JAVMA News

IN SHORT

d2397362e99

Left to right: Texas Tech University System Chancellor and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center President Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell; Jerry Hodge, former Amarillo, Texas, mayor; Margaret Hodge; and Texas Tech University President Lawrence Schovenec. (Courtesy of Texas Tech University)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

FORMER MAYOR GIFTS $10M TO TEXAS TECH VETERINARY SCHOOL

Jerry Hodge, former mayor of Amarillo, Texas, and his wife, Margaret, have committed $10 million to the proposed Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine.

The gift from the Hodges will support construction and development of a second veterinary school in Texas and the first in more than 100 years after Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences was established in 1916. The Texas Tech's board of regents approved the school, its degree plan, and funding for the initial designs last August.

“A school of veterinary medicine is desperately needed to meet the increasing demand for veterinarians serving small and agricultural communities of Texas,” said Hodge in a Feb. 4 press release.

Construction of the veterinary school buildings is expected to cost $89.82 million. The school has raised more than $90 million. Texas Tech is also seeking $17.25 million from the 86th Texas Legislature, set to meet Jan. 8 through May 27, to help support the beginning stages, according to the press release.

The school is designed to enroll 60 students per year for a desired enrollment of 240 students for the four-year program. The school also would potentially serve 150–200 graduate students who are not seeking a doctorate in veterinary medicine, as well as an academic staff of 90.

ENDOCRINE-DISRUPTING CHEMICALS LINKED TO EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in a horse's environment may play a role in the development of equine metabolic syndrome, found Morris Animal Foundation–funded researchers at the University of Minnesota. The finding could explain some of the variability in EMS severity that can't be explained by other commonly measured factors, such as diet, exercise, and season. The study was published in the March issue of Chemosphere and is available at https://jav.ma/EMSstudy.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals usually are man-made substances, found in products such as pesticides, plastics, and personal care products. They are prevalent in the environment and can mimic hormones.

The research team studied more than 300 horses from 32 farms in the United States and Canada, focusing on Welsh Ponies and Morgan horses as these breeds are more likely to develop EMS. The team analyzed the concentrations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in plasma from the horses to determine any correlation with other blood variables indicative of EMS. The team concluded that accumulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals may explain some environmental variance seen in horses with EMS.

PETCO CLOSES DOCTORS FOSTER AND SMITH

Petco shifted its online pharmacy to Express Scripts in February while shutting down Petco subsidiary Doctors Foster and Smith.

A Petco spokeswoman provided a statement that, in closing Doctors Foster and Smith, the company was laying off its 289 employees March 10-May 9. All are based in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

“The decision to close DFS has not been an easy one, nor was it made lightly, and we appreciate that it has a very real effect on both individuals and the broader community in Rhinelander,” it says.

Petco bought Doctors Foster and Smith in 2015. It had opened in 1983 as a group of four veterinary clinics in Northern Wisconsin and, in 2003, started taking prescription orders online and by mail, according to Petco.

On Feb. 12, Petco transferred prescriptions to Express Scripts Pharmacy at Petco. A Petco statement indicates the change will make pharmacy service easier and more affordable.

On the map

Animal welfare organizations continue to provide sustainable care solutions, educate equid owners in developing countries

By Kaitlyn Mattson

About 600 million people worldwide depend on nearly 100 million equids for their livelihood, according to a 2018 report from Brooke, an international animal welfare organization that focuses on improving the lives of working horses, donkeys, and mules.

However, because of socioeconomic factors, 90 percent of the world's equid population receives only 1 percent of the world's veterinary care, said Anne Henderson, executive director at Equitarian Initiative, a nonprofit that provides veterinary services and education in developing nations.

“The animals who need health care the most, frankly, don't have access to it. Yet, they are responsible for agriculture, tourism, transportation, and trade and commerce,” Henderson said.

Animal welfare organizations working in developing countries on this issue include World Horse Welfare, Brooke, Equitarian Initiative, Donkey Sanctuary, and the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad. Leaders say their work, which impacts consumers everywhere, heavily relies on compassion and understanding.

Many people in the developed world look at the conditions under which these animals live and work and see cruelty. “It may be cruel, but it is not cruelty,” said Dr. Derek C. Knottenbelt, professor emeritus at University of Liverpool and director of Equine Medical Solutions. “You cannot expect a mother or a father of five small children to say: ‘I'll tell you what, I'll feed the donkey, but I won't feed the children.’ It can't be done that way.”

SPOTLIGHT

Shining a light on the role of working equids is one of the goals of World Horse Welfare, an international horse charity based in the U.K. The organization works with local partners in Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, and Senegal, among other countries, to create community networks to improve the care and treatment of equids at a local level.

“Awareness of working equids is our ultimate aim. The more people that are aware of working equids … it can only help to put them on the map in the first place and get them to be seen a bit more,” said Dr. Emma Hales, international program officer at World Horse Welfare.

One way organizations work to create awareness is by educating the developed world on how much it—along with families and communities in developing countries—also relies on equids.

“These animals are hugely important to these families and communities but also to the world economy,” Henderson said. “These animals are moving coffee, coconuts, tobacco, and spices. A lot of the products we use as consumers, in a lot of instances, start on the backs of a horse, mule, or donkey.”

CARE LOCALLY

The Equitarian Initiative works in about 10 to 12 countries each year; its programs vary depending on culture, need, and the partnerships it can create within a community.

“This is an animal welfare organization, but when you peel back the onion, this is about humanitarian aid. These people rely on these animals,” Henderson said. “It's about improving the lives of the animals while also improving the lives of the people and ensuring they have the tools to maintain the health of these animals who are responsible for their economic livelihood.”

Some working equids can be seen suffering from preventable issues such as dehydration, rabies, lameness, wounds from tack and saddles that are not properly fitted, and malnutrition, Henderson said.

World Horse Welfare is focused on making sustainable care solutions possible because owners can't necessarily afford services such as farriery, saddlery, or veterinary care.

“In Guatemala, our community-based equine providers are growing remedies for a natural dewormer. It is affordable and sustainable,” said Jessica Stark, director of communications and public affairs for World Horse Welfare.

d2397362e205

Top: Dr. Derek C. Knottenbelt, professor emeritus at University of Liverpool and director of Equine Medical Solutions, on working with veterinary professionals in Ethiopia: “The veterinarians are the same as us—keen, caring, and well-educated. Their priorities are just different from ours.” (Courtesy of Dr. Derek C. Knottenbelt) Bottom left: Farrier training in Cambodia (Courtesy of World Horse Welfare) Bottom right: Two working equids pulling a cart in Nicaragua (Courtesy of World Horse Welfare)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

VETERINARIANS CAN HELP EQUIDS WORLDWIDE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING:
  • Learn about the important role of equids in different cultures and in the world economy.

  • Raise awareness about the role of equids by educating clients.

  • Donate old, easy-to-move equipment to animal welfare organizations, rather than throwing it away.

  • Donate your time by volunteering with an animal welfare organization to help with clinics, education efforts, or workshops.

  • Offer financial support such as providing donations or student scholarships to animal welfare organizations.

“It is similar to wound care, where we show people how to use honey as an antiseptic.”

The organization also tries to adapt its teaching methods to the location and uses local resources to make items such as collars, bridles, and horseshoes more affordable.

In Honduras, a U.K. saddler working with a regional trainer from El Salvador designed a harness system from local resources to make it sustainable and affordable, Dr. Hales said. “The harness collar was made out of coffee sacks and reinforced steel, padded out with a dry plant called tule, and then further padded using a blanket from the local market. The breeching and head collar were made from a combination of locally sourced webbing and old fire hose,” she said.

In several countries, including Peru and Honduras, the Equitarian Initiative works with local veterinary colleges to offer students the chance to learn more about equids.

“A lot of times, folks in these veterinary colleges don't have a lot of access to equines. They are often taught small animal and livestock. Working equids don't necessarily make it into that equation (but that varies by region),” Henderson said.

In Peru, the Equitarian Initiative brought 10 students from a local veterinary college on a seven-day working trip to provide hands-on experience with working equids.

“It doesn't take money. What it takes is education, sympathy, understanding, and caring,” Dr. Knottenbelt said.

d2397362e251

A farrier trainer demonstrating hoof shape in Honduras (Courtesy of World Horse Welfare)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Ergen, Knapp elected to AVMA Board

Small animal practitioners will represent districts III and V

By R. Scott Nolen

The AVMA Board of Directors will seat two new district directors this summer.

