Spring not only brings the end of the academic year and graduation, it also is a time for celebrating accomplishments of Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty. Two ceremonies at the conclusion of the spring semester provided such opportunities to recognize faculty with awards and to honor those receiving academic promotions.
The first ceremony, held in Lynn 1136 on April 26, honored faculty who received teaching awards given on the basis of evaluations made by members of each class of DVM students. Dean Willie Reed began the program by explaining that each year the veterinary students are asked to evaluate the teaching effectiveness of faculty members using the following standard:
“An outstanding teacher is one who demonstrates superior ability in communicating the chosen material to students and stimulates their desire to master the material. This teacher will also recognize that their teaching responsibility does not stop at the classroom door, and therefore, will be ready to aid and motivate students in a counseling and advisory capacity, either formally or informally.”
Dean Reed said the results of this student ballot are used to select the recipients of awards honoring the top teachers in each year of the DVM program. Then he announced this year’s award winners. Congratulations to the following award recipients:
- Dr. Kevin Hannon, associate professor of basic medical sciences, received the PVM Award for Excellence in Teaching from First-Year DVM Students, selected by the Class of 2026. Dr. Hannon teaches Gross Anatomy of the Dog and Cat in the fall semester and Veterinary Neuroscience in the spring semester. He also teaches in the Veterinary Nursing Program. Dr. Hannon has demonstrated innovation in his teaching by creating an interactive application, Active Lesson, that allows the students to practice active recall and visualize anatomy from multiple perspectives.
- Dr. Stephanie Inoue, lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Administration, was recognized with the PVM Award of Excellence in Teaching from Second-Year DVM Students, selected by the Class of 2025. Dr. Inoue is instructor-of-record for Veterinary Skills and Competencies (VSAC) Ill and IV and she teaches in all the VSAC courses as well as the Applications and Integrations courses. She is respected by students for her high standards and the support she provides to students. She also is dedicated to maintaining the health and wellbeing of the college’s Canine Educators.
- Mindy Anderson, Pharm D, clinical assistant professor of basic medical sciences, was awarded the PVM Award of Excellence in Teaching from Third-Year DVM Students, selected by the Class of 2024. Dr. Anderson is the instructor-of-record for Veterinary Pharmacology Principles and Applications and Applied Pharmacology II. Dr. Anderson’s years of experience as a veterinary nurse enable her to make pharmacology very practical. Although Dr. Anderson teaches primarily in the second year of the DVM program, she made such a lasting impact on the Class of 2024 that they chose to recognize her in their third year.
- Dr. John Christian, associate professor of veterinary clinical pathology and director of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, received the PVM Award of Excellence in Teaching from Fourth-Year DVM Students, selected by the Class of 2023. Dr. Christian is the instructor-of-record for Clinical Chemistries in the second year. In the first year of the curriculum, he teaches physiology and provides valuable support to the A&I courses. The students appreciate Dr. Christian’s reflections on values that are the foundation of respected professionals and his caring attitude. Dr. Christian’s selection by the fourth year class is a testament to the lasting impression he has made on them.
Then in May, another set of faculty awards was presented at the Faculty Awards and Promotions Celebration, which was held in Lynn 1136 on Friday, May 12. “It is exciting today to have this opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty members during this ceremony that combines the presentation of faculty awards with the recognition of newly promoted faculty,” Dean Reed said as he began the program. “First, we will present awards for excellence in teaching, research, engagement, and service. Then, we will honor our recently promoted faculty, before reconvening in the Veterinary Medical Library for a reception.”
The following award winners were recognized:
- Dr. Janice Kritchevsky, professor of large animal internal medicine and large animal chief of staff in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, received the Alumni Faculty Award for Excellence.
- Dr. John Christian, associate professor of veterinary clinical pathology and director of the Clinical Pathology Laboratory, was presented with the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award, as a result of his selection based on the annual evaluation by veterinary students of the teaching effectiveness of PVM faculty members.
- Dr. Kevin Hannon, associate professor of basic medical sciences, received the PVM Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award, as a result of his selection, based on the same annual veterinary student evaluation of the teaching effectiveness of PVM faculty members.
- Dr. Aimee Brooks, clinical associate professor of small animal emergency and critical care, was presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Dr. Kari Ekenstedt, assistant professor of anatomy and genetics in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, received the Zoetis Award for Veterinary Research Excellence.
- Dr. Michael Childress, associate professor of comparative oncology, is the recipient of the PVM Excellence in Research Award sponsored by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
- Dr. Sandy Taylor, associate professor of large animal internal medicine, received the PVM Excellence in Service Award.
- Dr. Darryl Ragland, associate professor of food animal production medicine, was presented with the PVM Excellence in Scholarship of Engagement Award.
Dean Reed then recognized ten members of the PVM faculty who were promoted this spring. “Faculty promotions involve a rigorous process that demonstrates excellence and scholarly productivity in one or more of the areas of discovery, learning, and engagement,” Dean Reed said. “I am very proud to recognize these promoted faculty members today.”
Congratulations to the following faculty members for their academic promotions:
- Dr. Uma Aryal – to Research Associate Professor of Comparative Pathobiology
- Dr. Michael Childress – to Professor of Comparative Oncology in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
- Dr. Caroline Fulkerson – to Clinical Associate Professor of Diagnostic Imaging in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
- Dr. Nadia Lanman – to Research Associate Professor of Comparative Pathobiology
- Dr. Sarah Malek – to Associate Professor of Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
- Dr. Susan Mendrysa – to Professor of Basic Medical Sciences
- Dr. Deepti Pillai – to Clinical Associate Professor of Diagnostic Microbiology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
- Dr. Andrea Pires dos Santos – to Associate Professor of Veterinary Clinical Pathology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
- Dr. Darryl Ragland – to Professor of Food Animal Production Medicine in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
- Dr. Christina Wilson-Frank – to Clinical Professor of Toxicology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology
Each promoted faculty member received a portrait, done as a hand-drawn illustration by Professor Emeritus David Williams, as a commemorative gift.
After the ceremony, attendees were able to gather at a reception held in the Veterinary Medical Library.
Congratulations to all of the faculty honorees!