Triage follows deep cuts
Public health authorities examining services following budget reductions
Greg Cima
More than half of state and territorial health agencies in the U.S. have laid off workers since summer 2008.
About 90 percent have cut services such as clinics and immunization programs.
Paul E. Jarris, MD, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, which collected the data, noted that all federal pandemic preparedness money was cut before the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak.
He warned fellow public health experts that federal budget sequestration could further reduce the nation's public health funding by $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2013, a cut “so awful nobody quite knows how to deal with it.” Sequestration, a provision of the Budget Control Act of 2011, will trigger cuts starting in 2013 if collective federal spending exceeds limits set by Congress. Dr. Jarris delivered the messages during the meeting “Sustaining Public Health Capacity in an Age of Austerity,” hosted in September by the Forum on Microbial Threats of the Institute of Medicine.
Mary C. Selecky, secretary of the Washington State Department of Health, said her budget has been reduced 10 times since February 2009. Since then, her department has dealt with a pertussis epidemic, H1N1 influenza, West Nile, and, in 2012, 10 times the typical number of whooping cough cases.
Dr. Lonnie J. King, dean of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and one of the meeting moderators, said that, as U.S. public health officials were dealing with West Nile and Heartland virus disease outbreaks, record heat, Salmonella contamination of human food and pet food, and H3N2 influenza at county fairs, it was a good time to examine the effects of austerity measures on public health.
Many of the meeting's presenters said the public does not understand how investments in public health improve their lives and reduce overall health costs. Dr. Jarris said even many private-practice physicians do not know why public health officials are brought into discussions on microbial threats, despite the existence of public health services related to tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases.
Zoonotic disease
About 3,150 veterinarians worked for the federal government in 2011, including about 3,050 in the departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and Defense, according to results of an assessment conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Talent Management Advisory Council. The National Association of Federal Veterinarians was part of the study, and the OPM hired Dr. Michael Gilsdorf, NAFV executive vice president, as the director.
Dr. Gilsdorf also provided results of a 2011 survey of state-employed veterinarians conducted by a joint committee of the U.S. Animal Health Association and American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, which he and Dr. David Zeman co-chaired. The survey revealed that about 90 public health veterinarians were employed by state governments, although respondents indicated hundreds more worked in regulatory and diagnostic positions.
In 2009, the Government Accountability Office published a report that described chronic shortages of veterinarians at federal agencies and possible additional shortages in the future. Dr. Gilsdorf said in an interview that some agencies in the USDA, for example, have since offered bonuses to fill vacant positions, shifted some duties to nonveterinarians with veterinarian oversight, and eliminated positions that budget shortfalls would not let them fill.
But remaining shortages have left the nation with insufficient research to protect animal health and too few veterinarians able to respond to a disease outbreak, Dr. Gilsdorf said.
“We have less capacity now than we did five years or 10 years ago,” he said. Among more than 1,300 graduating veterinarians who accepted job offers in 2012, one accepted a state government job and eight accepted federal government jobs, according to survey results published in October (see JAVMA, Oct. 15, 2012, page 1041).
State and local health departments also have primary roles in national food-borne disease surveillance, and job losses in those departments could harm outbreak detection and investigation programs such as PulseNet, according to John Besser, PhD, deputy chief of the Enteric Diseases Laboratory Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Moreover, local and state health agencies will become responsible for large-scale isolation of gastrointestinal pathogens needed by the federal pathogen surveillance program once hospitals and clinics shift to the use of new diagnostic tests that do not provide isolates, Dr. Besser said.
Arizona, Hawaii, and Nebraska are among the states that have eliminated their state public health veterinarian positions, and some states have lost federal grant money that would have helped them hire additional public health veterinarians, according to officials with the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians.
Dr. Cathleen Hanlon, director of the Rabies Laboratory at Kansas State University, said in an interview that public health authorities from other states—such as Florida and Nevada—increasingly are asking for her laboratory's help with rabies diagnostic tests because of budget cuts in their states.
“One of your core public health missions is being compromised at the state level—routinely—in a number of states,” she said.
Like highway bridges, disease prevention infrastructure needs to be maintained, she said.
“We're letting it age and not investing in it, and at some point, it will fracture and we will be caught unprepared” for new or re-emerging diseases, Dr. Hanlon said.
Adjusting and focusing
In April, a separate IOM Committee on Public Health Strategies recommended in part that public health agencies become able to deliver a standardized service package that promotes and protects health, and, as the Affordable Care Act increases access to private clinical services, that public health agencies focus more on population health services.
The IOM report, “For the Public's Health: Investing in a Healthier Future,” found in part that the United States has poor performance in health outcomes such as life expectancy in comparison with other developed nations. It states that the nation's public health agencies need better alignment with population health needs and better funding.
Steven M. Teutsch, MD, chief science officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and vice chair of the committee, also said during the September meeting that state governments should routinely assess the public health effects of legislation and policies before and after implementation. The nation should have fewer but larger local health departments supported by flexible, evidence-based budgets.
Other recommendations given during the IOM conference included measuring the effects of public health programs, reducing the scope of services, pushing for reimbursement by insurance companies, and encouraging state and federal agencies to share data, such as air quality data collected by environmental regulators.
Patricia Quinlisk, MD, medical director and state epidemiologist for the Iowa Department of Public health, said her department has stopped performing full investigations into norovirus infections and, instead, has been conducting brief investigations that include identifying affected groups, collecting three to five samples, confirming infection, and implementing control measures. She also said that, if she had more resources, she would like to do more to help people with giardiasis or hepatitis C, although her department is providing population-based education on some chronic infectious diseases.
Murray Trostle, PhD, deputy director of the U.S. Agency for International Development's Avian Influenza Preparedness and Response Unit, encouraged the meeting attendees to quantify the health effects of reduced budgets on, for example, immunization programs and prenatal services. He questioned whether departments absorbing cuts now will be cut again later and whether more efficiency and technology can help. He said the results could be dramatic, painful, and deadly.
Jay K. Varma, MD, deputy commissioner for disease control in the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said public health departments need to align themselves with the public services they are uniquely qualified to handle and use the resources of budget-rich programs to prop up budget-poor ones.
About half of Dr. Varma's departmental budget is protected by law, but the infectious disease programs are in the other half, he said. The department has increased its emphasis on chronic disease, but he said programs that target tuberculosis and other infectious diseases could be eliminated before the diseases are.
Public health's funding woes are a symptom of a current debate over how we care for our society, said Jesse L. Goodman, MD, chief scientist and deputy commissioner for the Food and Drug Administration. He said it is important to study the effects of eroding public health funding.