Dr. Mary Ergen, a small animal practitioner from Goodlettsville, Tennessee, and Dr. Robert Knapp, a small animal practitioner from Dublin, Ohio, ran unopposed and were declared elected in February.

Dr. Ergen will succeed Dr. Jan Strother as District III director representing AVMA members in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Dr. Knapp will take over for Dr. Gary Brown as District V director representing AVMA members in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Drs. Ergen and Knapp begin their six-year terms on the board this August during the AVMA Convention in Washington, D.C.

A 1982 graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Ergen has been active in the Tennessee VMA since receiving her veterinary degree. She served on or chaired all of the association's committees, culminating in her elevation to the TVMA presidency in 2008. Five years later, Dr. Ergen began serving as Tennessee's alternate delegate in the AVMA House of Delegates.

When she graduated, Dr. Ergen was hired as an associate in a mixed animal practice on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee. In 1986, she started her own practice, which currently has two full-time associates and one part-time associate.

“After 36 years, I still love being a veterinarian,” she said. “It pains me to hear all the negativity some veterinarians express about this profession. I think I can help the AVMA develop new and attractive benefits for younger veterinarians.”

“I have been an AVMA member since I first started this career but only appreciated everything this organization does since I have been in the House of Delegates,” Dr. Ergen continued. “I would like to help the AVMA continue to advocate for the profession, the animals of the world, and the health of the people by representing not just Tennessee but all of District III on the AVMA Board of Directors.”

d2397362e290

Dr. Mary Ergen

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Knapp is a third-generation veterinarian who wanted only to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.

“I never had the aha! moment of realizing I wanted to be a veterinarian or that sense of amazement at witnessing the astonishing things veterinarians can do,” Dr. Knapp said. “Growing up in the clinic … veterinary medicine was just what we did, as automatic as sleeping and breathing.”

Dr. Knapp received his veterinary degree in 1992 from The Ohio State University. He currently owns the six-associate practice started by his late grandfather Dr. John Knapp (Ohio State ‘32). His father, Dr. Paul Knapp (Ohio State ‘61), worked at the practice until retirement.

d2397362e305

Dr. Robert Knapp

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Early in his career, Dr. Knapp became active in the Ohio VMA, serving in various capacities including as an officer on the board of directors and as VMA president from 2007–08. He has been a member of the AVMA House of Delegates since 2012, first as alternate delegate, then delegate.

“Organized veterinary medicine is more important to our profession now than ever before, and our members’ continued engagement is vital to our future. Today's issues are complex and inextricably linked,” Dr. Knapp said. “As District V representative, I pledge to bring a practical, pragmatic, and member-driven focus to the AVMA Board of Directors.”

GRAY-WALKER NAMED CEO OF AVMA TRUST

d2397362e323

Tracey Gray-Walker

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

The AVMA Trust family, which provides professional liability insurance, life insurance, and other coverage through AVMA PLIT and AVMA Life, has named Tracey Gray-Walker as the CEO of the AVMA Trust, the Association announced in January.

Dr. Joe Kinnarney, chair of the AVMA Trust, said Gray-Walker will oversee the trusts to further enhance their realignment while providing strategic direction to improve products and services.

“It is an exciting time for the AVMA, as the trusts look to develop new products to help veterinarians and veterinary practices while continuing to deliver the core products and services and customer service that AVMA members value so highly,” Dr. Kinnarney said in an AVMA press release.

“Ms. Gray-Walker's proven ability to conceptualize, develop strategies and build relationships that result in valued initiatives, programs and products will provide the AVMA Trusts with a seamless delivery of enhanced products and services to our members. We're thrilled and very fortunate to have her join us,” he said.

Gray-Walker is the founder and CEO of Dialogue Consulting Group LLC, focusing on inclusive leadership, profit-and-loss management, organizational productivity, efficiency, and strategic planning.

She served as senior vice president and managing director of association management at Axa Equitable, where she held key leadership roles resulting in a more diverse and inclusive environment within all business units.

As the leader with profit-and-loss responsibility for Axa Equitable's Association Business, she cultivated partnerships and developed a marketing strategy designed to demonstrate and promote the value of the retirement program, initiatives that resulted in increased client retention and satisfaction.

“I am excited to join the AVMA Trust family at this exciting time and look forward to developing additional value for AVMA members,” Gray-Walker said in the AVMA press release.

EDUCATION COUNCIL SCHEDULES SITE VISITS

The AVMA Council on Education has scheduled site visits to 10 schools and colleges of veterinary medicine for the remainder of 2019.

Comprehensive site visits are planned for the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, April 7–12; University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, May 12–16; University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science, May 19–24; Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Oct. 13–17; Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine, Nov. 3–7; Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Nov. 17–21; and University of Montreal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dec. 8–12.

Consultative site visits are planned for the Texas Tech University College of Veterinary Medicine, April 14–18; University of Liverpool Institute of Veterinary Science, Sept. 29-Oct. 3; and University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Science, Dec. 1–5.

The council welcomes written comments on these plans or the programs to be evaluated. Comments should be addressed to Dr. Karen Martens Brandt, Director, Education and Research Division, AVMA, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Comments must be signed by the person submitting them to be considered.

ASSOCIATION AIMS TO INCREASE RACIAL DIVERSITY IN VET MEDICINE

By R. Scott Nolen

Black Americans have been significantly underrepresented within the veterinary profession for decades.

Records show that just 70 black students graduated from U.S. and Canadian veterinary schools between 1889 and 1948. That number increased with the addition of a veterinary school at Tuskegee University, a historically black college, in 1945. More than half a century later, however, black Americans remain chronically underrepresented in veterinary medicine, never comprising more than 3 percent of the profession at any time.

The National Association for Black Veterinarians is a newly created organization with a mission of correcting this historical disparity.

“We believe that now is the time to bring attention to the fact that the numbers of blacks in the profession have not increased in decades,” said NABV founder and interim president Annie Daniel, PhD. She is director of veterinary instructional design and outcomes assessment at Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.

“Our research over the past almost 10 years shows that diversity and inclusion have to be a strategically planned effort and resources must be allocated to ensure that the plan can be implemented and successful,” Dr. Daniel explained.

The NABV's umbrella organization is the Institute for Healthcare Education Leadership and Professionals, whose vision for veterinary medicine is to increase the number of black people in the profession.

Part of the NABV's strategy is to work collaboratively with organizations to ensure research-based methods are implemented to increase diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession and colleges.

In addition, the organization plans to support black people in the veterinary profession by doing the following:

  • Encouraging advocacy efforts to increase the number of black people in the veterinary profession.

  • Providing high-quality professional development for veterinarians.

  • Educating students about career choices in veterinary medicine.

  • Educating teachers and guidance counselors about careers in the veterinary profession.

  • Providing educational opportunities and experiential learning opportunities for students interested in a career as a veterinarian.

“Our research has shown that those students learning about the profession and having opportunities to see people who look like them are more inclined to develop interest and enter the profession,” Dr. Daniel said. “I know that this should happen early on and the experiences should be educational as well as fun.”

The NABV currently has 25 members representing a mix of undergraduates, university faculty, and professionals. That number is expected to increase with awareness about the organization, which began publicizing itself in December, according to Dr. Daniel. Membership in the NABV is open to all races and ethnicities and starts at the high school level.

The NABV's inaugural event will be held June 7–8 in New Orleans. The theme, “The State of Blacks in Veterinary Medicine,” is intended not only to raise awareness about the lack of black Americans in veterinary medicine but also to develop an action plan for increasing diversity in the profession.

The conference will feature several speakers, research presentations, and presentations on diversity and inclusion. Sessions on the importance of business planning, assessing growth, and management will also be offered.

For more information about the NABV and June conference, visit https://jav.ma/NABV.

CANINE HEART DISEASE MAY RELATE TO LEGUMES, POTATOES

Federal authorities are studying possible links between heart disease in dogs and diets containing legumes or potatoes.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition found most often in large dogs and Cocker Spaniels, but diet may contribute to disease development, according to the Food and Drug Administration. In February, agency officials published data on hundreds of disease reports and described current studies.

