Licensed Clinical Psychologist with Long-standing Ties to PVM Joins Counseling and Wellness Services

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Susan Prieto-Welch, PhD, HSPP will join Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Counseling and Wellness Services as lead therapist next month. Dr. Prieto-Welch is no stranger to PVM, having had a long-standing connection with the college both professionally, while serving students and the campus community in various roles at Purdue’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and personally, as a grateful client of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

After a 32 year post-graduate career as a licensed clinical psychologist in a variety of different roles in university counseling centers, including nearly 28 years at CAPS, Dr. Prieto-Welch retired for a little over two years. She says the time to rest, rejuvenate, spend extended time with family, and do some traveling as COVID lifted was wonderful and fulfilling, but then an unexpected opportunity arose for her to serve the College of Veterinary Medicine this past spring as a part-time, temporary therapist, and her passion for clinical work and for college student mental health returned with intensity. “I again experienced the joy that had fueled my career previously,” Dr. Prieto-Welch said. “I’m delighted with the opportunity to continue serving the college and the students on a full-time basis, and look forward to contributing whatever I can to further growth and success in the process.”

To understand people and their experiences as fully as possible, Dr. Prieto-Welch says she values approaching life and others with humility, curiosity, and compassion, and mindfully tries to engage in lifelong learning. Developing collaborative relationships and fostering communication and conversation are key to her work as a clinician. She explains that, in the context of a safe, respectful working relationship, she works with students from a strengths-based perspective, encouraging growth, change and development, and healing.

Dr. Prieto-Welch also is able to offer services in Spanish, her native language. Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, her life experience includes being a member of an intercultural family. After graduating Bachillerato (high school) in Bogotá, she left home for the United States in order to pursue undergraduate studies at Kalamazoo College, followed by graduate school at the University of Notre Dame du Lac. She then did an internship at Duke University before beginning her career in higher education in the U.S., which became her new home.

Dr. Prieto-Welch served in various roles throughout her tenure in college student mental health, including working as staff therapist, assistant director for career services, assistant director for outreach and consultation, assistant director for clinical services, interim training director, and serving as director of CAPS for almost 20 years. “The unifying thread always was my passion as a clinician/therapist, and serving students, whether as a therapist or in administrative capacities, by continually endeavoring to provide a safe space in which students could be seen and heard fully, be respected and supported for all of who they are, and be encouraged to explore, learn about themselves, heal and grow in service of developing themselves holistically while achieving academic success,” Dr. Prieto-Welch said.

Areas of particular interest and experience clinically for Dr. Prieto-Welch include identity development (defined broadly, to include all possible dimensions of identity); grief; trauma; multiculturalism and diversity (to include multicultural development); anxiety; depression; relationship issues; and working with international students. 

Please help extend a warm welcome to Dr. Prieto-Welch as the college’s new lead therapist!

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

Popular Indiana Derby Spotlights Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital

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Purdue’s Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital took center stage recently as the distinguished Winner’s Circle sponsor for the 29^th running of the Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis in Shelbyville. The event was held on Saturday, July 8 and featured over $1.1 million in purses that attracted a field of more than 200 horses. Commonly referred to as Indiana’s biggest horse-racing event of the year, Indiana Derby Day was created to build a premier racing event for the young Indiana Thoroughbred racing program. The races have exceeded all expectations, even achieving prestigious Graded Stakes status following the 2001 running of the event.

In conjunction with Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital’s sponsorship, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed hosted a group of some 52 guests who came to see the Indiana Derby Day races. The racing got underway just after noon and continued all the way through the afternoon to the grand finale race, the Indiana Derby, at 6:40 p.m. “As a proud provider of services to equine athletes throughout the country with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, revolutionary sports medicine, and surgical expertise, we are pleased to celebrate these equine athletes, trainers, and owners at the summer’s biggest racing event of the year,” Dean Reed said.