In closing the conference, Eileen R. Choffnes, an IOM scholar and the staff director of the forum, noted the peril facing public health systems, which she said take a long time to build but just a signature to tear down.
Issues: FTC workshop explores pet medications
Panelists discuss drug distribution, prescription portability
Katie Burns
How are consumers faring in the marketplace for pet medications? That was the question during the Federal Trade Commission's Oct. 2 workshop on trade restrictions in the distribution of pet medications to consumers.
The FTC began exploring the subject of pet medications in light of the introduction last year of the Fairness to Pet Owners Act (H.R. 1406), which would require veterinarians to provide pet owners with written prescriptions automatically and with written notification of the option to fill prescriptions elsewhere. The legislation had not moved out of subcommittee as of late October.
The AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics state that veterinarians should honor clients' requests for prescriptions in lieu of dispensing. Thus, the AVMA believes the federal legislation is unnecessary and burdensome.
The FTC workshop featured invited panelists and covered a wide range of issues, including consumers' ability to obtain prescriptions from veterinarians, and manufacturers' agreements to sell certain prescription and nonprescription drugs only through veterinarians.
Setting the stage
“An increasing array of options for consumers to purchase their pet medications has begun to lead, we believe, to lower prices and increased consumer choice, certainly in a few pet medicines,” said Jon Leibowitz, FTC chairman, in opening remarks. He argued, “While this market is becoming more competitive, it clearly has a way to go.”
Dr. Douglas G. Aspros, AVMA president, provided an overview of the veterinary profession. According to AVMA data, companion animal practices derive about a quarter of revenues from sales of prescription and nonprescription drugs.
“Please keep in mind as we go through this day that veterinarians primarily dispense drugs and pharmaceuticals to ensure the health and welfare of their animal patients,” Dr. Aspros said.
Dr. Paul D. Pion, president of the Veterinary Information Network, provided an overview of the pet medications industry.
Among the topics Dr. Pion discussed were manufacturers' agreements to sell certain over-the-counter drugs only through veterinarians. The manufacturers state that only veterinarians have the expertise to dispense the products. A gray market has made many of the products available directly to consumers, however.
Drug distribution
The first panel delved into facets of the distribution of prescription and nonprescription pet medications to consumers.
Brad Dayton, senior director of pharmacy for the Ahold USA supermarket chain, spoke in favor of the Fairness to Pet Owners Act.
“I think pet owners should have the right to choose where they get their prescriptions filled, whether it be a retail establishment, a mailorder pharmacy, or their local vet,” Dayton said. “I believe that competition will only help price for pet owners.”
Mark Cushing spoke against H.R. 1406 on behalf of the American Veterinary Distributors Association. He said the bill is a solution in search of a problem, with veterinarians already writing thousands of prescriptions daily.
“You can get pet medications, both prescription and otherwise, OTC, from a host of sources all over this country—online, retail, veterinary, and otherwise,” Cushing said. “And it's simply not correct to say that that marketplace is constricted and somehow works against the consumer.”
Prescription portability
Adrian Hochstadt, AVMA director of state legislative and regulatory affairs, gave an introductory presentation for the panel on portability of prescriptions for pet medications.
Hochstadt said 17 states require veterinarians to write prescriptions for pet medications on request, and a number of states have incorporated the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics into rules governing veterinarians.
The panelists generally agreed that veterinarians do honor clients' requests for prescriptions in lieu of dispensing.
Dr. Race Foster of the online veterinary pharmacy Drs. Foster & Smith argued that prescription portability is meaningless when manufacturers sell certain prescription drugs only through veterinarians.
Nate Smith, a former Wal-Mart retail strategist, advocated for requiring veterinarians to write prescriptions automatically.
“That piece of paper lets the consumer know he or she has a choice,” Smith said. “It is the most effective, most efficient means of creating a consciousness of choice.”
A number of veterinarians spoke during the Federal Trade Commission's Oct. 2 workshop on distribution of pet medications. (Photos by Sharon Granskog)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
A number of veterinarians spoke during the Federal Trade Commission's Oct. 2 workshop on distribution of pet medications. (Photos by Sharon Granskog)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
A number of veterinarians spoke during the Federal Trade Commission's Oct. 2 workshop on distribution of pet medications. (Photos by Sharon Granskog)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Wendy Hauser, a small animal practitioner from Colorado, said she routinely offers to write prescriptions for pet medications if she is aware of substantial cost savings at human pharmacies. Nevertheless, she expressed concerns that the pharmacies might not fill the prescriptions accurately or provide appropriate counseling.
“I believe, if H.R. 1406 is enacted, that drug-induced adverse events will occur and will cause harm,” Dr. Hauser said.
Dr. Aspros said the AVMA is interacting with the pharmaceutical industry to determine how to train pharmacists on veterinary pharmacology.
Comparison with contact lenses
The final panel explored outcomes of the Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, passed in 2003. The legislation required optometrists to provide patients with prescriptions for contact lenses.
Several panelists discussed and disputed research that found prices of contact lenses did not decrease after passage of the legislation and research that found a higher risk of certain adverse events occurs among consumers who purchase contact lenses from alternative channels of distribution.
Dr. Link V. Welborn, chair of the AVMA Veterinary Economics Steering Committee, said competition has driven down prices in the market for pet medications already. Almost every pet owner he sees is aware of alternative channels of distribution.
“Virtually every veterinary visit involves two different conversations, one about care and another about cost,” Dr. Welborn said. “Veterinarians help pet-owning consumers spend their money wisely, every day.”
Issues: Westward expansion
Exchange program dealing with growth in veterinary schools
Malinda Larkin
The advantages for a state to have its own veterinary program are clear. Greater input with admissions. Lower tuition for resident students. Increased likelihood that graduates will remain to practice in the state.
These have been the arguments made by university administrators and legislators in Arizona, Montana, and Utah. These states are in various stages of creating their own veterinary programs or developing partnerships with existing veterinary programs in nearby states. Amid this activity, administrators with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's Professional Student Exchange Program wonder where this will leave them.
Less than full potential
Under the WICHE program, state legislatures appropriate funds to buy access to seats for their residents at other institutions. Seven states participate in the veterinary medicine PSEP, which sends students to the Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and Washington State University veterinary colleges. This year, 198 students participated in the veterinary medicine exchange, which is the largest among WICHE's health care programs.
Funds are administered through WICHE's PSEP and are sent to the enrolling institutions. The “price” for each seat (called a support fee) is designed to cover the difference between resident and nonresident tuition, with a small incentive for the enrolling institution to save seats for residents from WICHE states. Each state decides how many students it can support in each field and whether it requires graduates to return to the state to serve for a certain number of years. For 2012–2013, the seven sending states have invested a total of about $5.9 million for DVM-degree education.
