Purdue Veterinary Medicine partners with the Indiana State Fair to provide veterinary care for the fair’s exhibition animals, coordinating all the veterinary services for the exhibition animals on the fairgrounds.
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine is participating in the University’s Engaged College Program (ECP), which is a new initiative developed by Purdue’s Office of Engagement to support colleges with the resources to focus on building, sustaining, assessing, bringing awareness to, and rewarding quality community engagement activities. Last Friday, August 23, it was announced that the College of Veterinary Medicine is the FIRST college to complete the Engaged College Program self-assessment and action plan!
This accomplishment reflects the work of the PVM task force, which, with input from others, self-assessed the college across 25 items and five dimensions. Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s three-year action plan focuses on two goals:
Increasing faculty, staff, and student awareness of Purdue’s definition of engagement and college engagement programs and opportunities.
Developing and implementing a standardized system for tracking, collecting metrics, and celebrating community engagement activities of faculty, staff and students.
“This process enabled us to take stock of all of the diverse engagement initiatives we have launched with communities across the globe,” said Dr. S. Kathleen Salisbury, interim dean of the college and associate dean for academic affairs. “As a result, we are inspired to expand awareness of all that we are accomplishing through these mutually beneficial collaborations that positively impact animal and public health.”
Many thanks to the task force members for their hard work in making this happen!
Sandy San Miguel, Associate Dean for Engagement and Professor, — Task Force Chair
Candace Croney, Associate Vice Provost for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, Director for Center for Animal Welfare Science, and Professor
Today we share appreciation for Marisela Shippam, who is the Senior Administrative Assistant for Student Success.
A staff member nominated Marisela stating, “We had a program starting, and one of the classrooms I reserved needed cleaning and organizing. Marisela helped me move tables, straighten the desks, and wipe down all the desks and tables. She even helped me with the technology. Marisela brightened my day because she knew I needed help and wanted to ensure the incoming students’ room was clean and presentable.”
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.
Dean Emeritus Willie Reed presented Dr. Abigail Cox with a recognition plaque honoring her selection as the first faculty member appointed to the Dr. William O. Iverson Professorship in Comparative Pathology.
A faculty member in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology (CPB) now holds a professorship named for an accomplished veterinary pathologist and Purdue alumnus. The appointee is Associate Professor Abigail Cox, who was formally recognized August 15 during the annual CPB Departmental retreat held at the Beck Agricultural Center. Her appointment to the Dr. William O. Iverson Professorship in Comparative Pathology was effective July 1.
To honor Dr. Cox for her appointment, PVM Dean Emeritus Willie Reed presented her with a plaque that included an inscription, which read, “…in recognition of her exceptional achievements in biomedical research, unwavering dedication to teaching, and steadfast support of graduate student mentoring.”
Dr. Cox earned her undergraduate degree in biology at Washington University in St. Louis before coming to Purdue University where she earned her DVM degree in 2008. She then completed a residency in anatomic pathology and earned her Master of Science degree in 2011. She went on to pursue graduate study, receiving her PhD at Purdue in 2016. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, Dr. Cox also serves as director of the college’s Histology Research Laboratory, and is the head of the Pathology Section of the Comparative Pathobiology Department. Her research interests include evaluating medical device biocompatibility as well as developing quantitative analyses of a variety of histologic preparations. In particular, she has an interest in developing comparative animal models that investigate the biology and biomechanics of the larynx.
Dr. Cox also teaches general pathology in the veterinary curriculum and has a special interest in stimulating curiosity about veterinary pathology in young scientists and enjoys highlighting the impact veterinary pathology has on biomedical engineering, drug development, veterinary diagnostics, and overall disease research.
The professorship’s namesake, Dr. William (Bill) Iverson, earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1974 and went on to a long and successful career in veterinary pathology. “We did a national search to find someone who would fit the criteria for this named professorship,” Dr. Reed explained as he prepared to hand the recognition plaque to Dr. Cox. “And we looked around and found that the person was already here on the faculty. So I wanted to acknowledge Dr. Cox for all the work she has done.” Dr. Reed then told Dr. Cox, “What Dr. Iverson wanted is a pathologist who would be a Principal Investigator – a pathologist who would serve as major professor for graduate students and would train more pathologists, and you fit that bill. And so I am very pleased that you were awarded this professorship.”
