07-18-11

July 18, 2011

CVM NewsCalendar is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Please submit news and calendar items to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu by noon the Friday before publication.

In this issue

• College news
  • Raptor Center awarded grant to assess impacts of crude oil on reproduction of birds
  • VetCamp launched
  • Twin City Polo Classic to benefit Equine Center
  • Applications sought for Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholars Program
  • Registration now open for Farm to Table study program in Costa Rica
  • Minnesota agricultural exports up 22 percent
• Faculty and staff news
  
  • Nine faculty members promoted
  • Welcome to the College
  • Amber Carron and Anna Hoffmann pass AIMVT exams
  • Scientists publish article in American Journal of Veterinary Research 
• Student news
  • Karin Hamilton successfully defends MPH
  • Five students receive Veterinary Student Scholar Awards
  • Morris Animal Foundation features Aric Frantz
• Alumni news
  
  • Jennifer Willey receives award for excellence in emergency and critical care
• In the news
  • Fergus Falls Journal highlights 'Camps to Careers'
• Calendar
• Clinical Investigation Center
• Needs a home
  
  • Foster home sought for Orion, a blood donor cat
• Links 

College news (top) 

Raptor Center awarded grant to assess impacts of crude oil on reproduction of birds

The Morris Animal Foundation has awarded The Raptor Center a $40,000 grant to assess the impacts of crude oil on reproduction of migratory birds in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The oil contaminated large areas of Gulf waters, seabed, and shoreline, which are crucial for overwinter survival of migratory birds that breed in Minnesota and winter in the Gulf of Mexico. There is a high probability that these birds were exposed to harmful components of the crude oil, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), or dispersant agents that were used to break up the oil. Researchers will assess the impact on individual birds by collecting eggs from migratory and nonmigratory birds in Minnesota and determining whether PAHs in the eggs are linked to the oil spill. Dr. Patrick Redig, founder of The Raptor Center, is principal investigator. Learn more at www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/our-research/current-studies/assessing-impacts-of-crude.html.

VetCamp launched

In collaboration with the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, the College is promoting a new outreach opportunity, VetCamp, which aims to introduce young people (ages 12-18) to veterinary medicine. Made possible by funding from the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation, VetCamp is a one- to three-hour live program developed and implemented by D.V.M. students at the College. The target audience includes students already interested in veterinary medicine as well as students who may not have considered this career yet, including those from under-represented populations. Students discuss what it is like to be a veterinarian, what career paths are available, and how veterinarians affect the lives of animals and people every day. The interactive program involves hands-on activities such as learning basic suture patterns, reading radiographs, performing a physical exam, discussing dog bite prevention, and learning about biosecurity through the use of a GloGerm kit. The first offering of VetCamp occurred in mid-May on the U of M CVM campus with high school students from Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City High School.

Twin City Polo Classic to benefit Equine Center

The 22nd Annual Polo Classic, to be held at the Twin City Polo Club Sunday, July 31, will benefit the University of Minnesota Equine Center. One of the longest-running fundraisers in Minnesota, the Twin City Polo Classic has raised more than $2 million for a variety of charities over the last two decades. The festive event includes a hat competition, champagne, and polo match with the best players in the Midwest. Learn more at www.thepoloclassic.com. 

Applications sought for Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholars Program

Junior investigators are encouraged to apply for the U of M Clinical and Translational Science Institute Scholars Program, a three-year mentored training program for junior investigators. The program offers 75 percent salary support, a mentoring team, formal training, and networking opportunities. Three awards were granted from the original request for applications issued in the spring; two additional awards are now available, with an application deadline of August 26. For more information, see Scholars Program.

Registration now open for Farm to Table study program in Costa Rica

In this week-long program (October 31- November 4, 2011), participants will explore the food system from farm to table in Costa Rica. The program will include site visits along the food supply chain and discussions with private sector and government leaders. For more information and to register, go to http://www.cahfs.umn.edu/meetings_and_events/farmtotable2011/home.html.

Minnesota agricultural exports up 22 percent

According to figures released by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota exported $5 billion in agricultural products last year, an increase of $900 million from last year's $4.1 billion total. Soybeans, corn, wheat, red meat, dairy, and poultry were the top export commodities, accounting for 90 percent of the state’s total agricultural exports. Although revenue generated from live animals and meat remained unchanged at $542 million, dairy products went up by 38 percent, reaching $153 million, and poultry products were up by 3 percent, reaching $1-$5 million.

Minnesota outpaced the nation in agricultural export growth at 22 percent frpm 2009 to 2010, compared to 13 percent for the U.S. Agriculture is Minnesota’s second-largest exporting sector, with major markets in China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. Based on agricultural trade multipliers, each dollar of agricultural exports generates an additional $1.36 in economic and business activities. Every $1 billion of agricultural exports supports 8,000 jobs throughout the economy. In Minnesota, more than 40,000 jobs are directly or indirectly related to agricultural exports. For more information, see
www.mda.state.mn.us/en/news/releases/2011/nr-2011-07-08-exports.aspx.

