Purdue Professor of Large Animal Surgery Jan Hawkins Chosen as President-elect of ACVS

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Dr. Jan Hawkins, Purdue Veterinary Medicine professor of large animal surgery and Large Animal Surgery section head, is the new president elect of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS).  The election results were announced recently by the ACVS, following the 2022 ACVS Surgery Summit held October 11-15 in Portland, Oregon. 

A 1991 DVM graduate of North Carolina State University, Dr. Hawkins completed an internship in large animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University in 1992 and a residency in large animal surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in 1995 before becoming board certified by the ACVS the following year.  Dr. Hawkins is the author of numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts regarding equine surgery with an emphasis on disorders of the upper respiratory tract and the use of surgical lasers. He is a co-author of the textbook Respiratory Diseases of the Horse and an editor and author for Advances in Equine Upper Respiratory Surgery.

Dr. Hawkins also has been actively involved as a member of the ACVS and has served on the Board of Regents. His other areas of service to the ACVS include being a member of the Veterinary Surgery editorial review board, the Resident Credentialing Committee, Symposium Planning Committee, and Residency Program Compliance Committee.  As a board liaison, he was involved with the Continuing Education and Fellowship Committees as well as the Veterinary Surgery journal. He has served as a session chair for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons annual meeting and has lectured at the College’s annual meeting on multiple occasions. 

Each year, the ACVS Nominating Committee submits a proposed slate of candidates for president-elect, one small animal regent, and one large animal regent to the ACVS Board of Regents for approval. The approved slate is then forwarded to the membership for a vote.

Founded in 1965, the ACVS is the specialty board which sets the certification standards for advanced professionalism in veterinary surgery and provides the latest in surgical educational programs. ACVS is the AVMA-Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery. Following the 2022 certification examination, ACVS membership now includes more than 2,300 Diplomates. For more information see www.acvs.org.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Honored with National Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

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For the third year in a row, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has received the national Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.  The award recognizes U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. As a recipient of the award for 2022, the college will be featured, along with 61 other recipients, in the December 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

The college was selected for the honor by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine because of its innovative and impactful programs designed to diversify the population of prospective students pursuing careers in veterinary medicine.  One of those programs is the Vet Up! Champions Mentor Match Program, in which high school and college students participating in the college’s year-long Vet Up! Champions program are mentored by current veterinary medical students. The mentoring program provides aspiring veterinarians support well beyond the year-long Vet Up! Champions curriculum and summer campus experience.

Another example of the college’s award winning initiatives involves Vet Up! College Veterinary Clinical Experiences.  Participants in the Vet Up! College program are immersed in the curriculum, animal experiences, and culture during a month-long summer stay at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Students are then placed at clinical sites in their residential communities to gain hands-on veterinary experiences, many of which continue beyond the summer program.

“These initiatives provide a solid foundation for these promising future veterinary professionals as they prepare to embark on the rigorous process of seeking admission to veterinary school,” said Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed.  “We are excited by the success we are seeing when students from a wide range of backgrounds grow in their confidence about becoming veterinarians as they realize there is a need and a place for them in the veterinary medical profession and feel tangible support for pursing this field as their future career.”

Of the more than 60 Health Professions HEED Award recipients, Purdue Veterinary Medicine is one of only six colleges of veterinary medicine chosen for this honor.  “The Health Professions HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a Health Professions HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for schools where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

Click here for more information about the 2022 Health Professions HEED Award.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

International Speakers and Beautiful Birds Draw Attention at Purdue Veterinary Student-Led Conference

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Colorful birds and fascinating talks were the order of the day last weekend at the two-day Medicine of Mammalian and Avian Species (MMAS) Symposium hosted at Lynn Hall by students in the Exotic Animal Club.  The program provided attendees with lectures covering basic medicine, handling, nutrition, intubation, anesthesia and many other topics for avian and small mammals.