“Based on the data collected and analyzed thus far, the agency believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors,” an FDA announcement states.

The agency's only advice to pet owners is to consult veterinarians about pet diets. Clinical signs of DCM include fatigue, cough, breathing difficulty, and collapse.

From January 2014 through November 2018, veterinarians and pet owners filed reports describing DCM in 325 dogs and 10 cats, FDA officials announced in February. The disease killed 74 of the dogs and two of the cats.

Among the dogs that developed disease and ate a single primary food, 90 percent had been fed a grain-free diet, the announcement states. Most of those diets contained peas, lentils, or both.

In July 2018, agency officials published an alert to pet owners and veterinarians that they were studying possible links between DCM and diets with main ingredients of peas, lentils, other legumes, or potatoes. They called for pet owners and veterinarians to file reports when they suspected DCM could be linked with a pet's diet.

Information published this February indicates that, because the FDA has received far more reports involving dogs than cats, investigators are focusing on dog health.

The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine is investigating correlations between DCM and diet, working with partners to collect and analyze information from pets with the disease, consulting with veterinarians in animal nutrition to learn whether nutrient bioavailability and ingredient digestibility may contribute to the disease, and working with food makers to study ingredients and formulations.

The agency has published details on the investigation and reporting instructions at https://jav.ma/DCM and technical details at https://jav.ma/DCMdetails.

WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2019 PROMOTES VALUE OF VACCINATION

Vaccination is an essential tool for preventive veterinary medicine, according to the World Veterinary Association. The theme of World Veterinary Day 2019, set for April 27, is the “Value of Vaccination.”

The WVA created World Veterinary Day in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession, falling on the last Saturday of April. This year, the WVA has partnered with Health for Animals, the global animal medicines association, on the World Veterinary Day Award, which honors one WVA member's activities related to the theme.

“Vaccines are one of the most valuable tools in any veterinarian's arsenal,” according to the award announcement. “These medicines protect the health of animals and the livelihood of farmers.”

The WVA and Health for Animals will confer the World Veterinary Day Award for the best contribution on the annual theme by a WVA member association working alone or with other groups. The WVA partnered with Health for Animals to improve the visibility of the award and increase the prize to $2,500.

In 2018, the theme of World Veterinary Day was “The role of the veterinary profession in sustainable development to improve livelihoods, food security, and safety.” The Uganda Veterinary Association won the 2018 World Veterinary Day Award for giving visibility to the theme through press conferences, documentary television, radio talk shows, a march, open seminars, free services, and farm-based training.

Details about World Veterinary Day and the World Veterinary Day Award are available at www.worldvet.org.

Colorado State University, USDA train dogs to sniff out bird flu

By Kaitlyn Mattson

d2397362e499

Colorado State University research assistant Liz Ramirez leads Custer in odor-detection drills. (Photo by Bill Cotton/CSU)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Colorado State University and the National Wildlife Research Center are collaborating on a project to train a team of dogs to detect avian influenza in aquatic birds.

“One of the most difficult problems we have in surveillance and detection for diseases in wildlife populations is literally being able to find the disease,” said Dr. Tom DeLiberto, assistant director for the NWRC within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

In humans, influenza affects large parts of the population, and people are obviously sick, Dr. DeLiberto said. For most wildlife species, especially with influenza, it is often hard to tell whether animals are sick.

“We may only see 20 percent or less of animals infected at any given time, and virtually none of those animals will show any signs that they are infected,” he said. “You've got 50 million wild waterfowl on the North American continent in any given year. The test is $50 a sample, and 80 percent or more of those are negative. So our goal is to see if we can develop new tools to help us tell which animals we should test for diseases.”

APHIS has a long history of working with detector dogs, and the NWRC is focused on exploring scientific means to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

“We began this work in 2014, first with mice, then ferrets, and now dogs,” said Dr. Richard Bowen, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences and director of the Natural Animal Models Core at CSU College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, in a press release about the project. “I was skeptical at first and still think it's almost unbelievable, but it keeps working.”

Five of the six dogs being trained for the current project came from shelters across the U.S. Dogs are not susceptible to avian influenza.

d2397362e522

Left: Detector dogs Custer, Loki, and Squirrel (Courtesy of Glen Golden) Top right: Moose, a mixed-breed dog from the Nebraska Humane Society, trains in odor-detection work. (Photo by Bill Cotton/CSU) Bottom right: Colorado State University research scientist Glen Golden, PhD, engages Squirrel, a mixed-breed dog from a rescue in Yreka, California, and the first dog to join the project, in a daily exercise session. (Photo by Bill Cotton/CSU)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

“The dogs are performing at 97–98 percent accuracy as a group,” said Glen Golden, PhD, a research scientist in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the CSU veterinary college. In mid-February, the dogs were identifying cinnamaldehyde, which gives cinnamon its odor.

The next phase of the project will involve materials from infected and uninfected animals and a number of experiments to challenge the dogs and make sure they are actually identifying materials from infected animals, Dr. Golden said.

However, the dogs are not detecting the virus directly.

“Our current thinking is that infection results in a dramatic metabolic change in the host,” said Bruce

Kimball, PhD, leader of the NWRC Analytical Chemistry Project. “The volatile profile of feces is a result of the interaction of host with the virus. As yet, we have never identified a unique odorant that only appears in infected animals. The result is up- and downregulation of odorants that are found in the feces of healthy animals. The beauty of using biosensor animals like the mice, ferrets, and dogs is that they are really good at picking up on the subtle differences in these profiles, much better than we can analytically.”

If the program is successful, the goal is to deploy dogs in the field across the country.

“We are hoping to deploy them to wildlife biologists and make them a part of the avian influenza surveillance program—and then for these biologists to take these dogs home as a part of the family,” Dr. Golden said.

The hope is dogs would allow wildlife specialists to monitor bird flu better and gain more information on how the disease moves.

While the current research focus is avian influenza, the project leaders agree that, if successful, the possibilities could be endless.

“I think if these sets of experiments are effective and we can implement our dogs in the detection of avian influenza, there is a real opportunity with other diseases—to train these dogs on a number of different diseases that are very hard to detect, like chronic wasting disease and Newcastle disease,” Dr. DeLiberto said. “There is real potential.”

FDA sees trend of unsafe compounding labs

By Greg Cima

Food and Drug Administration authorities say they are seeing a trend of unsafe conditions in compounding laboratories.

In announcing an injunction against one compounding laboratory, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said in February the laboratory is just one example of those with poor conditions that endanger patients.

“We continue to see concerning activity when it comes to some compounded drugs, including problems related to the conditions under which compounded sterile medicines are made, which can raise significant risks to patients,” he said in the announcement. “This is an area of intense focus for the FDA.

“We're committed to making sure that compounded drugs are made under appropriate production standards and, when necessary, taking enforcement actions against compounders who fail to produce sterile drugs in compliance with the law.”

FDA officials published the announcement after securing an injunction against the Pennsylvaniabased Ranier's Compounding Laboratory and the pharmacist who owns it, Francis H. Ranier. He and the company are forbidden from making, holding, or distributing compounded human or animal drugs that need to be sterile, at least until the laboratory convinces FDA officials that it meets regulatory standards and adds programs to guard against lapses.

In a complaint filed Feb. 1, Department of Justice officials accused Ranier and his company of a history of making drugs that fall short of sterility requirements. The complaint says an FDA investigator found in May 2018 that pharmacy employees brought unsanitary objects into a critical processing area, failed to properly use a filtration hood, and engaged in inadequate contamination tests, cleaning practices, maintenance, and storage practices.

On July 10, 2018, the FDA warned the public against using sterile products made by Ranier's, and the company told FDA officials it halted sterile compounding that day. Ranier's issued a voluntary recall 17 days later.

In September 2018, the FDA published a draft guidance document, “Insanitary Conditions at Compounding Facilities,” that describes the conditions seen by inspectors and how pharmacists and others should correct them.

“FDA has investigated numerous outbreaks of infections and deaths found to be the result of drug products that were contaminated because they were produced under insanitary conditions,” the document states.

The most notable of those outbreaks occurred in 2012, when injectable drugs produced by New England Compounding Center killed 64 of almost 800 people who developed fungal meningitis, according to FDA and DOJ information. Prosecutors have secured prison sentences against pharmacists responsible for practices that include making and selling drugs without confirming they were sterile, failing to tell people when drugs were contaminated, compounding with expired ingredients, forging prescriptions to dispense drugs in bulk, ignoring mold and bacteria in what were supposed to be clean rooms, and telling staff to mislabel drugs.

