Treating Diseases by Eliminating Protein Aggregation in the Brain, Pancreas is Focus of Purdue Study

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Purdue researchers led by Basic Medical Sciences Department Faculty Member Jessica Fortin have created molecular compounds to inhibit protein aggregation linked with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes

Researchers at Purdue University have taken the first steps to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes by creating multiple patent-pending compounds shown to inhibit protein aggregation associated with those diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 95% of the approximately 38 million Americans with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes and as many as 5.8 million Americans were living with Alzheimer’s in 2020. The Parkinson’s Foundation reports nearly 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s.

Dr. Jessica Sonia Fortin is an assistant professor of basic medical sciences, physiology, and pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and a member of the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery. She leads a team working on the preparation of new small-molecule compounds and their validation through in vitro studies to inhibit the aggregation of several proteins.

Dr. Fortin has received funding from the EveryCat Health Foundation; the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; and the National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health, to conduct the research.

The role of protein aggregation in disease 

Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are the two most common neurological diseases. Symptoms include cognitive decline, movement disorders, and premature death. Type 2 diabetes is an endocrinal disease that can lead to circulatory, nervous and immune system disorders. The development of these diseases has a common trait: the aggregation of proteins, including certain hormones.

“In Type 2 diabetes, about 70% of cases involve a hormone called islet amyloid polypeptide, or IAPP, that accumulates in the pancreas,” Dr. Fortin said. “Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are associated with clumps accumulating in specific regions of the brain caused by proteins called tau and alpha-synuclein, respectively. Some forms of dementia are characterized by the presence of both tau and alpha-synuclein aggregated in the brain. There is also an interconnection between Type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have found more than one aggregated protein in the pancreas and brain, indicative of the so-called ‘cross-seeding’ effects of these misshapen proteins.”

Dr. Fortin said current methods to treat these diseases focus on alleviating symptoms. But she and her colleagues are targeting IAPP, tau and alpha-synuclein to treat the underlying causes. She said a multi-targeting approach would be the best option for these chronic diseases.

“We aim to offer small-molecule therapeutics that not only prevent aggregation, but also disaggregate already-existing clumps,” Dr. Fortin said. “The body can then eliminate these byproducts and the dual action of these compounds can impede the redistribution of the clumps alongside blood vessels; the risk of such redistribution is intracranial hemorrhage in the brain.”

Creating treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

Dr. Fortin and her colleagues have synthesized a library of small-molecule compounds with similar chemical structures for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They measured the compounds’ activity to inhibit protein aggregation at the micromolar level, or one-millionth of a mole per liter.

“Two compounds significantly inhibited the formation of oligomers, which are polymers that have relatively few repeating units,” Dr. Fortin said. “These compounds cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the brain in rodent models, which is a big step forward. They stop the formation of inclusions, which are made by the aggregation of alpha-synuclein, in a cell-based model run by my collaborator, Dr. Ulf Dettmer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. We are seeking funding to understand the precise mechanisms of action of these small-molecule terminators of oligomers.” 

Dr. Fortin said researchers could administer these Purdue-developed compounds along various pathways by combining them with pharmaceutical carriers like lactose, mannitol, and microcrystalline cellulose.

“This strategy shows promise as a next-step treatment therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease,” Dr. Fortin said. “It also exhibits potential adaptability for other, analogous neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or TSEs.”

Creating Type 2 diabetes treatments

Dr. Fortin and her colleagues have discovered three small-molecule compounds that inhibit the formation IAPP, which aggregates in the pancreas of many with Type 2 diabetes.

“These small molecules reduced the aggregation of IAPP at about 25-100 micromolar after one hour. They also inhibit the oligomer formation of IAPP,” Dr. Fortin said. “These molecules work on feline and human form of IAPP and could be developed further for human and feline diabetes. They are nontoxic to mouse and rat cancerous beta cell lines. The mechanisms of their action are still under investigation.” 

The next development steps

Dr. Fortin and her team will continue to develop both lines of treatment at laboratories in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery. “We will conduct additional proof-of-concept studies, focusing on optimizing the effect of the compounds,” Dr. Fortin said. “We also will study the compounds’ pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, or how they move within the body and what effects they have on the body. Preliminary data demonstrated that five representative compounds were present in the brain after injection in mice.”

