AVMA creates strategic commission, offers welfare policy guidance
AVMA CEO W. Ron DeHaven discusses the job of the new Task Force on AVMA Programs for Students and Recent Graduates as Executive Board Chair John R. Scamahorn looks on. (R. Scott Nolen)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Board balances budget, supports pro–small-business legislation
On Jan. 8, just ahead of the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference and regular winter session of the House of Delegates in Chicago, the Executive Board took up an agenda addressing the future of the Association, animal welfare legislation, student needs, and federal support for small businesses.
20/20 Vision
The board approved the formation of the AVMA 20/20 Vision Commission. The commission is charged with creating a vision for the AVMA that incorporates what is needed to position the Association as a flexible and dynamic association, one that is increasingly relevant and responsive to the membership and the public 6 to 10 years in the future.
Executive Board member Douglas G. Aspros and the Office of the Executive Vice President made the proposal, which includes an examination of the current AVMA structure, programs, and strategies. The commission will comprise “big picture thinkers” who are tasked with identifying issues and trends that are currently impacting the AVMA or are likely to in the future.
It is anticipated that the 10-member commission will be appointed by May 1. For more information about nominations to the AVMA 20/20 Vision Commission, see “New task force, commission seek nominations” on page 495.
Balanced budget
The Executive Board approved a series of spending guidelines for AVMA staff to control costs during the 2010 budget year. The guidelines were proposed by AVMA Treasurer Bret D. Marsh and Kim Michael-Lee, director of the AVMA Finance and Business Services Division, after new economic data late in 2009 prompted a round of additional cuts to the Association's budget to avoid deficit spending in 2010. As a result, the AVMA is projected to run a modest surplus in this current budgetary year.
Ballot initiative policy
The growing popularity of using state referendums to establish animal welfare standards has motivated the AVMA to adopt a policy outlining the Association's support for appropriately constituted expert bodies to create animal care policies.
Ballot initiatives on animal welfare standards have been successful in a number of states, most notably in California, where Proposition 2 requires producers to institute major alterations to livestock housing systems by 2015.
Although such referendums have been praised for allowing direct public input, the AVMA believes they are poorly designed for addressing complex issues in that they are narrow in their mechanism of effect, limit the amount and detail of content that can be provided to the deciding public, and offer minimal opportunities for expert input.
The AVMA philosophy has been one of constant improvement of all animal care systems through open dialogue and a shared desire to advance well-being and eliminate animal suffering. The AVMA believes that for regulatory actions related to animal care to achieve their desired objectives, they need to arise from a consensus built via a greater public understanding of industry practices and a greater industry understanding of public attitudes and ethical needs.
The AVMA has, therefore, adopted a policy supporting legislative and regulatory processes because they include opportunities for stakeholder engagement. The policy, “Establishing Public Policy to Ensure Animal Well Being,” was proposed by the AVMA State Advocacy, Animal Welfare, and Animal Agriculture Liaison committees, and is posted at www.avma.org under “Policy” in the Reference section. See also “Rural legislators favor legislative approaches, expert panels for setting welfare standards” on page 491.
New task force
The board approved creation of the Task Force on AVMA Programs for Students and Recent Graduates as proposed by Executive Board member Joseph H. Kinnarney, District III.
The task force will aid the AVMA in reviewing current programs and developing a strategic plan for the Association's involvement with veterinary students and recent graduates, according to Dr. Kinnarney, who was the Association's liaison to the Student AVMA and student chapters of the AVMA during his two terms as AVMA vice president.
In addition, the task force provides another route for recent graduates to become involved in the AVMA, which has been identified as an important factor in continuing the Association's relevance.
For information about nominations to the Task Force on AVMA Programs for Students and Recent Graduates, see “New task force, commission seek nominations” on page 495.
Small business legislation
The AVMA is supporting its many entrepreneurial members by backing a slate of pro–small-business legislation in Congress. As recommended by the AVMA Legislative Advisory Committee, the Executive Board approved supporting the following four bills:
• The Healthy Workforce Act of 2009 (S. 803/H.R. 1897) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide employers with a 50 percent tax credit for the costs of providing employees with a qualified wellness program. The legislation defines “qualified wellness program” as a program that is certified by the secretary of Health and Human Services and that consists of health awareness and education, behavioral change, and a supportive environment. The tax credit is an expiring provision and would therefore terminate after 2017.
• The Flexible Health Savings Account Act (H.R. 544) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow up to $500 of unused benefits in a health flexible spending plan or other arrangement to be carried over to subsequent years or contributed to a health savings account or qualified retirement plan, without affecting the status of such a plan or arrangement as a tax-exempt employee benefit cafeteria plan.
• The SIMPLE Cafeteria Plan Act of 2009 (S. 988) would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow small businesses to set up simple cafeteria plans to provide nontaxable employee benefits and would make changes in the requirements for cafeteria plans, flexible spending accounts, and benefits. The legislation would exempt employers who make contributions for employees under a simple cafeteria plan from pension plan nondiscrimination requirements applicable to highly compensated and key employees. S. 988 would modify rules applicable to employee benefit flexible spending arrangements to permit participants to make or modify elections regarding covered benefits, and to carry over up to $500 (indexed for inflation) of unused benefits to the succeeding year or transfer them to another plan, including an individual retirement plan or a health savings account. The bill also allows an exclusion from the gross income of an employee of up to $7,500 ($10,000 for employees with dependents) for employer contributions to a flexible spending arrangement.
• The Small Business Jump Start Act (S. 1402/HR 1552) would lessen the tax burden on new small businesses by doubling the deduction they can take for start-up expenses from $5,000 to $10,000 and would increase the threshold for the deduction's phase-out from $50,000 to $60,000. The act also would widen the pool of businesses eligible to take the full amount of the deduction in their first year of business. While a typical business can deduct ordinary business expenses in the year the expenses are paid, a start-up business is currently limited as to how much of its start-up expenses it can deduct and when.
The board also approved recommendations of support for the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Medicine Enhancement Act (see “Congressman sees need for more zoo and wildlife veterinarians” on page 497) and the Roosevelt Scholars Act (S. 2789/H.R. 3510). That act would help government attract “mission-critical talent” by establishing a nonprofit foundation to manage a scholarship program for students who commit to working three to five years in public health, science, or other “mission-critical” fields after graduation.
Additionally, the board accepted a proposal of nonsupport for the Paid Vacation Act (H.R. 2564).
2011 convention
The Poultry Science Association will likely hold its 2011 annual meeting in conjunction with the AVMA Annual Convention in St. Louis. The PSA annual conference typically attracts approximately 650 attendees, most of whom are researchers and scientists, according to the AVMA Convention Management and Program Committee, which recommended the PSA hold its meeting with the AVMA. The Executive Board approved the proposal, which could result in additional profit for the AVMA.
—R. SCOTT NOLEN
Rural legislators favor legislative approaches, expert panels for setting welfare standards
An organization representing rural state legislators recently passed a resolution that discourages use of ballot initiatives to effect laws on animal care.
The State Agriculture and Rural Leaders passed the resolution in mid-January. It includes language similar to that of a policy the AVMA Executive Board approved Jan. 8 just before the Veterinary Leadership Conference in Chicago. The AVMA policy, titled “Establishing Public Policy to Ensure Animal Well Being,” originated from a recommendation from the AVMA State Advocacy, Animal Welfare, and Animal Agriculture Liaison committees.
The SARL resolution and AVMA policy both encourage use of legislative committee processes with substantial expert input from individuals and organizations. Both state that “Ballot initiatives are poorly designed for addressing complex issues” including setting animal care standards.
The measures also note that ballot initiatives can lead to polarizing public debates based on incomplete information. The SARL resolution urges state leaders to create livestock care standards boards or authorize existing agencies to establish care standards for livestock and poultry.
The SARL resolution states that in setting standards, such boards should consider “agricultural best management practices for care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.”
The AVMA policy expresses support for the creation—through regular legislative or regulatory means—of expert bodies to set animal welfare standards. It also encourages legislators to include veterinarians and animal welfare scientists on those panels.
“As animal care experts, veterinarians and animal welfare scientists bring to the table not only their technical understanding of animals' physical and mental needs, but also an appropriate focus on balancing those needs with animal use practicalities and public expectations,” the AVMA policy states. “Veterinarians and animal welfare scientists, who have been professionally trained to responsibly advance animal care, should thereby be given substantial opportunity for representation.”
To view the AVMA policy, go to www.avma.org/issues/policy/establishing_public_policy_aw.asp. The SARL resolution can be viewed at www.agandruralleaders.org/. Click on “2010 Ag Chairs Summit” at the top of the page and scroll down to the Resolution on Establishing Public Policy on Animal Care Standards link.
AVMA convenes leadership conference in Chicago
Effective use of social media, improved communications explained
Several hundred leaders of the veterinary profession braved the snow and frigid Midwest temperatures to attend the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference Jan. 8–10 in Chicago.
The VLC, held in conjunction with the regular winter session of the AVMA House of Delegates, featured updates on the Association's financial health and strategic initiatives as well as workshops aimed at enhancing knowledge and leadership skills. An account of the HOD session was published in the Feb. 15 issue of JAVMA (page 385).
Despite the weather challenges, 429 veterinary professionals attended the meeting. Of those, 69 were emerging veterinary leaders, with 10 of the up-and-coming leaders having been specifically selected from underrepresented minority groups.
Hill's Pet Nutrition sponsored a networking event for emerging leaders as well as a shortened version of the Veterinary Leadership Experience—the popular AVMA cosponsored leadership development program for veterinary students—led by Dr. Richard DeBowes.
