The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS) at Purdue University is proud to announce that a recent study from its anesthesiology team has been selected as the cover feature for Veterinary Sciences (MDPI), Volume 12, Issue 11. Chosen for the cover from among 82 articles, the publication highlights the College of Veterinary Medicine’s growing impact in avian clinical research.
The featured study, “Evaluation of a Multimodal Anesthetic Protocol for Immobilization in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura),” addresses a critical need for safe, species-specific anesthesia in scavenger birds. Black and Turkey Vultures play a vital ecological role by removing carrion, yet their increasing interactions with human environments, such as aircraft collisions and livestock conflicts, pose unique challenges. “Effective immobilization protocols are essential for researchers, veterinarians, and conservationists to safely examine these birds, deploy research tools, conduct health assessments, and provide veterinary care,” said Professor of Anesthesiology, Dr. Jeff Ko.
“Being chosen for the cover is a meaningful acknowledgment of our team’s contribution to closing the anesthesia knowledge gap in these species,” Dr. Ko added. “It underscores the importance of targeted research in avian medicine, especially for scavengers whose health directly influences public health and ecosystem balance.”
The publication also recognizes the leadership of VCS anesthesia resident Dr. Alejandro Vargas, lead author, and the mentorship of co-author Dr. Tomohito Inoue. Their work introduced a quantitative sedative and recovery scoring system, along with a robust cardiorespiratory monitoring framework, critical tools for ensuring anesthetic safety in both field and clinical settings.
Congratulations to the anesthesiology team for this achievement.