Dr. Fortin disclosed the compounds to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which has applied for patents through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to protect the intellectual property. Industry partners interested in developing or commercializing the work should contact Joe Kasper, assistant director of business development and licensing — life sciences, at jrkasper@prf.org, about track codes 69967, 69996, 70004 and 70255.

Writer(s): Steve Martin, Purdue Research Foundation | pvmnews@purdue.edu

VMX Conference Provides Opportunity for PVM Grads to Connect in Orlando

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni, friends, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to gather together in Orlando, Florida at the annual Purdue Alumni and Friends Reception hosted by the college during the North American Veterinary Community’s (NAVC) annual VMX Conference. More than 80 people attended the event on Sunday night, January 13, at the Hyatt Regency adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center. 

Alumni enjoyed the opportunity to catch-up with classmates and colleagues and hear an update on college achievements from Dean Willie Reed. The event brought together alumni from across generations, including those from recently graduated classes and others who have celebrated significant class anniversary milestones.

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

“Paws Up” – Brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

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Today’s “Paws Up” honoree is Charlene Evans, Toxicology Laboratory technician in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. A faculty member nominated Charlene saying, “Charlene has a cheery and positive attitude that brightens each and every day!”

Fostering a healthy work environment involves expressing appreciation and gratitude. Is there someone at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine you would like to acknowledge today? It’s easy to make a “Paws Up” submission – just follow this link. 

Submissions are published anonymously and may be edited for length. Any PVM staff, faculty, student, or team may be nominated by anyone in our college. For more information, visit the PVM Wellness Committee website.

Writer(s): PVM Wellness Committee | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Signature Indiana Pork Event at Indianapolis Provides Visibility for Purdue Veterinary Medicine

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Each year, the Indiana Pork Producers Association, known as Indiana Pork, hosts the Taste of Elegance event in Indianapolis as a way of promoting the pork industry through the creation of tantalizing pork dishes prepared by leading chefs. This year the event on January 17 attracted more than 400 pork farmers, lawmakers, agricultural industry leaders, and dignitaries to the Indiana Roof Ballroom for an evening of elegance and celebration that also provided visibility for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. 

The Taste of Elegance features a competition designed to encourage chefs to use pork more frequently in creative, non-traditional ways. Indianapolis chef Craig Baker took home the top award at this year’s event. His entry featured pork prepared in two ways. The dish was a Moo Ping Iberico Pork Secreto with soy forbidden rice, a charred baby beet salad, sticky pork belly, smoked rice krispies, and Thai red curry espuma. As the Taste of Elegance winner, Baker was presented with a check for $1,000 from Indiana Pork.

“Chef Baker is no stranger to food competitions,” said Jeanette Merritt, director of communications of Indiana Pork. “The chef has a great understanding of how to make pork taste delicious and design a plate that is appealing to the judges. His dish was an outstanding example of well-prepared pork!” The event also provided the opportunity for people connected to Indiana agriculture to gather, spend two hours gliding around the ballroom to sample and vote on the finalists’ dishes, and recognize all of the evening’s award winners.

The Purdue University Farm Animal Hospital and the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) both showed their support for the Indiana pork industry as Silver Sponsors for the event. The hospital and ADDL were well represented at the Taste of Elegance by faculty and staff who were in attendance, including Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, ADDL director; Dr. Craig Bowen, ADDL assistant director; Dr. Mario Sola, assistant professor of diagnostic pathology and head of the ADDL’s Histopathology and Necropsy Section; Dr. Rebecca Wilkes, associate professor of molecular diagnostics and head of the Molecular and Virology Section; Dr. Viju Vijayan Pillai, assistant professor of anatomic pathology; Dr. Darryl Ragland, professor of food animal production medicine and head of the Veterinary Hospital’s Production Medicine Section; Dr. Laura May, visiting assistant professor of farm animal internal medicine; Joey Woodyard, director of hospital operations; and Kelly Dold, marketing and communications manager for the hospital and ADDL.

The PVM representatives spent time promoting the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital and in particular, the Farm Animal Hospital, as well as sharing about the ADDL’s efforts to increase Indiana’s readiness to respond to African Swine Fever, should it be encountered on U.S. soil. Woodyard commented, “This event was a great opportunity for PVM to connect with members of the pork industry and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to their interests, and obviously it is a great opportunity to taste some fantastic uses of bacon and other pork products. The event was, in a word, elegant!”

