In Memory: Dr. Michael Walker (PU DVM ’77)

December 8, 2023

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is saddened to learn that an alumnus, Dr. Michael J. Walker, of St. John, Indiana, passed away December 3. He was 70.

Dr. Walker was raised in Indianapolis and enrolled at Purdue University after graduating from North Central High School. He earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1977 and went on to become the owner of the Highland Animal Hospital where he enjoyed serving pets and their owners since 1979.

An avid reader and history buff, Dr. Walker loved the outdoors and enjoyed hiking, camping, and fishing. He also was a big sports fan who loved cheering on the Purdue Boilermakers and the Chicago Blackhawks and Bears. In addition, he was known as an avid movie watcher, who knew every detail and could be counted on to answer any question.

Dr. Walker is remembered for being very generous and intelligent, with a keen sense of humor and wit, and a wealth of stories and jokes that he loved to share. He touched many lives and will be deeply missed.

A visitation will be held beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 10, at the Solan-Pruzin Funeral Home, 14 Kennedy Ave., Schererville, Indiana. A service celebrating Dr. Walker’s life will follow at 5:00 that evening at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Click here to view a complete obituary.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” for Jennifer Danaher – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week we express our gratitude to Jennifer Danaher, who is department secretary for Veterinary Clinical Sciences.

‘Purdue Pursuits’: A PVM angle on Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups

Crafting meaningful and engaging course experiences has been at the top of Dielson Vieira’s mind ever since he joined the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s faculty in 2024. As a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vieira is already adept at applying innovative teaching practices to classroom environments, but that doesn’t stop him from seeking out new ideas, approaches and perspectives — insights he gains through outlets like Purdue’s teaching and learning reading groups.

Top tier biology journal publishes PVM study that unlocks secrets of a drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious infections in humans

Though the name “Candida auris” is far from a household term, public health experts know it well because the multi-drug-resistant fungal pathogen, which causes serious human infections, has been classified as an urgent threat by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Antibiotic Threats Report (2019). Dr. Shankar Thangamani, Associate Professor of Microbiology and University Faculty Scholar in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology, is researching C. auris, aided by a 2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). New research findings, just published in Nature Microbiology, show how C. auris adapts and evades the immune system.

In Print: ‘Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies’

A just-published 300-page volume edited by Jessica Fortin, Purdue assistant professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences, provides a significant new resource for researchers studying a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as tauopathies. “Translational Research Methods for Tauopathies” provides detailed protocols intentionally selected to serve as a basis for research laboratories seeking to further treatments for such debilitating neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

It’s Almost Here!

Though the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference is almost upon us, there’s still time to register and take advantage of this time-honored College of Veterinary Medicine fall tradition that combines excellent continuing education with fun opportunities for reconnecting with colleagues and classmates, networking, and learning about the latest veterinary trends and products. The 2026 Purdue Veterinary Conference takes place September 23–26 on the Purdue University campus. The annual event has something for everyone, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians, faculty, staff and students.