The opening speaker for this year's VLC was Paul Lisnek, JD, PhD, a nationally recognized television commentator, author, trial consultant, and motivational speaker. Dr. Lisnek spoke about the dynamics of the communication process and offered suggestions on how to improve dialogue.
Effective communication occurs when the speaker offers a message that acknowledges and respects the listener's opinion. “You have to deal with people in their world,” Dr. Lisnek explained. “The goal is to get you to accept my position from your point of view.”
Effective communication is based on mutual understanding, according to opening speaker Paul Lisnek, JD, PhD.
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Dr. Lisnek reminded the audience that body language and tone of voice are more powerful than words, and he cautioned against letting nonverbal cues negate the actual message.
Day two of the VLC began with a series of updates from AVMA leaders. AVMA President Larry R. Corry recapped highlights from the previous Association year, reporting that in addition to balancing the 2010 budget, the AVMA saw its membership exceed 80,000 for the first time.
“In spite of a daunting fiscal year, our successes in providing quality programs and services to our members have been numerous and impressive,” Dr. Corry said.
The AVMA's strategic goals evolve as new challenges arise, Dr. Corry noted, and he called on delegates to inform the Association about issues in their community. That information will be used to determine whether the strategic goals are still pertinent. “The strategic goals of the Association are determined by our members, and you are their voice,” he said.
AVMA Treasurer Bret D. Marsh spoke about how a membership dues increase would help the Association to continue providing top-notch services. The HOD the following day approved a proposal that will increase dues for regular, associate, and affiliate members to $300 annually, starting in 2011.
Executive Board member Douglas G. Aspros provided an update on how the Association is moving into the next phase of its strategic planning with the AVMA 20/20 Vision Commission. The board approved the commission, which is responsible for creating a vision for the AVMA that will keep it relevant far into the future (see “AVMA creates strategic commission, offers welfare policy guidance” on page 488).
Dr. Kimberly A. May, assistant director of professional and public affairs in the AVMA Communications Division, discussed the Association's involvement in social media. In the past year, the AVMA has created Twitter feeds, posted the AVMA@Work newsletter on the Web site, developed Flickr photo galleries, and maintained a Facebook group page. It is currently developing a fan page on the site as well.
The only current candidate for AVMA president-elect, Dr. René A. Carlson, and the candidate for vice president, Dr. Jan K. Strother, gave short addresses.
A variety of workshops were offered during the conference. Dr. Claudia J. Baldwin showed colleagues pictures of dogs living near trash, cats caged without food or water, and animal feces ground into hardwood floors in overlapping polka dots.
Dr. Baldwin, the director of Maddie's Shelter Medicine Program at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, showed the images during a workshop on the impact of substandard housing on the welfare of companion animals. And she talked about the need for veterinarians to collaborate with state veterinarians, VMAs, humane organizations, and the public to improve animal shelters and to combat neglect and abuse by animal hoarders and unscrupulous breeders.
AVMA President Larry R. Corry says the Association is strengthening the veterinary profession despite the economic downturn.
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
“We have to open our eyes and see what is happening,” Dr. Baldwin said.
Veterinarians attending the workshop on substandard housing and the welfare of companion animals also talked about circumstances they had seen in their home states. One veterinarian talked about rescued horses that were virtually unhandled and nearly feral under their new owners; another about 400 cats kept in one 1,200-square-foot animal shelter; and a third, about the recent dehydration and starvation deaths of animals left unattended in a shelter.
Dr. Baldwin urged veterinarians to push for answers when they have clients who, for example, consistently bring in different animals with various medical conditions and refuse to say how many pets they own. VMA executive directors may be the best contacts when veterinarians need assistance, she said, but she also encouraged colleagues to have a voice in local animal welfare organizations and know the identities of their states' animal cruelty prevention officers.
At another of the conference workshops, Kim Kishbaugh, assistant director of electronic communications in the AVMA Communications Division, elaborated on best practices for using social media.
Social media—a category of sites that are based on user participation and user-generated content—means conversation, dialogue, sharing, collaboration, and community.
“You have to be ready for that when you delve into it,” Kishbaugh said.
Common concerns about starting to take part in social media for professional purposes include losing control over branding, dealing with negative comments, and not having the time or resources to manage it properly.
Kishbaugh said, essentially, control has already been lost through the very existence of social media, but embracing these tools can offer a way to regain some of that control. It also allows organizations to directly answer detractors.
She also said that for many organizations, the move into social media is inevitable, regardless of whether the organization decides it is necessary. “If you don't create it, someone else will. There are that many people out there who know and like (your organization). Someone will eventually do it,” Kishbaugh said.
She advocates for organizations to develop a two-part communications strategy before stepping into Web 2.0—a term used to describe a new generation of Web services and applications with an increasing emphasis on human collaboration.
The first step, Kishbaugh said, is defining the organization's communications needs and goals on the basis of the organization's overall strategic goals. The second step is determining where social media can help achieve those goals.
An organization can start by simply listening to and monitoring online activity such as by searching for its name on Twitter, Google, or Facebook. Other easy ways to enter the Web 2.0 universe are to create a Twitter account to start “following” other people or groups or to comment on a blog. In time, organizations can do more as time and resources allow, such as starting their own Twitter feed or Facebook page or creating their own blog.
“Don't be afraid to make mistakes,” she said. “It will get you more familiar with the platform and give you ideas of how to use it.”
Other workshops addressed advocacy for the profession, work and home life balance, and leadership skills.
Michael Staver of the Staver Group delivered the closing keynote address, “Leadership Isn't for Cowards,” about pitfalls to avoid and steps to take for effective leadership. He said the three pitfalls of leaders are the need to be right, the need to be in control, and the need to be all things to all people.
An effective leader must accept circumstances as they are, take responsibility, take action, acknowledge progress, commit to lifelong learning, and kindle new relationships, Staver said.
—GREG CIMA, R. SCOTT NOLEN, MALINDA LARKIN, AND KATIE BURNS
Be an AVMA Headquarters extern
Applications being accepted till mid-March for second group of externs
The AVMA Headquarters Externship Stipend Program is entering its second year. Five veterinary students completed externships in 2009, the inaugural year.
Students who would like to explore opportunities in organized veterinary medicine are invited to apply by March 15 for the 2010–2011 externships.
Last year when Joshua Ames applied for a headquarters externship, he saw it as a steppingstone to future involvement with the AVMA. Throughout veterinary school, he has also tried to learn about everything veterinary medicine has to offer.
Ames served his externship last fall in the Membership and Field Services Division. A fourth-year student at St. George's University School of Veterinary Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, he is now in his year of clinical rotations at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.
“The externship was a very beneficial and eye-opening experience to an area of veterinary medicine that most people have little knowledge about,” Ames said. “It was a great chance to meet a plethora of amazing people and learn about their roles and duties that help keep veterinary medicine alive and functioning.”
The 2009 externs served one- to four-week externships between June and October. Applicants for the coming year are eligible to serve three- to four-week externships between May 1, 2010, and May 1, 2011.
Up to five students who are members of the Student AVMA will be selected for the externships. The AVMA will provide stipends of $750 for three-week externships and $1,000 for four weeks. The student can spend the externship in one division or spread the experience among divisions. Externs will work on many projects, at least one of them from concept through completion.
Externs are responsible for securing their own transportation and housing.
Dr. Derrick D. Hall, an assistant director of the Membership and Field Services Division and the AVMA adviser to SAVMA, administers the externship program. Theresa De Carli works with him as program coordinator. She commented on feedback from the 2009 externs. “As I read the evaluations of the students who participated, one common theme that I saw was that the experience gave them a different view of AVMA—by coming here, they were able to see all the divisions that they did not know existed and the various activities that are all going on at one time. The students enjoyed making a contribution to the AVMA.”
Third-year University of Illinois veterinary student Valerie Eisenbart served a 2009 externship in the Scientific Activities Division. She said, “As a student interested in career possibilities beyond private practice, (I found) one of the most valuable aspects of the externship was learning about the varied backgrounds of the AVMA staff members.
“The Scientific Activities staff members were willing to share their stories with me, and they opened my eyes to a wide range of possible career paths. I also attended an Executive Board meeting and learned how the AVMA is organized. I left with a much greater appreciation for what the AVMA does for our profession.”
Tristan Colonius applied in 2009 because he is interested in the policy side of animal welfare and wanted to serve an externship in the AVMA Animal Welfare Division.
“The experience was invaluable,” said Colonius, a third-year veterinary student at Louisiana State University. “I had the opportunity to see how the AVMA works as an organization and to get a general idea of what the Animal Welfare Division does.
“I was given the autonomy to take on a project under Dr. Gail Golab's guidance and that of other divisional staff. The AVMA was putting together model legislation. I did research on the scientific studies that have been done in this area of animal welfare, reviewed existing legislation, and then helped build a model. I worked with staff in the AVMA Department of State Legislative and Regulatory Affairs within the Communications Division and with the AVMA Governmental Relations Division, and enjoyed the chance to work across these different staff areas.”
Following the externship, Colonius served as a student panelist in “Swimming with the Tide,” a symposium on animal welfare in veterinary medical education and research co-hosted by the AVMA and the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges in November.
“The externship was also a truly valuable experience in another way,” he said. “It helped me clarify where I want to go with my career and gave me some important connections. As a result, I will serve an externship this spring with the Ministry of Agriculture in New Zealand on its national animal welfare infrastructure and meet people in the field of animal welfare at the international level.”
