinary nurses in the audience.
Afterward, Dean Reed said, “Graduates, your charge is to set the visible standard for what a Purdue University veterinary nurse is and does. In so doing, you will pave the way for all those graduates who will follow behind you. The future of the veterinary nursing profession is placed into your hands. We trust that you will serve it well.”
A reception for the graduates and their families, along with the faculty and staff in attendance, followed the ceremony, which was held in the seating area for the Continuum Café that overlooks the Lynn Hall Courtyard.
Additional photos from the Graduation Celebration taken by photographer Ed Lausch are available to view and purchase at lauschphotography.com. On the galleries page, select the “2022 Purdue Veterinary Medicine” gallery and to login, enter the password “2022PVM”.
For the first time since 2019, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted its May Graduation Celebration in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms where the newest DVM and Veterinary Nursing graduates were honored as family and friends looked on. Held Saturday, May 14, following the conclusion of the University Commencement Ceremony in the Elliott Hall of Music, the program featured recitation of oaths and recognition of recipients of awards for students, faculty, staff, and residents.
Dean Willie Reed opened the ceremony by commending the college’s Class of 2022. “This is a truly remarkable class. Graduates, you had the unique experience of completing your veterinary education in the midst of a global pandemic,” Dean Reed said. He then recalled how the pandemic upended academic pursuits around the country. “As the world faced unprecedented challenges, and colleges and universities across the country had to adapt to find new ways to safely educate their students, you persevered in your learning,” Dean Reed said.
“Initially, as Purdue converted to online learning, and then as the University led the way nationally in safely returning to in-person instruction under the provisions of the Protect Purdue initiative, you showed commitment, resolve, and caring as you abided by the Protect Purdue pledge and persistently pursued your degree,” Dean Reed explained. “As a result, here we are today, to recognize your graduation as our Class of 2022 Veterinary Nursing and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree candidates.”
Dean Reed then introduced three guest speakers. Dr. Erin Kosta Wilson (PU DVM 2008) addressed the graduates in her role as president of the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association. Next, the graduates heard from Marianne Dosmann, MS, a registered veterinary technician who serves as president of the Indiana Veterinary Technician Association. Then, Dr. Aaron Johnson (PU DVM 2005) offered words of advice as president of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
Dean Reed then explained how the Graduation Celebration embodies the concept of the veterinary team, noting that of the more than 30 veterinary medical colleges in the U.S., Purdue is one of only four that offer both DVM and Veterinary Nursing or Technology programs. “At this time, we are going to recognize our Veterinary Nursing Program Bachelor of Science degree graduates, who have attained a valued position on the veterinary health care delivery team. We are very proud of these Veterinary Nursing Program graduates,” Dean Reed explained before introducing one of the class members, Estee Frauhiger, RVT, of Bluffton, Indiana, as the Class Responder.
Estee Frauhiger, BS, RVT presents the Veterinary Nursing class response during the Graduation Celebration on Saturday, May 14.
Then, it was time to individually recognize each veterinary nursing graduate. As their names were called by Dr. Chad Brown, director of Veterinary Nursing Programs, they stepped onto the stage and received the Purdue University Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing pin from Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip. The pin symbolizes the graduates’ entry into the veterinary nursing profession.
Two of the veterinary nursing graduates also were recognized with awards and the award citations were read as the students came forward. Estee Frauhiger received the Outstanding Veterinary Nurse Award, which is given to a fourth-year Veterinary Nursing student who exhibits both outstanding academics and excellent clinical skills. Zoe Pew was honored for her service as president of the Veterinary Nursing Student Organization for the past two years.
Then, the Veterinary Nursing graduates and all veterinary nurses in the audience were asked to join in reciting the Veterinary Technician Oath of Ethical Conduct. “The oath signifies our high regard for the ethical standards and legal regulations governing the practice of veterinary nursing, our strong commitment to the highest standards of patient care and client service, and our dedication to the animals that we serve,” Dean Reed said before introducing Instructional Technologist Jennifer Smith, who was selected by the students to lead them in reciting the oath.