Since the 2012 outbreak, the FDA has investigated other serious adverse events, including deaths, and compounders have recalled drugs that needed to be sterile, the draft guidance document states. However, the document also warns that adverse events likely are underreported.

“FDA does not inspect the vast majority of compounding facilities in the United States because they generally are not registered with FDA unless they are outsourcing facilities,” the guidance states. “Therefore, unless FDA receives a complaint, such as a report of a serious adverse event or visible contamination, the Agency is often not aware of these facilities, their conditions and practices, and potential problems with the quality and safety of their drug products.”

Most other compounding facilities register with states, and the FDA encourages state regulators to assess practices.

In the compounding facilities seen by the FDA, inspectors have found production areas with vermin, visible mold and bacterial growth, rust, glass shavings, hairs, paint chips, and standing water. They saw handling that could cross-contaminate sensitive or potent drugs, such as hormones. Products have contained ingredients with potentially harmful amounts of impurities, including some ingredients labeled “not for pharmaceutical use.”

Employees failed to wear the right equipment to protect production or keep equipment clean. Drugs were made without proper ventilation. Tools and containers went unsterilized. Employees failed to test for contamination and ensure their safety equipment was working properly. Even those who cleaned sometimes used products that leave residues on equipment and containers that subsequently had direct contact with drugs.

Those who fail to correct the problems are subject to warning, product seizure, or injunction, the guidance states.

Since August 2017, FDA officials also have published alerts about other compounding problems in human medicine, such as a steroid and anti-infective drug that caused vision problems in cataract patients because of an unsafe excipient, an injectable fitness-related product that caused tissue erosion at injection sites of two people when a component degraded before the expiration date, and confusing labeling that led to one patient receiving 50 times the prescribed dose of fentanyl.

NIH AWARDS LSU $11.5M TO ESTABLISH PULMONARY RESEARCH CENTER

d2397362e607

Dr. Samithamby Jeyaseelan, professor in the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine's Department of Pathobiological Sciences, will serve as principal investigator of the newly established Center for Lung Biology and Disease. (Courtesy of LSU CVM)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine has been awarded more than $11.5 million in funding over five years from the National Institutes of Health to launch the Center for Lung Biology and Disease. Dr. Samithamby Jeyaseelan, professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, will serve as principal investigator, and Rhonda Cardin, PhD, associate dean for research and advanced studies, will serve as co-investigator.

The center will augment research on campus into the molecular and cellular immunological mechanisms of pulmonary diseases, according to a Feb. 4 LSU press release. The overarching goal of the CLBD is to gain new insights into the pathogenesis of lung diseases that will guide improved strategies for treatment and prevention.

The funding comes from the NIH Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence program, which seeks to promote the initiation and development or expansion of unique and innovative biomedical and behavioral research centers at institutions in states that historically have received low levels of support from NIH, including Louisiana.

“COBRE brings national recognition to the LSU SVM and will serve as a powerful engine to expand our research portfolio in pulmonary disease as it relates to human health and comparative medicine,” said Dr. Joel Baines, LSU veterinary school dean, in the release. “We are proud of all of our faculty associated with this prestigious grant. This award mechanism will also provide exceptional research and funding opportunities to veterinarian-scientists to do high-caliber research using COBRE resources.”

According to the NIH, COBRE support comes in three sequential five-year phases. The grant for the CLBD is renewable for two additional five-year terms, for a total of more than $32 million. As the center's director, Dr. Jeyaseelan has assembled a team of investigators from the veterinary school's Department of Pathobiological Sciences and Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences to address immunological mechanisms contributing to numerous infectious and noninfectious pulmonary diseases.

The specific objectives of the center are to create a nationally recognized center of excellence in pulmonary diseases, improve research infrastructure to enhance competitiveness for extramural grants, and promote the independent careers of junior investigators.

Although the theme of the CLBD is pulmonary disease, the center is open to all researchers on campus and in the state of Louisiana.

VMX 2019 takes on timely topics

NAVC's flagship conference again offers hundreds of hours of continuing education to thousands of attendees

By Katie Burns

d2397362e643

The 2019 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, Jan. 19–23 in Orlando, Florida, offered more than 1,200 hours of continuing education and attracted about 17,000 attendees. (Courtesy of NAVC)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Osteoarthritis in overweight pets, the psychosocial effects of service dogs, and the Fear Free Certification Program were among the many subjects of discussion at the 2019 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, Jan. 19–23 in Orlando, Florida.

The North American Veterinary Community, a nonprofit that provides continuing education and other services, renamed its flagship conference as VMX starting in 2018. VMX 2019 offered more than 1,200 hours of CE and attracted about 17,000 attendees.

OSTEOARTHRITIS IN OVERWEIGHT PETS

During the conference, Banfield Pet Hospital released its third annual Veterinary Emerging Topics Report, in partnership with the NAVC. The 2019 report, available at www.banfield.com/vetreport, examines the management of osteoarthritis in overweight and obese dogs and cats.

“As an industry, we face an uphill battle as excess weight becomes normalized and associated conditions like osteoarthritis are on the rise,” said Dr. Daniel Aja, Banfield chief medical officer, in an announcement about the report.

Approximately one in three pets seen at Banfield clinics is overweight or obese, and the prevalence is increasing. Banfield found that 51 percent of dogs and 41 percent of cats newly diagnosed with osteoarthritis in 2017 also were considered overweight or obese. Key barriers preventing appropriate care for pets with osteoarthritis included the cost of diagnostic services and treatment, owner noncompliance, owners not recognizing that the pet is in pain, owners not accepting that the pet is overweight, and hospital time constraints.

Among the findings were the following:

  • Less than 30 percent of pets received radiographs when a diagnosis was made.

  • Only 50 percent of dogs and cats were sent home with pain medication at the time of initial diagnosis.

  • Less than 10 percent of pets were prescribed a veterinary diet for mobility or weight management.

The report identified the following opportunities to improve osteoarthritis management:

  • Dispensing pain medication for pets with osteoarthritis.

  • Incorporating existing tools for earlier identification.

  • Making a dietary recommendation every time.

  • Weight management.

  • Patient management as a veterinary team effort.

PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF SERVICE DOGS

At VMX 2019, a lunchtime session featured the results of the study “The effects of service dogs on psychosocial health and wellbeing for individuals with physical disabilities or chronic conditions” from researchers at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. The study, available at https://jav.ma/servicedog, appeared online Jan. 11 in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation.

The study involved a survey of 154 individuals with physical disabilities or chronic conditions—97 individuals with a mobility or medical service dog and 57 on the waitlist. The researchers evaluated the effects of having a service dog on standardized measures of psychosocial health as well as anger, companionship, and sleep disturbance.

The results indicated that “individuals with a service dog exhibited significantly better psychosocial health including higher social, emotional, and work/school functioning. There was no significant effect of having a service dog on anger, companionship, or sleep disturbance,” according to the abstract.

Leading the study were Kerri Rodriguez and Maggie O'Haire, PhD. In a Purdue announcement, Dr. O'Haire said, “These findings help shed light on the fact that having a service dog may impact some areas of life more than others.”

“We are still unsure how having a service dog and a pet dog may differ,” Rodriguez said. “Although these service dogs are extensively trained to provide medical or physical assistance, we know that their companionship and unconditional love are important factors in the relationship.”

FEAR FREE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Ahead of VMX 2019, the Fear Free Certification Program released results of a 2018 online survey of 960 participants. The program provides veterinary and pet professionals with tools, protocols, and knowledge to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in patients and clients. Individual professionals and entire practices may earn certification. Participants who responded to the survey reported an increase in income, client visits, referrals, and new clients, plus improved patient care and work morale.

Fear Free offered a variety of sessions at VMX 2019. Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the program, was among the presenters. Sessions included a full-day track on the operational aspects of Fear Free and a full-day track on the science behind the program.