The racing on Indiana Derby Day was complemented by numerous activities, including a Virtual Reality Jockey Station, Cigar Rolling Station, and an Indiana Derby Hat Contest. In addition to the over 3,000 fans in attendance, many others saw the Indiana Derby televised live by FOX Sports 2. The big winner of the day was regally-bred three-year-old colt Verifying who outlasted a late surge by Raise Cain to claim $176,400 of the $300,000 Indiana Derby purse. The favorite going into the race, Verifying is the son of the 2018 Triple Crown winner, Justify, and had the most career earning of all the contenders in the race including the most 2023 earnings.

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

Purdue Grandparents University Introduces Grandparents and Grandchildren to Veterinary Medicine

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Purdue University threw open its doors earlier this month to grandparents and their grandchildren to introduce them to degree programs that represent tickets to exciting future careers for members of the next generation. And the College of Veterinary Medicine jumped at the opportunity to participate in the two-day event, called Grandparents University, by hosting one of the “majors,” entitled Advancing Animal Health.

Grandparents University is organized by the Purdue for Life Foundation, which recruits instructors from across campus to teach sessions related to various degree programs. Held on July 13 and 14, the program attracted more than 300 grandparents and grandchildren. 

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine major was filled to capacity with a total of 20 participants – ten grandparents and ten grandchildren – who took part in a variety of hands-on sessions covering the knowledge and skills of veterinarians and veterinary nurses. Topics covered on the first day included animal anatomy, conducting a physical exam on a small animal patient, auscultation of heart sounds, emergency and critical care, operating room procedures, working with microscopes, and interpreting radiographs. Staff and faculty gave the Grandparents University “students” the chance to learn first-hand about doing CPR on an animal model, suturing and various surgical instruments, using microscopes to view specimens, and listening to the heart with a stethoscope. 

During the second day of the program, the students’ attention turned to large animal medicine, with a particular focus on working with cattle. Participants were introduced to various aspects of this field, including performing thorough physical exams on cows and studying their unique gastrointestinal physiology. An intriguing hands-on experience involved reaching into a fistulated cow to examine microbes under a microscope. Additionally, the students gained valuable insights into working with total mixed rations, enhancing their understanding of cattle nutrition and management.

About a dozen staff and faculty served as instructors for the Advancing Animal Health major. Special thanks to everyone who helped. “It was a fantastic way to create lasting memories and inspire young minds,” said Dr. Chad Brown, director of Purdue Veterinary Nursing Programs, who oversaw PVM’s participation in this year’s Grandparents University. Veterinary Nursing Instructional Technologist Beth Laffoon, BS, RVT, added, “We had so much fun participating in GPU. What a cool event!”

Purdue for Life hosts Grandparents University annually for alumni and their grandchildren, ages 11-14. Participants were able to choose from 13 different majors taught by Purdue faculty and staff. This year’s program sold out in less than a day, and Purdue for Life plans to offer two programs next summer.

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

Former PVM Resident Named AVMA Journal Award Winner

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The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) announced the 2023 AVMA Journal award winners at the association’s annual convention, which concluded earlier this week in Denver, Colorado. Among the winners is Dr. Marejka Shaevitz, former oncology resident in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, who is the 2023 Outstanding JAVMA Resident.

Established in 2022, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) Awards and American Journal of Veterinary Research (AJVR) Awards recognize student, intern, and resident authors of manuscripts whose work was judged as exceptional by the Associate Editor Board’s Awards Committee based on potential impact and clinical relevance. The winners received a certificate of achievement as well as a cash prize.

Dr. Shaevitz was recognized for her manuscript entitled, “A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded clinical trial comparing the incidence and severity of gastrointestinal adverse events in dogs with cancer treated with piroxicam alone or in combination with omeprazole or famotidine” co-authored with Dr. Christopher Fulkerson, section head of the Medical Oncology Service and clinical associate professor of veterinary medical oncology, and Dr. George Moore, professor of epidemiology.

Dr. Shaevitz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences at Stanford University followed by a Master of Science degree in clinical psychology from the University of Utah. She then earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Oregon State University. Dr. Shaevitz went on to complete a small animal medicine and surgery internship at the University of Illinois before coming to Purdue where she completed a three-year residency program in medical oncology in 2020. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology), Dr. Shaevitz is currently a veterinary medical oncologist with MedVet in Columbus, Ohio.