Faculty and staff news (top) 

Nine faculty members promoted

Congratulations to these CVM faculty members, who were recently promoted:

• Kari Anderson, promoted to full clinical specialist
• Anibal Armien, promoted to associate clinical specialist
• Jeff Bender, promoted to professor with tenure
• Julie Churchill, promoted to associate clinical specialist
• Lynelle Graham, promoted to full clinical specialist
• Peggy Root Kustritz, promoted to professor
• Rebecca Merica, promoted to assistant professor
• Edward Patterson, promoted to associate professor
• Lisa Powell, promoted to full clinical specialist

Welcome to the College

Welcome to the following employees who joined the College in June:

Center for Animal Health and Food Safety
Jessica C. Appert, summer term research assistant

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department
Jigna Shah, post-doctoral associate

Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department
Jong Hyuk Kim, post-doctoral associate

Veterinary interns
Daniel S. Bucy
Yonathan Buks
Rebecca M. Cervenec
Sarah R. Dowling
Jill Anne Hicks
Martin J. Kennedy
Zachary L. Neumann

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Stephanie M. Berg, junior scientist, viral serology
Katherine E. Holzer, junior scientist, molecular diagnostics
Sarah L. Richards, junior scientist, viral serology

Veterinary Medical Center
Maggie D. Croud, veterinary technician
Sarah L. Edstrom, veterinary technician, small animal core
Rachel A. Johnson, veterinary technician

Veterinary Population Medicine Department
Keslea Yeon-Ju Choi, research associate
 

Amber Carron and Anna Hoffmann pass AIMVT exams

Congratulations to veterinary technician specialists Amber Carron and Anna Hoffmann, who have passed the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT) internal medicine examination in neurology, earning the title of Veterinary Technician Specialist in Internal Medicine, designated as VTS (Internal Medicine-Neurology).

Scientists publish article in American Journal of Veterinary Research

"Characterization of the Risk of Deer-Cattle Interactions in Minnesota by Use of an On-Farm Environmental Assessement Tool," by Barbara M. Knust, D.V.M., M.P.H., Paul C. Wolf, B.S., and Scott J. Wells, D.V.M., Ph.D., was published in the July issue of American Journal of Veterinary Research. Scott Wells is director of education with the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety. The article is online at http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/full/10.2460/ajvr.72.7.924.

Student news (top)

Karin Hamilton successfully defends MPH

Veterinary public health resident Karin Hamilton, in the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, successfully defended her M.P.H. thesis, “A Validation Study of the Assessment of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) on Minnesotan Vegetable Operations” on July 13. Committee members were Drs. Jeff Bender, Cindy Tong, and Katherine Waters.

Five students receive Veterinary Student Scholar Awards

Morris Animal Foundation recently granted awards to five CVM students—Kristen Cleary, Sara Losinski, Laura Olson, Mary Wood, and Alyssa Ziche—to participate in the organization’s Veterinary Student Scholars (VSS) program for 2011. A total of 81 awards were funded worldwide.

Through the program, veterinary students and non-veterinary graduate students receive stipends up to $4,000 to participate in clinical or basic animal health and/or welfare research. Students in the VSS program will begin their projects this summer and present their findings at one of three Morris Animal Foundation meetings in 2012.

Morris Animal Foundation features Aric Frantz

"Program Gives Rise to Promising Cancer Researcher," the lead story in the Morris Animal Foundation e-newsletter MAF eNews, features D.V.M./Ph.D. student and Morris Animal Foundation fellow Aric Frantz. The story is online at www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/blog/category/dog/program-gives-rise-to.html.

Alumni news (top)

Jennifer Willey receives award for excellence in emergency and critical care

Dr. Jennifer Willey, class of 2011, has received the Proficiency in Emergency and Critical Care Award sponsored by the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) and Abbott Animal Health. The award acknowledges Jennifer for her outstanding support to the specialty area of clinical medicine at the University of Minnesota and her commitment to caring for the critically ill and injured patients assigned to her. It also recognizes Jennifer for her active participation in the local chapter of the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (SVECCS). Jennifer is now practicing veterinary medicine in California.

As a winner, Jennifer will be recognized in the October issue of the VECCS Journal and receive a $700 cash stipend along with complimentary membership in VECCS for 2011 and 2012. In addition to sponsoring the Proficiency Award in Emergency and Critical Care, VECCS and Abbott Animal Health provide educational grant funds for SVECCS members to attend the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium in Tennessee in September.