More than 60 people attended, either in-person at Lynn Hall or virtually via Zoom.  Symposium coordinator for the Exotic Animal Club, Keishla Marrero-Acosta, of the DVM Class of 2024, said attendees particularly appreciated the various wetlabs, which included an avian triage and bandaging lab, a small mammal intubation and intraosseous catheter placement lab, an avian handling lab and a small exotic mammal handling lab.

The symposium, held Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23, opened with a keynote lecture on Conservation of Bearded and Egyptian Vultures by Mr. Anton Vaidl and Dr. Helena Vaidlová of the Prague Zoo.  The husband and wife team from the Czech Republic is well known for their reputation and experience in the field of avian and exotic medicine.  The symposium also featured talks by a dozen other speakers, including avian and exotic animal specialists from the College of Veterinary Medicine and private specialty practices, who presented lectures and lead hands-on labs.

The Symposium was open to veterinarians, veterinary nurses, veterinary and veterinary nursing students, and undergraduates, and featured concurrent lecture tracks covering avian and exotic companion animal medicine.

The keynote speakers brought a wealth of knowledge and insight.  Vaidl, a life-long bird lover, was the incubator attendant and assistant to the bird curator at the Prague Zoo from 1995 to 2006.  The year following, he served as curator-consultant at the Morocco Birds International, Inc. bird park in the Philippines. Several months later, he returned to the Czech Republic where he has worked as the curator of birds at the Prague Zoo since 2008.  Over the past 20 years, he has had the opportunity to work with more than 600 different bird species including about 80 parrot species.  During his time working as curator, the Zoo began to breed Palm cockatoos, Pesquet’s parrots, Hyacinth macaws, Kea parrots, Blue-naped parrots, Golden shouldered parakeets, Yellow and black-bellied Jamaican amazons, Red-tailed amazons and other parrot species.

Vaidl and Dr. Vaidlová together wrote a comprehensive book on the issue of parrot breeding and veterinary care. Vaidl also has published articles on the breeding of various species of birds and has presented his lectures in more than 20 countries around the world. Dr. Helena Vaidlová graduated in 2004 from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Czech Republic. During her studies and following graduation, she obtained an internship and worked in Southeast Asia with elephants and parrots. In 2008 she and her husband opened a veterinary clinic focused on birds. She now also works part-time for the Prague Zoo and is a Parrot TAG veterinary advisor for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Purdue Veterinary Alumnus, Dr. Joe Klopfenstein, Honored as Mentor of the Year at AABP Conference

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A major award for bovine practitioners was bestowed on Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate Joe Klopfenstein (PU DVM ’83) during the 2022 American Association of Bovine Practitioners Annual Conference.  Dr. Klopfenstein received the Mentor of the Year Award in a presentation conducted jointly by the AABP and the award sponsor, Merck Animal Health.  The annual award recognizes an individual who goes above and beyond in educating, supporting and advancing the careers of future bovine veterinarians. 

Dr. Klopfenstein serves as clinical assistant professor at the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University specializing in food and fiber producing animals. After earning his Purdue DVM Degree in 1983, Dr. Klopfenstein entered private practice in Vermont specializing in dairy and beef production, management and health. He is certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (dairy practice) and was previously recognized as the Bovine Practitioner of the Year by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners in 2010.  He received the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s highest alumni honor, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, in 2014.

“When he was in private practice, he became a mentor to many students looking to pursue careers in veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Kayla Clark, a partner at Sterner Veterinary Livestock Professionals in Michigan, who nominated Dr. Klopfenstein for the award. “He was a role model to me and many others in the Cooperative for Real Education and Agricultural Management at the University of Vermont.  He leads by example and created a hands-on learning atmosphere, allowing us to gain valuable experience with the cattle we oversaw. He is a natural educator who gains the trust of his students with the right balance of encouragement, honest critiques and through conveying his confidence in their abilities to succeed.”