Dr. Reed also shared how, when he was dean and visited Dr. Iverson, they talked about the need for more named professorships in the college. That’s when Dr. Iverson expressed interest in doing something about that. “He was inspired to become a pathologist based on his interactions with our CPB faculty, specifically Dr. John Van Vleet, who played a big role in inspiring him to pursue pathology,” Dean Reed said. “So this is the way he wanted to give back.”
After earning his DVM degree, Dr. Iverson went into private practice as a general mixed practice veterinarian in Florida and then entered a Comparative Pathology Residency at the University of Florida, which he completed in 1980. Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he began his career in industry at Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc. in Virginia, where he worked as a staff pathologist before being promoted to director of the company’s Midwest Laboratory in Decatur, Illinois.
Dr. Iverson’s extensive list of career accomplishments also include serving as director and senior pathologist for pathology research at the CIBA-GEIGY Corporation Pharmaceuticals Division, director of pathology and experimental pathology at the Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and executive director of Laboratory Animal Services for the Novartis/Sandoz Pharmaceuticals Corporation. In all, Dr. Iverson served nearly 21 years at Novartis. He also worked for AstraZeneca/Medimmune, Inc. in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Charles River Laboratories in Frederick, Maryland.
“We are very grateful that Dr. Iverson decided to endow a named professorship at our college,” Dr. Reed said.
This year marked the third year for the CPB Department’s annual retreat, which provided a fitting opportunity to recognize Dr. Cox. The day-long program was open to CPB faculty, staff and graduate students as well as faculty from the Basic Medical Sciences and Veterinary Clinical Sciences Departments and the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. The retreat attracted some 50 attendees. The agenda included opening comments from Interim Dean Kathy Salisbury, presentations on Commercialization and Entrepreneurship and Sponsored Research Agreements, a lunch session on the myStrengths assessment, and afternoon talks on “Teaching as an Interpersonal Process,” and “Generations Matter!: What we can learn from each other as we work with others from generations different from our own.”
CPB Department Head Sanjeev Narayanan speaks to faculty, staff and graduate students at the department’s third annual retreat August 15 at the Beck Agricultural Center.
The 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference features keynote speakers (left-right) Dr. Susan Cohen and Dr. Sandra F. San Miguel, and the annual Stockton Lecture, which will be given by Dr. Regina Tan.
The 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference will continue an important tradition of offering keynote sessions on Wellness and Diversity. Another conference highlight will be the annual Stockton Lecture on current issues affecting the Veterinary industry.
This year’s Wellness Keynote will feature Dr. Susan Cohen, DSW, who founded Pet Decisions and is regarded as a pioneer in the field of pet loss. She will give a talk at noon on Wednesday, September 18, entitled, “What’s wrong with resilience? Transforming veterinary culture for better mental health.” During the lecture she will explore three paths to wellness that can make a difference in the life of veterinary professionals and their coworkers: interpersonal skills, self-care, and structural change. She encourages audience members to choose one small action and lighten a heavy load.
The Diversity Keynote will be given by Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s own Dr. Sandra F. San Miguel, associate dean for engagement and professor of veterinary clinical sciences. Dr. San Miguel will speak on the topic, “The Influence of Diversity in Communication in Healthcare.” During her presentation, she will share about The League of VetaHumanz, a global, inclusive veterinary superhero league where VetaHumanz in academia, practice, research, government, and industry engage with community centers and schools across the globe to provide access and support for under-resourced children. The award-winning program is supported by the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. San Miguel’s presentation will include information about how veterinary professionals, veterinary practices, and organizations can join in the mission. The Diversity Lecture is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, at 12:00 p.m.
The Stockton Lecture will feature Dr. Regina Tan, a 1999 Purdue DVM graduate who joined the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Director of the center’s Office of Research. She currently is the Senior Advisor for the agency’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Tan will speak about the FDA’s Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda and demonstrate how the agency is using One Health to protect the health of humans and animals in the United States.
These special lectures represent just some of the highlights of the 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference. To hear these enlightening presentations click here to register for the conference. Registrants also will gain access to continuing education tracks on Diagnostic Imaging, Equine, Exotics, Emergency Preparedness, Practice Management and Communication, Ruminant, Shelter Medicine, Small Animal, Poultry, and Veterinary Nursing, as well as industry presentations and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) modules. To take advantage of early bird pricing, make sure to register by September 1. Click here for more information about the 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference.
Experts in tumor ablation devices join Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s comparative oncology team
A husband-wife team of veterinary oncologists with expertise in tumor ablation devices is now part of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center. Dr. Nick Dervisis and Dr. Shawna Klahn started in their new roles as Purdue associate professors of comparative oncology August 12 as part of the university’s Moveable Dream Hires program.
Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn came to Purdue from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech University where they jointly established the medical oncology research and clinical services program. When the couple was recruited to Virginia Tech in 2012, they shared a vision of creating the nation’s premier cancer research hospital.
“We are passionate about translational medicine — moving basic science from the bench to the bedside,” Dr. Dervisis said. “We did everything in parallel, but the research was our unifying force. Holding clinical trials expanded our clinical services while also contributing to the research. The teaching and training of veterinary students revolved around the research. Everything centered around our research enterprise.”
Initially, Dr. Klahn focused on building the clinical services and student education aspects while Dr. Dervisis established the foundation for the translational research. Dr. Klahn remained involved in clinical research, procuring her own grant funding, and moved into a tenure track position with more research focus at the first opportunity.
During 12 years at Virginia Tech, Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn grew the medical oncology program from their two positions to a team of seven veterinary oncologists and established themselves as leading experts in the development of tumor ablation devices for veterinary oncology. Generally, tumor ablation involves using extreme heat or cold to destroy cancerous cells. Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn also are testing the use of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), essentially tightly focused soundwaves, to heat or disintegrate tumors.
“We work with devices that deliver energy to a tissue,” Dr. Dervisis says. “That energy can be delivered either invasively or non-invasively. Many of these technologies have been around for decades but are used primarily in a lab setting. At Purdue, we want to develop devices that allow for the use of these procedures in a clinical setting.”
The talent-based Moveable Dream Hires program is piloted by the deans and provost to attract high-performing, top-caliber faculty to Purdue even when the topic-based openings in a given year do not match the moveable talent. It complements typical topic-based faculty searches across the university and enables the recruitment of faculty who may not be actively on the job market. These recruits are tenure-track or tenured faculty.
Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn hold joint appointments in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research. They join Dr. Marejka Shaevitz, clinical assistant professor of oncology, in doubling the number of medical oncology faculty in the Department Veterinary Clinical Sciences. The addition of three new faculty positions was made possible, in part, by a transformative $10 million gift to establish the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center last year.
Through the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn will contribute to a transdisciplinary environment that unites Purdue’s diverse research strengths from across the university in order to advance cutting-edge cancer solutions.
“Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn have a dedication to conducting high quality comparative research that extends the lives of companion animals but also translates to improving human health,” said Dr. Deborah Knapp, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology, the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology and director of the Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center. “The addition of their expertise in ablative technology will allow us to expand our scope of research and test more discoveries originating through the Institute for Cancer Research.”
The interdisciplinary nature of tumor ablation requires engineers, surgeons, radiologists, anesthesiologists and pathologists to develop and complete procedures. Dr. Dervisis and Dr. Klahn plan to partner with colleagues in the College of Engineering to further develop their biomedical technology and translate laboratory discoveries into tangible patient outcomes.
“We cannot function unless we have everybody on the team,” Dr. Dervisis said. “Cancer is a complex disease. You need many people from different backgrounds and specialties to solve a complex problem.”
Originally from Greece, Dr. Dervisis earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. After completing his veterinary studies, he served in the Hellenic Army before earning a PhD in comparative medicine and integrative biology and completing a residency in veterinary medical oncology, both at Michigan State University.
Dr. Klahn hails from the Midwest and earned her Bachelor of Science in zoology as well as her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed her residency in medical oncology at Michigan State. She was the first faculty member from the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine to become a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) scholar through the integrated Translational Health Research Institute (iTHRIV) of Virginia. The highly competitive CTSA program is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with an outcome measure of securing significant federal funding.
“It can be difficult to get significant funding for research in veterinary medicine, even when you study a disease that overlaps with human diseases,” Dr. Klahn said. “We just don’t have access to the same resources as researchers in human medicine. I was the first DVM in the CTSA scholar program, the first person from the veterinary college to even try to do this. My journey was being watched. There was a lot of pressure for me to succeed in getting funding.”
Dr. Klahn received her first NIH grant in February for $600,000. The grant will support her research into the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas with a mechanical form of HIFU (also known as histotripsy). In both dogs and humans diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, the current first line of treatment is surgery. But these tumors often have tiny tendrils of cancer that extend out into surrounding tissue so large areas must be resected to excise all cancerous tissue from the body. Even with wide resection, the local recurrence rate can be as high as 36%.
