PVM Recognizes Amalia de Gortari upon Her Retirement

November 2, 2018

Amalia pictured with Dr. Knapp and Dr. Hockley

Amalia de Gortari, MVZ is joined by Dr. Deborah Knapp and Dr. Duncan Hockley as she holds a recognition gift given in honor of her retirement at a reception Monday, October 29.

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family came together Monday, October 29, to honor Amalia de Gortari, MVZ on the occasion of her retirement as oncology and radiation oncology technician supervisor in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Amalia came to West Lafayette in 1989 from Mexico, where she earned her Medico Veterinario Zootecnista (MVZ) degree, or Mexico veterinary medicine degree, at the Autonomous National University of Mexico. She then began volunteering in the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s ICU and was hired full-time in 1990.

Amalia served as the hospital’s first versa-tech, and worked in surgery, medicine, community practice, diagnostic imaging, and oncology, as well as ICU. For the last 25 years, she has worked full-time in oncology. Her hard work was recognized when she received an award for excellence in veterinary teaching in 1997 and the College’s Outstanding Staff Award in 2006.

Amalia pictured with well-wishers at her retirement reception

Amalia de Gortari, MVZ greets well-wishers at a reception held in honor of her retirement in the Continuum Cafe.

During the retirement reception, faculty, staff, and students listened as comments were made by Veterinary Teaching Hospital Director Duncan Hockley and Purdue Comparative Oncology Program Director Deborah Knapp, the Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology. Amalia was praised for “…leaving many, many legacies,” and as someone who will be remembered for her bright smile when she greeted passersby in the hallways.

Amalia also recognized for “…being a champion with the international students.” Amalia and her family were born in Mexico and became American citizens in 2001. Her background and the understanding she gained from that have been comforting and reassuring to international students. Amalia was recognized for putting her caring personality into everything she does. “You will always be a part of the Purdue family, and we wish you all the happiness as you embark on a new exciting chapter of your life,” Dr. Hockley said. Congratulations Amalia!

Writer(s): Amanda McCormick, PVM Communications Intern, and Kevin Doerr | 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.