Click here for a full list of JAVMA and AJVR authors recognized for exceptional work.

Congratulations, Dr. Shaevitz!

Writer(s): Allison Gardner | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Purdue Veterinary Alumnus Receives 2023 AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award

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The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) honored a graduate of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Jim Riviere, of Raleigh, North Carolina, as the recipient of the 2023 AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Riviere is a distinguished professor emeritus at Kansas State University and North Carolina State University. He earned both his DVM and PhD degrees at Purdue in 1980. 

Established in 2005, the AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award recognizes a veterinary researcher for lifetime achievement in basic, applied, or clinical research. Winners are selected on the basis of the total impact their career has had on the veterinary or biomedical professions. The award was announced at the 2023 AVMA Annual Convention.

“Over the course of his esteemed career, Dr. Riviere has helped to vastly improve animal health and food safety through his pioneering research,” said Dr. Lori Teller, president of the AVMA. “This award is a heartfelt recognition of his invaluable contributions to veterinary science and public health.”

Among Dr. Riviere’s lasting legacies is the creation of the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) in 1982. Dr. Riviere, along with other founding members, formed FARAD to assist veterinarians involved in food animal practice, and to protect public health. Under Dr. Riviere’s leadership, FARAD has had a strong influence on the discipline of veterinary pharmacokinetics, and countless scientists across the country have been trained by FARAD scientists. This effort has produced several valuable publications and books that have advanced animal and public health, and Dr. Riviere’s research with FARAD is recognized by the FDA, USDA, and regulatory agencies throughout the world.

“I am so thankful to the AVMA both for this recognition and the unwavering support they have given FARAD over the years,” said Dr. Riviere in a recorded acceptance speech.

Dr. Riviere’s major pioneering contributions to FARAD were the development of novel pharmacokinetic methods and tools to calculate withdrawal intervals of drugs and environmental chemicals in food animals. These are now the major methods that FARAD responders are using to provide withdrawal interval recommendations for thousands of requests that FARAD receives every year, which directly impacts millions of food animals on an annual basis. Dr. Riviere’s original research contributions have significantly impacted food safety assessment and regulation of pharmaceuticals in human food safety for four decades, and will continue to have a lasting impact in this area.

In addition to Dr. Riviere’s FARAD contributions, he has established himself as one of the pioneers in veterinary pharmacokinetics, nanotoxicology, and topical drug delivery. He has written two books on veterinary pharmacokinetics, and is one of the editors of the last two editions of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, which is a primary veterinary pharmacology resource used internationally. From 1989-1992, and again from 1999-2018, Dr. Riviere served as editor of the Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (JVPT), where his leadership and expertise greatly influenced the reputation that the journal enjoys today.

Although Dr. Riviere retired from teaching in 2017, he remains active as a science advisor to FARAD and the 1Data Consortium, a partnership developed to share human and animal health research data. He has left a legacy of excellence in research, graduate training, and mentorship that is still evident today. His graduate students are active in industry, regulatory, and academic positions throughout the world.

For his many contributions to the field, Dr. Riviere previously has been recognized through a number of awards and honors, including election to the National Academy of Medicine, and receiving the O. Max Gardner Award from the University of North Carolina system, a Lifetime Achievement Award from both the European Association of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology and the American Association of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Purdue University. He also is an honorary diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology.

Click here to view Dr. Riviere’s acceptance video.

To learn more about the AVMA Lifetime Excellence in Research Award and past recipients, visit avma.org/awards.

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

Alumni Celebrate at Purdue Reception During AVMA Annual Convention in Denver

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni reconnected at the Purdue Alumni and Friends Reception, which was held July 14 during the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in Denver. More than 60 guests attended, taking advantage of the opportunity to visit with colleagues and PVM faculty and staff. Dean Willie Reed greeted the attendees, and gave celebratory remarks on the accomplishments of the college during his tenure as dean.