“We really need an alternative to surgery for treating soft tissue sarcoma,” Dr. Klahn said. “We have some technology now that we can use to treat part of the tumor, but we can’t treat the entire tumor. Being able to treat the entire tumor is an important obstacle to overcome on the road toward moving this technology into human health care.”
The biggest hurdle is time. It takes too long to fully ablate a large soft tissue sarcoma and the risks of anesthesia tend to be greater the longer a patient is anaesthetized. Dr. Klahn hopes to develop a methodology that will treat each focus point faster, speeding up the ablation process and enabling full destruction of the entire tumor. Dr. Klahn plans to begin enrolling dogs into a first-phase clinical trial in 2025. As she develops and tests this device, she will be collaborating with Dr. Dervisis, just as they have for the past 20-plus years.
“People sometimes ask me, ‘How can you work with your husband? I could never do that,’” Dr, Klahn says. “I love working with Nick. We trained under the same program and share the same goal of advancing translational medicine. Our strengths and skills are so complementary. We’ve always made a great team and joining the team of legendary translational oncology researchers at Purdue together is really exciting.”
Dr. Dervisis echoed the sentiment, adding “It’s wonderful to come to a place that grows and values creativity because the evolution of our work has been very creative.”
Today we share appreciation for Bill Kielhorn who is a Senior IT Technician with PVM IT.
A faculty member nominated Bill stating, “Bill is an exceptional member of the PVM team! He was instrumental in upgrading the office spaces for the large animal interns and residents. This took overhauling and replacing several computers and printers, and he completed these tasks very quickly. He has always been a kind person who responds to requests quickly and is always eager to help. We are so lucky to have him!!”
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.
New VCS and CPB clinical residents – (Front Row, left-right): Dr. Alejandro Vargas, Dr. Vanessa Passenegg, Dr. Alison Vancouver, Dr. Kaitlyn Coleman, Dr. Stephanie Brooks, Dr. Catherine Fiset, and Dr. Laura Tran; (Back Row, left-right): Dr. Yasumasa Iimori, Dr. Kosuke Kinoshita, Dr. Cameron Craig, Dr. Julie McLaughlin, Dr. Bruce Graves, Dr. Zachary Yaufman, Dr. Erin Paul-Stewart, Dr. Megan Riley, Dr. Walker Smith, and Dr. Kristin Reichert.
A new class of clinical residents joined the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Comparative Pathobiology Departments this summer, embarking on a three year journey into specialty training that represents the next phase of their careers as veterinarians. A total of 17 first-year residents, representing eleven different specialty areas, began their residencies July 15 with an extensive orientation program.
The residencies provide advanced training in a chosen specialty and preparation for obtaining board certification as specialists, while also offering research and teaching opportunities. Please help extend a warm welcome to PVM’s newest clinical residents, who are listed below along with their area of specialization and previous experience.
New Clinical Residents (Residents are in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences unless otherwise indicated)
Dr. Stephanie Brooks (DVM 2021, University of Sydney, Australia) – Large Animal Medicine
Experience: Equine Ambulatory Veterinarian (2022) – Three Counties Equine Hospital in Tewkesbury, UK; Equine Intern (2022) – Matamata Veterinary Services, New Zealand; Visiting Veterinarian (2023) – Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Oregon State University, Cornell University, Louisiana State University and UC Davis. Most recently, Dr. Brooks served as an Equine Veterinarian at Matamata Veterinary Services in New Zealand.
Dr. Kaitlyn Coleman (DVM 2021, Tuskegee University) – Large Animal Surgery
Experience: Equine Medicine and Surgery Internship (2022) – Peterson Smith Equine Hospital and Complete Care, Florida; Equine CT Imaging and Surgical Fellow (2023) – Brazos Valley Equine Hospitals, Texas. Most recently, Dr. Coleman completed a Large Animal Rotating Internship (Equine Focus) at Texas A&M.
Dr. Cameron Craig (DVM 2022, University of Melbourne) – Diagnostic Imaging
Experience: Most recently, Dr. Craig completed a Rotating Internship at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Colorado.
Dr. Catherine Fiset (DVM 2022, University of Prince Edward Island) – Small Animal Medicine
Experience: Small Animal Rotating Internship (2023) – VCA Canada, Calgary Animal Referral & Emergency Centre. Most recently, Dr. Fiset completed a Small Animal Internal Medicine Specialty Internship at Purdue University.