The other 2009 externs were Joanna Horany, a fourth-year student at Texas A&M who served in the Communications Division, and Shana Eisenstadt, a second-year student at the University of Georgia who split her externship between the Publications and the Education and Research divisions. Her Publications project, an article about the Veterinary Leadership Experience, was published Jan. 1, 2010, in JAVMA News.
Application forms for the 2010–2011 externships can be downloaded by logging on to www.avma.org/savma, clicking on “Services available from the AVMA,” then scrolling down to 2010 AVMA Headquarters Externship Application.
—SUSAN C. KAHLER
call out
New task force, commission seek nominations
Nominations are now open for two new AVMA entities.
The Task Force on AVMA Programs for Students and Recent Graduates and the AVMA 20/20 Vision Commission were established by the AVMA Executive Board at its Jan. 8 meeting.
The task force is set up to aid the AVMA in reviewing current student programs, comparing them those programs with other association plans and the American Society of Veterinary Medical Association Executives' recent graduate report, determining the needs of students and recent graduates, and developing a strategic plan that incorporates tactics that have been successful.
The commission is charged with creating a vision for AVMA that would incorporate the qualities and characteristics needed to position the AVMA as a dynamic association that becomes increasingly relevant and responsive to the membership and the public 6 to 10 years in the future.
Both groups will require members who represent sundry experiences and perspectives in and outside the veterinary profession, and will include diversity among appointees on the basis of gender, generation, and ethnicity.
The task force will be composed of eight members: two recent graduates, two veterinary students, two faculty advisers, one at-large veterinarian, and one Executive Board member. AVMA or Student AVMA membership is not required to serve on this task force.
The task force will hold up to two meetings over a two-day/two-night period at AVMA headquarters in Schaumburg, with electronic meetings and conference calls as required.
Approximately 10 individuals will be selected to sit on the commission; nominees are expected to be progressive, “big picture” thinkers who will contribute to critical strategic discussions, ask pivotal questions, and challenge assumptions to identify and create a vision.
The commission will have up to three, two-day meetings in Schaumburg and conference calls as needed.
Nominations for either entity should include a completed nomination form and a one- to two-page resume. All nominations must be received by March 15. It is anticipated that the task force and commission will be fully appointed by May 1.
Nominations for the Task Force on AVMA Programs for Students and Recent Graduates should be submitted to Dr. Kevin J. Dajka by e-mail at kdajka@avma.org, by fax at (847) 303-5669, or by mail to Dr. Kevin J. Dajka, Director, Membership and Field Services Division, AVMA, 1931 N. Meacham Rd, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL, 60173.
Nominations for the AVMA 20/20 Vision Commission should be sent by e-mail to OfficeEVP@avma.org, by fax to (847) 925-0944, or by mail to AVMA Office of the Executive Vice President, 1931 N. Meacham Rd, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL, 60173.
USDA licenses DNA vaccine for treatment of melanoma in dogs
The Department of Agriculture recently granted full licensure for a DNA vaccine to help extend survival time of dogs with oral melanoma.
Merial developed the new vaccine, Oncept, in partnership with the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Animal Medical Center of New York.
The vaccine uses a DNA plasmid containing a gene for the human version of tyrosinase, a protein present on melanoma cancer cells in humans and dogs. Following a dog's vaccination with Oncept, some of the dog's cells will produce the human version of tyrosinase. The dog's immune system reacts by attacking not only the foreign human version of tyrosinase but also the homologous canine version—and thus the melanoma.
In a study, 58 dogs with stage II or stage III oral melanoma received Oncept after local disease control through surgery. Dogs that received the vaccine had a significantly better survival time than the controls did.
Dr. Philip J. Bergman of Bright Heart Veterinary Centers and Sloan-Kettering collaborated with Jedd Wolchok, MD, of Sloan-Kettering on the research that led to the licensure of Oncept. Dr. Bergman said dogs with stage II or stage III oral melanoma have median survival times of five to six months or less when surgery is the sole treatment. He said, “Oncept is a welcome addition for dogs that have been diagnosed with this often fatal disease.”
The USDA licensed the first DNA vaccine for use in the United States in 2005 for prevention of West Nile virus infection in horses.
Rottweiler study links ovaries with exceptional longevity
New research on the biology of aging in dogs suggests a link between shortened life expectancy and ovary removal.
The study, published in the December 2009 issue of the journal Aging Cell, found that Rottweilers that were spayed after they were 6 years old were 4.6 times as likely to reach 13 years of age as were Rottweilers that were spayed at a younger age.
The finding is important because the average life expectancy of Rottweiler dogs is 9.4 years, observed research team leader Dr. David J. Waters. “Our results support the notion that how long females keep their ovaries influences how long they live,” he said.
Dr. Waters is the executive director of the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation at the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, Ind. The foundation is home to the Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies, which tracks the oldest living pet dogs in the country.
Although the findings may challenge long-held notions about pet neutering, Dr. Waters believes veterinarians shouldn't dismiss the research outright but, instead, see it as an exciting development in pet longevity research.
“It was once considered a fact the earth was flat, and then somebody's data said otherwise. That's what scientific discoveries do—they reshape the intellectual terrain,” said Dr. Waters, who is also associate director of Purdue University's Center on Aging and the Life Course and a professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences.
Dogs are a good model for cancer studies in humans, and now there's growing support for using pet dogs in research aimed at helping people live longer lives. The National Institute on Aging, for instance, issued a call in November for information on the feasibility of studying pet dogs to advance the study of human aging.
Dr. Waters' team spent a decade collecting and analyzing medical histories, longevity, and causes of death for 119 Rottweilers in the United States and Canada that survived to 13 years of age. These dogs were compared with a group of 186 Rottweilers with more typical longevity.
Researchers found that female Rottweilers have a distinct survival advantage over males—a trend also documented in humans. That advantage appears to be determined by whether the female dog is sexually intact, however. “Taking away ovaries during the first four years of life completely erased the female survival advantage,” Dr. Waters said.
The Rottweiler research mirrors the findings of the Nurses' Health Study published in May 2009 in Obstetrics & Gynecology by William Parker, MD, and colleagues from the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif.
Dr. Parker's group studied more than 29,000 women who underwent a hysterectomy for benign uterine disease. The findings showed that the benefits of ovary removal—protection against ovarian, uterine, and breast cancer—were out-weighed by an increased mortality rate from other causes. As a result, longevity was cut short in women who lost their ovaries before the age of 50, compared with those who kept their ovaries for at least 50 years.
How ovaries affect longevity in Rottweilers is not understood, but Dr. Waters' research points to a new set of research questions, recalibrating the conversation about removing ovaries.
“We liken this to an ecosystem,” Dr. Waters explained. “If you take the caterpillars out of an environment, what are you left with? I'm betting that like removing all the caterpillars, removing ovaries has unanticipated, unforeseen consequences. An adverse effect on longevity might just be one of those consequences.”
Does Dr. Waters recommend that every dog owner delay their pet's ovariohysterectomy? Not at all. In fact, he cautioned against overgeneralizing the study findings, saying much more research is needed.
“We studied purebred dogs living with responsible owners. You could say our results aren't pertinent to stray dogs or mongrel dogs. I don't believe every Rottweiler or every woman will benefit from keeping ovaries. That's an all-or-none stipulation, and that's not how biology works,” he said, adding that tomorrow's challenge will be to identify which individuals benefit from retaining or removing ovaries.
To meet the needs of veterinarians who want to better understand the biology of aging, Dr. Waters developed a Gerontology Training Program for DVMs at Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation, based on his experience teaching biogerontology to graduate students for more than a decade at Purdue. As longevity research advances, veterinarians need to be prepared. “We make the surest progress when cutting-edge research and cutting-edge education go hand in hand,” Dr. Waters said.
—R. SCOTT NOLEN
Congressman sees need for more zoo and wildlife veterinarians
The House of Representatives has taken up legislation to increase the number of veterinarians specially trained in the care and conservation of wild animals and their ecosystems.
In addition to offering financial incentives to encourage veterinary students to pursue careers in wildlife or zoologic medicine, the bill introduced by Rep. Alcee L. Hastings would create grants for U.S. veterinary schools and colleges to expand zoo animal and wildlife education.
Specially trained veterinarians are an essential part of efforts to conserve the nation's wildlife, according to Rep. Alcee L. Hastings.
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
The Florida congressman says his bill, the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Medicine Enhancement Act (H.R. 4497), is necessary to shore up a critical shortage in the veterinary workforce that jeopardizes public health and wildlife conservation.
“With an increasing number of endangered species, the introduction of invasive non-native species, and more infectious disease threats, wildlife and zoological veterinarians must be placed at the core of our efforts and be given the resources necessary to protect both animal and human lives,” Hastings said Jan. 21 when he introduced the bill.
“We have reached a point in our history when we cannot ignore the importance of protecting America's wildlife,” he said.
Hastings attributed the shortage to low salaries, high educational debt, and insufficient numbers of practical training and formal educational programs specializing in wildlife and zoo veterinary medicine.
The legislation cites the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians and National Association of Federal Veterinarians as stating that many U.S. veterinary schools and colleges lack both a comprehensive curriculum and sufficient numbers of formal educational programs specializing in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine to adequately prepare graduates for a competitive workplace.
According to the AVMA, while some training opportunities exist for aspiring wildlife and zoological veterinarians, such opportunities are not available each year, pay low salaries or stipends, and are highly competitive, the legislation stated.