Next, Dean Reed turned to the DVM graduates. “Four years ago, you were welcomed into the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine,” Dean Reed said. “Today, your class becomes the 60th Purdue DVM class to celebrate commencement and take the Veterinarian’s Oath.” He also thanked them for the significant role their class played as active and supportive participants in the life of the college. “Through your own personal commitment and hard work; your consistent and persistent effort to protect the health and safety of yourselves, your fellow students, and our faculty and staff; as well as your willingness to work together and pursue goals beyond individual success, you have accomplished much.”
Dr. Tiffany Abernathy was selected by her peers to offer the DVM Class of 2022 formal response.
Dean Reed continued, “Now you possess the academic knowledge and technical skills required to be clinically competent, and you have gained an appreciation for the veterinary profession as a whole and its vital role in society. Welcome to a great profession and best wishes to all of you for long, productive, and very enjoyable careers.”
Then, Dean Reed introduced Dr. Tiffany Abernathy, of New Palestine, Indiana, as the class member selected by her peers to offer a formal class response. After Dr. Abernathy’s remarks, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Kathy Salisbury stepped to the podium and announced the names of the graduates as they stepped onto the stage to be recognized. A number of the graduates also received awards, which were announced as their names were called. Congratulations to the following award recipients:
Dr. Tiffany Abernathy received the Class of 1983 Award, which is given to a student who has overcome obstacles or persevered despite difficult circumstances in pursuit of the DVM degree. Dr. Abernathy was nominated by her classmates for the award. The award recognized how she served as a role model for her classmates while being a devoted spouse and mother of three children.
Dr. Devonte Brown received the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Certificate of Clinical Excellence in Small Animal Medicine.
Dr. Tim Brunner was awarded the G. Edward Cummins Compassionate Care Award for exemplifying compassion for animals and clients alike.
Dr. Sean Heron Card received the 12th District of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates excellence in academic performance, research, or service in veterinary public health and preventive medicine.
Dr. Natrine Cheuk received the Bob Rosenthal Senior Student Award in Clinical Oncology, which recognizes a student who demonstrates proficiency in the care of veterinary oncology patients and aptitude in clinical oncology.
Dr. Leah Douglas was recognized with the Comparative Ophthalmology Award for outstanding performance in comparative ophthalmology.
Dr. Benjamin Fields received the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners 2nd Place Award for proficiency in equine medicine and surgery and displaying the highest degree of professionalism.
Dr. Adrianne Glaser received the American College of Veterinary Pathologists Award for Excellence in Veterinary Pathology for exceptional proficiency and interest in anatomic and/or clinical pathology.
Dr. Emily Hess was recognized with the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners 1st Place Award for exhibiting the highest proficiency in equine medicine and surgery and displaying the highest degree of professionalism. She also received the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Certificate of Clinical Excellence in Large Animals.
Dr. Anna Kern was recognized with the 15th District of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association / American Association of Bovine Practitioners Excellence in Bovine Veterinary Medicine Award for demonstrating exceptional proficiency and interest in bovine production medicine and surgery.
Dr. Kindele Lenoir received the American College of Veterinary Radiology Award that recognizes a student who excels in comparative radiology and diagnostic imaging.
Dr. Hailey Lloyd received one of two Shelter Medicine Program Awards recognizing a student who exemplifies compassion for shelter pets, excellent interaction with shelter clients, and proficiency in shelter medicine. She also was honored with the American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology Award and the Dechra Excellence in Dermatology Award in recognition of her clinical proficiency in dermatology. Additionally, Dr. Lloyd received the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Award for Clinical Proficiency in All Species, which recognizes proficiency in both medicine and surgery across species. The award is considered the highest honor bestowed on a fourth-year student.
Dr. Lexi Miller received the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Award for Clinical Proficiency for Large Animal species in recognition of her proficiency in large animal medicine and surgery.
Dr. Joni Montgomery was honored with the Indiana State Poultry Association Award recognizing her high proficiency in avian medicine.
Dr. Haley Nowakowski received the Central Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Award for her outstanding client communication skills.
Dr. Clint Peacock was honored with the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Certificate of Clinical Excellence in Small Animals and the Dechra Excellence in Small Animal Internal Medicine Award for his interest and proficiency in internal medicine including small animal endocrinology. He also was selected by his classmates to receive the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association Senior Leadership Award for demonstrating leadership through involvement in school activities, service to the community, and engagement with the veterinary medical profession.