NAVC OFFICERS

The 2019–2020 NAVC officers are Dr. Cheryl Good, Dearborn, Michigan, president; veterinary technician Paige Allen, West Lafayette, Indiana, president-elect; veterinary technician Harold Davis, West Sacramento, California, vice president; Dr. Laurel Kaddatz, Pound Ridge, New York, treasurer; and Dr. K. Leann Kuebelbeck, Brandon, Florida, immediate past president.

d2397362e756

A session at VMX 2019 featured the results of a study from Purdue University, which found that service dogs have positive effects on the psychosocial health of individuals with physical disabilities or chronic conditions. The study participants were recruited from Canine Assistants. (Photo by David Scott/Canine Assistants)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

HIRING CRUNCH

How to hire veterinary team members

By Katie Burns

and keep them

Crabtree, a longtime practice manager and owner of FurPaws Consulting, estimated there were a dozen candidates for every open position in practice when she started out as a veterinary assistant 15 years ago. Now, there seem to be 12 positions available for every candidate.

Across the country, the veterinary job market has turned around since the Great Recession, with some locations and fields seeing a worse hiring crunch than others. Among veterinarians, shortages appear especially acute for specialists (see JAVMA, Oct. 15, 2018, page 964) and emergency veterinarians (see JAVMA, March 1, 2019, page 570).

Practical tips for hiring veterinary team members remain the same regardless of the ups and downs of the job market, say those with expertise or experience in the area—and the real key is retention. The AVMA offers hiring resources such as classified advertisements in the JAVMA and listings on the online AVMA Veterinary Career Center (see story, page 777).

FINDING PERSPECTIVE

Only 1.6 percent of veterinarians reported they were unemployed in 2017, according to AVMA data. The national unemployment rate has remained around 4 percent since mid-2017, down from a high of about 10 percent in late 2009.

John Volk of Brakke Consulting believes the hiring crunch in veterinary medicine is not a crisis. While the Great Recession technically lasted from 2007–09, he said, veterinarians felt it worst from 2010–13, and the trends leading to today's shortages were set in motion 10–15 years ago.

Volk said most practices are small, independent operations with an average of two or three veterinarians. Many don't really need another full-time veterinarian, but only a third-time or half-time veterinarian. But a part-time veterinarian is harder to hire, and this tight labor market exaggerates demand.

Burdensome educational debt also forces some veterinarians to take the highest-paying jobs they can find, Volk said. A practice might have hired an associate at $65,000 not too long ago, but the weighted, mean starting salary for veterinarians was about $76,000 in 2017, according to AVMA data.

“I think that the shortage is very real,” Volk said. “I don't think it's as dramatic as it feels right now.”

The number of veterinarians is increasing with the addition of veterinary colleges and student seats, a development that went from unwelcome to welcome among practitioners as the economy rebounded. Volk said, “It's so easy to have a short-term perspective because you feel the glut now or you feel the shortage now.”

d2397362e820

AVMA VETERINARY CAREER CENTER RATIO OF APPLICANTS TO AVAILABLE JOBS, 2017

Source: 2018 AVMA Report on the Market for Veterinarians

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Peter Weinstein, executive director of the Southern California VMA and chair of the AVMA Veterinary Economics Strategy Committee, said he has heard of shortages of veterinarians particularly in large urban areas with many competing animal hospitals as well as in remote areas. In 2008–09, the SCVMA monthly magazine had one page of classified job advertisements in large font. In 2017–18, the magazine had four pages in small font.

Beyond veterinarians, people were asking 10–15 years ago how to find credentialed veterinary technicians, said Rebecca Rose, a longtime veterinary technician and owner of Catalyst Veterinary Practice Consultants out of Colorado. Now the question has taken on greater urgency.

PRACTICE CONSULTANT

Southern California is an attractive location but an expensive place to live, Crabtree said. Veterinarians have high educational debt, and team members other than veterinarians don't make much money. Thus, recruiting candidates for any position is a struggle. In mid-February, Crabtree had three practices in a 10-mile radius looking for a manager, and she would recruit for only one at a time.

Crabtree finds job candidates through sources such as the Indeed job search engine and the camaraderie of the North Orange County Veterinary Hospital Managers Group. Some managers in that group are dipping a toe in the water with Facebook ads. She said job fairs are time-consuming and can be expensive but are another way to recruit.

For a job ad, Crabtree often leads with a question, such as “Are you looking for what's next in your career?” Then she writes a sort of letter to candidates, saying, “This is our practice. For the most part, we're awesome, but some days, it's tough. Love, Dr. So-and-So.”

With millennials, Crabtree said, hiring must move quickly. It used to be that a practice could take two weeks to hire someone, but now the process can be so fast that a practice makes a job offer within a day for a support staff position.

Crabtree tells practice managers and owners that employees are a practice's most valuable asset. She said practices must invest in employees to keep them and stop recycling them. Practices should engage with employees—from veterinarians to receptionists—and offer training, mentorship, and career development. Crabtree is a proponent of having check-ins with employees quarterly or more often instead of annual performance reviews.

“We have to be able to invest in our employees and allow them to blossom in our practices to help grow our practices,” Crabtree said.

TIPS FOR HIRING

Stacy Pursell, chief executive officer of The Vet Recruiter, said the national search firm actually placed more people during the Great Recession than in the years prior. The firm had clients in various regions who couldn't find veterinarians even though she kept hearing there were too many. She anticipated that after the recession, the recovering job market would lead to an overall shortage of veterinarians.

Pursell said LinkedIn, the professional networking site, allows employers to showcase themselves and engage with job candidates. The Vet Recruiter uses Twitter to share job listings. The best way that the firm finds talent is with its proprietary database.

Employers need to sell themselves more, Pursell said, and they also need to look at each candidate's point of view. What is the candidate looking for? What is the candidate's motivation? Is the candidate not happy with his or her current practice because of the culture, size, technology, flexibility, or amount of collaboration?

“There has been no better time to be a veterinarian than today with all the opportunities that abound,” Pursell said. “It's not necessarily the best for the employer that's hiring because they're the ones that are struggling to find talent to get their positions filled, but it's great for veterinarians who want to improve their situation.”

Dr. Weinstein of the SCVMA said job ads can't be bland. He said: “You can't just be white bread. You've got to be some rye bread with caraway seeds, or you need to be a squaw bread or something, because white bread is not going to get you the person that you want any longer.”

d2397362e869

The AVMA Veterinary Career Center put up a job board in the exhibit hall at AVMA Convention 2018, July 13–17 in Denver, and ran classified job advertisements in the daily convention newspaper. (Photo by Matt Alexandre)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

And there are so many job boards now, noted Rose of Catalyst Veterinary Practice Consultants, not only through the AVMA Veterinary Career Center and other VMAs but also through Indeed and other websites. A job announcement has to hit home right away.

Dr. Weinstein's main message is that practices should always be hiring for every position. If a practice owner runs into a great candidate, the owner should find a place for that candidate. Dr. Weinstein recommends hiring people who fit the culture of the practice and who can work with the entire team, partly by integrating the entire team into the hiring process. He advocates working interviews, even integrating clients into the hiring process.

Dr. Weinstein also recommends that practices should be malleable, maybe hiring two veterinarians to work three days a week instead of one veterinarian to work five days a week or hiring a morning doctor and an afternoon doctor.

Rose helps practice managers and owners assess their hiring processes. Her audit includes looking at job descriptions, job announcements, interview questions, and employment screenings.

PRACTICE OWNER

Dr. Melanie Marsden, owner of Pikes Peak Veterinary Clinic in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said her region has an appealing lifestyle, so her practice is fortunate not to have challenges in hiring veterinarians. Finding other team members can be difficult partly because the pay is less, plus the military population of the area contributes to turnover.

Dr. Marsden, a member of the AVMA Board of Directors, hires on the basis of people fitting in with her practice's culture and values. She said, “When we do hire people, it's because we share a passion for what we do, and that translates to employee longevity.”

She posts jobs in traditional places such as with state VMAs, the American Animal Hospital Association, and veterinary technology programs. A lot of the practice's good hires have happened through word of mouth from colleagues.

d2397362e896

Veterinary technology students participate in a 2017 job fair at Stanbridge University in Irvine, California. (Photo by Melissa Tompkins)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Marsden said the practice's job ads communicate the culture and values along with how the working environment and benefit package differ from the place down the road. The practice is family-friendly and locally owned, offers profit-sharing, and listens to team members. Of the 4 1/2 veterinarians, only one doctor works full time. To hire a practice manager, Dr. Marsden worked with Rose of Catalyst Veterinary Practice Consultants.