The dean began his remarks by recognizing Dr. Jim Weisman (PU DVM ’97) for his election to the AVMA Board of Directors. Dr. Weisman was officially installed as a new board member at the Annual AVMA Convention. Speaking to the reception audience, Dean Reed said, “This year in particular, you, as a Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni, can take great pride in the way that your alma mater is so well represented at national veterinary organizations and conventions, like the AVMA and the AVMA Annual Convention.”

At the dean’s invitation and beaming with pride, Dr. Weisman stepped up to the podium and expressed appreciation for how Purdue and the college launched his career. “Today, being installed as an elected member of the board is deeply meaningful and represents my next “small step” to another Giant Leap!” Dr. Weisman shared.

Dr. Weisman then continued with a sense of pride as he announced that Dean Reed had been presented with the first annual AVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award earlier that morning. The award recognizes an AVMA member veterinarian who has made significant contributions to the veterinary profession through innovative and transformative leadership in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Returning to the lectern, Dean Reed continued his remarks by recognizing the recipient of another significant AVMA award presented at the convention. Dr. Candace Croney, professor of animal behavior and well-being in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology and director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science, was presented earlier in the day with the 2023 AVMA Humane Award. This award recognizes a non-veterinarian for achievements in advancing the welfare of animals through leadership, public service, education, research, product development, and/or advocacy.

After celebrating these faculty members, the dean continued his remarks with a sense of nostalgia as he highlighted significant developments in the college during his tenure as dean. Among those accomplishments, Dean Reed noted the successful implementation of three strategic plans that shaped the continued development of the college. He also highlighted the completion of new facilities, most notably the $108 million David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex that expanded the existing Small Animal Hospital and created new Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals on the West Lafayette campus. He also recalled the successful completion of a capital campaign that led to the construction and 2017 opening of the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital in Shelbyville, near Indiana’s two race tracks.

The dean also recounted Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory successes. He highlighted expanded capabilities of the lab that enabled it to play a vital role in responding to the university’s need for COVID-19 testing by running tens of thousands of tests on human samples during the pandemic. Likewise, he noted the important role the ADDL played in protecting animal and public health during significant animal disease outbreaks, like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. And he praised the significant increase in funding for the ADDL that was approved during the state’s recent biennial budget session that resulted in a 35% increase in the ADDL’s annual appropriation – the first such increase in many years.

Dean Reed also recalled the successful establishment of the college’s Offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Engagement, and Global Engagement. He celebrated the impact of the programs launched by these offices to diversify the veterinary profession by expanding awareness of veterinary career opportunities and attracting a broader range of qualified applicants to the college’s educational programs, while also making progress toward the college’s goal of providing international learning experiences for all students in the DVM and Veterinary Nursing programs. To date, 70% of graduating students have completed at least one study abroad experience.

To conclude his remarks, Dean Reed emphasized the fundraising successes of the college, including attracting funding for research from a variety of sources. Last year alone, faculty obtained $12.4 million in research funding, of which 58% was secured from the NIH. Additional fundraising achievements included capital projects and growth of scholarship funding. “Since 2007, we’ve raised just shy of $167 million, nearly half of which was committed in the last three years,” Dean Reed said. He also highlighted the naming of centers in oncology and equine research.

Following the dean’s remarks, alumni and friends joined together in shouting out a hearty “Boiler up!” before enjoying a relaxed time of continued mingling and sharing with colleagues, classmates, and faculty and staff.

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

Purdue Veterinary Dean Receives Inaugural AVMA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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Dr. Willie M. Reed, dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s inaugural Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award for his distinguished leadership in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the veterinary profession.

Dean Reed’s selection was made by the AVMA Board of Directors and the award was presented Friday, July 14 at the organization’s annual convention in Denver, Colorado.

The award’s namesake and Dean Reed both are notable figures in the field of veterinary medicine who share similarities. They are Black veterinarians who hail from the South and have lived out a commitment to fostering opportunities for underrepresented groups within the veterinary profession. Both Drs. Patterson and Reed also had a connection with Tuskegee University during their formative years, albeit through different avenues. 