Dr. Kathryn Riccitelli received one of the two Shelter Medicine Program Awards that recognize a student who exemplifies compassion for shelter pets, excellent interaction with shelter clients, and proficiency in shelter medicine.
Dr. Cameron Seger was recognized with the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association Award for Clinical Proficiency in Small Animal Species, which is awarded for proficiency in small animal medicine and surgery. He also received the American Animal Hospital Association Award for Proficiency in Primary Care in general small animal practice and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Award for demonstrating academic and clinical proficiency in small animal surgery.
Dr. Logan Ullery received the American College of Theriogenologists Clinical Proficiency Award for his skills in theriogenology.
Dr. Allison Valentjin was recognized with the IDEXX Award for Proficiency in Clinical Pathology, which recognizes a student who demonstrates a strong understanding of clinical pathology and its practical application to clinical cases.
Dr. Bre Wilson received the Bastien Award for demonstrating empathy and exceptional care to canine patients.
Dr. Travis Wright was recognized with the Indiana Association of Equine Practitioners 3rd Place Award for proficiency in equine medicine and surgery, and for displaying the highest degree of professionalism.
Dr. Erin Yager received the Dechra Excellence in Equine Sports Medicine Award for exhibiting above average proficiency in the diagnosis and management of equine sports medicine cases, including rehabilitation and lameness disorders, and for her interest in regenerative medicine.
Dr. Kylie Zehner was honored with the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Award for demonstrating academic and clinical proficiency in large animal surgery.
Dean Reed then led the graduates along with DVM faculty and all veterinarians who were in attendance in the recitation of the Veterinarians’ Oath, which is a solemn promise to serve the animal kingdom and society.
Dean Reed shakes hands with Dr. Leah Douglas as she crosses the stage during the Graduation Celebration in the Purdue Memorial Union following the University Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 14.
After a pause for a group photo of the Class of 2022, Dean Reed then recognized several of the faculty, residents, and staff who have instructed and worked alongside the graduates.
The first award presented was the Katie McCallister Award, which recognizes a resident or intern who demonstrates extraordinary compassion and empathy toward both patients and their families. The recipient is Dr. Jennifer Peterson, a resident in small animal surgery, who received the award for the second year in a row.
The Johnson & Hoffman Residence Teaching Award, which recognizes a resident in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences for excellence in teaching, was presented to Dr. Ahmed Khairoun, a resident in large animal surgery.
The Elanco Veterinary Technology Outstanding Teaching Award was presented to Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip. The award recognizes a Veterinary Nursing educator who has clearly communicated course content, facilitated skill acquisition, motivated students, shown a continued willingness to facilitate learning outside of a formal setting, counseled and mentored students, and served as a positive role model.
Then, Dean Reed presented the Weedon Faculty Recognition Award, which is given to the faculty member who has made the greatest contribution to members of the fourth-year veterinary class during their progress toward the DVM degree. The members of the DVM Class of 2022 selected Dr. Larry Adams, professor of small animal internal medicine, to receive the honor.
Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip was recognized by Dean Reed as the recipient of the Elanco Veterinary Technology Outstanding Teaching Award.Dean Reed presents the Weedon Faculty Recognition Award to Dr. Larry Adams, professor of small animal internal medicine.
Following the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates and their families and friends gathered along with faculty and staff at a reception in the South Ballroom to share congratulations and well wishes.
Additional photos from the Graduation Celebration are available to view and purchase through the website of photographer Ed Lausch at lauschphotography.com. On the galleries page, select the “2022 Purdue Veterinary Medicine” gallery and to login, enter the password “2022PVM”.
Bre restrains Bartolome, a broad-winged Hawk, before releasing him back into the wild.
“If it doesn’t scare you, your dreams aren’t big enough.” This is the affirmation that has guided senior Purdue veterinary student Bre Wilson’s life and her incredible journey around the world for the past few years. Bre most recently completed a study abroad trip to Costa Rica, where she learned invaluable lessons on the importance of appreciating differences in culture and perspective – but her collection of small steps and giant leaps toward a career in veterinary medicine did not begin there.