Hiring a veterinarian or veterinary technician involves a phone interview, reference checks, and a working interview. Team members go in with a set of questions or characteristics to look for to indicate a good fit.

After hiring, the practice pairs new team members with a buddy or mentor who can answer questions. Once a month, the practice closes for in-service meetings. Once a year, team members complete an evaluation of the practice. Team members turn to the Situation-Behavior-Impact Feedback tool to resolve conflict.

RETENTION IS KEY

“What a lot of people don't realize is that retention starts the moment that the candidate accepts the offer of employment,” said Pursell of The Vet Recruiter.

Pursell recommends beginning the orientation process between the time candidates accept an offer and the time they begin in the position. Practices must answer any questions promptly and address any concerns.

For long-term retention, Pursell advises showing appreciation to employees. Like others, she recommends meeting individually and regularly with team members to put together a plan of action based on employee feedback—and carrying out that plan.

Dr. Weinstein of the SCVMA said, “Retention comes from hiring correctly—taking the time to find the right person that fits with your practice, that has the personality for your practice—paying a fair and competitive salary with a fair and competitive benefit package, and supporting them as professionals as well as as people.”

Most of the time, veterinarians don't leave a practice simply because of a lack of money, Dr. Weinstein said. They leave because there is a disconnect on the quality of care, or they feel unsupported by the leadership team, or they just can't get along with the rest of the staff.

“They're leaving because they just aren't happy with their situation,” he said. “You know how you find out what people want? You ask them.”

Practice owners are so busy being busy that they don't take time to engage people, Dr. Weinstein said. He advises practice owners who are short on time to hire a practice manager and to be a doctor.

Rose of Catalyst Veterinary Practice Consultants emphasized the problem with high turnover in the veterinary industry. She said practices that retain quality team members offer a competitive salary and a great place to work that uses employees’ skills.

Across the United States, one of the first things people ask Rose is how to find team members, but she said team retention also is getting some well-deserved attention. She said: “It's a critical issue. I think that the veterinary community is realizing that we've got to properly leverage every team member to their max.”

TURN TO THE AVMA FOR HIRING RESOURCES

And learn ways to make a job ad stand out to attract the right applicant

By Katie Burns

Dr. Pat gets a lot of calls these days from practice owners who can't find job candidates. She asks each one to tell her about their practice. Then she says, “That's your job ad.”

Dr. Patricia L. Wohlferth-Bethke, a former practitioner, oversees the online AVMA Veterinary Career Center as an assistant director of the AVMA Membership and Field Services Division.

“I ask very few questions, and I listen, and I let them talk,” she said. “I do help them by asking key questions about their practice—what makes them proud, what gets them up in the morning to go to work—and how they can potentially incorporate that into their job ad.”

It might not absolutely help, she said, “but at least you know you've done all you can to attract candidates. And maybe the practice is in a location where few people consider, except for the one person that you eventually do find that will stay there forever and buy the place. And that's the thing. You don't need a ton of applicants. You need the right applicant.”

The AVMA offers various resources for employers looking to hire, including classified advertisements in the JAVMA and on the AVMA Veterinary Career Center, two virtual career fairs to date, and a physical job board at the AVMA Convention along with listings in the daily convention newspaper. In January, the AVMA Board of Directors approved holding a career networking event at AVMA Convention 2019 coming up this August in Washington, D.C.

A decade ago, practice owners could simply say they had a job, and plenty of people would apply because unemployment was higher, Dr. Wohlferth-Bethke said. She started to see a change in the ratio of job ads to applicants in 2013 and more of a balance around 2015–16. Now things are the other way around.

Dr. Wohlferth-Bethke said practices have to stand out because deciding to take a job is a life-changing event. A job ad is actually a powerful marketing piece explaining what the practice has to offer. She said: “The bottom line is to think like a job seeker. If you're a job seeker, what do you want to read? Because you've got about a minute and a half for people to read your job.”

Put important things up top. The first thing is: What's the job? The ad should discuss the practice culture and what the practice does that stands out. Whoever is writing the ad could talk to long-time employees about why they keep coming in to work each day. A flexible schedule is important. Dr. Wohlferth-Bethke advises listing a wide range for salary so people will know the ballpark. The ad should list benefits and the location as well as why people want to live there.

Employers who post on the AVMA Veterinary Career Center also have free access to resumes, while most job boards charge extra. Other tools for hiring include one-on-one networking, using the LinkedIn professional networking site, turning to a recruiter, and putting up ads on job boards at veterinary meetings.

Beyond hiring, retention is so important, Dr. Wohlferth-Bethke added. She said retention is practice management, pure and simple. The AVMA has begun to offer online continuing education on practice management and other topics via the Lead & Learn webinars.

Dr. Wohlferth-Bethke's basic advice for retention is to be kind and provide career development. She said, “By and large, people want their job to mean something, and they want to make a difference.”

STEPS TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL JOB LISTING

  • Job title: Use the job title, as the first thing people read, to describe your opportunity by including key information and increase the level of interest.

  • Job description: Make your job opportunity stand out from the others so that candidates will want to know more.

  • Company profile: This is your moment to shine and market your practice as a desirable place to work. What you take pride in as an owner or employee should be reflected here.

  • Job requirements: This is typically the last section candidates read, so only specific information should be included.

People

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICIANS

EVENT

61st annual meeting, Oct. 18–24, 2018, Kansas City, Missouri

AWARDS

E.P. Pope Award
d2397362e1035

Dr. Craig Carter

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Craig Carter, Lexington, Kentucky, for noteworthy contributions to the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians and to the field of veterinary diagnostic medicine. Dr. Carter received his veterinary degree in 1981 and his doctorate in veterinary public health in 1993 from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He is a professor of epidemiology at the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, with a joint appointment at the College of Public Health. Dr. Carter also directs the university's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Earlier in his career, he owned a large animal ambulatory practice in Texas and served as a clinical associate at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and a distinguished scholar of the National Academies of Practice, Dr. Carter serves as president of the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society. He is a past president of the AAVLD and a past executive director of the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. Dr. Carter also received the AAVLD Life Membership Award at the meeting.

Distinguished Service Award
d2397362e1052

Dr. Kristy Pabilonia

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Kristy Pabilonia (Colorado State ‘02), Fort Collins, Colorado, for volunteering time, energy, and professionalism to substantially enrich and advance the AAVLD and the field of veterinary diagnostic medicine. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, Dr. Pabilonia is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology at the Colorado State University

College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. She is also a diagnostic veterinarian and heads three sections of the university's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, serving as interim laboratory director. Dr. Pabilonia is secretary-treasurer of the AAVLD.

BioMic Award for Excellence in Diagnostic Microbiology
d2397362e1069

Dr. Erdal Erol

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Erdal Erol, Lexington, Kentucky, for research accomplishments in the field, which have resulted in new scientific findings that have application for the betterment of veterinary medicine. Dr. Erol received his veterinary degree in 1986 from Firat University in Elazig, Turkey, and earned his doctorate in microbiology in 2004 from the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. He is an associate professor and head of the diagnostic microbiology unit at the University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, where he leads the bacteriology, molecular biology, and virology sections. Dr. Erol's research interests focus on infectious agents causing abortions and respiratory diseases in horses. Earlier in his career, he served as an infectious-disease diagnostician at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory and as a veterinary microbiologist at the Arkansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

J. Lindsay Oaks Best Student Molecular Biology Presentation Award

Linto Anthony, South Dakota State University, for “Genome divergence and increased virulence of outbreak associated Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg.”

Richard Walker Best Student Bacteriology Presentation Award

April Aquino Estrada, University of Minnesota, for “Serotype and genotype (by multilocus sequence typing) distributions of Streptococcus suis in the US.”

Brenda Love Best Classical Bacteriology Presentation Award and Best Graduate Student Poster Award

Sreenidhi Sreenivasan, Pennsylvania State University, for “Development of a peptide-based diagnostic test for bovine tuberculosis.”

AAVLD/ACVP Resident Pathology Travel Award

Yvonne Wikander, Kansas State University, for “A unique immunophenotype of thymoma-associated lymphocytes in a dog.”