In 1945, Dr. Patterson helped establish what is now known as the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, as the university’s president at the time. Dr. Reed earned his veterinary degree at Tuskegee 33 years later and embarked on a career that led to the veterinary deanship at Purdue, where he has promoted an inclusive culture and created opportunities for underrepresented individuals not only at the veterinary college, but also in the profession as a whole.

“Much like Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson, your steadfast commitment has allowed you to bring about meaningful change and establish a strong foundation for DEI at Purdue University and in the profession,” Dr. Janet Donlin, the AVMA’s Executive Vice President and CEO, wrote to Dean Reed when she informed him of his selection as the inaugural award recipient. “Your innovative mindset and visionary leadership have propelled veterinary medicine forward in the realm of DEI.”

When the AVMA announced the establishment of the new honor and invited nominations last April, AVMA President Dr. Lori Teller noted, “We want to recognize member veterinarians who have made significant contributions to the veterinary profession through advancing DEI. There is no better way to do this than by bestowing an annual award named after Dr. Patterson, who was such a visionary leader.”

Dean Reed grew up in a rural part of southern Alabama and experienced first-hand the transition from segregation to the post-integration era in the 1960s and 1970s. He received his bachelor’s degree in animal and poultry science with high honors from Tuskegee University, a historically Black college and university (HBCU) formerly known as Tuskegee Institute, and went on to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Tuskegee in 1978.

Dean Reed made his first trip to Purdue to pursue a PhD in veterinary pathology, which he earned in 1982. He stayed, teaching veterinary pathology as an associate professor and then becoming assistant director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. In 1990, he left to accept a position at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine where he became a full professor of veterinary pathology and director of the Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health (DCPAH), which is now called the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. In 1997, he also was appointed as chairperson of the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation at MSU.

In 2007, he returned to Purdue as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Among Dean Reed’s many achievements at Purdue, he modernized teaching, clinical, and research facilities; expanded the class size by 20 percent; and significantly increased the diversity of the student body, while recruiting outstanding faculty in a wide range of disciplines from around the globe.

In the 2006-07 school year, underrepresented minority (URM) students accounted for 5.4% enrollment across all four years of Purdue’s veterinary program. Today, because of intentional recruitment and retention efforts, Purdue has 29.2% URM enrollment across all four years, and 205 URM veterinary students have graduated from 2008-23.

Those efforts, developed under Dean Reed’s leadership, include:

• Being awarded $136,000 in 2008 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to create the Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP) to support recruitment and retention of URM veterinary students.
• Receiving a five-year, $3.18 million award in 2018 from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration to support the Vet Up! National Health Careers Opportunity Program Academy for Veterinary Medicine. The program’s goal is to fill veterinary shortage areas with individuals from underrepresented populations and rural areas.
• Leading a collaborative effort resulting in the publication of the first book on diversity and inclusion in veterinary medicine, “Navigating Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine,” in 2013.
• Establishing a partnership in 2014 among Purdue, the AVMA, and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) to establish the first Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, which offers online certificate programs in diversity and inclusion for veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses, educators, and veterinary students.
• Growing Purdue’s Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to engage under-resourced children in veterinary medicine. Purdue leads teams of veterinary role models in the League of VetaHumanz program across the country who partner with community organizations and schools to support under-resourced elementary school children through mentoring and delivering veterinary lessons.

Throughout Dean Reed’s tenure as dean, the college has developed and been guided by a series of strategic plans. Drs. Sandra San Miguel, associate dean for engagement, and S. Kathleen Salisbury, associate dean for academic affairs at the college, both nominated Dean Reed. They wrote: “Strategic plans don’t get dusty at Purdue. We are currently on our third strategic plan, led by Dr. Reed, each affirming the college’s values, culture, and commitment to promote a collegial, diverse and supportive work and learning environment enhanced by diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, career goals, socioeconomic background, educational background, and geographic background. The college’s strategic plan is further bolstered by a strategic plan specifically focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

Among his many honors, Dean Reed received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, in 2018, “For his powerful advocacy on behalf of groups underrepresented in veterinary medicine and for his leadership in veterinary medical education and research.”