Dr. Bruce Graves (DVM 2023, Ross University) – Small Animal Medicine
Experience: Associate Veterinarian (2023) – IndyVet Specialty and Referral Center, Indianapolis, Indiana. Most recently, Dr. Graves completed a Rotating Internship at BluePearl Veterinary Specialty Center in Langhorn, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Yasumasa Iimori (DVM 2017, Nihon University, Japan; PhD 2021, Osaka Prefecture University, Japan) – Emergency and Critical Care
Experience: Associate Veterinarian (2022) – Iimori Animal Hospital, Hyogo, Japan; Postdoctoral Researcher (2023) – University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, Dr. Iimori completed a Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care Internship at Oregon State University.
Experience: General Practitioner (2022) – Wakayama Inter Animal Hospital, Japan; Clinical Rotating Intern (2022) – Osaka Metropolitan University Veterinary Medical Center, Japan; Imaging Research Assistant (2023) – Purdue University. Most recently, Dr. Kinoshita served as a Diagnostic Imaging Specialty Intern at the University of Guelph in Canada.
Dr. Julie McLaughlin (DVM 2022, The Ohio State University) – Ophthalmology
Experience: Intern Veterinarian (2023) – Littleton Equine Medical Center, Colorado. Most recently Dr. McLaughlin served as a Rotating Intern Veterinarian at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in Massachusetts.
Dr. Vanessa Passenegg (MMV 2020, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria)– Emergency and Critical Care
Experience: Rotating Internship (2021) – University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria; Internship focused on Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care (2023), Vetsuisse Zurich, Switzerland. Most recently, Dr. Passenegg completed an internship in anesthesia at Vetsuisse Zurich in Switzerland.
Dr. Erin Paul-Stewart (DVM 2023, Purdue University) – Oncology
Experience: Most recently, Dr. Paul-Stewart completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Dr. Kristin Reichert (DVM 2022, University of Wisconsin – Madison) – Small Animal Surgery
Experience: Small Animal Rotating Internship (2023) – University of Pennsylvania. Most recently, Dr. Reichert completed a Surgical Oncology Specialty Internship at the University of Florida.
Dr. Megan Riley (DVM 2023, Purdue University) – Small Animal Medicine
Experience: Most recently, Dr. Riley completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Tufts University.
Dr. Walker Smith (DVM 2023, Lincoln Memorial University, Tennessee) – Small Animal Surgery
Experience: Most recently, Dr. Smith completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Dr. Laura Tran (DVM 2022, UC Davis) – Cardiology
Experience: Most recently, Dr. Tran completed a Cardiology Specialty Internship at San Diego Veterinary Cardiology in California.
Dr. Alejandro Vargas (DVM 2022, National University of Costa Rica) – Anesthesia
Experience: Veterinarian (2023) – National University of Costa Rica. Most recently, Dr. Vargas completed a Large Animal Rotating Internship at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Dr. Alison Vancouver (DVM 2019, Western University of Health Sciences) – Clinical Pathology, Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Experience: Clinical Pathology Externship (2019-2020) – Purdue University. Most recently, Dr. Vancouver worked as a general practitioner at Northgate Pet Clinic in Decatur, Illinois, and then at Stadium Veterinary Services in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Dr. Zachary Yaufman (DVM 2022, The Ohio State University) – Oncology
Experience: Small Animal Specialty Practice Intern (2022-2023) – VCA SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center; Medical Oncology Resident (2023-2024) Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Yaufman is finishing the last two years of his residency training at Purdue University.
The College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual Faculty and Staff appreciation event was held in the Lynn Hall Courtyard August 16 and featured a tasty taco bar.
As the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine prepared to welcome students back to campus for the fall semester last week, faculty and staff were treated to a tasty taco bar as part of the college’s annual Faculty and Staff appreciation event. The lunch-time gathering on Friday, August 16, featured meals that included taco, nacho, or salad toppings and churro bites as a sweet treat. The event was hosted by the college to show PVM faculty and staff how much their dedication and hard work is appreciated.
Held from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. in the Lynn Hall courtyard, the event not only featured great food but also provided opportunities for fellowship among colleagues. More than 350 faculty and staff attended the event and enjoyed the outdoor setting on a beautiful sunny afternoon.
As people mixed and mingled, Interim Dean Kathy Salisbury took the opportunity to express to everyone the college’s deep appreciation for the way that the faculty and staff demonstrate a commitment to excellence throughout the year. The festive event served as a fitting wrap up to a busy summer marked by several annual programs including the Boiler Vet Camps, Vet Up!, and the College’s participation in the Indiana State Fair.