Raised in Bend, Oregon, a mountain town in the Pacific Northwest, Bre loves to run, play soccer, hike with her dogs, paddle board, and participate in any other outdoor activity. Her life revolved around soccer growing up, so much so that her devotion to the sport led her to play division one soccer at the University of Idaho on an athletic scholarship from 2010-2014. Bre had dreamed of becoming a veterinarian from a young age, but upon entering college, she was drawn to the social sciences and decided to pursue another passion.
Global Aspirations
After four years at the University of Idaho, Bre received her Bachelor of Science in anthropology and a minor in psychology. Her desire to understand human behavior and differing cultures led her to solo travel internationally. Immediately following graduation in 2014, Bre spent a month in Cusco, Peru working in a children’s hospital with physically and mentally disabled children. When she wasn’t working, she immersed herself in the local culture. In 2015, she solo traveled for six months through Australia and Southeast Asia. Upon her return, she enrolled in an Oregon State University satellite campus in her hometown to complete her veterinary school pre-requisites. There, she coached high school soccer and worked as a veterinary assistant before finally taking the next step towards her dream: applying for admission to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.
“If I’m being honest, the main reason I didn’t go pre-vet originally in college is because I was terrified,” Bre reflects. “I was terrified that I wasn’t smart enough and terrified that it would be too hard. While I don’t regret the path I took for a second, I’m also thankful that my dream of being a veterinarian never stopped.”
Sure enough, Bre’s passions held true even as she crossed the globe. In Southeast Asia, Bre found herself with just a backpack, a heart full of curiosity, and what she realized was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Elephant Sanctuary in Northern Thailand was looking for volunteers, and soon Bre was spending her time with hundreds of rescued dogs within the park. “I went to bed every night in the heart of the park falling asleep to howling dogs and started each morning by running through fields of water buffalo and elephants, trying to catch the dogs that somehow had slipped out of their enclosures,” Bre said. But while her nights were filled with magical moments, her days were filled with heartbreak. Bre worked as a veterinarian’s assistant, treating rescued dogs diagnosed with parvovirus. The majority of the dogs had not been previously vaccinated, so the park declared a state of emergency. Bre spent twelve hours each day dedicated to their care. But where there was hardship, there was also hope. Every single dog fought and survived. “Never had I seen such resilience and strength,” Bre recalled. “This was my moment. I knew I was there for a reason, and I knew that I wanted to dedicate my life to fighting for animals.” Bre ended up adopting a dog named Mia rescued from the Elephant Nature Park – a pet that is now a daily reminder to Bre of why she wants to become a voice for the voiceless.
Gaining New Perspectives
After her first year at Purdue, Bre studied abroad in South Africa, learning about wildlife capture, relocation, and conservation. Then, this spring, she returned from a trip to Costa Rica, where she worked at Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR). This experience spoke deeply to her as she continued to refine her knowledge on treatments and conservation efforts while also learning more regarding wildlife rehabilitation, handling, and advocation. Her favorite experience studying abroad came through a companionship with a broad-winged hawk named Bartolome. Bartolome was an inpatient for several months at KSTR while he was being treated for chlamydiosis and suspected head trauma. After some time working with Bartolome in his large enclosure, Bre learned to capture, restrain, give intramuscular injections, administer subcutaneous fluids and oral medications, and feed him all by herself. Before her departure from KSTR, Bartolome healed, and Bre received the honor of releasing him back into the wild.
Señor Dona, a two-toed sloth at KSTR, basking in the sunlight in his hammock.
One of the things Bre loved about studying abroad was the ever-present opportunity to explore diverse cultural backgrounds and gain new perspectives on the world around her. During a two-day excursion through the Bokeo jungle in Laos, Bre was shown what is believed to be the largest tree in the forest. While she called it ”crazy,” her guide called it ”beautiful.” “His respect and love for all things was both eye opening and inspiring,” said Bre. “To him, he wasn’t more important than the biggest tree in the Bokeo canopy or even the dirt below him. If that’s not perspective, I don’t know what is.” Bre added that working in Costa Rica allowed her to realize how truly lucky we are to work and live in a country with exceptional resources and high quality animal health care. KSTR relies mostly on donations for supplies and medications. It can be virtually impossible to have sufficient funds to buy medicine.