Yet, the PSEP, which WICHE began in 1953, still isn't operating at its full potential.
Margo Colalancia, WICHE student exchange director, says it's been an ongoing issue for the sending states to get sufficient state funds to support more students and meet the respective states' workforce demands. In the past decade, a mean of only 25.7 percent of certified veterinary student applicants received funding from their home states through WICHE for the seats made available through the program.
In the current academic year alone, WICHE had 113 potential seats for veterinary students open to residents from the participating seven states, but the states found money to support only 43 students, leaving 70 spots to be opened up to the national pool of applicants.
Plenty of options
The development of new veterinary programs and cooperative programs has the potential to further limit WICHE's reach.
Utah State University admitted its first class of 30 this academic year as part of its 2+2 program with Washington State's veterinary college. So now, Utah no longer participates in WICHE's veterinary medicine program, which had funded a mean of 4.6 Utah students annually for the past nine years.
More recently, the Arizona Board of Regents voted Sept. 27 to spend $3 million for the University of Arizona to study the possibility of starting a veterinary program in Tucson. The proposal went to Gov. Janice K. Brewer on Oct. 1 as part of a fiscal 2014 state operating budget funding request.
If approved, the veterinary college would eventually enroll 100 students per class in UA's Department of Veterinary Science and Microbiology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
All the while, Midwestern University in Glendale, Ariz., is about two years away from opening its veterinary program's doors, also with a planned inaugural class of 100 students. The private, nonprofit university is spending $90 million to build three structures totaling 125,000 square feet. Construction is set to begin in January.
Arizona has funded 22.3 percent of its certified applicants through WICHE's veterinary medicine program in the past 10 years, which equates to about 13 students annually.
Then there's Montana State University, which is in the process of creating a 1+3 program with WSU. Ten students each year (with a potential to expand to 15) would complete their first year at Montana State and the remaining three years at WSU. The first class could start as early as fall 2014.
The university received approval for the proposal from the state's board of regents Sept. 20 and will lobby the legislature to fund the endeavor when it reconvenes in January 2013.
Colalancia and Jere Mock, vice president of programs and services for WICHE, are working with the commissioner of higher education in Montana to preserve access to WICHE for undergraduate students in the state even if the 1+3 program gets funded.
Mock said keeping the exchange program available to students in these states allows them to have a greater selection of veterinary colleges so they can choose the program that best fits their career goals.
And soon, more choices will be available through WICHE. Western University of Health Sciences' College of Veterinary Medicine is close to joining the program, and the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is considering rejoining after a few years' hiatus.
Plus, Midwestern University is a cooperating institution with WICHE in other professional programs. So, if its veterinary college becomes accredited, the institution could participate in the veterinary medicine portion, too, Mock said.
Stable funding
WICHE provides other benefits to participating states besides greater options for students.
Mock pointed out that the program is a bargain for the states and students, especially compared with creating a veterinary college, which can be a tremendous financial commitment.
Colalancia noted, too, that Colorado State and Oregon State offer clinical rotations in Montana, which can give residents a pathway home once they graduate. That's not to say that students couldn't create their own rotations in their home states, either. As far as states having a say in admissions, greater opportunities could be on the horizon.
The CSU veterinary college's admissions committee recently experimented with involving a few members of the WICHE regional advisory committee, which include members from sending states, in the review process for applicants. There are still some concerns to be worked out, Colalancia said, but this could be made permanent in the near future.
Dr. Deborah Yarborough, president of the Montana VMA, said the issue is how the program is funded.
Before 1993, a special state education fund in Montana provided funding for WICHE programs and couldn't be touched by legislators. But then the process was changed so the funding came out of the state's general fund.
“Of course, they have complete control over that, so when any cost-cutting measure comes in, it's one that is ‘easy pickings’ as they say,” Dr. Yarborough said.
“As all things with legislatures and money, the current system we have is always kind of on the chopping block for the legislature. And we think if we had a program of our own, it would be less likely that they could go after it, because it would be under the protection of Montana State.”
In Arizona, 47 students are participating in veterinary programs through the WICHE PSEP in the 2012–2013 academic year. The state provides a $30,000 support fee per student, bringing total state support to $1.4 million for the current academic year.
The state legislature has provided the same appropriation over the past five years. However, because of slight increases in support fees each year, the same amount of funds support fewer and fewer students.
AAFP COVERAGE
Practice: Cat Friendly Practice Program takes off
American Association of Feline Practitioners growing with program
Dr. Ilona Rodan chaired the task force that developed the Cat Friendly Practice Program. (Courtesy of Dr. Ilona Rodan)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Ilona Rodan chaired the task force that developed the Cat Friendly Practice Program. (Courtesy of Dr. Ilona Rodan)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Ilona Rodan chaired the task force that developed the Cat Friendly Practice Program. (Courtesy of Dr. Ilona Rodan)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Katie Burns
Hundreds of veterinary practices are participating in the Cat Friendly Practice Program, less than a year after the introduction of the initiative by the American Association of Feline Practitioners.
“We have come a long way and made some great headway into improving the care of cats and their owners,” said Dr. Elizabeth J. Colleran, spokeswoman for the CFP Program.
The aim of the AAFP initiative is not only to elevate feline veterinary care but also to increase routine veterinary visits for cats. The recent Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study found that 40 percent of cat owners had not taken their cat to a veterinarian in the past year, although almost all veterinarians in the study recommended that cats be seen at least once a year.
Membership in the AAFP, a prerequisite for participation in the CFP Program, has increased 35 percent in the past year to 2,579. Attendance also was up for the AAFP's annual meeting, Sept. 20–23 in Seattle.
CFP Program
The AAFP launched the CFP Program in mid-January at the North American Veterinary Conference. As of early October, 61 feline-only practices and 140 small or mixed animal practices had earned designation as a cat-friendly practice at the silver or gold level. Another 473 practices were going through the approval process.
Dr. Colleran said, “One of the things I hear a lot is that it's not only been good for them in terms of how they think about cats in their practices, but it's been a real team builder for the practice, because they've come together around a recognition that they can do a better job for cats and their owners.”
The self-paced, online program has 10 areas of criteria for designation as a cat-friendly practice, with educational tools for each area. Dr. Colleran said practices might meet some criteria already but need time to meet other criteria. Participants have asked the most questions about how to rearrange a reception area to be less stressful for cats.
Dr. Colleran's two feline-only practices, one in California and one in Oregon, each earned certification as a cat-friendly practice at the gold level. She said the certification process ensured that everyone was on board with the program.