The pork industry is a vital part of the Indiana economy. The state ranks fifth in the U.S. for pork production, contributing $394 million in pork exports – one of the top five commodity exports for the state (USDA Economic Research Service, 2022). Moreover, Indiana pork producers annually meet the pork needs of every person in Indiana, plus 15 million more people in the U.S., and 5 million more people around the world. Collectively, animal agriculture contributes more than $4 billion each year to Indiana’s economy.

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

PVM Alumnus and Emeritus Faculty Member Elected to Leadership of the AABP

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Congratulations are in order for Dr. Mark Hilton (PU DVM ’83), clinical professor emeritus of veterinary clinical sciences, who recently was elected as the next vice president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP). Dr. Hilton will be seated as the 2024 Vice President later this year at the conclusion of the Annual Business Lunch at the AABP Conference in Columbus, Ohio September 14. He will serve on the Executive Committee for four years and ascend through each office of the committee. The AABP Vice President is the only office elected by the entire AABP membership. 

Dr. Hilton was born and raised on a swine and beef farm in central Indiana and earned both his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and his DVM degree at Purdue University in 1980 and 1983, respectively. He then joined the DeWitt Veterinary Clinic in Iowa where he spent 15 years as a partner in the predominantly food animal practice. He then returned to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and taught beef production medicine for 18 years with a record of effectiveness that reflected his commitment to educating students during food animal ambulatory calls. Dr. Hilton was designated as a professor emeritus when he retired in 2016, at which time he joined the animal health industry as a technical consultant for Elanco Animal Health, assisting beef cattle veterinarians with production medicine support. 

A diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in the beef cattle specialty, Dr. Hilton has actively served the veterinary medical profession in a variety of roles. In addition to his involvement in the AABP, Dr. Hilton is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, and the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.  He also is a past president of the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC). Dr. Hilton has received numerous awards and honors, including Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2023, SAVMA’s national teaching award in 2000, WVC’s Continuing Educator of the Year Award in 2009, and the Merial and AABP Excellence in Preventive Medicine Award for Beef in 2012. In addition, he was named by Bovine Veterinarian as one of the 20 Most Influential Bovine Veterinarians in North America in 2013, and in 2021 he received the Mentor of the Year Award, presented jointly by the AABP and Merck Animal Health.

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

Purdue University to Host Second Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance

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Combatting the threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) will be the focus of a two-day conference next month on Purdue University’s West Lafayette, Indiana campus. Organized by faculty and staff in the College of Veterinary Medicine with additional support from the Colleges of Agriculture, Pharmacy, Engineering, and Science, the event February 27-28 will feature speakers from multiple disciplines.

Regarded as a significant public health threat globally, AMR involves multi-drug resistant infections that are predicted to only worsen over time (United Nations Foundation, 2021). In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 2.8 million cases of antibiotic-resistant infections occur annually in the U.S., resulting in 35,000 deaths (CDC, 2019). Increased incidence of hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens has been attributed to the use, overuse, and misuse of antibiotics (FAO, 2016). However, AMR is a complex problem at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health (“One Health”) that can only be addressed through a multidisciplinary approach.

The Purdue AMR Conference will feature three sessions, each covering an AMR-related area: Determinants, Dynamics, and Deterrence. Each session will feature a keynote speaker followed by three additional speakers who will highlight their work in AMR.

The conference will begin with Noelle Noyes, DVM, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine at the University of Minnesota, who will serve as the keynote speaker on Determinants. Dr. Noyes is a veterinary epidemiologist with diverse research interests including antibiotic resistance, microbial ecology, livestock production microbiomes, metagenomics, antibiotic use in veterinary medicine, bioinformatics, and statistics.

The next topic on the agenda is Dynamics, which will feature a keynote presentation by Paul Plummer, DVM, PhD, associate professor of veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine at Iowa State University. Dr. Plummer’s clinical specialty is internal medicine and infectious disease of ruminants. He is the principal investigator leading an independent extramurally funded research laboratory with a significant focus on zoonotic pathogens of livestock; antimicrobial resistance, stewardship, and use; and livestock welfare. Dr. Plummer also serves as the executive director of the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education (NIAMRRE), housed at the Iowa State University Research Park.