Bre is also grateful for the experience she gained in communicating with those who have a different language, culture, and background. When engaging in work experiences in Costa Rica, Bre often interacted with coworkers using translation apps on their phones. “I have a medical brain, but the people working in the clinic taught me so much about enrichment, animal behavior, interspecies interactions, and the consequences of human interactions with wildlife,” Bre said. These valuable insights sparked a flame of passion in her to raise awareness about such issues. Many fatal parasites present in Costa Rica are due to the blurred lines between wild and human life. Monkeys often become dependent upon humans as a food source as a result of being fed on trails. Other leading causes of primate death include electrocution and car accidents. “Working there taught me how to handle the cases that came through, but also how to educate others on how to prevent these devastating events from occurring,” Bre said.
As she looks forward to the future, Bre appreciates how she’s grown with age and experience. As a little girl, Bre dreamed of being a wildlife veterinarian, though her fantasies looked much different than her present reality. “My vision entailed a cabin in the middle of the woods where sick bears would come to visit me so I could treat them,” remembers Bre. “While the ‘how’ of this dream makes me shake my head and smile at the thought, the dream of working with wildlife has always been there,” Bre explains. Her post-graduation plans include moving to Northern Colorado to work in a general practice treating small animals and exotic species, while educating about and advocating for her patients. Further into the future, Bre hopes to own her own general practice and work as a veterinarian in the wildlife rehabilitation sector, participate in annual international veterinary volunteer jobs, and work directly with animal shelters and disaster relief.
Arfonzito, a juvenile capuchin monkey being treated for injuries caused by electrocution, was Bre’s patient throughout her stay at KSTR.Bre is shown recovering Alfonzito from anesthesia after teaching the team to do a tie-over bandage as part of his treatment.
Bre provides valuable advice to anyone currently pursuing their own goals. “If it’s your dream, it will be worth it. It will be hard and there are times you will want to give up, but when you think of the lives you will help and save, it will be everything. Just remember not to sacrifice your well-being in the process. I’ve never looked back, and I couldn’t be more excited to enter this field.”
Both kits have been honored with 2022 Academics’ Choice Brain Toy Awards, a prestigious seal of educational quality, reserved only for those mind-building media and toys judged by a panel of scholarly reviewers to be the best. The independent Academics’ Choice Awards program and its seal of excellence are recognized worldwide by consumers and educational institutions as a mark of effective learning tools that stimulate the mind and provide potential for the student to fully develop thinking skills.
The SuperPower Packs are developed and distributed at no cost to children through the League of VetaHumanzTM, which is a veterinary superhero league supported by the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. In addition to SEPA grant support, follow-on sponsorships have enabled over 11,000 SuperPower Packs to be distributed at no cost to under-resourced U.S. communities to provide access and support for children who aspire to careers in the veterinary medical profession. Purdue Veterinary Medicine partners with the Purdue College of Education’s Evaluation and Learning Research Center for product development and assessment to optimize each SuperPower Pack’s educational impact.
An Academics’ Choice Awards reviewer of the “Do You Have Diarrhea?” SuperPower Pack stated, “It takes what can feel like a silly subject for kids, and creates an opportunity for children to learn about their bodies while having fun. Each child starts out with five cards and an instruction card. The game begins by one child asking another if they have a diarrhea card. As children take turns asking each other, they learn about what can cause diarrhea in both animals and humans, as well as how to avoid it. Check out this card game if you’d like your kids to have some laughs and an educational experience!”
The “Do You Have Diarrhea?” SuperPower Pack includes a card game and other activities to help kids learn about causes of diarrhea in people and their animals and how to stay healthy.
A “Vaccines” SuperPower Pack reviewer commented, “Complete with a card game, mask, and book, the Vaccines SuperPower Pack has been an awesome way to teach my curious kids about what vaccines are in a way they’d understand. They were little when the pandemic began and couldn’t quite comprehend everything a couple of years ago, but now that they’re a little bit older, they have more questions. Not only do they understand themselves now how vaccines work in our bodies and the role of masks, but they are able to verbalize to their friends and each other about the subject too. Thanks, Purdue University!”