Staff and faculty members enjoyed both food and fellowship at the appreciation event during a beautiful August afternoon.
Today we share appreciation for Shelley Harmon, RVT, who is a small and large animal versa-technician in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, supporting the Small Animal, Equine and Farm Animal Hospitals. A student nominated Shelley stating, “Shelley always goes out of her way to help 4th year students and is so kind in her instruction. I feel comfortable asking her questions and know that I’ll be taught along the way. She works incredibly hard and is a wonderful colleague.”
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.
The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine will recognize two more graduates as Distinguished Alumni in September during the 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference. One honoree is Dr. F. Claire Hankenson, of the DVM Class of 1997. The other is Dr. Kelly G. Whitesel, of the DVM Class of 1972.
The Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented on Wednesday evening, September 18, at the annual Alumni and Friends Celebration in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom. The event is open to all faculty, staff, and students and Purdue Veterinary Conference registrants. The celebration will begin with a reception that includes hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at 4:30 p.m., with the program to follow at 5:00 p.m.
The college’s Distinguished Alumnus Award program was established in 1978 by members of the DVM Class of 1967 as a memorial tribute to their classmate, Dr. David Mullis, who was honored posthumously as the first award recipient. Since then, of the college’s more than 3,500 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduates, and more than 1,200 Veterinary Nursing degree recipients, a total of 71 have been honored as Distinguished Alumni.
When Dr. Hankenson was a veterinary student at Purdue, she demonstrated great interest in research and enrolled in the NIH-Merial program under her mentors – Drs. Terry Bowersock, Harm HogenEsch, and Mark Suckow. After earning her Purdue DVM degree in 1997, Dr. Hankenson pursued advanced training at the University of Washington, where she completed a laboratory animal medicine residency and earned her MS in Microbiology within the laboratory of Dr. Julie Overbaugh at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She went on to achieve board certification by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) in 2002 and has become highly respected in her field.
Dr. Claire Hankenson
Today, Dr. Hankenson is the Associate Vice Provost for Research and Executive Director of University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) at the University of Pennsylvania, and holds a faculty appointment as Professor of Pathobiology (CE) in the School of Veterinary Medicine. Previously she served as the attending veterinarian and director for Campus Animal Resources at Michigan State University where she also was a member of the College of Veterinary Medicine faculty for more than six years.
Dr. Whitesel earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1972 and went on to build a very successful mixed animal practice in Delaware County, Indiana. He is known for his dedication to animal health, not only at his clinic but also on the farms around his home. As an avid participant in and longtime supporter of 4-H, Dr. Whitesell encouraged his own children and grandchildren to become active 4-H participants. During his career, Dr. Whitesel also mentored many aspiring veterinary professionals, a number of whom went on to earn their DVM degrees at Purdue.
Dr. Kelly Whitesel
In addition to award presentations, the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Alumni and Friends Celebration will include recognition of reunion classes. Alumni classes celebrating milestone anniversaries, from five years to 60 years, will be given the opportunity to stand and be applauded. In addition, members of the Silver and Golden Anniversary DVM classes will be recognized. The DVM Class of 1999 will be honored on the occasion of its 25th Reunion and the DVM Class of 1974 will be recognized as the 50th Anniversary class.
The Alumni and Friends Celebration is just one of the highlights of the Purdue Veterinary Conference, which kicks-off with the Elanco Human-Animal Bond Lecture on Tuesday evening, September 17, at 5:00 p.m. in Stewart Center Room 214. The program will feature special remarks by Dr. Nancy Gee, Director of the Center for Human Animal Interaction at the VCU Medical College of Virginia. The lecture is free and open to the public with a reception following in Stewart Center Room 206.
The conference also will feature two keynote presentations: the Wellness Keynote Wednesday, September 18, at 12:20 p.m., and the Diversity Keynote Thursday, September 19, at 12:00 p.m. Also on that Thursday, Dr. Regina Tan (PU DVM ’99), director of the Office of Applied Science in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, will present the Stockton Lecture at 3:20 p.m., speaking on the topic, “One Health and the Future of Veterinary Medicine.”
The Purdue Veterinary Conference provides continuing education tracks on Diagnostic Imaging, Equine, Exotics, Emergency Preparedness, Practice Management and Communication, Ruminant, Shelter Medicine, Small Animal, Poultry, and Veterinary Nursing, as well as industry presentations and USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) modules. Register by September 1 to take advantage of early bird pricing! Click here for more information about the 2024 Purdue Veterinary Conference.
