Michelle Ruedin, PVMIT Systems Administrator and Systems Engineer
Today we want to extend our appreciation to PVMIT Systems Administrator and Systems Engineer Michelle Ruedin. Two staff members nominated Michelle after she gave several hours (and a couple of weeks) to assist them, stating, “Michelle was instrumental in helping us to address problems updating a computer program which is essential to our daily work. She really had to figure out several pieces of a puzzle, consulting other departments on campus as well as the software support line to get us up and running again. She’s always so helpful whenever we’ve had to reach out to her and she never makes us feel like we are bothering her. Thank you for your persistence and support, Michelle!”
Fostering a healthy work environment involves expressing appreciation and gratitude. Is there someone at PVM 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.
happy golden retriever dog holding American flag in mouth
Fireworks used as part of 4th of July celebrations are fun and festive for people. However, for pets and urban farm animals, they can be frightening and even cause pets to react in a way that can cause injury or worse. Dr. Lorraine Corriveau, primary care clinician with the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital’s Small Animal Primary Care service shares the following tips for lowering the noise stress of pets and horses around the time of the Independence Day holiday:
Keep small pets sheltered indoors. Turn on the radio or TV for distraction.
Never leave pets alone outdoors, even if tethered or in a fenced yard. Dogs especially may escape and become lost or injure themselves by chewing or choking on their leashes.
Do not take your pet to a fireworks show or leave it in your car unattended. “If you must be outside with your pet, be sure to keep it on a leash or in a carrier,” Dr. Corriveau said. “Some dogs love to chase those spinning/swirling objects on the ground.”
Protect animals from children who may not realize that waving sparklers or setting off “safe” firecrackers could upset a family pet.
Keep your pet’s I.D. tags current, so you can be reunited easily in the event the pet runs away.
Noise phobia can get worse as a pet ages. “Talk to your veterinarian about a mild sedative or tranquilizer to calm the fears of an extremely stressed dog or cat,” Dr. Corriveau advised. “Cotton placed loosely in ears can help to muffle sound.”
Pick up after the night of festivities is over!
Horses may need to be sedated. Make sure all sharp objects are removed from their enclosures. If you have stalls, keep them in their stalls rather than outside.
Follow these tips to help ensure a happy and safe 4th of July for you and your animal companions!
How to handle large animal emergency rescue situations is the focus of a two-day course being offered by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine next month. Held at the college July 27-28, the Awareness Level Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue (TLAER) Program will bring together people from a variety of disciplines to introduce the latest concepts, techniques, procedures, and equipment being used in large animal emergencies.
The program features lectures, demonstrations, and practical hands-on training. The educator, Dr. Rebecca Husted, is recognized nationwide for her expertise and training programs. She earned her PhD in animal physiology at Clemson University and served 26 years in the US Army Signal Corps, achieving the rank of Major. She has conducted training worldwide, in more than ten countries and across the United States. Participants will complete a final exam at the conclusion of the program and receive a certificate in Animal Technical Rescue Standards.
Registration will close on July 15. For anyone interested in attending, now is the time to get signed-up. Don’t miss out – register today!
Junior Boiler Vet Camp student counselors and campers with Dr. Jim Weisman (far left), and PVM Dean Willie Reed (far right)
Dozens of young participants eagerly seized the chance to attend the 2024 Boiler Vet Camps hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. For two weeks in June, a total of 100 campers gathered at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus to take part in the in-residence Junior and Senior Camps.
The highly popular program draws participants from across the country. The competition to get into the camps rivals the competitiveness facing students seeking admission to veterinary school. Nearly 640 total applications were received for the two camps, each of which can accept 50 campers.
Hosting the camps takes a small army of Purdue Veterinary Medicine student volunteers. A total of 23 helped with the two camps this summer. For both the junior and senior camps, participants are divided into groups and each group has a veterinary student counselor who serves as the group’s leader for the week.
A Junior Boiler Vet Camp participant uses a stethoscope to listen to a cow’s heartbeat
The Junior Camp for rising 8th and 9th graders was held June 9-15 with 33 campers from Indiana and 17 from 12 other states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington State, as well as Washington D.C. The camp gave participants the chance to learn about the many opportunities available in veterinary medicine, from working with dogs and cats to cows, pigs, horses, and other farm animals. They completed numerous learning activities, with sessions such as “Cud It Out” that focused on cows, and “Fish Need Doctors Too!” that showcased veterinary care for aquatic species. Additionally, the campers were able to watch a demonstration of the high speed equine treadmill and see an equine endoscopy that gave them a look inside a horse. Other activities included visits to the Indianapolis Zoo and Fair Oaks Farms.
