Veterinary Superhero League Adds Practice Teams Manager

June 10, 2022

A smiling individual is seated outdoors with green foliage and a sculpture in the background.

An educator with ties to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has joined the Office of Engagement staff as practice teams manager for the League of VetaHumanz. Michelle Overman began in the new role Monday, June 6 (her birthday!). She’ll be working with new league team partner, Mars Veterinary Health, to launch veterinary practice teams that will partner with their local organizations to bring the League of VetaHumanz curriculum to under-resourced children.

Michelle is an animal lover and native of Frankfort, Indiana. As she was growing up, she loved helping her uncle, Dr. Sam Hiland, a member of the Purdue DVM Class of 1966, in the animal clinic he owned in Frankfort. She went on to earn bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education and elementary education followed by a master’s degree in educational curriculum and design. Michelle has been an educator for almost 25 years, teaching fourth graders for 18 years and most recently teaching pre-K. She’s also had the opportunity to teach college courses and adults.

Michelle shared she is very excited to be part of a team bringing valuable educational moments to students who otherwise may not have those opportunities. “I love being part of a greater organization (Purdue) that highly values education, and exemplifies educational excellence. I look forward to being a pivotal part of an amazing team that works daily to reach the kids who will greatly benefit from what our program offers,” Michelle said.

Michelle lives in Lafayette, and has two amazing grown sons and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, working outside in her yard, baking pies, and crafting.

Please help extend a warm welcome to Michelle as she joins Purdue Veterinary Medicine (and wish her a happy belated birthday)! She can be reached at her office (Lynn 1191) or by email at: maoverma@purdue.edu.

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

Recent Stories

Annual Purdue Veterinary Conference draws veterinary professionals from across the country for learning and fun

The 2026 edition of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference attracted attendees from around the U.S. for three days of educational sessions covering an array of topics. With the overall theme of “One Health: Modern Veterinary Medicine,” the conference September 23-26 on the Purdue University campus drew more than 450 veterinarians and veterinary technicians, plus faculty, staff and students. Sessions taught by a total of 65 speakers, including many Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinicians and veterinary technicians/technologists, enabled conference-goers to earn up to 23 continuing education credit hours.

Significant Gift from Jordan Smelski Foundation will fuel Purdue Veterinary Medicine research on deadly brain eating amoeba

A researcher in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology has received a generous gift of more than $100,000 from the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness and Mr. Steve Smelski to support research of the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Christopher Rice, PhD, assistant professor of parasitology and principal investigator of the Rice Research Group, leads a research team seeking to discover and repurpose drugs against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Purdue veterinary student receives Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship awarded by AKC Humane Fund

The AKC® Humane Fund, Inc.℠ has announced the 2026 recipients of the Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship, celebrating the human-canine bond, and one of the recipients is Purdue veterinary student Tiffany Chang of the Class of 2027. Chang is one of only five students chosen for the scholarships.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Unites with Purdue United Way Campaign

With the goal of raising $700,000 by November 4 to support local nonprofit organizations that help individuals and families in Greater Lafayette, the Purdue United Way campaign took off September 23 with an official campaign launch on the front lawn of the Purdue Memorial Union. Purdue Veterinary Medicine, along with the university’s other colleges and units, will participate with the help of PVM faculty and staff ambassadors working to make it easy for people in the college to respond, whether by giving, or by indicating that they do not wish to give. As part of the PVM drive to support the campaign, Dean Bret Marsh and his wife, Polly, are contributing a match for campaign contributions from college faculty and staff. Additionally, a drawing will be held to select winners from those who contribute.

“Paws Up” – for Dr. Yasumasa Iimori – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we commend Yasumasa Iimori, DVM, PhD, who is a resident in Emergency and Critical Care in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.