Hastings says H.R. 4497, if enacted, will develop affordable and high-quality opportunities for individuals who are seeking to become wildlife and zoo veterinarians, spur job growth, and promote robust public health policy.
“My bill will create new positions for wildlife and zoo veterinarians and limit the amount of educational debt for students while providing incentives to study and practice wildlife and zoo veterinary medicine,” he said. “My legislation will also advance education by helping schools develop pilot curricula specializing in wildlife and zoo veterinary medicine and by expanding the number of practical training programs available to students.”
The AVMA along with the American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians, National Association of Federal Veterinarians, Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and Wildlife Conservation Society is supporting H.R. 4497, which at press time in early February had four co-sponsors and had been referred to the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans, and Wildlife.
—R. SCOTT NOLEN
call out
Comments solicited for loan repayment program
Feedback is being solicited before the launch of a federal government program intended to fill a shortage of veterinarians working in needed areas.
The Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture issued two Federal Register notices in late January, the first soliciting comments for the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program application process and the second calling for state animal health officials to nominate veterinary shortage situations within their respective states for eligibility.
The VMLRP was authorized by the National Veterinary Medical Service Act passed by Congress more than seven years ago. The program will help qualified veterinarians offset a substantial portion of their educational debt in return for service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations (see JAVMA, Sept. 1, 2009, page 485).
The first notice gives the public 60 days—or until March 22—to comment on the proposed application forms and program reporting requirements for the VMLRP that will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval. Anyone interested may submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments, or e-mail vmlrp@nifa.usda.gov. Include the text “VMLRP Application Forms” in the subject line of the message.
The second notice solicits nominations from state animal health officials to identify underserved geographic and practice areas within their respective states. They have 45 days—or until March 8—to submit their nominations. Once selected, designated shortage areas eligible for placement of a VMLRP recipient will be published by the USDA in the Federal Register.
It is expected that on April 30, the Federal Register will publish the call for applications for the VMLRP. Applicants then will have 60 days to apply for the program. Offers to selected individuals will be made by Sept. 30.
“It is essential for state animal health officials to work with state veterinary medical associations and other stakeholders to identify shortage areas and nominate them for inclusion in the program,” said Dr. Mark T. Lutschaunig, director of the AVMA Governmental Relations Division.
The AVMA GRD has sent the two notices to state and allied executives in the hopes these organizations may work with state animal health officials on identifying shortage areas.
Gina Luke, assistant director in the AVMA GRD, said if an area is not nominated then it will stand no chance of obtaining the designation as such from USDA. Only designated shortage areas will be eligible for veterinarians receiving loan repayment. Three states—California, Colorado, and Texas—may submit eight nominations. Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin may submit seven. All other states range from two and six nominations. Most of the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia are limited to one nomination each.
The AVMA has strongly advocated for the loan repayment program, including testifying before Congress about how the program can help alleviate the growing shortage of veterinarians working in needed areas, such as food animal medicine, epidemiology, food safety, or public health. Securing funding for VMLRP has been AVMA's highest appropriations priority since the program was authorized in 2003. Congress has appropriated a total of $9.8 million for the program.
news update
Red Flags Rule does not apply to lawyers; how about veterinarians?
A court recently ruled that a federal regulation requiring companies to develop identity-theft prevention programs does not apply to attorneys.
Therefore, the regulation should not apply to health care professionals.
That's according to a letter from the AVMA, American Medical Association, American Dental Association, and American Osteopathic Association to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
The FTC issued the Red Flags Rule to implement provisions of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 that require financial institutions and creditors to develop programs to prevent identity theft. According to an FTC press release from April 30, 2009, creditors “include professionals, such as lawyers or health care providers, who bill their clients after services are rendered.”
On Aug. 27, the American Bar Association filed suit against the FTC, arguing that the agency exceeded its statutory authority in applying the Red Flags Rule to attorneys. On Oct. 29, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a summary judgment in favor of the ABA.
On Dec. 1, Judge Reggie B. Walton issued his full opinion. He wrote, in part: “The selection of ‘financial institution’ along with ‘creditor’ as the targets of the legislation implies that the FACT Act was created to apply to entities involved in banking, lending, or financial related business.”
The AVMA, AMA, ADA, and AOA reviewed the court's decision. On Jan. 27, they sent their letter requesting that the FTC not apply the Red Flags Rule to health care professionals if the rule does not apply to lawyers.
Unwanted horse educational materials released
Hoping to alleviate the unwanted horse problem, equine industry groups have put out new information on how owners, associations, and others in the horse community can help.
The American Horse Council unveiled the brochure “Caregiver's Guide to Rehabilitating the Neglected Horse” at the American Association of Equine Practitioners' 55th Annual Convention this past December.
The document instructs owners who have rescued neglected horses how to properly bring them back to health without overly stressing their already fragile state. Sections include proper feeding, proper vaccination, deworming practices, and hoof care.
The guide was crafted in partnership with Nutrena, Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, and the American Farrier's Association.
The Unwanted Horse Coalition released its own publication this past January—a handbook titled “Best Practices: How Your Organization Can Help Unwanted Horses.”
The document lists programs and activities that many equine organizations, associations, service providers, and commercial suppliers have already instituted to alleviate the unwanted horse problem. Included in the handbook are sections on administration, continuing education, fundraising, support of equine care facilities, placement, direct assistance, breeding control, and euthanasia.
The intent is to outline the various examples of successful programs and activities so they may be replicated or better publicized.
Copies of the two documents are available on the “Resources” page of the coalition's Web site, www.unwantedhorsecoalition.org.
Chiropractic, veterinary groups negotiate roles in animal care
Recent cases led to 2009 law in Colorado, stalemate in New Mexico
Veterinary and chiropractic organizations are negotiating adjustments to state laws to define their respective roles in animal health.
Those efforts, for example, led to a law in Colorado that allows chiropractic treatment on dogs and horses in the state when prescribed by veterinarians. But similar negotiations in New Mexico led to a stalemate that will not likely end this year.
Ralph Johnson, executive director of the Colorado VMA, said a law passed in summer 2009 requires chiropractors in his state to receive education and certification prior to working on animals and to only work on an animal after obtaining a referral from a veterinarian. Chiropractors in the state can work only on horses and dogs.
“Even though they asked about cats, it didn't take very many stories before convincing them that they really didn't want to do chiropractic on cats,” Johnson said.
The 2009 law amended the state's chiropractic act to grant special permission for animal chiropractic practice. The Colorado VMA and the Colorado Chiropractic Association discussed the issue for years prior to reaching an agreement and proposing the state legislation, Johnson said.
Dr. T. Murt Byrne, who helped negotiate with the New Mexico Chiropractic Association on behalf of the New Mexico VMA, said the negotiations in his state ended with disagreements over whether chiropractors should be able to practice on animals without referrals and whether they should be allowed to administer or use herbs or other products to, for example, calm animals during spinal adjustments.
Dr. Byrne had hoped the two organizations would reach a deal in time for the 2009 legislative session. Because New Mexico's legislature has short, budget-oriented sessions on even-numbered years, he does not expect the issue will resurface until 2011.
Dr. Gene F. Giggleman, president of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, performs a spinal adjustment on a dog at his clinic on the campus of Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas. (Courtesy of Dr. Gene F. Giggleman)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Robert Jones, DC, vice president of the New Mexico Chiropractic Association, thinks negotiators for his association and the New Mexico VMA were still willing to work together, but their associations came to a stalemate.
“I think that there are individuals within each profession who do not want to see this piece of legislation come together, which is too bad because the legislation would give protection to the providers. They would know each of their roles and the consequences of going beyond that,” Dr. Jones said.
Both parties agreed animal owners should have primary care veterinarians for their animals, and chiropractors should advise owners to see a veterinarian for primary care. The professions also agreed that chiropractors who work on animals in the state should be required to have subspecialty certification for animal care.
“The veterinarians wanted to have the language in such a way that a chiropractor had to have a direct referral and could only see an animal on a direct referral,” Dr. Jones said. “And that's basically the stopping point.”
Chiropractors in the state questioned why they would support writing a law that would hinder their practices, Dr. Jones said, but he thinks it was shortsighted by members of both professions not to complete and support some legislation on the issue.
Dr. Byrne said veterinarians are the professionals most adept at identifying rabies or West Nile virus infection in horses or plague in cats, for example, and he would be concerned about zoonotic disease risk if chiropractors were seeing animals without referrals.
Dr. Gene F. Giggleman, a veterinarian and the president of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, said chiropractors in animal care are trained to recognize disease, and AVCA education stresses the importance of contacting veterinarians when chiropractors encounter anything unusual. He said that chiropractors can serve as an extra set of eyes for veterinarians.
Dr. Giggleman believes that these legislative efforts are attempts to define the scope of each type of practice and provide a path for chiropractors to care for animals. Most states require that a veterinarian examine an animal prior to chiropractic treatment, he said, while some require veterinarian supervision during chiropractic care.
The AVCA advocates for close work between chiropractors and veterinarians and adherence to the law in states where veterinarian referrals are required. Dr. Giggleman is aware of only one state—Oklahoma—that allows animal chiropractic care without a referral, but that state requires relevant postgraduate training.
Dr. Giggleman said it is incumbent on veterinarians to be educated on alternative treatments available for animals.
The AVMA Model Veterinary Practice Act states that the practice of veterinary medicine includes the use of “complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies.”
—GREG CIMA
Researchers study antimicrobial uptake in crops
Vegetables took in some antimicrobials from antimicrobial-spiked manure
Researchers are trying to determine what antimicrobials are taken in by food plants through manure and what happens to those pharmaceuticals.