The AAFP is offering continuing education on cat-friendly practice at national veterinary conferences, including its own meeting and the Nov. 16–18 conference of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. A speakers bureau is in the works to offer CE on cat-friendly practice at state and local veterinary conferences.
Early next year, the AAFP plans to roll out public outreach for the CFP Program.
Dr. Colleran said the program continues to evolve. New resources will include practice marketing materials and a video library, and a new portion of the pro gram will focus on preventive care.
“The thing that people were excited about at the meeting was that they not only could go through the process, but it would never be over—there will be more resources and more opportunities for learning in the future,” Dr. Colleran said.
The CFP Program website is http://catfriendlypractice.catvets.com. Practices must have an AAFP member to participate.
New partnership
During its annual meeting, the AAFP announced a partnership with Bayer HealthCare LLC to help uncover and remove obstacles to routine veterinary visits for cats.
“If cats are seen more regularly, better care can be provided, especially relating to preventative care,” said Dr. Donna Stephens Manley, 2012 AAFP president.
The Bayer Veterinary Care Usage Study was the impetus for the partnership, said Ian Spinks, president of Bayer's Animal Health Division in North America.
“Bayer HealthCare looks forward to partnering with the American Association of Feline Practitioners to explore and address the reasons why pet owners seek veterinary care less frequently for their cats than for their dogs,” Spinks said.
Feline resistance is a major factor, according to the Bayer study. One potential solution, also part of the CFP Program, is educating cat owners on methods to make bringing their cat to a veterinarian less stressful.
Annual meeting, other activities
The AAFP meeting attracted 547 attendees for sessions primarily on feline surgery, dermatology, and complementary medicine.
Dr. Kari Mundschenk, chair of the meeting task force, said complementary medicine was a new subject for the meeting.
“Our clients are asking about it. On a day-to-day basis, I'll have people come in and ask about it,” Dr. Mundschenk said. “This type of complementary medicine goes everywhere from nutrition to nutraceuticals to herbal and then on down to your acupuncture, chiropractic, laser therapy. I feel that it was important to at least get an introduction to people so that they can at least know what their clients are asking about.”
Dr. Mundschenk's feline-only practice in Florida has earned designation as a cat-friendly practice at the silver level, but her goal as medical director is to meet the additional criteria to reach the gold level. She said her practice has made changes such as rearranging the boarding area and teaching the staff more about feline handling.
“I have found that the staff is just so much more involved now. They are coming up with ideas,” Dr. Mundschenk said. “Once they see the benefit, it makes their job easier, too.”
In other activities, the AAFP recently approved two new position statements relevant to feline welfare.
“Free-Roaming, Abandoned, and Feral Cats” states that “The AAFP supports the welfare of all cats, and strongly supports public education and efforts to promote responsible care of unowned, abandoned, and feral cats.” According to the document, the AAFP supports various approaches to population reduction.
“Positive Reinforcement of Cats” states that “Cats learn best through positive reinforcement.” The document discourages punishment of cats for undesirable behaviors and offers tips on reinforcing desirable behaviors with rewards.
The position statements and other informational resources are available on the AAFP website, www.catvets.com.
The 2013 AAFP officers are Drs. Roy Brenton Smith, Round Rock, Texas, president; Marcus Brown, Arlington, Va., president-elect; Arne Zislin, Leawood, Kan., treasurer; and Donna Stephens Manley, Chapel Hill, N.C., immediate past president.
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Marcus Brown
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Marcus Brown
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Marcus Brown
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Arne Zislin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Arne Zislin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Arne Zislin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Donna Stephens Manley
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Donna Stephens Manley
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Donna Stephens Manley
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Practice: Communicating the value of feline medicine
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith and hospital manager Jennifer Alden work with a cat at Central Texas Cat Hospital in Round Rock. (Courtesy of Dawn Shepherd)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith and hospital manager Jennifer Alden work with a cat at Central Texas Cat Hospital in Round Rock. (Courtesy of Dawn Shepherd)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Roy Brenton Smith and hospital manager Jennifer Alden work with a cat at Central Texas Cat Hospital in Round Rock. (Courtesy of Dawn Shepherd)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Katie Burns
In his 50th year in practice, Dr. Roy Brenton Smith is all about communicating value.
He particularly wants to communicate with clients about the value of feline veterinary care and to communicate with veterinarians about the value of the American Association of Feline Practitioners. He will have a platform for his message as AAFP president in 2013.
Dr. Smith came to veterinary medicine early and to feline practice later. He always wanted to be a veterinarian, and he started working at an animal hospital at age 14. He earned his veterinary degree from Oklahoma State University in 1962.
“Back then, we didn't have feline-only practices,” Dr. Smith said. “But in the back of my mind, I always wanted to end my career being a feline-only practitioner.”
Dr. Smith began his career in mixed animal practice, then went into small animal practice. He built four practices, and the fourth was a feline-only practice.
He has since sold his other practices to focus on his feline-only practice, Central Texas Cat Hospital in Round Rock. Feline medicine is very challenging and very gratifying, he said.
Dr. Smith long has seen value in organized veterinary medicine. He was treasurer of the Texas VMA for 20 years, a founding member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Foundation, and president of the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice. He is a past director of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. He is a current member of the AVMA Animal Welfare Committee, representing the AAFP.
As AAFP president, Dr. Smith plans to promote the association's new Cat Friendly Practice Program. He said the program is increasing awareness of the value of the AAFP, contributing to growth in membership.
Dr. Smith's practice has earned certification as a cat-friendly practice at the gold level.
“For even your average dog-and-cat practice, there are some adjustments that need to be made, but they're not insurmountable,” Dr. Smith said. “It just makes good sense to do the things to make it easier to get cat owners to bring cats into the practice and for the cats to have a good experience while they're at the practice.”
Dr. Smith believes veterinarians need to communicate their value to clients.
“Be sure you stop, talk to the client, explain what you're doing, explain what you're doing in (the) exam, explain what you're finding, explain why you want to do the lab tests and the value of the lab tests, go into detail explaining about your treatment options,” he said.
He added, “Trying to get the client to communicate back sometimes can be difficult, but we have to keep trying.”
In other roles, Dr. Smith serves on the board of the Veterinary Information Network and has served as a director of the Austin Humane Society.
His wife, Sheila, and he maintain the Shadow Cats sanctuary. The sanctuary houses about 100 cats with medical problems and other issues.
“It's a lifelong commitment for each cat,” Dr. Smith said.
Community: Foreign veterinary programs share 150th anniversaries
Scottish, Canadian institutions celebrate with parties, lectures
A year before the AVMA observes its founding 150 years ago, two international veterinary institutions are celebrating their own sesquicentennials.
The year 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College and the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in Scotland.