Dr. Justin Welsh, executive director of livestock technical services at Merck Animal Health, added, “Dr. Klopfenstein is an exemplary veterinarian who shares his thoughts, ideas and experiences with his colleagues and the students he has worked with throughout his career. As part of our unconditional social commitment, we are proud to support and celebrate those in our profession, like Dr. Klopfenstein, who mentor and serve as role models for the future leaders of our profession.”

Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, has had long-standing partnerships with educational institutions and associations, like AABP, to ensure the future needs of the industry are addressed. In 2021, the company provided more than $1.5 million in veterinary scholarships and more than $1.5 million in grants to universities, associations and foundations.

The AABP Annual Conference was held September 22-24 in Long Beach, California.  Congratulations Dr. Klopfenstein!  Click here to view a complete news release.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Who do We Appreciate? Veterinary Nurses!

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You could skip the counting, 2-4-6-8, and go right to the question this week, “Who do we appreciate?” that begged the answer, “Veterinary Nurses!” This is Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, held in conjunction with the National Veterinary Technician Week.  The college takes great pride in educating the entire veterinary team, and veterinary nurses and assistants are a big part of that team! To show its support and gratitude for veterinary nurses, the college hosted several special events during the week-long celebration October 17-21.

The series of special activities were thoughtfully planned so the college could continue this important tradition of using this occasion to recognize the vital roles veterinary nurses play in the veterinary medical profession.  “I am excited that we are kicking off a week designated to thank our veterinary nurses who are such valuable members of our veterinary team,” said Dean Willie Reed in a special message to college faculty, staff and students at the beginning of the week. “Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week gives us a great opportunity to celebrate the veterinary nurses who are essential to the service, research and teaching missions of our college.”

As part of the planning, creative energy was expended to coin fun names for some of the special activities.  PVM’s veterinary nurses enjoyed well-deserved treats with the “Thanks a ‘Hole’ Bunch” donut breakfast on Tuesday, October 18. On Wednesday, October 19, veterinary nurses enjoyed treats and activities at the “Pause for Applause” carnival-themed event that featured a build-your-own caramel apple bar. Another challenge involved guessing the number of candy corn pieces in a jar at the event. Congratulations to Jessica DeSutter, RVT, who came up with the closest answer and won a $25 Starbucks gift card. Her guesstimate was only off by 17 pieces!  On Thursday, October 20, the Veterinary Nursing Student Organization set up a photo booth for veterinary nursing teams to take fun photos together.

As an extra surprise next week, all veterinary nurses and assistants will receive a special t-shirt as a recognition gift from the college.  Additionally, note card stations were placed in the connector hallway between Lynn Hall and the David and Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Hospital to encourage faculty and staff to write notes of gratitude to veterinary nurses.

Special thanks to the planning committee members who organized the week’s activities. They are Dr. Nolie Parnell, chief of staff for the small animal hospital; Dr. Janice Kritchevsky, large animal chief of staff; Dr. Jessica Christensen, veterinary nursing lecturer; Jessica Bowditch, RVT, CCRP, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), neurology and physical rehabilitation technician; and Carolyn McLaughlin, RVT, large animal internal medicine technologist.

PVM’s veterinary nurses also were featured in social media promotions. A total of 80 social media posts were published featuring messages of thanks and photos of veterinary nurses. Among those were posts about special Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week videos, including a production released by Hills Pet Nutrition featuring Jessica Bowditch.

And there’s still time to personally thank our veterinary nurses for their dedication and excellence before Veterinary Nursing Appreciation Week comes to a close.  If you haven’t done so already, take advantage of the remaining hours this afternoon to express appreciation to our amazing PVM veterinary nurses!

Writer(s): Susan Xioufaridou | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Time Running Out to Unite for United Way Participation, Whether Donating or Not

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For the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, the Purdue United Way Campaign is first and foremost about participation – whether by giving or simply returning the pledge form without contributing.  PVM United Way Campaign Division Lead Angela Pickett, executive assistant to the dean, emphasizes that staff and faculty can respond to the campaign in one of three ways:  give a one-time donation, a recurring payroll deduction, or choose “I don’t wish to give.”  Those who would like to contribute through the campaign but want their gifts to go outside of Tippecanoe County may designate the United Way agency in their own community. 