“We're still in the early stages of determining what the impact of this research will be,” said Holly A.S. Dolliver, PhD, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. “It's also important to note that we're trying to work on strategies to mitigate these risks as well.”
Dr. Dolliver has been a researcher on projects including a 2006 study that demonstrated sulfamethazine uptake by corn, lettuce, and potatoes fertilized with swine manure spiked with the drug. The study was conducted with sandy soil and raw manure to simulate a worst-case scenario, and the antimicrobials were added to the manure directly, rather than fed to the swine that produced the manure.
“We chose a compound that had a slightly lower molecular weight than some of the other antibiotics,” Dr. Dolliver said. “So we expected that, if antibiotics were being taken up, that this type of compound would be one that would be taken up.”
Dr. Michael D. Apley, a professor of production animal medicine and clinical pharmacology at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, points out studies have proved that some concentrations of antimicrobials can be taken up by plants, but says there is a need to determine what concentrations of these substances could actually result from current production practices. Other studies have indicated what concentrations of antimicrobials can survive in manure, and findings from those and the food crop-related studies could be used to design further research replicating field conditions.
Dr. Dolliver said more research is also needed to determine the behavior of various antimicrobial compounds in plants, and she noted that the type of antimicrobial, its mode of action, and its chemical properties will influence whether or how it will accumulate in plants.
“We need to have a better understanding of the levels of antibiotics in different types of manures, how these antibiotics degrade over time, whether they degrade in fruits and vegetables, and what impact cooking or handling of fruits or vegetables have on degradation of these antibiotic compounds,” Dr. Dolliver said. “So there's still quite a bit of research that has yet to be done.”
Dr. Apley said veterinarians should become well-versed on the research.
“The antibiotic debate has several key components, the biggest of which is zoonotic passage of organisms that have developed resistance while passing through animals, and another is what happens to antibiotics in the environment,” Dr. Apley said.
Dr. Apley said it remains uncertain what impact small amounts of antimicrobials can have when they move through the food chain, and interpretation of a risk assessment would hinge on the risk people are willing to tolerate in keeping the benefits of pharmaceuticals for food animals.
Satish C. Gupta, PhD, a professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, has collaborated with Dr. Dolliver on some studies. He said his research group is analyzing data from a summer 2009 field study in which hog and turkey manure mixed with antimicrobial feed or pure antimicrobials was used to fertilize greenhouse onions, carrots, potatoes, radishes, garlic, lettuce, cabbage, spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers.
Satish C. Gupta, PhD, harvests garlic during a study on antimicrobial uptake by vegetables from manure applied to the field. (Courtesy of Satish C. Gupta)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Dr. Gupta noted that his research group's previous studies have shown that plants can draw in small amounts of antimicrobials, but a person would need to eat large amounts of the vegetables grown in the studies to consume a dangerous amount of any pharmaceutical. The substances could pose a more substantial problem, however, for people allergic to those antimicrobials, he said.
One previous study involving piglet manure showed corn, green onion, and cabbage plants took in chlortetracycline but not tylosin, Dr. Gupta said. The researchers think tylosin was not found in the plant because it is a larger molecule.
Dr. Gupta noted that human-use pharmaceuticals may be more of a concern, as treated and recycled wastewater is used in producing fresh produce in some states.
Dr. Gupta believes that livestock and vegetable producers need to support further research.
“One of the things that I found in doing this research is that people are getting defensive about it, and I think they should be proactive and try to help answer the questions that the public is worried about,” Dr. Gupta said. “I am in agriculture, and if we find there is something we are not doing right, then we'll find ways to address that question.”
—GREG CIMA
USDA's chief medical officer nominated to lead FSIS
The Department of Agriculture's current chief medical officer has been nominated to be the agency's next undersecretary in charge of food safety.
Agency officials announced in late January that Elisabeth Hagen, MD, would be nominated for the post, which includes leading the Food Safety and Inspection Service. If her nomination is approved by the Senate, she will serve under Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
A USDA press release notes that President Barack Obama has tasked Vilsack and Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, with “working to upgrade our food safety laws for the 21st century; foster coordination throughout government; and ensure that we enforce these laws to keep the American people safe.”
Prior to becoming USDA's chief medical officer, Dr. Hagen developed and executed scientific and public health agendas as a senior executive for the FSIS. She also coordinated between her agency and local food safety and public health partners.
accolades
Organizations
A former member of the American Humane Association board of directors will lead the organization during a search for a new chief executive.
George C. Casey, a professional management consultant, will serve as the interim president and CEO for the association, the American Humane Association announced Jan. 14. Marie B. Wheatley held the position about six years before she resigned Jan. 8.
Casey will work to sustain priorities for the organization and evaluate its structure during the search for a permanent executive, information from the organization states.
The announcement praised Wheatley for leading a resurgence of the AHA's reputation and presence, the growth of the organization's farm animal certification program, and the creation of the association's Human-Animal Bond Division, the American Humane Endowed Chair at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, and the American Humane Child Protection Research Center.
Dr. Kirk D. Weicht
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Dr. Kirk D. Weicht (TEX ′83) won the third annual “Thank Your Vet for a Healthy Pet” essay contest, which is sponsored by the Morris Animal Foundation, Hill's Pet Nutrition, and Bow Tie Inc. Dr. Weicht is the owner of the Brown Trail Animal Hospital in Bedford, Texas. He was nominated by his client Gina DeGennaro for being “the heartbeat of his clinic because he goes above and beyond for his clients and his community.” Dr. Weicht was named the Southwest regional winner.
The other regional winners were Drs. Amara H. Estrada (FL ′98), University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center, Gainesville, Fla.; Patrick M. Hourigan (IL ′84), Richmond Veterinary Clinic, Richmond, Ill.; J. Robert Yack (IL ′92), Jackson Creek Veterinary Clinic, Jackson, Calif.; and Kristin Quisenberry (OSU ′05), Hidden Valley Animal Clinic, McMurray, Pa.
CRWAD recognizes research, researchers
Meeting dedicated to Cheville for work in veterinary pathology
Some 500 people attended the 90th annual meeting of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, Dec. 6–8, 2009, in Chicago.
The conference was dedicated to Dr. Norman F. Cheville of Ames, Iowa, dean emeritus of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
After graduating from the Iowa State veterinary college in 1959, Dr. Cheville spent time working at the Army Biological Laboratory at Fort Detrick, Md., as a member of the Army Veterinary Corps. He later moved to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center, where he served as chief of pathology research from 1964–1989. As chief of the Brucellosis Research Unit from 1989–1995, he led a team that developed a vaccine for bovine brucellosis. He became chair of veterinary pathology at Iowa State in 1995 and served as dean from 2000–2004.
Dr. Norman F. Cheville
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Dr. Cheville has been president of CRWAD and the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and editor of the journal Veterinary Pathology. He has authored seven books and contributed to several National Academies studies.
Life membership in CRWAD was awarded to Dr. Alexander A. Ardans, Davis, Calif.; Dr. Samuel K. Maheswaran, St. Paul, Minn.; Dr. Charles W. Purdy, Bushland, Texas; Donald C. Robertson, PhD, Manhattan, Kan.; and Dr. David W. Hird, Davis, Calif.
Officers of CRWAD for 2010 are Dr. Eileen L. Thacker, Beltsville, Md., president; Dr. Laura Hungerford, Baltimore, Md., vice president; and Robert P. Ellis, PhD, Fort Collins, Colo., executive director.
AVEPM awards
The Association for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine named Dr. Hollis N. Erb as recipient of the 2009 Calvin W. Schwabe Award. She is a professor of epidemiology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she has been a faculty member since 1979.
Dr. Erb earned her DVM degree from the University of California-Davis in 1974. Later she joined the faculty at Cornell's veterinary college and served as section chief for epidemiology in the Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences for nine years. From 1998–2008, she was editor-in-chief of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, and currently she serves as the journal's senior associate editor. She is a past president of the AVEPM.
Recipients of the AVEPM student awards were as follows: Epidemiology and Animal Health Economics category, oral—Alison E. Mather, University of Glasgow, for “Antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems and the detection of new or emerging resistances,” and Chuck C. Dodd, Kansas State University, for “Prevalence and persistence of Salmonella within pens of feedlot cattle.” Food and Environmental Safety category, oral—Melanie J. Abley, The Ohio State University, for “Genotyping and phenotyping of Campylobacter coli in pigs from farm to fork.” Poster—L.L. Settle, Virginia Tech University, for “Expression and purification of the bacteriophage Felix O1 endolysin.”
The Mark Gerhart Memorial Award was presented by the AVEPM to Keri Norman of Texas A&M University for “Varied prevalence of Clostridium difficile in an integrated swine operation.”
AAVI awards
The American Association of Veterinary Immunologists presented the Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award to D. Mark Estes, PhD, of Galveston, Texas. Dr. Estes is a professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, where his laboratory focuses on immunoregulatory mechanisms in infection and cancer. He also has been director of the Program for Prevention of Animal Infectious Diseases at the University of Missouri, a program that identifies vaccine targets for respiratory and reproductive diseases of cattle and swine.