The latter was founded in 1862 by Dr. James McCall, who was a graduate of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He taught anatomy and physiology there for two years before traveling to Glasgow in 1859 to set up in practice. Instead, he spent more time providing classes for budding veterinarians. In 1862, formal classes were instituted, and by 1863, a royal warrant was issued that established Dr. McCall's enterprise as the Glasgow Veterinary College. This entitled its students to examination by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; the first graduate qualified in 1865.
Dr. McCall was a president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and held a number of public offices, including those of veterinary inspector and adviser to the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. He was influential in Glasgow becoming the first city in Britain to introduce market meat inspections and to license the city's dairies, according to the veterinary college's website.
Today, Glasgow is internationally recognized for its research, and in 2004, it became one of the first veterinary colleges to establish an institute of comparative medicine. The Scottish veterinary college also is renowned for its international work, forming joint programs with schools and institutions in the Netherlands, Denmark, The Gambia, and a host of South American countries.
In 1999, it became the third European veterinary institution to achieve accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education.
Glasgow marked its anniversary with a yearlong campaign that honored the past and looked forward to ongoing success in the future.
In January, Dr. Jim Wight, a 1966 alumnus, marked the launch of the 150th anniversary with a lecture, “James Herriot and Glasgow—past and present.” To reflect on how veterinary practice has changed over the past 50 years, Dr. Wight talked about his own veterinary experience and that of his late father, Dr. J. Alfred Wight, better known as James Herriot, who wrote the world-renowned books about life working as a veterinarian in Yorkshire.
Dr. James McCall, circa 1900, founder of Glasgow's veterinary college (Courtesy of the University of Glasgow)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. James McCall, circa 1900, founder of Glasgow's veterinary college (Courtesy of the University of Glasgow)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. James McCall, circa 1900, founder of Glasgow's veterinary college (Courtesy of the University of Glasgow)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
The focal point of the celebrations was the “Vet150 Congress” from Oct. 5–7 at Glasgow. The event began with a lecture series on the veterinary college's history and the McCall Memorial Lecture and was followed by a continuing education program, a commercial exhibition, and a gala banquet. There also was a “ceilidh,” a traditional Scottish social gathering with Gaelic folk music and dancing.
The Ontario Veterinary College celebrated its 150th anniversary with a similar fěte that paid tribute to its own Scottish roots. On Sept. 17, the OVC hosted its Fall Faire, which featured Gaelic music, food, and dancing as well as an exhibition featuring life at the veterinary college over the last 150 years.
It all started in 1856 with a campaign to establish a veterinary college in the British colony of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario) to train the people needed to care for the horses that helped keep the economy moving, according to the veterinary college's website.
Ontario Veterinary College founder, Dr. Andrew Smith, is pictured (third from the left) in this photo of members of the OVC class of 1899. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Ontario Veterinary College founder, Dr. Andrew Smith, is pictured (third from the left) in this photo of members of the OVC class of 1899. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Ontario Veterinary College founder, Dr. Andrew Smith, is pictured (third from the left) in this photo of members of the OVC class of 1899. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
The Upper Canada Board of Agriculture agreed that Toronto would be the location of the college and approached Dr. William Dick, principal of the Edinburgh Veterinary College of Scotland, to recommend an alumnus to run the college. Dr. Dick recommended Dr. Andrew Smith, an 1861 Edinburgh graduate, qualifying Dr. Smith's appointment as veterinary surgeon to the agriculture board.
This iconic painting of Dr. Andrew Smith and a groom by artist Paul G. Wickson dates from 1891 and hangs in the dean's office at the Ontario Veterinary College. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
This iconic painting of Dr. Andrew Smith and a groom by artist Paul G. Wickson dates from 1891 and hangs in the dean's office at the Ontario Veterinary College. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
This iconic painting of Dr. Andrew Smith and a groom by artist Paul G. Wickson dates from 1891 and hangs in the dean's office at the Ontario Veterinary College. (Courtesy of the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Smith arrived in Canada and began practicing veterinary science and giving public lectures in Toronto in 1862. In 1864, he was granted a charter by the agriculture board for the founding of the Upper Canada Veterinary College, later named the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Smith constructed the college's first buildings at his own expense, employed a small faculty, admitted students, collected their fees, and was the main instructor.
Dr. Smith served as principal and taught at the OVC until it was taken over by the Ontario government in 1908.
In 1922 the college moved to Guelph, Ontario, and in 1964 became a founding college of the University of Guelph.
In recent years, the OVC has undergone a substantial amount of redevelopment. Dean Elizabeth Stone has been the driving force behind the OVC Integrated Plan, which has included the Institute for Comparative Cancer Investigation and the University of Guelph Centre for Public Health and Zoonoses. Plus, in 2010, the Primary Healthcare Initiative celebrated the opening of the Hill's Pet Nutrition Primary Healthcare Centre.
This year, in honor of the veterinary college's 150th anniversary, a special exhibition on veterinary medicine has been featured at the Guelph Civic Museum. And on June 5, the OVC released the book “Animal Companions, Animal Doctors, Animal People,” an anthology of poems, stories, essays, a dramatic monologue, and a graphic story. The book was published by the veterinary college and co-edited by Dean Stone in honor of the sesquicentennial celebration. It is meant to “provide readings that would inspire, console, and energize veterinarians in their daily interactions with animals and people,” according to the OVC's website.
Tennessee's new facilities better accommodate large animals
A rendering of the renovated Equine and Farm Animal hospitals at the University of Tennessee (Courtesy of University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
A rendering of the renovated Equine and Farm Animal hospitals at the University of Tennessee (Courtesy of University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
A rendering of the renovated Equine and Farm Animal hospitals at the University of Tennessee (Courtesy of University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine)
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
A long-awaited renovation and expansion of the Equine and Farm Animal hospitals at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center is under way. The $20.9 million project encompasses almost 85,000 square feet.
The Equine Hospital will feature intensive care and isolation units as well as orthopedic, soft tissue, and colic surgery suites. The Farm Animal Hospital will include standing and recumbent surgery suites. And the Imaging Center, which will provide services for both large and small animals, will have spiral CT and MRI units. The center's Ambulatory and Field Services Unit will also get a new space. Plus, the Orthopedic Diagnostic Center will include a lameness diagnostic center, event-sized arena, imaging unit, farrier shop, and equine rehabilitation center with an underwater treadmill and free walker.
The Equine Hospital and Rehabilitation Center are expected to open by the end of 2012. The Farm Animal Hospital is scheduled to open in February 2013.
The expansion will help the College of Veterinary Medicine protect the food supply from farm to fork, provide the most advanced technologies and medical therapies available, meet all the medical needs of its equine owners and industries in one location, and ensure its ability to maintain a strong teaching program for its veterinary students, according to the veterinary college's website.