The Senior Camp is for rising 10th through 12th graders. Held June 16-22, this camp focused on the overall wellness care of dogs. The week kicked-off with the campers getting into groups, with each group receiving a dog from an animal shelter to care for throughout the week. Learning sessions focused on subjects like surgery and anesthesia, and included the opportunity to be in the operating room for a dog spay/neuter surgery. Other experiences included observing and identifying blood cells, learning how to administer a canine physical exam, and gaining an understanding what goes into a strong veterinary school application. There were a total of 32 Senior Camp participants from Indiana, with 18 from other states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia.
Senior Boiler Vet Campers enjoy time with their shelter dog that they “adopt” for the week.
For each camp a head counselor was identified to serve as the on-site leader and ensure that everything ran smoothly. Additionally, two veterinary students, Caden Helfrich, of the Class of 2027, and Audrey Evans, of the class of 2026, served as Boiler Vet Camp student assistants, which involves a two-year commitment, working throughout the school year to prepare for putting on the two camps and being responsible for logistics and everything behind the scenes. “The biggest aspect of the Boiler Vet Camps involves introducing these young minds to the field of veterinary medicine, which is important whether it confirms their passion and future career paths, or shows them that their interests align elsewhere, involving other ways of helping animals and being around them,” Caden said. “Either way the participants are having fun and learning, which is why everyone involved with the camps volunteers time to make it happen.”
New this year, Boiler Vet Camp became the first camp at Purdue University to be accredited by the American Camp Association. The ACA is the only nationwide accrediting organization for all types of organized camps. Its rigorous accreditation standards focus on health, safety, and risk management and are used as benchmarks by government entities.
Senior Boiler Vet Camp student counselors with their campers
“There are so many logistical and organizational elements to manage when planning a weeklong in-residence camp of this nature,” said Dr. Jim Weisman (PU DVM ’97), assistant dean for clinical education and a clinical associate professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, who serves as the director of Boiler Vet Camp. “Earning the ACA accreditation provides confirmation that our procedures not only achieve the intended academic learning outcomes, but also ensure the safety of the young people entrusted to our care.”
Caden gives a shout out to Dr. Weisman for the ongoing success of the camps. “Without him this camp would not be able to function,” he said. “Not many other adults with important careers would voluntarily choose to spend two weeks living on campus in a dorm room among student counselors and campers alike all in the name of providing a positive and fun learning experience for others.”
The dates already are set for the 2025 Boiler Vet Camps. The Junior Camp will be held June 8-14 and the Senior Camp will occur the following week, June 15–21. Click here for more information.
François-René Bertin, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-LAIM Associate Professor, Large Animal Internal Medicine
The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) recently announced recipients of the esteemed 2024 ACVIM Recognition Awards, and one of them is Dr. François-René Bertin, Purdue associate professor of large animal internal medicine. Dr. Bertin, who joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty in January of this year, received the William R. Fenner Early Career Award for Outstanding Service. The award recognizes ACVIM Diplomates who exemplify exceptional service in a volunteer capacity in the ACVIM and/or their specialty within the first 10 years following board-certification.
Dr. Bertin earned his DVM degree at Oniris Nantes in France and then came to Purdue where he completed his residency and earned his Master of Science degree in 2012. He became board-certified by the ACVIM in Large Animal Internal Medicine (LAIM) in 2013 and began volunteering with the ACVIM that same year.
After completing his residency at Purdue, Dr. Bertin continued his education at McGill University in Montreal where he earned his PhD in physiology. He then accepted a position at the University of Queensland as a senior lecturer in equine internal medicine. He later was promoted to associate professor and served as director of research for the School of Veterinary Science before returning to Purdue to join the faculty of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
During the past decade, Dr. Bertin has continued volunteering with the ACVIM in various capacities, including as an abstract reviewer and moderator for the annual ACVIM Forum, as chair of the LAIM Credentials subcommittee and of the Equine Endocrinology Special Interest Group (SIG), and as chair and deputy chair of the Education and Research Committee (ERC).
Dr. Bertin has also contributed significant time and effort to enhancing the ACVIM’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts as a member of the DEI Blueprinting task force. Outside of his record of service to the ACVIM, Dr. Bertin is recognized for making significant research, teaching and leadership contributions to the large animal internal medicine specialty and is regarded as an outstanding role model for the new generation of veterinary specialists.