Every submitted pledge, whether it includes a gift or not, counts toward the college’s participation rate.  Those who choose to donate also will help the college reach its goal of raising $18,080 as its share of the Purdue campaign goal.  Already, the college has reached more than 82% of its goal, with $14,914 raised as of yesterday, Thursday, October 20.

Responding to the campaign appeal, whether by making a gift or indicating that you do not wish to give, is easy through the Purdue United Way Campaign link at https://uwlafayette.org/purdue-united-way/ (note that logging on requires Purdue’s Two-Factor Authentication).  When you reach the site, just click on either “Give Now” or “I Don’t Wish to Give.”

“Thank you to those who have already responded,” said Angela.  “If you have questions, please contact me or Jamie Richards, PVM United Way Campaign vice chair. 

This week marks the point on the 2022 Purdue United Way Campaign timeline that is just past halfway.  The University’s goal is $725,000. As of October 20, the campaign had raised over $387,700, which is more than 53% of the goal.  Campaign leaders hope to reach this year’s goal by November 16 when the campaign ends.

Besides giving through the Purdue United Way website, another fun way to participate is by placing bids in the campus-wide silent online auction.  Bidding is currently underway and ends Oct. 28.

This year’s Purdue University United Way Campaign leaders are Campaign Chair Linda Mason, dean of the Graduate School, and Vice-Chair Beth McNeil, dean of Libraries and School of Information Studies.

A link to donate and to find out more information about the United Way Campaign can be found on the Purdue United Way website.

“The Purdue Community is a global community. United Way is similar,” explained Dean Mason.  “It is a large, diverse organization, helping the Purdue Community through their amazing local partners. Your generosity is critical for continuing the tremendous impact of United Way at Purdue. Thank you in advance for considering United Way as an organization you support this year.”

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Students with Sights Set on International Horizons Turn Out for Global Engagement Fair

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Each fall, the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Office of Global Engagement hosts an event that spotlights study abroad opportunities and recognizes the students who have taken advantage of them or are interested in doing so.  The Global Engagement Fair offers a way for DVM and Veterinary Nursing students to mingle, have fun, and celebrate the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s global initiatives and opportunities. This year’s fair was held Friday evening, October 14, in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall.

“We honor the students who studied abroad the year before, and offer prospective students a chance to learn about our great international learning opportunities,” said Addison Sheldon, the college’s director of global engagement. “It’s also when we recognize our students who completed the Global Veterinary Certificate Program, which was created to engage students in regard to their role in affecting world change through the improvement of animal and human health. It’s important to honor our amazing students who understand the importance of being globally conscious veterinary professionals and take steps to participate in one of our many global engagement opportunities.”

The Global Engagement Fair featured festive foods, international displays and a program in which certificates of recognition were given out to students who completed the Global Veterinary Certificate Program.  A total of 17 veterinary students received the certificates from Dean Willie Reed as Addison called them to come forward and be recognized. 

This year’s event was extra special because of a guest of honor.  Dr. Alejandro Morales visited the college from the ARCAS Wildlife Rescue Center in Guatemala. Dr. Morales leads Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s study abroad program in Guatemala, and he is one of the professors who participates in the college’s online Wildlife Medicine Certificate course. While visiting Lynn Hall, Dr. Morales gave two lectures Thursday and Friday, October 13 and 14, on the topics of “Primate and Psittacine Rehabilitation,” and “Wildlife Release Process and Rehabilitation.”  Then on Friday evening he attended the Global Engagement Fair, where he received special recognition and a Purdue Veterinary Medicine jacket as a memento of the time he spent at Purdue with veterinary students, faculty and staff.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Exotic Animal Medicine Will Be Focus of two-Day Symposium Hosted by Purdue Veterinary Students

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The Medicine of Mammals and Avian Species (MMAS) Symposium will reflect the passion of the Purdue veterinary students in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Exotic Animal Club, when the two day conference is held later this month.  The event is designed for veterinary students and veterinary professionals, as well as faculty, staff and students in other fields at Purdue University and in the community.