Accolades
Academia
Oklahoma State University's Center for Veterinary Health Sciences honored its 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients—one posthumously—at a luncheon on Sept. 28.
Dr. Fred M. Enright (OKL ′70) of Baton Rouge, La., is a professor emeritus with Louisiana State University. He joined the institution's Agricultural Center in the Department of Veterinary Sciences in 1976. Dr. Enright is known for developing and implementing a program to eliminate bovine brucellosis from the marsh cattle herds in southwestern Louisiana. He co-developed what is now the official U.S. Department of Agriculture brucellosis vaccine used in the United States.
Dr. John F. Otto (OKL ′90) of Norman, Okla., is a small animal veterinarian who is also known for his volunteer work and for being an advocate for the veterinary profession. Dr. Otto has mentored future veterinarians, helped reconnect owners and pets following an Oklahoma tornado, volunteered with the Special Olympics, and worked with the Lexington Correctional Facility dog training programs.
Dr. Fred M. Enright
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Fred M. Enright
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Fred M. Enright
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. John F. Otto
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. John F. Otto
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. John F. Otto
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Solomon Gartman
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Solomon Gartman
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Solomon Gartman
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
The late Dr. Solomon Gartman (OKL ′51) of Pharr, Texas, was a member of the first class to graduate from Oklahoma State's School of Veterinary Medicine. He went to work for the USDA as an Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service veterinarian. Starting in 1962, as veterinarian in charge of the screwworm eradication program in Mission, Texas, Dr. Gartman was part of the team that effectively rid the continent of this pest. Screwworms had plagued the North American cattle industry since the mid-1820s and were costing the U.S. cattle industry millions of dollars a year.
Community: World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology
Dr. Richard Halliwell
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Richard Halliwell
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Richard Halliwell
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Event: 7th Congress, July 24–28, Vancouver, British Columbia
Program: The Congress, organized by the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology, of which the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology are founding members, attracted more than 1,600 attendees, including veterinarians, dermatologists, pathologists, and scientists. Congress delegates, representing more than 50 countries, were offered continuing education in dermatology on the six major themes of allergy, immunology, skin biology, therapy, infectious disease, and oncology, in the form of lectures, presentations, workshops, laboratories, and forums. Also on offer were two-day sessions focusing on equine and feline dermatology and a one-day exotic animal program. The congress showcased original scientific research with communication and poster presentations. President of the Congress, Dr. Manon Paradis, and president of the WAVD, Dr. Didier Carlotti, presided over the opening ceremony.
Awards: Hugo Schindelka Award: Dr. Richard Halliwell, Edinburgh, Scotland, for excellence in lifetime scholarship and publication in the field of veterinary dermatology. Dr. Halliwell, who earned his veterinary degree and doctorate in immunology from the University of Cambridge in 1961 and 1973, respectively, is past dean of faculty and professor emeritus at the University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Early in his career, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania and at the University of Florida, where he was professor and chair of the Department of Medical Sciences. Dr. Halliwell returned to the United Kingdom in 1988 as William Dick Professor of Veterinary Clinical Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is a past president of the American and European colleges of veterinary dermatology, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and World Association for Veterinary Dermatology.
Some WCVD executive organizing committee members: Drs. Alan Hoey, Stephen White, Richard Halliwell, Sheila Torres, Manon Paradis, Douglas DeBoer, Chiara Noli, Rusty Muse, Vincent Defalque, and Rosario Cerundolo
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Some WCVD executive organizing committee members: Drs. Alan Hoey, Stephen White, Richard Halliwell, Sheila Torres, Manon Paradis, Douglas DeBoer, Chiara Noli, Rusty Muse, Vincent Defalque, and Rosario Cerundolo
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Some WCVD executive organizing committee members: Drs. Alan Hoey, Stephen White, Richard Halliwell, Sheila Torres, Manon Paradis, Douglas DeBoer, Chiara Noli, Rusty Muse, Vincent Defalque, and Rosario Cerundolo
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Executive organizing committee: Drs. Manon Paradis, Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, president; Stephen White, Davis, Calif, secretary; Rosario Cerundolo, Suffolk, United Kingdom, treasurer; Douglas DeBoer, Madison, Wis., fundraising committee; Alan Hoey, Victoria, British Columbia, local organizing committee; Vincent Defalque, Vancouver, British Columbia, local organizing committee; Chiara Noli, Peveragno, Italy, program committee; Rusty Muse, Tustin, Calif, publicity committee; Sheila Torres, St. Paul, Minn., publications committee; Richard Halliwell, Edinburgh, Scotland, WAVD representative-United Kingdom; and Masahiko Nagata, Tokyo, WAVD representative-Asia
South Dakota VMA
Event: Annual meeting, Aug. 15–18, Rapid City
Awards: Veterinarian of the Year: Dr. John Voegeli, Winner. A 1980 graduate of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Voegeli practices at the Animal Clinic in Winner. He is a past president of the South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and has served on South Dakota State University's Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Advisory Board, the SDVMA board of directors, and the South Dakota Animal Industry Board's Johne's Disease Advisory Committee. Distinguished Service Award: Dr. Wendell Peden, Rapid City, was the first recipient of this award, given in honor of an individual who has brought distinction to the veterinary profession through his or her devotion to the care and well-being of animals, support for the profession, and contributions to the community. A 1953 graduate of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Peden practiced small animal medicine in Rapid City prior to retirement. Early in his career, he worked in eastern South Dakota. Dr. Peden served as South Dakota's delegate to the AVMA House of Delegates from 1968–1997. Emerging Leader Award: Dr. Todd Tedrow, Pierre, was the first recipient of this award, given to a member who has graduated in the past 10 years and has a record of outstanding accomplishments in veterinary research, private practice, regulatory services, civic activities, or organized veterinary medicine. A 2002 graduate of the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Tedrow is a staff veterinarian in the state veterinarian's office. Early in his career, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Ashley, N.D., and Fort Pierre, S.D. Dr. Tedrow has served as a member of, and helped organize, the South Dakota Reserve Veterinary Corps and assisted in the development of many of the state's preparedness and response plans for foreign or emerging animal diseases.