“Dr. Bertin is the epitome of engagement in and dedication to our specialty college,” said Dr. Sandy Taylor, current LAIM president on the ACVIM Board of Regents and Purdue professor of large animal internal medicine. “I believe that he will continue to drive support for the ACVIM by sharing the wide breadth of knowledge he has gained through service and leadership.”
The 2024 ACVIM Recognition Awards were announced earlier this month at the 2024 ACVIM Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In a statement, the ACVIM praised the award recipients as “…accomplished veterinary professionals and ACVIM Diplomates who have demonstrated professional excellence, dedicated service and expertise, making a significant impact on the wellbeing of animals and advancing the veterinary profession.”
Dr. Willie Reed has led the College of Veterinary Medicine for more than 17 years as dean.
This week, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dean Willie Reed for his unwavering dedication, invaluable support, and exceptional leadership over the past 17 years as he prepares to step down next Friday, June 30. Dean Reed has been a consistent supporter of WELCOM – the PVM Wellness Committee – since its inception, ensuring that we have had the necessary resources to implement our wellbeing initiatives throughout the college. As he transitions into the next phase of his career, we want to express our deepest appreciation to Dean Reed for the countless ways in which he has truly enhanced the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine as a welcoming place to work, learn, grow, and find fulfillment. “Thank you, Dean Reed, for making our college a better place for all!”
Fostering a healthy work environment involves expressing appreciation and gratitude. Is there someone at PVM 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.
PVM Assistant Director of Communications Nathan Dell
Purdue Veterinary Medicine is pleased to welcome Nathan Dell as the new assistant director of communications! A high school art teacher by training, Nathan’s passions lie in both visual design and effective communication. With a background in art education and professional experience as a graphic designer, Nathan brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking to the PVM communications team, which is part of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Office of Engagement. His dedication to crafting compelling messages and his innovative approach will contribute significantly to the college’s communications efforts.
Nathan joins us after spending nearly two years coordinating the marketing and events at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, where he refined his skills in photography, graphic design and social media, oversaw publication of the museum’s weekly newsletter, and managed events, including special fundraising events, the annual Art, Bark & Brew, and opening receptions for exhibitions.
Nathan is from Tipton, Indiana where he was a 10-year 4-H member, focusing on projects including art and photography, and for a few years, showing livestock. Within the past few years, he has developed an appreciation for exotic birds (pictured: Benny on the left and Dolly on the right) and loves traveling to visit his family dog, named Superman (pictured on right) whenever he can. In his free time, he can be found painting or enjoying some of the great local coffee shops and art galleries in the Greater Lafayette area with his partner, George.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to do so already, please help extend a warm welcome to Nathan! Our office is located in Lynn 2121 and Nathan can be reached via e-mail at delln@purdue.edu.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury, who is also a Purdue 150th Anniversary Professor and professor of small animal surgery, has been appointed interim dean of the college, effective July 1. She succeeds Dr. Willie Reed, who is stepping down June 30 after serving more than 17 years as dean.
Dr. Salisbury, whose research areas include veterinary medical education and soft-tissue surgery, joined the college’s faculty in 1984. She was appointed chief of small animal surgery in 1988 and named assistant dean for academic affairs in 2005. A recognized leader in the field who is passionate about veterinary medical education, Dr. Salisbury has been involved in every major curriculum revision in the college and has been recognized for developing a national and international veterinary education model and specialist training.
In 2018, Dr. Salisbury was named a 150th Anniversary Professor by the Office of the Provost. She is a member of Purdue’s Book of Great Teachers, a charter member of the Teaching Academy and an honored mentor of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons Foundation. In 2007 she was named the recipient of the national Carl J. Norden-Pfizer Distinguished Teacher Award, considered the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. Dr. Salisbury also has received numerous college-level awards, including Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Career Teaching Award, Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award and Weedon Faculty Recognition Award.
“Associate Dean Salisbury has exactly the right mix of expertise and experience to accelerate the college’s progress in this interim role as we launch our One Health initiative,” said Patrick Wolfe, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity.
“I look forward to leading our outstanding faculty, staff and students through this transition,” Dr. Salisbury said. “I will follow Dean Reed’s example of excellence and dedication in serving the college.”
Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dr. Salisbury earned her DVM degree at Michigan State University in 1979 and went on to complete her residency and earn her Master of Science in veterinary medicine at Purdue in 1984.