Members of the Exotic Animal Club have organized the symposium, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23, in Lynn Hall.  The program includes a Keynote Lecture on the topic, Conservation and Reintroduction of Bearded and Egyptian Vultures, that will be given by Anton Vaidl and Dr. Helena Vaidlová, a husband and wife team from the Czech Republic well known for their reputation and experience in the field of avian and exotic medicine. 

Vaidl has been a bird lover all his life. He was the incubator attendant and assistant to the bird curator at the Prague Zoo from 1995 to 2006.  The year following, he served as curator-consultant at the Morocco Birds International, Inc. bird park in the Philippines. Several months later, he returned to the Czech Republic where he has worked as the curator of birds at the Prague Zoo since 2008.  Over the past 20 years, he has had the opportunity to work with more than 600 different bird species including about 80 parrot species.  During his time working as curator, the Zoo began to breed Palm cockatoos, Pesquet’s parrots, Hyacinth macaws, Kea parrots, Blue-naped parrots, Golden shouldered parakeets, Yellow and black-bellied Jamaican amazons, Red-tailed amazons and other parrot species. He and Dr. Vaidlova together wrote a comprehensive book on the issue of parrot breeding and veterinary care. Vaidl also has published articles on the breeding of various species of birds and has presented his lectures in more than 20 countries around the world.

Dr. Helena Vaidlová graduated in 2004 from the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Brno, Czech Republic. During her studies and following graduation, she obtained an internship and worked in Southeast Asia with elephants and parrots. In 2008 she and her husband opened a veterinary clinic focused on birds. She now works for the Prague Zoo and is a Parrot TAG veterinary advisor for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Vaidl and Dr. Vaidlová are among a total of 14 speakers who will participate in the symposium, including avian and exotic animal specialists from the College of Veterinary Medicine and private specialty practices, who will present lectures and lead hands-on labs. Concurrent lecture tracks covering avian and exotic companion animal medicine will include lectures on a variety of topics including basic medicine, handling, nutrition, intubation, and anesthesia.  For those who are interested but unable to attend in person, an on-line option will be available for the Keynote and other lectures.

Learn more and register today!

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

PVM Engagement Efforts Spotlighted in Popular Science Article

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A feature story writer for Popular Science magazine doing a story about ways to help children pursue veterinary careers recently turned to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine for an expert who could address that topic.  The well-known Popular Science contributor, Noah Lederman, also has had his work featured in the Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post.  The source he turned to at Purdue for his latest Popular Science article is Dr. Sandra San Miguel, associate dean for engagement.

Lederman’s article, which was just published this month, is entitled, “7 ways to support a kid who wants to care for animals.”  The subheading adds, “If you know where to look, there are plenty of educational opportunities for a child who wants to be a veterinarian.”  In describing some of those opportunities, Lederman gives the League of VetaHumanz, based out of Purdue Veterinary Medicine, as an example. 

Explaining that the concept of VetaHumanz was “Inspired by the metahumans of the DC comics universe,” Lederman quotes the League’s origin story in describing how VetaHumanz “wield their superpowers to prevent threats to animal and public health across the globe.”  The League of VetaHumanz was launched by Purdue Veterinary Medicine in 2020 as an alliance of veterinary superheroes in academia, veterinary practice, research, government, and industry who are committed to engaging with under-resourced communities across the globe to provide access and support for children who aspire to careers in the veterinary profession.

Lederman then describes how, with support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. San Miguel’s team sends trained veterinary practitioners into K-4 classrooms around the country to educate students with age-appropriate and culturally-responsible curriculum. “We’re not visiting [once a year] on career day and you never see us again,” Dr. San Miguel is quoted as saying in the story.  Lederman points out that the program involves a partnership between the League and selected schools or community centers, where veterinary role models work with young students at least once a month.