The conference will conclude with the session on Deterrence. Elizabeth Dodds Ashley, PharmD, MHS, FCCP, FSIDP, BCIDP will serve as the keynote speaker. Dr. Dodds Ashley is an associate professor of medicine with the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health at Duke University. She serves as the director of operations and liaison pharmacist for the Duke Antimicrobial Stewardship Outreach Network (DASON). She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Bouvé College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She subsequently completed her pharmacy practice residency through the Duke University Health System and a specialty residency in adult internal medicine and infectious disease with the Duke University Health System and Campbell University before joining the Department of Medicine at the Duke University Medical Center. In 2006, she completed her master’s in health science in clinical research at the Duke University School of Medicine. 

Antimicrobial stewardship has been the focus of Dr. Dodds Ashley’s clinical and research activities for nearly 20 years. Her experience includes managing antimicrobial stewardship programs at large academic medical centers as well as collaborating and guiding programs for small community hospitals and healthcare systems.

Click here to learn more about the conference.  Click here to register. Options are available to attend in-person or virtually.

The conference also will include a poster session on research in antimicrobial resistance. There will be two divisions – one for undergraduate students and one for graduate/professional students. Each division will award prizes for first place ($300) and second place ($150).  Click here for a Google doc to learn more and sign-up.  

The inaugural Purdue Antimicrobial Resistance Conference was held April 6-7, 2023 and attracted more than 100 attendees representing eleven states and seven countries.

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

Midwest Pork Conference Provides Visibility for ADDL and Farm Animal Hospital

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When Indiana pork producers gathered in Lebanon, Indiana for the 2023 Midwest Pork Conference last month, they had the opportunity to interact with representatives of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Held at the Boone County Fairgrounds, the one day conference on Tuesday, December 5, included an annual economic update, educational sessions on issues important to pork producers, a swine specific trade show, and industry networking opportunities.

The Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Purdue University Farm Animal Hospital were showcased at a booth that was part of the conference trade show, which featured more than 50 vendors and was a hub of activity involving pork producers, veterinarians, legislators, and industry leaders. ADDL Director Kenitra Hendrix and Assistant Director Craig Bowen helped staff the PVM booth. Dr. Bowen also provided an ADDL update at a related session with Indiana swine veterinarians. “The Midwest Pork Conference always provides a great opportunity for the ADDL to connect with the swine veterinarians and pork producers of Indiana,” Dr. Bowen said. 

Conference sessions covered a variety of topics and included a keynote panel of pork producers and industry members sharing experiences and strategies related to challenging dynamics in the pork industry. Other sessions covered topics that included labor shortages, pork demand domestically and internationally, and mandatory traceability.

The annual Midwest Pork Conference is hosted by the Indiana Pork Producers Association, known as Indiana Pork, which represents and supports the 3,000 pork producers in the state. Indiana Pork is an affiliate of the National Pork Board and National Pork Producers Council and is supported by a board of directors made up of industry members and producers.

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

December Graduation Celebration Honors Veterinary Nursing Graduates

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Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed welcomed the college’s newest Veterinary Nursing Program graduates and their families to the Winter 2023 Veterinary Nursing Graduation Celebration in Lynn 1136 Sunday, December 17. The ceremony followed the university commencement exercises in the Elliott Hall of Music and featured the traditional recitation of the Indiana Veterinary Technician Oath of Ethical Conduct. 

“In particular, this program gives us the opportunity to continue a long-standing and beloved tradition of our college as we conduct our Oath Ceremony,” Dean Reed said. “Graduates, as you embark on your careers in the veterinary medical profession, you join an alumni network that reflects the ‘veterinary team.’ Numbering more than 5,000, our college’s alumni population includes veterinarians, veterinary nurses, also referred to as veterinary technicians and technologists, as well as recipients of graduate degrees.”

Dean Reed then asked the graduates to come forward as their names were called by Dr. Chad Brown, Purdue Veterinary Nursing Programs director, to receive the Purdue University Veterinary Nursing pin, which was presented to them by Instructional Technologist Holly McCalip, BS, RVT. Dr. Brown began by introducing seven graduates who earned their Associate in Applied Science degree, and then gave special recognition for graduate Abby Sheeks who earned her Bachelor of Science degree in veterinary nursing.