Lucy Flesch, Purdue’s Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, is chairing an advisory committee to assist in the search for Dr. Reed’s permanent successor, with finalists expected to visit campus at the start of the fall semester.
Dean Willie Reed with “This is Purdue” podcast host Kate Young at the recording session in the Joy M. Matson Multi-Purpose Room at the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex.
As he approaches the conclusion of his tenure as dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine June 30, Dr. Willie Reed sat down recently with Kate Young, host of “This is Purdue,” the official podcast for Purdue University, to share his engaging story about making dreams come true. Just released yesterday (Thursday, June 13), the podcast conveys Dean Reed’s incredible story of persistence — from being taught first grade by his grandmother in southern Alabama to becoming dean of one of the top veterinary colleges in the country.
Listen Now to Episode 110 of “This is Purdue”
Kate, herself a Purdue University alumna and graduate of the Brian Lamb School of Communication, talks with Dean Reed about what led him to pursue a career as a veterinarian and how his efforts have helped meet the increasing demand for veterinary professionals by expanding and adapting the College of Veterinary Medicine’s world-class facilities. He also shares about his love for animals and discusses Purdue research on the human-animal bond and how animals have a positive effect on human mental and physical health. “Whether it’s a dog or a cat or some other animal, they bring us so much joy…Our whole well-being is increased.”
Other topics addressed in the podcast include current pathology research at Purdue and Dean Reed’s plans for future endeavors, including mentoring students in underrepresented communities to teach them the path to becoming a veterinarian. “I had a dream and I tell my students, ‘You have to believe in the beauty of your dream. Don’t let anybody deter you from that. You have to be persistent.’”
Dean Reed with Alaunie Smiley, of the DVM Class of 2024 – a veterinary student he mentored during her studies at Purdue.
Dean Reed earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Tuskegee University before coming to Purdue University to pursue a graduate degree in veterinary pathology. After earning his PhD in 1982, he joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, serving as associate professor of avian pathology and as chief of Avian Disease Diagnostic Services in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. In 1990, he accepted an offer at Michigan State University to become a full professor and director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (now called the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory).
Bueller, one of the college’s friendly Canine Educators, joins Dean Reed for a promotional photo shoot for the podcast.
Dr. Reed returned to Purdue to become dean of the veterinary college in 2007. His accomplishments include spearheading completion of the world-class David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex, growing the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program’s class size by 20%, and positively impacting the lives of countless animals and students.
“There’s something about the Purdue spirit that is unique,” Dean Reed says. “When you come here, this is a place where dreams can come true.”
Willie Reed, who has led the College of Veterinary Medicine for 17 years as dean, will step down, effective June 30.
The Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory has a new name that will honor Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed as a result of action taken by the Purdue University Board of Trustees Friday, June 7. To recognize Dean Reed’s loyalty and service to Purdue University, the profession of veterinary medicine, and the state of Indiana, the board approved renaming the facility as the Willie M. Reed Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
Dr. Reed is stepping down June 30 after serving the last 17 years as dean, for a total of 25 years of service to the university. He will be granted dean emeritus status. The Board of Trustees also approved the appointment of Purdue 150th Anniversary Professor S. Kathleen Salisbury, the college’s associate dean for academic affairs, as interim dean, effective July 1.
Dean Reed was praised for consistently championing One Health at Purdue — bringing together animal health, human health and plant health. The university is continuing to strengthen and accelerate his groundbreaking approach to excellence and education in these areas. Dean Reed also has guided the College of Veterinary Medicine in developing and executing a series of three visionary strategic plans to enhance the future through innovative educational initiatives, groundbreaking research, and creative and effective engagement programs. His strategic planning initiatives culminated in the opening of the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex in 2022 — expanding the college’s Small Animal Hospital and creating new Equine and Farm Animal hospitals to replace the Large Animal Hospital.
Dean Reed’s leadership of the college also improved Purdue DVM and veterinary nursing education by implementing new approaches to clinical-skills training and the use of innovative technology. He fostered growth in research programs, achieving record-level research funding through expanded external support for scientific discovery that advances medicine for both animals and humans. He also spearheaded efforts that enhanced the teaching, clinical and research facilities in Lynn Hall; increased the DVM class size by 20%; fostered successful recruitment of faculty members from around the globe in many disciplines; and significantly expanded the college’s global engagement programs.
In 2023, Dean Reed’s many achievements were recognized when he was selected by the American Veterinary Medical Association as its inaugural recipient of the AVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his innovative leadership and contributions in supporting and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the veterinary profession.