Dr. John Voegeli
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. John Voegeli
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. John Voegeli
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Wendell Peden
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Wendell Peden
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Wendell Peden
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Todd Tedrow
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Todd Tedrow
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Todd Tedrow
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Cindy Franklin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Cindy Franklin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Cindy Franklin
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Officials: Drs. Cindy Franklin, Yankton, president; Tom Rentschler, Tea, president-elect; Todd Carr, Sioux Falls, vice president; Christy Teets, Rapid City, secretary-treasurer; Penny Dye, Rapid City, immediate past president; Jeff Stolle, Groton, North district representative; Mark Braunschmidt, Sioux Falls, South district representative; Ethan Andress, Lodgepole, West district representative; and AVMA delegate and alternate delegate—Drs. George Twitero, Rapid City, and Chris Chase, Brookings
Puerto Rico VMA
Event: Annual convention, Sept. 7–9, Fajardo
Program: The convention, which offered continuing education for veterinarians and veterinary technicians and featured a presentation on AVMA issues, was dedicated to Dr. Bernardino Ortiz-Santiago, Caguas, in recognition of his lifetime contributions to veterinary medicine. A 1964 graduate of the Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ortiz-Santiago is in farm animal practice in Caguas. From 1964–1978, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture, contributing to the eradication of screwworms, brucellosis, tuberculosis, and hog cholera. Dr. Ortiz-Santiago confirmed leishmaniasis in two Paso Fino horses in the mid-1990s. He has chaired the PRVMA's Legislative Commission for the past 13 years. During that time, a new pharmacy law was approved in Puerto Rico's legislature, replacing a 1942 statute that did not include provisions for veterinary needs. Amendments to the Puerto Rico Veterinary Practice Act, providing for the licensing of veterinary technicians and new or updated definitions, were also approved. Dr. Ortiz-Santiago is a past president of the Puerto Rico VMA and the Puerto Rico Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Dr. Bernardino Ortiz-Santiago
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Bernardino Ortiz-Santiago
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Bernardino Ortiz-Santiago
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Yesenia Fernández-Santos
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Yesenia Fernández-Santos
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Yesenia Fernández-Santos
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Ernesto Casta-González
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Ernesto Casta-González
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Dr. Ernesto Casta-González
Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 241, 10; 10.2460/javma.241.10.1256
Officials: Drs. Yesenia Fernández-Santos, San Juan, president; Ernesto Casta-González, San Juan, president-elect; Javier Rodriguez-Soto, Gurabo, secretary; Lemuel de Jesús-Varona, Luquillo, treasurer; Miguel Borri-Diaz, Caguas, immediate past president; Marilucy Quiñonez-Porrata, San Juan, metro region representative; Bianca Aguirre-Hernández, Caguas, East region representative; Edgardo Mercado-Iguina, Arecibo, North region representative; Victor Oppenheimer, Ponce, South region representative; Eloisa Pagán-Sánchez, Boquerón, West region representative; and AVMA delegate and alternate delegate—Drs. José V. Arce-López, San Juan, and Walter E. Colón-Lilley, Caguas
Obituaries: AVMA member AVMA honor roll member Nonmember
William C. Bogenschultz
Dr. Bogenschultz (KSU ′60), 81, Sheboygan, Wis., died Sept. 9, 2012. In 1960, he co-founded Animal Clinic in Sheboygan, where he worked for 33 years prior to retirement, first practicing mixed animal medicine, and, later, focusing on small animals. Dr. Bogenschultz served on the board of directors of the Sheboygan County Humane Society and was a past president of the Northeastern Wisconsin VMA. He was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association and Wisconsin VMA. The WVMA honored Dr. Bogenschultz with a Meritorious Service Award in 1987 and a 50-year Award in 2010. Active in civic life, he was a member of the Rotary Club, Boy Scouts of America, and People to People Ambassador Program. Dr. Bogenschultz served in the Air Force from 1951–1955 during the Korean War. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; two daughters; and four sons.
Stillman B. Clark
Dr. Clark (COR ′56), 82, Fairport, N.Y., died June 3, 2012. A small animal veterinarian, he founded Clark Animal Hospital in Penfield, N.Y., in 1965. Dr. Clark co-facilitated the Pet Loss Support Group at the Humane Society of Monroe County's Lollypop Farm for several years. Early in his career, he practiced in Maryland and Vermont. Dr. Clark's wife, Joyce; three daughters; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to Heifer International, 1 World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202; or the Veterinary Class of 1956 Scholarship Fund, with checks payable to Cornell University, Box 223623, Pittsburgh, PA 15251.
David Covitz
Dr. Covitz (COR ′63), 73, Cheshire, Conn., died July 21, 2012.
James A. Downard
Dr. Downard (ISU ′51), 91, Michigantown, Ind., died June 5, 2012. He worked for the Department of Agriculture from 1964–1987. Earlier in his career, Dr. Downard was in mixed animal practice in Greenfield, Ill. He served as a first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during World War II and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Oakleaf Clusters, the Air Medal, and the European-African-Mideast Service Medal. Dr. Downard was a member of the Michigantown Lions Club. His wife, Mary, and two daughters survive him. Memorials may be made to the Michigantown Christian Church, 108 W. 2nd St., Michigantown, IN 46057; or Greenfield Foundation for Educational Excellence, c/o Mrs. D.L. Turpin, 608 Walnut, Greenfield, IL 62044.
Franklin J. Fishburn
Dr. Fishburn (KSU ′49), 90, Muskogee, Okla., died July 18, 2012. From 1968 until retirement in 1985, he owned Westside Veterinary Clinic in Manhattan, Kan. Following graduation, Dr. Fishburn practiced in Medicine Lodge, Kan. From 1966–1968, he taught at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Fishburn was a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and American Animal Hospital Association. He was a past treasurer of the Kansas VMA and was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1989. Dr. Fishburn was active with the Masonic Lodge and Rotary and Lions clubs. His son and daughter survive him. Memorials may be made to Boulevard Christian Church, 1700 W. Shawnee, Muskogee, OK 74401.
Jack G. Giesy
Dr. Giesy (CAL ′65), 80, Vancouver, Wash., died July 28, 2012. A large animal veterinarian, he practiced at Vancouver Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Giesy volunteered as veterinarian for the Clark County Fair for more than 45 years. The horse arena at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds is named for him. Dr. Giesy was a member of the Clark County Executive Horse Council, 4-H State Board, 4-H Equine Advisory Committee, and Clark County Fair Board. The CCF has awarded the Jack Giesy DVM Golden Horseshoe Award to the most accomplished junior, intermediate, and senior 4-H horse exhibitors for the past 10 years. Dr. Giesy's wife, Dorothy Ann; three daughters; and a son survive him.