Best Graduate Student Oral Presentation Award

Laura Burns, Iowa State University, for “Rapid screening for veterinary drug residues in food and companion animal tissues using liquid microjunction surface sampling probe mass spectrometry.”

Best Staff Oral Presentation Award

Zachary Forbes, Cornell University, for “Prevalence of canine and equine respiratory disease agents in clinical diagnostic submissions from 2013–2018.”

Best JVDI Full Manuscript

Jianqiang Zhang, Iowa State University, for “High-throughput whole genome sequencing of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus from cell culture materials and clinical specimens using next-generation sequencing technology.”

Best JVDI Brief Communication

Melissa Goolia, National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease, Canada, for “Validation of a competitive ELISA and a virus neutralization test for the detection and confirmation of antibodies to Senecavirus A in swine sera.”

Honorary Membership
d2397362e1151

Brad Mollet

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

d2397362e1159

Dr. Monique Eloit

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Brad Mollet, Washington, D.C., and Dr. Monique Eloit, Paris

OFFICIALS

d2397362e1175

Dr. Keith Bailey

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

d2397362e1183

Dr. Deepanker Tewari

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Drs. Keith Bailey, Stillwater, Oklahoma, president; Deepanker Tewari, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, president-elect; Shuping Zhang, Columbia, Missouri, vice president; Kristy Pabilonia, Fort Collins, Colorado, secretary-treasurer; Steve Hooser, West Lafayette, Indiana, immediate past president; and David H. Zeman, Brookings, South Dakota, executive director

UNITED STATES ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION

EVENT

122nd annual meeting, Oct. 18–24, 2018, Kansas City, Missouri

PROGRAM

The meeting, held jointly with the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (see story, page 778), drew nearly 1,300 attendees. The joint plenary session, “Strategic Collaborations to Support Agrodefense,” featured several key speakers. Greg Ibach, undersecretary for the Department of Agriculture's marketing and regulatory programs, spoke on “Emphasis on 2018 Farm Bill, Animal Disease Traceability, & African Swine Fever.” Dr. Stephen W. Goldsmith and Kathleen Giles of the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate presented “Agricultural Threats—Biosecurity and Espionage.” Cody Bruce, deputy director and lead cyberintelligence analyst for the Kansas Intelligence Fusion Center, and Dr. Marty Vanier, director of strategic partnership development for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, spoke on “Fusion Centers and Biosecurity Partnerships: Lessons Learned from Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration.” Scott Linsky of the USDA Office of Homeland Security, and Dr. Elizabeth Lautner, associate deputy administrator for diagnostics and biologics at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, presented “Leveraging Partnerships at the Office of Homeland Security and NBAF to Protect the Food and Ag Sector.” Julian Rosenberg, PhD, director of research and technology development for The Sabre Companies, presented “From Bioterrorism Response to Farm Biosecurity: Adapting High-Level Decontamination Technology to Animal Disease Outbreak and Prevention.” Also part of the program was a special session featuring Dr. Monique Eloit, director general of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), who shared the vision and strategic plan of the OIE.

AWARDS

USAHA Medal of Distinction

d2397362e1238

Dr. Donald Hoenig

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Donald Hoenig (Pennsylvania ‘78), Belfast, Maine. Dr. Hoenig is a former Maine state and extension veterinarian who now owns a consulting practice in Belfast. A past president of the USAHA, he was recognized for exemplary and continued service to the organization and to animal-related industries.

USAHA Federal Partnership Award

d2397362e1253

Dr. Jack Rhyan

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Jack Rhyan (Auburn ‘75), Fort Collins, Colorado. A wildlife pathologist with the Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services, Dr. Rhyan leads the Wildlife/Livestock Disease Investigations Team. Earlier, he worked at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. Dr. Rhyan is known for his expertise in brucellosis and wildlife reservoirs.

APHIS Administrator's Award

d2397362e1268

Dr. Andy Schwartz

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Andy Schwartz (Texas A&M ‘88), Austin, Texas. Dr. Schwartz is Texas state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission. He was recognized for his work as state veterinarian, notably his leadership on programs to prevent the spread of cattle fever ticks.

National Assembly Award

d2397362e1283

Dr. David Schmitt

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. David Schmitt (Iowa State ‘73), Ankeny, Iowa. Dr. Schmitt has served as Iowa state veterinarian since 2008. A past president of the USAHA, he was honored for his service as state veterinarian and his contributions to the National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials.

BUSINESS

Twenty-three resolutions have been approved and can be viewed at www.usaha.org/usaha-resolutions.

OFFICIALS

Dr. Kristin Haas, Montpelier, Vermont, president; Dr. Martin Zaluski, Helena, Montana, president-elect; Dr. Charles Hatcher, Nashville, Tennessee, first vice president; Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, Pierre, South Dakota, second vice president; Steve Rommereim, Alcester, South Dakota, third vice president; Dr. Annette Jones, Sacramento, California, treasurer; and Barbara Determan, Early, Iowa, immediate past president

NEBRASKA VMA

EVENT

Annual meeting, Jan. 24–26, Kearney

AWARDS

Veterinarian of the Year

d2397362e1349

Dr. Alfred Orval Gigstad III

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Alfred Orval Gigstad III (Kansas State ‘76), Syracuse. Dr. Gigstad owns Arbor Valley Animal Clinic in Syracuse. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners and a past president of the Nebraska VMA.

Rising Star Award

d2397362e1364

Dr. Elizabeth Farrington

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Elizabeth Farrington (Iowa State ‘11), Omaha. Dr. Farrington works for the Nebraska Humane Society in Omaha. She serves on the Nebraska Board of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery and is a past member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine Admissions Committee and Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program task force.

Outstanding Licensed Veterinary Technician Award

d2397362e1379

Shawna Burke

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Shawna Burke, Lincoln. Burke is director of education at the Nebraska Animal Medical Center in Lincoln. She has a special interest in critical care, emergency, cardiology, neurology, and anesthesia.

OFFICIALS

Drs. Larry Henning, Gretna, president; Jeremy Young, Albion, president-elect; Steve Krull, Curtis, secretary-treasurer; and Victoria Winfield, Hastings, immediate past president

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY DERMATOLOGY

The American College of Veterinary Dermatology welcomed 11 new diplomates following the board certification examination it held Nov. 8–9, 2018, in Pomona, California. New diplomates are as follows:

Stephanie Abrams, Walpole, Massachusetts

Amanda L. Ackermann, Nashville, Tennessee

Nellie Chun Wai Choi, Perth, Australia

Andrea E. Hasbach, Beaverton, Oregon

Aurore Laprais, Ottawa, Ontario

Jennifer R. Moczarnik Petersen, Glendale, Wisconsin

Meagan R. Painter, San Francisco

Austin W. Richman, Marina del Rey, California

Stephanne L. Schwartz, Chicago

Meghan K.M. Solc, Akron, Ohio

Alicia Webb Milum, Oklahoma City

Dr. Walter E. Collins: ‘Father of veterinary technology'

By Kaitlyn Mattson

d2397362e1446

Dr. Walter E. Collins graduated in 1961 from the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. He would go on to be a key creator of the veterinary technician curriculum. (Courtesy of John Cheney)

Citation: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 254, 7; 10.2460/javma.254.7.757

Dr. Walter E. Collins (Cornell ‘61), a key creator of the veterinary technician curriculum, died Jan. 19. He was 88 years old.

Early in his veterinary career, Dr. Collins worked in Cooperstown, New York, for a local veterinarian before starting his own practice in Delhi, New York. He began to transition into academia in 1964. Dr. Collins was later appointed the program director of the first animal health technician program at State University of New York at Delhi. He received a grant from the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare to spearhead the creation of a curriculum to train technicians. Dr. Collins was the author and co-author of many vital educational guides for the profession.

“He was a friend and mentor to all his students,” said Alan Franks, a professor of veterinary technology at SUNY-Delhi and a former student of Dr. Collins at Delhi in the 1970s. “He inspired us to do our best and, as graduates, to become outstanding representatives of the program and ambassadors for the veterinary technician profession.”

During his more than 30 years as an educator and veterinarian, Dr. Collins served as program director of Mountain View College in Dallas and associate professor and coordinator of the veterinary technology program at Michigan State University, where he retired in 1995. He played host to the 1981 Association of Veterinary Technician Educators symposium at MSU, which led to the formation of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. The AVMA House of Delegates approved the use of the title veterinary technician instead of animal health technician in 1989.