The article also highlights the League’s “Superpower Packs,” which are inspiring, STEM educational experiences that can be used independently by children who lack direct access to veterinary role models. Lederman writes, “The packs, San Miguel says, informs kids that ‘I can be a vet. I’m doing vet stuff.’” Lederman then explains how Dr. San Miguel was inspired by research on the Batman Effect, where scholars asked young subjects to impersonate an exemplary character, like Batman, and found that kids in the study who took on a commendable character’s perspective persevered in their work, as compared to children who did not.  “If you take on an alter ego, you lose your personal insecurities,” Dr. San Miguel is quoted as saying when summarizing the research.  Lederman adds, “So of course, the pack includes a cape.”

The article also points out that, though the SuperPower Packs are only available to qualified institutions, the League of VetaHumanz offers all of the lessons and books on its website for free to young children interested in the profession.

Read the full article on Popular Science.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

“Rethinking Suicide” is Topic of Dr. Jeffrey A. Sutarik Wellness Lecture October 25

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A presentation about mental health in the veterinary profession, entitled “Rethinking Suicide,” will be given next week by a specialist in clinical psychology as part of a lecture series established in memory of a Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumnus.  The Dr. Jeffrey A. Sutarik Memorial Wellness Lecture will be held Tuesday morning, October 25, from 8:00 – 9:20 a.m. as part of a core course in the DVM curriculum.   The speaker, Dr. Craig J Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is internationally recognized as an expert on suicide prevention, trauma and resilience.  In an effort to enhance the self-care and mindset of the veterinary community as a whole, the College of Veterinary Medicine will be livestreaming the lecture so that those outside PVM can attend virtually. 

Dr. Bryan is board-certified as a clinical psychologist in cognitive behavioral psychology. He is the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University and the Division Director for Recovery and Resilience. Dr. Bryan’s research has been funded by the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, and multiple foundations. He has published more than 250 scientific articles and multiple books including Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention and Rethinking Suicide, and has received numerous awards and recognitions for his research. 

The Dr. Jeffrey A. Sutarik Memorial Wellness Lecture Series was established by Dr. Sutarik’s parents, Ed and Pat Sutarik, after the tragic passing of their son who ended his own life in 2019 at the age of 41.  Dr. Sutarik earned his Purdue DVM degree in 2005 and went into private practice in the Chicago suburb of Lombard, Illinois, where he was respected as a gifted, dedicated and caring veterinarian.  His passing inspired his parents to honor his memory through charity supporting the health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals.  Together, they created the Dr. Jeffrey A. Sutarik Memorial Wellness Lecture Series through a fund that also provides assistance to various student wellness initiatives.  The purpose of the lectureship is to bring in professional mental health speakers as well as alumni and friends to share their relatable stories of the importance of recognizing and staying in touch with one’s mental health.

In addition, Pat Sutarik founded the Make A Wag foundation, which continues Dr. Jeffrey Sutarik’s legacy of compassionate care by providing help for people 65 years and older who need assistance with veterinary care for their pets. Veterinarians all across the country can apply for support in the amount of $2,500 per year to assist this population. The Make A Wag foundation was one of the sponsors for the 2022 Purdue Veterinary Conference that was hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine September 20-24.  As a result of her time visiting Purdue during the conference and touring the new David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, Pat shared her excitement about the beautiful new hospital facilities with her husband Ed, and together they decided to honor their son’s love of horses by placing his name on an equine stall.

The memory of Dr. Sutarik and the abundant generosity and caring of his parents reminds all veterinary professionals that as they strive to do whatever they can to help their patients, clients, and all animals, the compassion can run so deep, that they neglect to take time to care for themselves and their own wellbeing.

Members of the veterinary profession may use this link to watch the lecture:  https://tinyurl.com/currentissuesfall22.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu