Skip to main content

Purdue Homecoming Spotlight Shines on Small Animal Primary Care

Bethany kneels down to pet Finn as she looks toward the camera smiling
Bethany Shepard, the daughter of PVM Director of Lifelong Learning Ben Shepard, hangs out with Finn, a former canine educator, at the PVM tent on Boilermaker Boulevard during Purdue’s Homecoming pre-game event.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine was on display for Purdue alumni, football fans, and community residents as part of the “Boilermaker Boulevard” during the family-friendly celebration on the Purdue Mall Saturday morning, October 2.  The festive pre-game event gave visitors a chance to learn more about various colleges and programs at Purdue before the Boilermaker football team took the field for the homecoming game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a rainy Ross-Ade Stadium. 

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine tent was a hit with Purdue fans, thanks to the team of volunteer people and pets who staffed the display. Small Animal Primary Care Wellness Clinician Lori Corriveau (PU DVM ’99) and students Brianna Newton (DVM Class of 2025), Erin Paul (DVM Class of 2023), Leeza Kuo (DVM Class of 2023), and Kelsey Stoughton (Veterinary Nursing Class of 2023) answered visitors’ pet health questions, provided them with treats for cats and dogs, and shared information about the importance of flea and tick preventives. They were accompanied by Finn, a former canine educator, and Dr. Corriveau’s cats, Baby Kitty and Theodore.  Tent activities included the “Wheel of Tick” trivia game, a “Tick Toss” game, and adorable photo-ops with Baby Kitty, Theodore and Finn!

A big thank you to Dr. Corriveau, the students, and the pets for staffing the tent and to Susan Xioufaridou, PVM director of alumni relations and special events, for organizing the college’s participation in Purdue’s Homecoming event.

A little girl wearing a Purdue cheerleading outfit in black and gold tosses a "tick" onto the spotted dog backdrop as a PVM volunteer stands by to assist
A young Purdue fan enjoys playing the “Tick-Toss” game at the PVM tent that was part of the Homecoming family-friendly celebration.

Writer(s): Susan Xioufaridou | 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.