Recipients of the AAVI student awards were as follows: First place, oral—G.A. Contreras, Michigan State University, for “Plasma fatty acid profiles influence phospholipid fatty acid composition of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in periparturient dairy cows.” Second place, oral—K.S. Chattha, University of Guelph, for “Age-dependent variation in the expression of CD21, CD32, and mIgM in the lymphoid tissues of calves.” Third place, oral—M.A. Firth, University of Guelph, for “Expression profiles of bovine neonatal B cells determined by quantitative multiplex analysis.” First place, poster—H. Vu, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, for “Analysis of the aberrant immune response induced by a PRRSV type 2 isolate naturally lacking glycan residues in two envelope glycoproteins.” Second place, poster—E.A. Smith, Virginia Tech University, for “A porcine model of polymicrobial respiratory infections with swine influenza and Staphylococcus aureus.” Third place, poster—X.S. Revelo, University of Missouri, for “In vitro dose effects of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide on the function of neutrophils isolated from blood of cows in midlactation.”
ACVM awards
The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists selected Dr. James A. Roth of Ames, Iowa, as the Distinguished Veterinary Microbiologist for 2009. Dr. Roth is a professor at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He also is director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health at ISU and executive director of the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics. From 2004–2008, he was ACVM president.
The ACVM student awards were presented to the following recipients: Don Kahn Award—Yun Young Go, University of Kentucky, for “Major and minor envelope proteins of equine arteritis virus determine tropism for peripheral blood mononuclear cells.” In vitro category—L. Linke, Colorado State University, “An alternative to the avian influenza vaccine: Preliminary assessment of small interfering RNAs targeting viral and avian genes associated with avian influenza infection.” Molecular category—D. Gangaiah, The Ohio State University, for “Role of polyphosphate kinase 2 in Campylobacter jejuni stress responses, host colonization, and pathogenesis.” In vivo category—A.M. Quintana, Colorado State University, for “Comparison of the pathogenicity of equine and canine H3N8 influenza virus in ponies.” Poster—Varun Dwivedi, The Ohio State University, for “Steps towards development of a novel mucosal vaccine to PRRSV.”
Other awards
The Society for Tropical Veterinary Medicine student award was presented to Ryan T. Stoffel, University of Missouri, for “Utilization of real time PCR for detection of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in blood, tissue, and tick samples from experimentally infected dogs.”
The American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists student award was presented to Jennifer McClure, University of Missouri, for “The etiology of severe acute CME.”
The NC-1041 Enteric Diseases (North Central Committee for Research on Enteric Diseases of Swine and Cattle) student awards were presented to the following recipients: Oral—Smriti Shringi, Washington State University, for “Differential virulence of enterohemorrhagic E coli O157:H7 shiga toxin–encoding bacteriophage insertion site genotypes,” and Crystal Brillhart, University of Arizona, for “Salmonella infection of oysters served on the half-shell.” Poster—X. Zeng, University of Tennessee, for “Antigenic, functional, and immunogenic analyses of ferric enterobactin receptor CfrA in Campylobacter.”
The Biosafety and Biosecurity Awards, sponsored by the Animal Health Institute, were presented to the following students: First place—C.K. Irwin, Iowa State University, for “Advising biosecurity policy: an example using a systematic review of the persistence of influenza in the environment.” Second place—Seth R. Baker, University of Minnesota, for “A pilot study to investigate the seroprevalence of production-limiting swine pathogens in North American feral pig populations.” Poster—Greg Peterson, Kansas State University, for “Diagnostic microarray for human and animal bacterial diseases.”
new diplomates
Correction
The list of new ABVP diplomates as provided to JAVMA and published in the Feb. 1, 2010, issue was incomplete and inaccurate. The updated list of diplomates follows.
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners
The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certified 46 new diplomates following the board certification examination it held Nov. 6–8, 2009, in Chicago.
The new diplomates are as follows:
Erika Cervasio, Mansfield, Mass.
Shachar Malka, Carmichael, Calif.
Kimberly Mickley, Albertis, Pa.
Maureen Murray, Wayland, Mass.
Ashley Zehnder, Davis, Calif.
Avian Practice
Anthony Ashley, Hixson, Tenn.
Mary Batdorf, Kennewick, Wash.
Elizabeth Bernardini, Redlands, Calif.
Rachel Blackmer, Fayetteville, N.C.
Sarah Blair, Arlington Heights, Ill.
Sonnya Dennis, Newfields, N.H.
Laura Devlin, Knoxville, Tenn.
Jon Geller, Fort Collins, Colo.
Dennis Horter, Savage, Minn.
Stephanie Janeczko, New York.
Kristen Jensen, Summerland Key, Fla.
Andrew Lie, Mill Valley, Calif.
David Luttinen, Bremerton, Wash.
Dale Paley, Spartanburg, S.C.
Paula Schuerer, Franklin, Tenn.
JoAnn Voss, Eugene, Ore.
Canine/Feline Practice
Joseph Klopfenstein, Vergennes, Vt.
Dairy Practice
Jennifer Graham, Boston.
Cheryl Greenacre, Maryville, Tenn.
Cathy Johnson-Delaney, Kirkland, Wash.
Joerg Mayer, Southbridge, Mass.
Sandra Mitchell, Saco, Maine.
Connie Orcutt, Brookline, Mass.
David Vella, Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia.
Robert Wagner, Pittsburgh.
Exotic Companion Mammal Practice
Tanya Balaam-Morgan, Madrid, Iowa.
Jose Castro, Knoxville, Tenn.
William Hutchins II, Weatherford, Texas.
Alison LaCarrubba, Columbia, Mo.
Scott Leibsle, Elkhorn, Wis.
Stephanie Lewis, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Marcos Lores, Charlottetown, Prince.
Edward Island, Canada.
Jill Muno, Columbus, Ohio.
Aimee Phillippi-Taylor, Spring Grove, Pa.
Simon Staempfli, Baton Rouge, La.
Douglas Thal, Santa Fe, N.M.
Nathalie Tokateloff, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Equine Practice
Rachel Boltz, Los Altos, Calif.
Ernest Petersen, Tacoma, Wash.
Feline Practice
Nathan Harvey, West Chester, Pa.
Shelie Laflin, Manhattan, Kan.
Food Animal Practice
assemblies
Joint Pathology Meeting
Event: American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, joint annual meetings, Dec. 5–9, 2009, Monterey, Calif.
Program: The ACVP program included premeeting symposia, a joint plenary session, specialty group sessions, and an emerging disease focus seminar. The ASVCP held a premeeting workshop, an education symposium, a teaching forum, slide and chemistry case reviews, and clinical pathology scientific sessions.
American College of Veterinary Pathologists
Dr. Michael Lairmore
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Dr. Derek Mosier
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Awards: Young Investigator Award, category of diagnostic pathology, First place: C. Bozynsk, University of Missouri, for “Vascular anomaly of the vertebral and spinal arteries of a dog associated with cervical spinal compression”; Second place: A. Stern, Oklahoma State University, for “Disseminated cutaneous mast cell tumors with epitheliotropism and systemic mastocytosis in a domestic cat”; Third place: H. Tillman, Michigan State University, for “Application and clinical relevance of the WHO histologic classification system to canine thymomas.” Category of natural disease, First place: J. Luff, University of California-Davis, for “Polymerase chain reaction and nucleotide sequence analysis of canine papillomavirus-associated lesions with phylogenetic comparison to known papillomaviruses”; Second place: G. Shaw, Johns Hopkins University, for “Metabolic bone disease in a colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)”; Third place: L. Zadrozny, North Carolina State University, for “Spontaneous hepatic neoplasms in captive lemurs.” Category of experimental disease, First place: J. Grieves, The Ohio State University, for “An intranasal vaccine candidate protects the upper airway from infection with respiratory syncytial virus”; Second place: K. Gailbreath., Washington State University, for “Initial replication in the lung and systemic dissemination of ovine herpesvirus 2 in American bison after intranasal nebulization”; Third place: S. Fossey, The Ohio State University, for “The novel curcumin analog Flll32 exhibits biologic activity against human and canine osteosarcoma.” Student Poster Awards—Experimental disease: S. Montgomery, North Carolina State University, for “Development of a mouse model of human chikungunya virus infection”; Natural disease: C. Willson, North Carolina State University, for “Effect of estrous cycle phase on clinical pathology parameters in Beagle dogs.” Society of Toxicologic Pathology Student Speaker Award: S. Fossey, The Ohio State University, for “The novel curcumin analog FLLL32 exhibits biologic activity against human and canine osteosarcoma.” ACVP/AAVLD Diagnostic Travel Award: L. Schutt, University of Guelph, for “Microchipassociated soft tissue sarcoma and massive multiorgan extramedullary hematopoiesis in a house musk shrew (Suncus murinus).” Harold W. Casey Memorial Scholarship: Dr. Raquel Rech, University of Georgia. The William Inskeep II Memorial Scholarship: G. Krafsur, Colorado State University. Distinguished members: The ACVP elected Drs. David Gribble, Mount Vernon, Wash.; Keith Prasse, Bethlehem, Ga.; and Jerrold Ward, Montgomery Village, Md., as distinguished members.
New diplomates: The ACVP recognized 83 new diplomates on successful completion of the certifying examination in Ames, Iowa, Sept. 22–24, 2009. They are as follows:
Sandeep J. Akare, Urbana, Ill.
Kelli M. Almes, Manhattan, Kan.
Fabio Aloisio, College Station, Texas.
Wes A. Baumgartner, Baton Rouge, La.
Ana Maria Botero-Anug, Rehovot, Bilu, Israel.
Michael C. Boyle, Apex, N.C.
Molly H. Boyle, Andover, Mass.
Danielle L. Brown, Raleigh, N.C.
Jamie M. Bush, Fort Collins, Colo.
Mary E. Carsillo, Columbus, Ohio.
Rachel Cianciolo, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Torrie A. Crabbs, Sacramento, Calif.