“Graduates, your charge is to set the visible standard for what a Purdue University veterinary nurse is and does,” Dr. Brown said. “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.”

After pausing for a class photo, the graduates remained at the front of the lecture hall to recite the Indiana Veterinary Technician Oath of Ethical Conduct, symbolizing their acceptance into the veterinary nursing profession. “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,” Dr. Brown said. Then, the assistant director of the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program, Josh Clark, MS, RVT, led the graduates along with all veterinary nurses in the audience in reciting the oath.

The program concluded with a round of applause for the graduates before everyone reconvened in the nearby Veterinary Medical Library for a reception. Congratulations to all the December Veterinary Nursing graduates!

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

Service Anniversaries and Special Achievements Honored at Year-end PVM Ceremony

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The final work week of 2023 for Purdue University was marked in the College of Veterinary Medicine by a ceremony honoring staff members who achieved significant service anniversaries or completed the online Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine, as well as those receiving Bravo Awards.

Dean Willie Reed began the ceremony, which was held December 15 in Lynn 1136, by thanking everyone for coming. “I am thankful that we are able to come together this afternoon and continue this important and meaningful tradition in our college,” Dean Reed said before recognizing the loyalty of staff members by introducing those celebrating significant anniversary milestones. Staff members were honored for every five years of service to the university, from 10 years all the way up to 30 years. As their names were called, the honorees stepped forward to receive a recognition gift. After all members within a grouping were introduced and given their mementos, they paused for a group picture.

Though not all of the honorees were able to attend, all of the names were announced at the ceremony.  Congratulations to all of the following staff members who were recognized for their service anniversaries:

10 Years of service to the university:

• Cresta Cates, Phase 1 regional campus administrator, IU School of Medicine
• Dr. Kathleen Ivester, equine research scientist, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Michelle Kelley, RVT, lead veterinary technologist in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services, Purdue University Veterinary Hospital
• Tressa Bowman, administrative assistant, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

15 years of service to the university:

• Mindy Cotton, RVT, lead veterinary technician for Behavior Medicine, Veterinary Hospital
• Molly Cripe Birt, RVT, VTS (EVN) senior veterinary technologist for Large Animal Surgery, Veterinary Hospital
• Christy DeYoung, RVT, VTS-DI, lead veterinary technologist for Diagnostic Imaging, Veterinary Hospital
• Wright Frazier, director of web communications, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Jeannine Henry, RVT, instructional technologist, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Trinna Pierce, PharmD, interim pharmacy director, Veterinary Hospital   
• Liane Shaw, MS, RVT, diagnostic imaging instructional technologist, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Lori Stout, director of admissions and recruitment, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Carol Zink, clinical curriculum coordinator and skills instructor, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Jennifer Danaher, administrative assistant, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

20 years of service to the university:

• Julie Commons, RVT, VTS (SAIM), veterinary technologist for Small Animal Nephrology and Urology, Veterinary Hospital
• Dr. Deepika Dhawan, oncology research scientist, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Amy Huffman, RVT, anesthesiology instructional technologist, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Dr. Tomo Inoue, anesthesiology lecturer, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Donna Tudor, MS, RT (R) (MR) (MRSO), diagnostic imaging technologist supervisor, Veterinary Hospital
• Louann Albregts, Virology and Serology Laboratory technician, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory

25 Years of service to the university:

• Pam Kirby, RVT, VTS (Ophthalmology), lead veterinary technician for Ophthalmology, Veterinary Hospital
• Julie Lucies, small animal caretaker, Veterinary Hospital
• Sheila Stingle, account assistant, Department of Veterinary Administration

30 years of service to the university:

• Jeffrey Synesael, senior animal care technician, Veterinary Hospital
• Lorraine Fox, business assistant for the PVM Purchasing Center

The next group of honorees consisted of those who completed the online Certificate for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. The certificate program was developed in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges through the college’s Center of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion in Veterinary Medicine. Congratulations to the following individuals who earned their certificate of completion:

• Dr. Kiersten Forsyth, cardiology resident, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Stephanie Iserman, academic advisor for the Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Andrea Kellogg, senior administrative assistant for the Office of Lifelong Learning, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Tom Mauch, director of Lifelong Learning, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Joy Nix, administrative assistant, Department of Basic Medical Sciences
• Jamie Richards, director of Student Services, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Bill Smothers, senior operations clerk, Department of Veterinary Administration
• Cody Wagers, senior veterinary assistant for Emergency and Critical Care, Veterinary Hospital
• Aaron Walz, department head and senior director of Information Technology