Under Dean Reed’s leadership, the College of Veterinary Medicine has received the national Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine four times (2017, 2020, 2021, 2022). In 2021, the college was further honored with the Diversity Champion Award – the first time the publication named a veterinary college as a recipient of the award – for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. Diversity Champions are typically institutions known for visionary leadership, that serve as role models and set the standard for thousands of other college campuses striving for inclusive excellence. These institutions are recognized for exemplifying an unyielding commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout their campus communities, across academic programs, and at the highest administrative levels.

The AVMA serves more than 100,000 member veterinarians and is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of animals, humans, and the environment. Founded in 1863 and with members in every U.S. state and territory and more than 60 countries, the AVMA is one of the largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. Informed by its members’ unique scientific training and clinical knowledge, the AVMA supports the crucial work of veterinarians and advocates for policies that advance the practice of veterinary medicine and improve animal and human health.

Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson (1901-1988) received his DVM degree in 1923 from Iowa State University and a PhD in 1931 from Cornell University. He became president of the Tuskegee Institute and oversaw its development into Tuskegee University. While president, Dr. Patterson founded both the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) in 1944.

Click here to see the award story published by the AVMA, which includes a video clip from Dean Reed’s acceptance speech.

Writer(s): American Veterinary Medical Association | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Cardiology Veterinary Nurse Expands Education with Purdue Global Degree

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Chandra Whippen, RVT, a veterinary nurse in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital Cardiology Service and recent Purdue Global graduate, shares how she combined her passion for veterinary medicine with a degree in IT. “I’ve been in my field for seven and a half years, but I’ve found there’s always more out there to learn,” Chandra said.

Click here to read her story on Purdue’s The Persistent Pursuit.

Writer(s): Ava Kuhn, Purdue Marketing and Communications | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Black Graduate Student Association Honors Professor of Animal Behavior and Well-being Candace Croney

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The recipient of the Purdue University Black Graduate Student Association’s 2023 Distinguished Service Award is the director of the Purdue Center for Animal Welfare Science (CAWS) and professor of animal behavior and well-being, Dr. Candace Croney, who holds a joint faculty appointment in the colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture.  Dr. Croney was presented with the award at the end of the spring semester during the Black Graduate Student Association’s (BGSA) annual awards and recognition banquet April 29. The event celebrates the accomplishments of the BGSA membership, distinguished community organizations, and members of the Purdue community.

The Distinguished Service Award honors individuals who have made significant and sustained contributions to Black Higher Education within the state of Indiana. In addition to her faculty role and responsibilities as CAWS director, Dr. Croney also is the Purdue associate vice provost for diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

The Purdue BGSA is a non-profit student organization committed to the unification of its members through the facilitation of programs that strengthen the community of Black graduate and professional students across all disciplines. It serves to enrich the graduate school experience of students interested in Black culture. The BGSA fulfills this goal through programming that offers opportunities for professional and scholarly development, community involvement, and social exchange.

Congratulations Dr. Croney!

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

Advanced Clinical Programs Underway for Hospital Interns

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The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome the Class of 2024 interns as they begin yearlong advanced clinical training programs in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Five veterinarians are beginning small animal medicine and surgery internships and four are focusing on large animal medicine and surgery, while an additional intern is beginning a specialty small animal internal medicine program.

The clinical internship program provides advanced training to qualify each veterinarian for an approved residency program leading to board certification in a recognized specialty. Applicants are matched to a qualified program through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program sponsored by the American Association of Veterinary Clinicians.

The Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, which is the college’s satellite facility in Shelbyville, Indiana, also welcomes two new interns, Drs. Max Arreola and Marta Nieto, who are joining the hospital’s care team.

Additionally, a new Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Resident, Kylie Kelley, PharmD, is joining the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. This year-long residency in veterinary clinical pharmacy practice is a joint position offered by the colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy.

Six interns and one pharmacy resident were onsite Thursday, June 15 to kick-off a two-week intensive orientation program, which concluded with participants reporting to their assigned rotations.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to the newest members of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine team.