“The field of veterinary technology owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Collins for all he has done to promote and advance our chosen profession,” said Erin Spencer, NAVTA president and a certified veterinary technician. “It can easily be said that Dr. Collins accomplished more on behalf of the veterinary technician profession than any other individual. As early as the 1970s, Dr. Collins was advocating for veterinary technicians to be utilized to their fullest capacity, a sentiment that continues today.”

In 2011, Dr. Collins was formally recognized by SUNY-Delhi for his efforts and granted the moniker “father of veterinary technology in the U.S.” during the program's 50th anniversary celebration.

“With his passing, Dr. Collins’ legacy is every veterinary technician who has ever graduated from a veterinary technician program in the U.S. He was truly the father of veterinary technology, and he is the godfather of every veterinary technician,” Franks said.

Dr. Collins was a former president and lifetime member of the AVTE; he was on the National Veterinary Technician Testing Committee, which was charged with developing the Veterinary Technician National Exam; and he served on the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities, among others.

Dr. Collins is survived by his wife, Beverly; two sons and a daughter; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers and two stepsisters. Memorials may be made to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 1931 N. Meacham Rd. Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, with checks made payable to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and “Dr. Walter E. Collins” in the memo line.

Obituaries: AVMA MEMBER | AVMA HONOR ROLL MEMBER | NONMEMBER

BILLY S. AUSTIN

Dr. Austin (Auburn ‘50), 92, Lake Mary, Florida, died Dec. 27, 2018. He most recently had a house call practice, serving Florida's Seminole, Orange, and Lake counties. Following graduation, Dr. Austin owned a farm practice for seven years in East Tennessee. He subsequently spent two years in tuberculosis research with the U.S. Public Health Service in Chamblee, Georgia, and two years in pharmacology research at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Austin then bought a small animal practice in south Miami, where he worked for 37 years. During his career, he spent several years conducting clinical research on a peptide from snake venom.

Active in organized veterinary medicine, Dr. Austin was a past president of the South Florida VMA. He was also a past president of an emergency clinic in Dade County and what is now known as the Miami Veterinary Foundation. Dr. Austin was a member of the Florida VMA and American Animal Hospital Association. In 2007, he received the FVMA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dr. Austin was an Army veteran of World War II. His wife, Violet; three daughters and a son; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren survive him.

MARK L. BESOLA

Dr. Besola (Washington State ‘90), 52, Lake Tapps, Washington, died Jan. 1, 2019. He most recently practiced small animal medicine with his sister, Dr. Amelia M. Besola (Washington State ‘89), at A Small Animal Hospital in Federal Way, Washington. Earlier in his career, Dr. Besola practiced at Aberdeen Animal Hospital in Aberdeen, Washington, and owned Vetter's Veterinary Hospital, a mixed animal practice in Raymond, Washington. His four sisters survive him.

JOSEPH B. COULTER

Dr. Coulter (Texas A&M ‘50), 93, Brownsville, Texas, died Jan. 2, 2019. He practiced mixed animal medicine at Brownsville Veterinary Hospital for 67 years prior to retirement in 2017. In the 1970s, Dr. Coulter also took care of the animals at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville. He was a member of the Texas VMA, Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary International. Dr. Coulter served in the Navy during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Betty; two daughters and two sons; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother. Memorials may be made to Central Christian Church, 1100 E. Alton Gloor Blvd., Brownsville, TX 78526, or Donja's Dogs, an animal rescue organization, c/o Becky Haley, 4085 N. Central Ave., Brownsville, TX 78526.

ARTHUR N. GRISWOLD

Dr. Griswold (Missouri ‘64), 80, Paris, Missouri, died Nov. 24, 2018. A mixed animal veterinarian, he founded Paris Veterinary Clinic in 1969. Earlier in his career, Dr. Griswold practiced at Corydon Veterinary Clinic in Corydon, Iowa. He was a past executive board member of the Missouri VMA and a member of the Northeast Missouri VMA. Dr. Griswold is survived by his wife, Joyce; a daughter; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

R. DUANE HOLDER

Dr. Holder (Kansas State ‘53), 90, Independence, Missouri, died Dec. 22, 2018. He practiced small animal medicine at Independence Animal Hospital for more than 50 years. Dr. Holder was a member of the Missouri VMA. Active in his community, he was also a member of the Independence City Council, Independence Regional Hospital board of trustees, and Kiwanis. Dr. Holder served in the Army Veterinary Corps, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. His wife, Shirley; a daughter and a son; five grandchildren; and a sister survive him. Dr. Holder's nephew, Dr. Marc S. Hardin (Kansas State ‘74), is a veterinarian in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. Memorials may be made to Great Plains Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 21001 E. Missouri 78 Highway, Independence, MO 64057; Boy Scouts of America, 10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131; or Blue Ridge United Methodist Church, 5055 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64133.

EUGENE T. KEMP

Dr. Kemp (Cornell ‘57), 88, Owego, New York, died Jan. 4, 2019. A mixed animal veterinarian, he owned Day Hollow Animal Clinic in Owego, where he practiced until retirement in 2000. Dr. Kemp was a past president of the Southern Tier VMA. Active in his community, he was also a past president of the Owego Kiwanis, Tioga County Board of Health, Broome-Tioga Board of Cooperative Education Services, and Broome-Tioga Council School Board, and he was a member of the Owego-Apalachin Board of Education and Gideons International. Dr. Kemp's wife, Margaret, and a son survive him.

LEON A. LEACH

Dr. Leach (Brandeis Middlesex ‘44), 97, Norfolk, Virginia, died Jan. 26, 2019. A mixed animal veterinarian, he began his career in Portsmouth, Virginia. Dr. Leach later owned two clinics in Virginia Beach, Virginia, prior to retirement. He was a member of the Virginia VMA and Masonic Lodge. Dr. Leach's daughter, Sharon, and four grandchildren survive him. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, c/o Donor

Relations, 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607, or Strelitz Diabetes Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA 23510.

JOHN G. MCDEVITT

Dr. McDevitt (Georgia ‘88), 57, Chester, West Virginia, died Dec. 31, 2018. Following graduation and after completing an internal medicine residency at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, he practiced small animal medicine in St. Louis for a few years. Dr. McDevitt later did relief work in West Virginia. His father and sister survive him. Memorials may be made to the Lynn Murray Memorial Library, 601 Railroad Ave., Chester, WV 26034.

KATHLEEN D. MOODY

Dr. Moody (Pennsylvania ‘82), 62, Newtown, Connecticut, died Jan. 11, 2019. Following graduation and after completing her residency in laboratory animal medicine at Pennsylvania State University's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, she did an internship at Detwiler Veterinary Clinic in Reading, Pennsylvania. From 1986–2001, Dr. Moody was a clinical professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. During that time and subsequently, she served as a consultant and interim clinician for several biomedical organizations, including Bayer Corp. and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.

A diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, Dr. Moody served as ad hoc consultant to the Association of Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care from 1991–2000, also serving on several committees instrumental in the establishment of the southern New England branch of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. In 2005, she made a career change, studying for the chaplaincy through Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, and graduating with her master's in transformative leadership and spirituality in 2018.

Dr. Moody is survived by her husband, Dr. J. Walter Streett (Cornell ‘65), a laboratory animal veterinarian who serves as an adviser to a research foundation in Hamden, Connecticut, and two daughters. Memorials may be made to Doctors Without Borders, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road, Newington, CT 06111.

MICHAEL S. SMITH

Dr. Smith (Cornell ‘71), 72, Potsdam, New York, died Sept. 23, 2018. He owned Trout Brook Veterinary Clinic, a small animal practice in Potsdam, from 1980 until retirement. Earlier, Dr. Smith worked with his father, the late Dr. Edwin B. Smith (Cornell ‘43), in Canton, New York. During his career, he also raised and showed Belgian draft horses. Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Claudine; two sons, a stepson and two stepdaughters; three grandchildren and eight stepgrandchildren; and two sisters and a brother. Memorials, toward the North Carolina State Christian Veterinary Fellowship, may be sent c/o Christian Veterinary Mission, 19303 Fremont Ave N., Seattle, WA 98133.

All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 101 0 0
Full Text Views 2562 2283 193
PDF Downloads 94 17 1
Advertisement