Raymond E. Henry
Dr. Henry (OKL ′51), 86, Pawnee, Okla., died March 27, 2012. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned a practice in Pawnee for 35 years. With his special interest in horses, Dr. Henry served on the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission for several years. He was a past president of the Oklahoma VMA and was named Veterinarian of the Year in 1986. Dr. Henry was also a past member of the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. He served in the Navy during World War II. Dr. Henry is survived by his wife, Mel; a daughter; and a son. Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma State University Foundation, Attn: Sharon Worrell, Oklahoma State University, 308 McElroy Hall, Stillwater, OK 74078; First Christian Church of Pawnee, 900 6th St., Pawnee, OK 74058; or Judith Karman Hospice, 915 S. Main St., Stillwater, OK 74074.
Rodney G. Oliphant
Dr. Oliphant (KSU ′63), 73, Offerle, Kan., died Sept. 19, 2012. A mixed animal practitioner, he owned Oliphant Veterinary Hospital in Offerle prior to retirement in 2010. Dr. Oliphant was also a cattle rancher and served as a feed yard consultant. He was a past president of the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and a member of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Kansas VMA, and Christian Veterinary Mission. Dr. Oliphant served on the board of directors of the veterinary medical divisions of SmithKline Beecham, Pfizer, Merck, and Elanco. In 1993, the AABP honored him with the Award for Excellence in Veterinary Preventive Medicine (beef award). Dr. Oliphant was a veteran of the Air Force. He is survived by his son and daughter.
Eugene J. Roszko Sr.
Dr. Roszko (UP ′55), 83, Jackson, N.J., died Aug. 11, 2012. In 1956, he founded Roszko Animal Hospital in Brick, N.J., where he initially practiced mixed animal medicine and later became a small animal practitioner. He retired in 1991. Dr. Roszko served as a captain in the Air Force Reserve from 1960–1968. In 1972, the Rotary International Foundation named him a Paul Harris Sustaining Member in recognition of his service to the foundation. His two daughters and a son survive him.
Kevin J. Schargen
Dr. Schargen (MUR ′05), 32, Staten Island, N.Y., died March 16, 2012. A small animal veterinarian, he received his veterinary degree in 2005 from Murdoch University in Australia. Dr. Schargen began his career at South Shore Veterinary Practice on Staten Island. At the time of his death, he was practicing at The Clinic at Country Estate on Staten Island and also volunteering at several animal shelters. Dr. Schargen is survived by his son.
James M. Shuler
Dr. Shuler (AUB ′45), 89, Dadeville, Ala., died April 12, 2012. From 1979 until retirement in 1989, he served as a veterinary epidemiologist with what is now known as the Indiana State Department of Health. Dr. Shuler began his career in Augusta, Ga., where he owned a mixed animal practice for six years. He joined the Air Force in 1951, retiring as a colonel in 1979. During his military service, Dr. Shuler served as head of the Air Force Veterinary Corps in Europe. He was the recipient of the Meritorious Service, Joint Services Commendation, Air Force Commendation, and Legion of Merit medals.
Dr. Shuler was an emeritus diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. In 1984, he received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award from the state of Indiana, and, in 1998, he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Shuler's wife, B.J.; a daughter; and a son survive him. Memorials may be made to AU Foundation for Small Animal Hospital, 317 S. College Ave., Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849; or AU Foundation for Pet Assisted Therapy Program, School of Nursing, Attn: Stephanie Wood, 107 Miller Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849.
John N. Tuttle Sr.
Dr. Tuttle (KSU ′54), 85, Bedford, Va., died Sept. 4, 2012. Prior to retirement in 1990, he owned Pequannock Valley Animal Hospital, a small animal practice in Pequannock, N.J. Dr. Tuttle was a past president of the Pequannock Rotary Club and a member of the Pequannock Chamber of Commerce. A veteran of the Army Air Corps, he was also a member of the American Legion for more than 50 years. Dr. Tuttle is survived by his wife, Linda; two daughters; and a son. Memorials may be made to Bedford Volunteer Life Saving Crew, P.O. Box 161, Bedford, VA 24523.
Gordon W. Vacura
Dr. Vacura (KSU ′43), 94, Bella Vista, Ark., died Sept. 5, 2012. An emeritus diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, he was chief of meat inspection for the state of Maryland prior to retirement in 1988. Earlier in his career, Dr. Vacura served in the Army Veterinary Corps for 30 years. During that time, he was stationed in several countries, including Japan and Korea; was assigned to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; and served as curator of the National Medical Museum. Dr. Vacura attained the rank of colonel. He is survived by his longtime companion, Ilale Hunt.
Michael M. Veitch
Dr. Veitch (GA ′78), 64, Lexington Park, Md., died Sept. 18, 2012. He co-founded Three Notch Veterinary Hospital in Hollywood, Md., in 1979, and Park Veterinary Clinic in Lexington Park in 1986. Dr. Veitch initially practiced mixed animal medicine, becoming a small animal veterinarian in later years and retiring in 2012. He was a member of the Maryland VMA and co-chaired the Northern New England Veterinary Alpine Symposium for 20 years. Dr. Veitch's wife, Pam, and three sons survive him. One son, Dr. Gavin Veitch (GA ′06), is a small animal veterinarian in the Richmond area of Virginia. Memorials may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
Robert F. Wignall
Dr. Wignall (MID ′43), 92, Hollis, N.H., died Aug. 10, 2012. From 1981 until retirement in 2002, he owned a mixed house call practice in Hollis. Earlier in his career, Dr. Wignall owned Linwood Animal Hospital in Lowell, Mass., and Wignall Animal Hospital in Dracut, Mass. He was a past board member of the Lowell Humane Society. Dr. Wignall's wife, Marilyn, survives him. Memorials may be made to Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536.
James C. Woodard
Dr. Woodard (AUB ′58), 78, Gainesville, Fla., died May 2, 2012. He was professor emeritus of veterinary pathology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine since 1998. Following graduation, Dr. Woodard worked as a parasitologist for the Florida Livestock Board in Kissimmee. From 1959–1961, he served as a captain in the Air Force. Dr. Woodard then worked as an instructor of veterinary pathology at Auburn University. He earned a doctorate in nutritional pathology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965 and joined the University of Florida College of Medicine a year later as an assistant professor of pathology, becoming professor in 1974. Dr. Woodard then served as professor and directed the Division of Comparative Pathology at the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, holding a joint appointment in the College of Medicine.
A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, he conducted research on the pathology and cause of kidney lesions induced by alkali-treated, textured soybean protein; the cause and pathogenesis of nutritionally induced renal calcification in laboratory rats; and spontaneous bone and joint disease.
Dr. Woodard was a member of the International Academy of Pathology and American Association of Pathologists. In 1983, he received the Charles David Foundation Journal Scholarship Award for an article published in Veterinary Pathology and in 1985 was the recipient of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine's Beecham Award for Research Excellence. Dr. Woodard is survived by his wife, Valerie; two daughters; and a son. Memorials may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