The Academics’ Choice Advisory Board consists of leading thinkers and graduates from Princeton University, Harvard University, George Washington University, and other reputable educational institutions. Product-appropriate volunteer reviewers, combined with the brainpower of the board, determine the winners. Entries are judged by category (i.e. mobile app, toy, book, website, magazine, etc.), subject area, and grade level, and are evaluated based on standardized criteria rooted in constructivist learning theory. The full list of winners is posted online at www.AcademicsChoice.com.
The hundreds of submitted products that are not chosen by the Academics’ Choice Awards team (and many that are chosen) are donated to a variety of worthy charities and other organizations across the globe.
Purdue Veterinary Medicine Contributes to Purdue’s Top Ranking Among Big Ten, R1 Institutional Peers in Awarding STEM-based Graduate Degrees to Black Students
Five-year Analysis: Purdue Leads in Granting PhDs to Black Boilermakers in Veterinary Medicine, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering-related Technology, Physical Sciences, and Statistics
Purdue chemistry PhD student Kiera Estes, works in a lab. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)
The U.S. News & World Report’s latest rankings for the nation’s top graduate programs point to Purdue University’s strengths in equipping the next generation of leaders in the STEM fields, including the field of veterinary medicine. Further, they show Purdue’s underlying progress to diversify the racial makeup of its graduate student population, enriching the university’s research and learning enterprise and enhancing the powerful link between diversity, excellence and academic opportunity, Purdue officials say.
During the five-year period that ended in Spring 2020, Purdue conferred the most doctoral degrees to Black graduate students – compared with its peer R1 research institutions nationally and in the Big Ten – in the disciplines of veterinary medicine, statistics, the physical sciences, engineering-related technology, computer science, and chemistry, according to a Purdue analysis compiled from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
“In keeping with our land-grant mission that’s deeply rooted in the intrinsic connection between diversity and academic excellence as well as the principles of access and equity, Purdue has led not just the Big Ten, but our R1 institutional peers in conferring the most doctoral degrees in many of our STEM programs the past five years,” said John Gates, Purdue’s vice provost for diversity and inclusion.
An R1 designation is for universities that reach certain benchmarks in research activity and funding as set by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Purdue ranked among the top five in the number of doctorates granted to Black students in mathematics; computer and information sciences; and agricultural, animal, plant, and veterinary sciences, the data show.
Purdue’s communication, journalism, and related program also was tops among the University’s R1 and Big Ten peers for the number of post-baccalaureate certificates conferred to Black graduate students during this five-year period. Additionally, Purdue ranked second among R1 and Big Ten peer universities for the number of PhDs granted to Black students in agricultural engineering for this period, the Purdue-IPEDS analysis shows.
Effort Boosts Those Pursuing Master’s Degrees, Too
For the number of master’s degrees awarded to Black students, Purdue was in the top five among its peers nationally in veterinary, biomedical, and clinical sciences; engineering; agricultural engineering; aerospace and astronautical engineering; soil sciences; air transportation, transportation, and materials moving; and apparel and textiles. And in the Big Ten, Purdue ranked among the top five for master’s degrees granted to Black students in the veterinary, biomedical, and clinical sciences; engineering; engineering-related technology; and transportation and materials moving categories, the IPEDS data show.
At the same time, for all bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees conferred to Black students by peer R1 institutions, Purdue’s gender breakdown of female-to-male ratio graduates was nearly 1-to-1, vs. the national average at almost a 2-to-1, female-to-male ratio for this period. During this same period, enrollment of underrepresented minorities in Purdue’s graduate programs has surged 45% to 1,156 in Spring 2020 from 798 in Fall 2017.
“We are proud of the significant progress Purdue has made in becoming a leader in attracting and ensuring the academic success of Black graduate student scholars,” said Linda Mason, dean of the Graduate School at Purdue. “Yet, we also know there is more work to do in providing greater learning and research opportunities for our entire university community.”
For Fall 2021, Purdue’s overall graduate student enrollment reached an all-time high of 11,613, up 16% from 2020 and 43% over the last decade.