William E. Culp, Severn, Md.
Rosalinda M. Doty, Mahomet, Ill.
Colleen Duncan, Fort Collins, Colo.
Patricia M. Gaffney, Dixon, Calif.
David W. Gardiner, Salt Lake City.
Sophette Gers, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Christopher J. Gibson, Jamesburg, N.J.
Katherine N. Gibson-Corley, Ames, Iowa.
Dipak K. Giri, Pearland, Texas.
Katherine M. Hammerman, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Adam Hargreaves, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
Jamie N. Henningson, Middleton, Wis.
Louis M. Huzella, Frederick, Md.
Marcia R.D.S Ilha, Tifton, Ga.
Clare A. James, Belton, Loughborough, United Kingdom.
Laura J. Janke, Roseville, Minn.
Charles Johnson, Ames, Iowa.
Robert L. Johnson, Westfield, Ind.
Megan E.B. Jones, San Diego.
Sue E. Knoblaugh, Seattle.
Jean-Francois Lafond, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Quebec, Canada.
Sophie Le-Calvez, Saint.
Stephens Square, Norwich, United Kingdom.
Eric D. Lombardini, Brunswick, Md.
Jeremiah A. Lyons, Knoxville, Tenn.
Srinivasa R. Mantena, Urbana, Ill.
Lars Mecklenburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Asli Mete, Davis, Calif.
AndrÈanne Morency, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada.
Fabiano N. Oliveira, Bryan, Texas.
Alicia K. Olivier, Ames, Iowa.
Erik J. Olson, Roseville, Minn.
Francesco C. Origgi, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Jaime Paulin Jr., Roseville, Minn.
Joaquin O. Porcel, Albox, Almeria, Spain.
Raquel R. Rech, Athens, Ga.
Aline Rodrigue, Bryan, Texas.
Duncan S. Russell, Ithaca, N.Y.
Melissa D. Sanchez-Pillich, Philadelphia.
Ravi A. Seebaransingh, Raleigh, N.C.
Kuldeep Singh, Urbana, Ill.
Dodd G. Sledge, Lansing, Mich.
Eric R. Snook, Baton Rouge, La.
Teresa Southard, Baltimore.
James B. Stanton, Pullman, Wash.
Isabelle St.-Pierre, St. Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec, Canada.
Radhakrishna Sura, Storrs, Conn.
John M. Troutman, Pittsboro, N.C.
Alison R. Tucker, Raleigh, N.C.
Brent E. Walling, Champaign, Ill.
Stephanie White-Hunt, Morristown, N.J.
Charles E. Wood, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Bevin Zimmerman, Galloway, Ohio
Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
Allison Billings, Arlington, Va.
Tricia M. Bisby, Downers Grove, Ill.
Oliver Coldrick, Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
Roberta Di Terlizzi, Glenolden, Pa.
Bente Flatland, Knoxville, Tenn.
Bridget C. Garner, Columbia, Mo.
Britton J.P. Grasperge, Baton Rouge, La.
Shannon J. Hostetter, Nevada, Iowa.
Eric Morissette, Archer, Fla.
Maria C.M. Parrula, Columbus, Ohio.
Lila Ramaiah, New Brunswick, N.J.
Janelle S. Renschler, Jacksonville, N.C.
Casey M. Riegel, Keller, Texas.
Kate Sherry, Ware, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Robert S. Simoni Jr., Quaker Hill, Conn.
Emmeline O. Tan, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Marjorie J. Williams, Mount Dora, Fla.
Brenda M. Yamamoto, Columbus, Ohio.
Allison Vitsky, San Diego, received dual certification in veterinary anatomic and clinical pathology.
Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Officials: Drs. Michael Lairmore, Columbus, Ohio, president; Derek Mosier, Manhattan, Kan., president-elect; Michael Topper, West Point, Pa., secretary/treasurer; and Donald Meuten, Raleigh, N.C., immediate past president
American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Dr. John H. Lumsden
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 236, 5; 10.2460/javma.236.5.488
Awards: Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. John H. Lumsden, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. A 1960 graduate of Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Lumsden is professor emeritus in the Department of Pathobiology at the college. He is a diplomate of the ACVP and a past president of the International Society for Animal Clinical Pathology. Dr. Lumsden co-authored “Color Atlas of Cytology of the Dog and Cat.” Young Investigator Award: T. Lin, The Ohio State University, for “Characterization and modulation of canine mast cell derived eicosanoids.” ASVCP Education Award: Dr. David Honor of Wyeth Research was the first recipient of this award, in recognition of contributions to the education of veterinary students, residents, veterinary practitioners, and technical staff. Research Grant Award ($2,500): Dr. Amir Kol, University of California, for “Investigation of hypercoaguability and thrombosis in dogs with multicentric lymphoma.” Travel grants in the amount of $500 were presented to the following trainees: Drs. Katie Boes, Purdue University; Michelle Cora, North Carolina State University; and Serego Ogasawana, Cornell University.
Officials: Drs. Joanne Messick, West Lafayette, Ind., president; Kirstin Barnhart, Bastrop, Texas, president-elect; Karen Russell, College Station, Texas, secretary; Dori Borjesson, Davis, Calif., treasurer; and Melinda Wilkerson, Manhattan, Kan., immediate past president
obituaries: Samuel E. Strahm 1936–2009
Dr. Samuel E. Strahm, 73, of Pawhuska, Okla., a former AVMA president and sitting member of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation board of directors, died Dec. 17, 2009, following a fall.
“Dr. Sam Strahm is a legend in veterinary medicine,” said Dr. Bruce W. Little, a current AVMF director and immediate past CEO of the AVMA. “Sam has been a huge part of veterinary medicine, and his legacy will remain forever.”
Dr. Strahm was the AVMA's 111th president, holding office from 1989–1990. One of his goals was to initiate a workable strategic planning program for the Association, an initiative he helped advance. His presidential focus was on advancing the AVMA's pressing, existing programs and projects involving areas such as food safety and residue avoidance, medical waste disposal, extralabel drug use, marketing, animal welfare, manpower, and veterinary education.
The longtime AVMF board member was chair of the board of directors in 1998 when he signed a statement of understanding with the American Red Cross and Elizabeth Dole designating the AVMA and AVMF as the leaders in coordinating animal disaster relief efforts.
Dr. Strahm received his DVM degree from Kansas State University in 1959. His involvement with organized veterinary medicine began as a student at K-State, where he was an AVMA student chapter delegate.
After graduating, Dr. Strahm joined Osage Animal Clinics, a mixed animal practice in Hominy and Pawhuska, and, later, he became a partner. In his 48 years with the practice, Dr. Strahm worked mainly with horses and cattle but also with bison and elk. When he sold the practice in 2007, he was the sole owner. He was honored as 1990 Veterinarian of the Year by the Oklahoma VMA and 2002 Bovine Practitioner of the Year by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.
His contributions to the advancement of veterinary medical organizations won Dr. Strahm the AVMA Award in 1985. He chaired the former Continuing Education Advisory Committee and the Council on Governmental Affairs. He was a member of the Council on Education from 2002–2006.
The Oklahoma VMA elected him to every position, including president in 1980, and he was OVMA executive secretary from 1981–1983. Dr. Strahm represented Oklahoma in the AVMA House of Delegates from 1967–1988. Twice he was elected to the House Advisory Committee. He also led the Tulsa County VMA.
In 1991 Dr. Strahm was appointed to a veterinary panel by the Pew Health Professions Commission. He served on the American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians board of directors in 2000.
Dr. Strahm served terms as president of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards and the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. He was a member of the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners from 1972–1989, chairing it twice. In 2000 he received the NBVME Award.
At Oklahoma State University, he was serving on the dean of agriculture's advisory committee. He had held seats on the Oklahoma State Centennial Commission and accreditation committees for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Murray State College animal technician program.
Dr. Strahm served 28 years on the Pawhuska School Board, as president of the Oklahoma State School Board Association, and as regional representative on the National School Board Association. He won the 1993 Oklahoma All-State School Board Award. In Pawhuska he had been president of the Jaycees, a member of the Planning Commission, and director of the First National Bank.
Dr. Tony Thomas of Midwest City, Okla., said, “One of the interesting parts of Sam's practice was working with the buffalo in the tallgrass prairie by Pawhuska. Sam also had a heck of a green thumb in his vegetable garden. He loved to eat and knew the best places from coast to coast, from steakhouses to hamburger joints.”
Dr. Strahm met his wife, Barbara, while they were students at Kansas State. A devoted Wildcat fan, he played football at K-State for two years and, as an alumnus, watched the games from his seat on the 50-yard line. In 1994 the Kansas State Veterinary Alumni Association presented Dr. Strahm with its Distinguished Alumnus Award.
“Sam Strahm was a gentle giant within the veterinary profession,” said Dean Ralph C. Richardson, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “He served his rural community through exemplary practice, he brought common-sense problem solving to state and national organized veterinary medicine, and he made our profession better because of his insights and passion. His positive impact will last for generations.”
Mrs. Strahm, who was president of the AVMA Auxiliary in 1980–1981, survives him, along with their three children—Gregory Strahm, Bryan Strahm, and Andrea Enloe—and six grandchildren. Dr. Strahm's mother, Martha, also survives.
Memorial donations may be made to the First Baptist Church; Pawhuska Public School Foundation; KSU Foundation, designated for the College of Veterinary Medicine Foundation; or the AVMF. Donations should be sent c/o Johnson Funeral Home, 223 E. 6th, Pawhuska, OK 74056.
—SUSAN C. KAHLER
obituaries: AVMA Honor Roll Member AVMA Member Nonmember
George W. Abbott
Dr. Abbott (COR ′45), 87, Ithaca, N.Y., died Sept. 17, 2009. He owned Grafton Animal Hospital in Grafton, Mass., and co-owned Abbott Animal Hospital in Worcester, Mass., with his brother, Dr. Richard J. Abbott (COR ′57). In later years, Dr. Abbott was associated with Pawtucket Animal Clinic in Pawtucket, R.I. During his career, he also served as an adjunct professor of clinical medicine at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and was director of hospital administration at the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital in Boston. Dr. Abbott served as a captain in the Air Force during the Korean War.
He was a past president of the American Animal Hospital Association, Massachusetts VMA, and Worcester County VMA, and a member of the Rhode Island VMA. He served on the board of directors of the Worcester Animal Rescue League and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 1977, Dr. Abbott received an AAHA Regional Practitioner Award. He was the recipient of the Massachusetts VMA Distinguished Service Award in 1979. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; three daughters; and two sons. Memorials may be made to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14850.
Jonathan S. Allan
Dr. Allan (MSU ′84), 57, Helotes, Texas, died Sept. 27, 2009. He joined the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research in San Antonio as an assistant scientist in the Department of Virology and Immunology in 1987, becoming a scientist in 1992. Dr. Allan was involved in preparing the initial base grant application that led to the establishment of the Southwest National Primate Research Center in 1999, and he led the SNPRC Retrovirus Diagnostics Laboratory until his death. He was known for his research on the pathogenesis of simian immunodeficiency virus, the transmission of viruses from nonhuman primates to humans, and the risks of xenotransplantation.
Dr. Allan served as mayor of Helotes from 2005–2007 and founded the Helotes Heritage Association, an organization dedicated to preventing urban sprawl.
Gordon D. Brown
Dr. Brown (COL ′53), 80, Greeley, Colo., died Sept. 10, 2009. He practiced in Fort Lupton, Colo., and the surrounding area from 1955–1991. Dr. Brown also served as a cattle and sheep consultant, working closely with the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry. He was a member of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, Academy of Veterinary Consultants, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, National Lamb Feeders, and National Wool Growers. Dr. Brown's wife, Mayvis; three daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to the Christian Veterinary Mission or First Baptist Church of Fort Lupton, c/o Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO 80631.
Donald A. Ellis
Dr. Ellis (MIN ′58), 81, Canton, S.D., died Oct. 2, 2009. From 1971 until retirement in 1992, he practiced at Canton Veterinary Clinic. Earlier in his career, Dr. Ellis practiced in Rapid City, S.D.; Roseville, Minn.; and Lake Andes, S.D. He was a member of the South Dakota VMA. Dr. Ellis served in the Army during the Korean War. His wife, Phyllis; two daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church Building Fund, 621 E. 4th St., Canton, SD 57013.
Ronald A. Engelken
Dr. Engelken (KSU ′70), 63, St. Joseph, Mo., died Nov. 22, 2009. He owned a large animal practice and served as livestock veterinarian for the St. Joseph Stockyards for 34 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Engelken practiced at Countryside Veterinary Clinic in St. Joseph. He is survived by his wife, Valerie; six sons; and a daughter. Memorials may be made to Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509; or Agency Methodist Church, 10775 State Route FF S.E., Agency, MO 64401.
Gregory W. Gallagher
Dr. Gallagher (COR ′68), 65, East Aurora, N.Y., died Nov. 29, 2009. A small animal practitioner, he co-owned Seneca Animal Hospital in Elma, N.Y. Dr. Gallagher was a member of the New York State VMS, Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society, and Buffalo Academy of Veterinary Medicine. He is survived by his son. Memorials may be made to Hospice Buffalo Inc., 225 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga, NY 14227.
David W. Gregory
Dr. Gregory (KSU ′49), 95, Ames, Iowa, died Nov. 1, 2009. From 1966 until retirement in 1986, he worked as a bacteriologist at the National Animal Disease Center in Ames, focusing on Escherichia coli research. Earlier in his career, Dr. Gregory owned a practice in Washington, Iowa, and conducted research on Edema disease and E coli infection. He authored several articles on bacterial disease in domesticated animals, and his research on E coli was cited in the fourth edition of “The Infectious Diseases of Domestic Animals.”
Dr. Gregory served as a medical bacteriologist in the Army during World War II, attaining the rank of major. His wife, Marjorie; three daughters; and two sons survive him. One son, Dr. Ronald S. Gregory (ISU ′72), is a veterinarian in Sartell, Minn. Memorials may be made to National Parks Conservation Association, 1300 19th St. N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036.
Keith D. Henrikson
Dr. Henrikson (KSU ′43), 87, Bolivar, Mo., died Nov. 17, 2009. Prior to retirement, he owned a mixed animal practice in Bolivar. Dr. Henrikson was a member of the Missouri VMA and a past president of the Southwest Missouri VMA. He was also a member of the Bolivar Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Henrikson served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
His wife, Kelly; three daughters; and a son survive him. Other veterinarians in Dr. Henrikson's family include his nephews, Drs. Duane M. Henrikson (KSU ′67) and G. Warren Henrikson (KSU ′72), and his grand-nephew and grandniece, Drs. Todd D. Henrikson (KSU ′98) and Sarah L. Dugan (KSU ′03). Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or Sacred Heart Church Building Fund, 1405 W. Fair Play St., Bolivar, MO 65613.
Carol J. High
Dr. High (UP ′71), 62, Pottstown, Pa., died Aug. 26, 2009. A small animal practitioner, she practiced at Phoenixville Animal Hospital in Phoenixville, Pa., for 28 years. Earlier in her career, Dr. High practiced at Valley Forge Animal Hospital in Phoenixville. She is survived by her husband, Lester, and two sons. Memorials toward Compassion International (a child sponsorship organization) may be made c/o Lester High, 2655 St. Peters Road, Pottstown, PA 19465.
Kenneth L. Huggins
Dr. Huggins (GA ′58), 78, Walterboro, S.C., died Dec. 14, 2009. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned the Dillon Animal Hospital in Dillon, S.C., for 41 years. Earlier in his career, Dr. Huggins practiced at Marion Animal Hospital in Marion, S.C. He served as a second lieutenant in the Army during the Korean War. Dr. Huggins was a member of the Dillon Rotary Club. His two sons and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 229, Dillon, SC 29536.
J. Mack Oyler
Dr. Oyler (OKL ′53), 83, Grove, Okla., died Dec. 31, 2009. Prior to retirement in 1991, he served as associate dean of academic affairs and professor of medicine and surgery at the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation and until 1965, Dr. Oyler owned a practice in Grove. During that time, he also served as herd veterinarian at the Fair Oaks Ranch in Boerne, Texas, for a year, and spent a year teaching at the University of Arkansas.
Dr. Oyler later served as associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Georgia. In 1973, he joined Oklahoma State University as an associate professor in the Department of Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Oyler moved to the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University as a professor in 1975, eventually becoming assistant dean. He returned to Oklahoma State University as associate dean of academic affairs in 1980.
Dr. Oyler was a life member and past president of the Oklahoma VMA. He was also a past president of the Southwest Virginia VMA. In 1998, Dr. Oyler was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine. He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son; and a daughter. Memorials toward the J. Mack and Mary J. Oyler Seminar Room may be made to the OSU Foundation, Office of College Outreach, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078; or First United Methodist Church, 1005 Leisure Road, Grove, OK 74344.
Robert E. Robinson
Dr. Robinson (AUB ′65), 81, Seminole, Fla., died Nov. 20, 2009. A small animal practitioner, he owned Disston Animal Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., for 29 years prior to retirement in 2007. Earlier in his career, Dr. Robinson practiced in Birmingham, Ala., and owned practices in the state at Dothan and Mobile. He was a past president of the Alabama, Mobile, and Jefferson County VMAs. In 1978, Dr. Robinson received a Service Award from the Alabama VMA. He was a Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War. Dr. Robinson's wife, Evelyn, and a daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL 36849; or Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760.
Howard E. Tewell III
Dr. Tewell (TEX ′80), 55, San Benito, Texas, died Oct. 6, 2009. A small animal practitioner, he owned San Benito Animal Hospital since 1991. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tewell practiced in Harlingen, Texas. He was a past president of the Valley VMA. In 2000, he received the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge Humanitarian Award. Dr. Tewell was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Leader Award in 1994. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; a daughter; and a son. Dr. Tewell's daughter, Allison T. Tewell, is a fourth-year veterinary student at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and his son, Joshua C. Tewell, is a first-year veterinary student at Ross University.
Memorials may be made to the Texas A&M Foundation, Office of the Dean, 4461 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843; or Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 450, Rio Hondo, TX 78583.
Stanley Weissman
Dr. Weissman (COR ′57), 78, Scarsdale, N.Y., died Nov. 10, 2009. A small animal veterinarian, he practiced in Washington Heights, N.Y. Dr. Weissman was a veteran of the Army Veterinary Corps. His wife, Lila; a son; and a daughter survive him.
John R. Whitehead
Dr. Whitehead (ONT ′52), 80, Ormstown, Quebec, Canada, died Aug. 26, 2009. He is survived by his daughter and two sons. Memorials may be made to the Quebec Parkinson Society, 550 Sherbrooke St. W., Office 1470, Tower West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1B9; or Barrie Memorial Hospital Foundation, 28 Gale St., Ormstown, Quebec, Canada J0S 1K0.