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of Bravo Awards, which are given to employees who are recognized in any of four categories: Moving the University Forward, Innovation and Creativity, Operational Excellence, and Fiscal Stewardship. Congratulations to the following Bravo Award recipients:

• Amy Balser, large animal clinical services coordinator, Veterinary Hospital | recognized for Innovation and Creativity and Operational Excellence
• Angie Chan, Molecular Laboratory supervisor, Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory | recognized for Moving the University Forward and Operational Excellence
• Rachel Kelly, academic advisor, Department of Veterinary Administration | recognized for Operational Excellence
• Laura Marsh, receptionist in the Emergency and Critical Care Service, Veterinary Hospital | recognized for Operational Excellence
• Brittney McDonald, RVT, veterinary technician for Diagnostic Imaging, Veterinary Hospital | recognized for Moving the University Forward
• Shelly Opperman, Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning academic advisor, Department of Veterinary Administration | recognized for Operational Excellence
• Michelle Schmierer, technologist in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, Veterinary Hospital | recognized for Operational Excellence
• Amy Smeltzer, accessioning supervisor, Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory | recognized for Operational Excellence
• Meggan Stanton, Bacteriology Laboratory technician, Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory | recognized for Operational Excellence

Dean Reed also presented a team Bravo Award for Operational Excellence to the hospital’s Emergency and Critical Care team, which included:

• Ashley DiPrete, RVT, VTS (SAIM), veterinary technician in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services
• Courtney Dolwick, RVT, veterinary technician in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services
• Chesala Durnal, RVT, veterinary technician in Emergency and Critical Care
• Sara Dyson, veterinary assistant in Intermediate Care
• Kylie Helming, veterinary assistant in Intermediate Care
• Rachel Lewis-James, RVT, veterinary technologist in Emergency and Critical Care
• Michelle Kelley, RVT, veterinary technologist in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services
• Tami Lind, RVT, VTS (ECC), emergency and critical care veterinary technologist supervisor
• Mackenzie Lynas, RVT, veterinary technician in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services
• Luca Maney, RVT, veterinary technician in the Intensive Care and Emergency and Critical Care Services
• Elizabeth Mariscal, RVT, veterinary technologist in Emergency and Critical Care
• Taryn Schultz, veterinary assistant in the Intensive Care Unit
• Brielle Starr, veterinary assistant in the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency and Critical Care
• Sara Uebler, RVT, veterinary technologist in Emergency and Critical Care

Following the award presentations, the honorees and guests reconvened in the Veterinary Medical Library for a reception.

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

Registration Opens for 2024 Iteration of Popular Purdue Equine Wellness Forum

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Plans are set for the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Equine Wellness Forum, which will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024. Registration is open for the program, which is designed to inform horse owners and equine industry professionals about horse health issues ranging from basic preventative healthcare to the latest medical advancements.

The all-day seminar is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and will begin with a welcome and introductory remarks by the head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff. She will be followed by a series of special speakers addressing a range of topics, including:

• “Sports Psychology for Equestrians” led by Dr. Kelsey Dawson, sports psychologist for the Purdue Athletics Counseling and Sport Psychology Services
• “What’s New with Old Horses” by Dr. Janice Kritchevsky, professor of large animal internal medicine and chief of staff for the Purdue University Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals
• “Senior Horse Nutrition: How to Optimally Nourish Your Old Friend” by Dr. Erin Wilson (PU DVM 2008), equine nutrition consultant for Cargill Animal Nutrition
• “Show Prep and Biosecurity” led by Dr. Camilla Jamieson, clinical assistant professor of large animal emergency and critical care
• “TLAER” (Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue) by Dr. Sarah Waxman, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and clinician in the hospital’s Equine Field Service

Click here for more information and to register. Both in-person and virtual options are available. General questions about the Equine Wellness Forum may be directed to pvmlifelonglearning@purdue.edu. Questions specifically about registration should be directed to confreg@purdue.edu.

Writer(s): Purdue Veterinary Medicine News | pvmnews@purdue.edu