Equine Specialty Interns | Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital

Dr. Max Arreola – DVM, Universidad de Guadelajara, Mexico, 2018

After earning a DVM degree, Dr. Arreola worked as a junior veterinarian at the Centro Equino Los Alamitos in Mexico. Dr. Arreola most recently completed a field/ambulatory medicine internship at Dubai Equine Hospital in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Marta Nieto – DVM, University Complutense of Veterinary Medicine, Spain, 2020

Dr. Nieto comes to Purdue from Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos, California where she completed a rotating equine specialty internship. Dr. Nieto also previously completed a rotating equine internship at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom and a large animal rotating internship at the University of Guelph in Canada.

Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Interns | Purdue University Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Kaitlin Fletcher – Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom, 2021

Dr. Fletcher comes to Purdue from Pennsylvania where she has served as attending veterinarian for Pennsylvania Harness Racing. Before that, Dr. Fletcher worked as a veterinary surgeon for Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky.

Dr. Larissa Florêncio – DVM, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil, 2018

Dr. Florêncio has been a large animal enthusiast since she was four years old. Her grandfather was a dairy farmer and taught her at a very young age how to work with horses and dairy cows. Her areas of interest include neonatology, critical care, and molecular diagnostics.

Dr. Lydia Hoover – Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom, 2022

Dr. Hoover grew up in Pennsylvania and started riding horses when she was three years old. A member of her local chapter of the United States Pony Club, Dr. Hoover earned a C1 rating before moving on to pursue her undergrad studies. After completing her internship, she hopes to obtain a surgical residency and ultimately specialize in equine orthopedics.

Dr. Linda Mollenhauer – Dr. med. vet., Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, 2021

Dr. Mollenhauer is joining the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital staff after working at the Caesars Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital in Shelbyville, where she has spent the past year completing an equine specialty internship program. Dr. Mollenhauer has a special interest in equine surgery.

Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialty Intern | Purdue University Veterinary Hospital

Dr. Catherine Fiset – DVM, Atlantic Veterinary College, 2022

Dr. Fiset is originally from New Brunswick, Canada (Maine’s next-door neighbor) and earned a BSc in biology at Mount Allison University. Prior to coming to Purdue, Dr. Fiset completed a small animal rotating internship at the VCA Calgary Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE) Center in Alberta, Canada.

Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Interns | Purdue University Veterinary Hospital

Dr. David Barry – DVM, Louisiana State University, 2023

A lifelong resident of Louisiana, Dr. Barry’s career interests include oncology, pharmacology, and feline medicine. Dr. Barry has two perfect cats and three carpet pythons.

Dr. Johna Radke – DVM, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2023

Dr. Radke has a strong interest in soft tissue and orthopedic surgery and also enjoys neurology, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. One of Dr. Radke’s favorite aspects of veterinary medicine is the amazing bonds she is able to create with not only patients, but also their owners. She also has two fur babies – a Golden Retriever named Luna Lovegood and a cat named Ketone.

Dr. Eric Spilker – DVM, Michigan State University, 2023

Dr. Spilker’s current areas of interest include internal medicine with specific interests in medical oncology, cardiology, and neurology.  He also enjoys emergency medicine and soft tissue surgery. In his free time, he likes exploring new areas, learning new perspectives and meeting new people, cooking, solving puzzles, and picking up the occasional shift as a paramedic.

Dr. Polina Zinchenko – DVM, University of Georgia, 2023

Dr. Zinchenko comes to Purdue from Georgia, where she grew up and completed her undergraduate studies and veterinary school. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her two dogs, paddle boarding, traveling, and relaxing with her two cats.

Dr. Gabriella Zayas – DVM, North Carolina State University, 2023

Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Zayas plans to continue on to do a residency program following her internship, focusing on internal medicine or behavior medicine. Her goal is to one day teach at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Wasson Veterinary Pharmacy Resident | Purdue University Veterinary Hospital

Kylie Kelley, PharmD – PharmD, Butler University, 2023

As Kylie Kelley, PharmD enters the next phase in her career, she hopes to spread awareness and advocate for veterinary medicine to be taught in pharmacy schools. Kylie and her husband have two German Shepherd babies and enjoy spending time outdoors in their free time.

Writer(s): Allison Gardner | pvmnews@purdue.edu