In the news (top)

Fergus Falls Journal story highlights 'Camps to Careers'
"Camps to Careers Focuses on Health Care," a story in the June 27 issue of the Fergus Falls Journal, mentioned the Vet Camp program, which is led by CVM students and supported by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association. "Camps to Careers" was held at the University of Minnesota-Morris and drew students from throughout the region. The story is online at www.fergusfallsjournal.com/2011/06/27/camps-to-careers-focuses-on-health-care/.

Calendar (top)

Regular meetings, seminars, and rounds

• New Employee Orientation: Mondays, 8:30 a.m.-noon, 458 Veterinary Medical Center
  
• Comparative Oncology Seminar: Every two months on the second Thursday of the month, noon, 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
• Large Animal Grand Rounds: Fridays, 8-9 a.m., Nutrena Conference Center, Leatherdale Equine Center

Continuing through Tuesday, July 19

American Veterinary Medical Association Convention: July 16-19
St. Louis, Missouri
For details and to register, go to https://www.avmaconvention.org.

Monday, July 11

AVMA Alumni Reception

Friday, July 22

Technician Grand Rounds
Lactate
Presented by Dr. Jen Hall
11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
441 Veterinary Medical Center

Wednesday, July 27

Havemeyer Foundation Genome Workshop: July 27-29
Oak Ridge Conference Center
Chaska, Minnesota
For details, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/Havemeyer/home.html.

Thursday, July 28

Cytology Essential Skills Workshop
7:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
For details, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/turkey/home.html.

Friday, July 29

Hill's Pet Food Distribution
7:00-9:45 a.m. and noon-2:45 p.m.
Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Cytology Essential Skills Workshop
7:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
For details, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/turkey/home.html.

Sunday, July 31

Twin City Polo Classic
Gates open at 11 a.m.; match begins at 2 p.m.
Twin City Polo Club, Maple Plain, Minnesota
This year's event will benefit the Equine Center.
For more information, visit www.thepoloclassic.com/

August

Thursday, August 4

Nestlé Purina Memories Garden Ceremony and Brick Dedication
Reception: 6:30 p.m. Program: 7 p.m.
Nestlé Purina Memories Garden, 1988 Fitch Avenue

Friday, August 5

Minnesota Veterinary Medical Foundation Golf Classic
11:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Owatonna Country Club
For details, visit www.mvma.org/pdf/2011Golf%20Registration.pdf 

September

Friday, September 2

College Exhibit at Minnesota State Fair
3-9 p.m.
Visit the College of Veterinary Medicine exhibit in the University of Minnesota Building on Dan Patch Avenue

Tuesday, September 6

First day of classes

Saturday, September 17

Allen D. Leman Swine Conference
September 17-20
RiverCentre, St. Paul, Minnesota
For details, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/adl/

Thursday, September 22

Inauguration of President-designate Eric W. Kaler
11 a.m.
Ted Mann Concert Hall
For details, visit https://events.umn.edu/Inauguration-of-President-designate-Eric-W-Kaler-013219.htm.

Annual Conference of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners
September 22-24
St. Louis, Missouri
For details, visit www.aabp.org/meeting/.

Saturday, September 24

Fall Raptor Release

• College events Web page

• Veterinary continuing education opportunities

• University of Minnesota calendar of events

Clinical Investigation Center (top)

You can help important research efforts. For information about clinical studies currently enrolling in the Veterinary Medical Center, visit the Clinical Investigation Center Web site at www.cvm.umn.edu/cic/current.

Needs a home (top) 

Foster home sought for Orion, a blood donor cat
The companion animal blood donor program is looking for a foster home for Orion, one of its blood donors. A 5-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair brown tabby, Orion was recently obtained from Crossroads Animal Shelter. A very sweet large cat, he has been housed with other cats, but not tested with dogs yet. Contact Beth Olmstead at johns547@umn.edu.

Links (top)

AVMA News Bytes and other news
www.avma.org/news/info_rss.asp

Center for Teaching and Learning workshops
www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/workshops/index.html

CVM NewsCalendar
Back issues of CVM NewsCalendar are at www.cvm.umn.edu/cvmnewscalendar/home.html.

Facebook
Visit the College's Facebook page.

Hill's College Feeding Program
Order online through the Hill's online ordering system at www.hills-holos.com. For more information about the Hill's College Feeding Program, contact Dan Peterson at pete5659@umn.edu.

Housing
For information about student and off-campus housing, including a housing and roommate search service, go to www.housing.umn.edu/.

Job openings
For information about positions available at the College, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/employment/. For detailed information about current job openings, how to apply, and application materials, go to the University of Minnesota Office of Human Resources at www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/index.html.

LinkedIn Group for the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=3826768&csrfToken=ajax%3A2643584546424817841

Minnesota Veterinary Historical Museum
http://hist.cvm.umn.edu/

Twitter
Visit the College's Twitter page.

Veterinary Continuing Education
www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/

Veterinary Medical Library
http://hsl.lib.umn.edu/vetmed

Veterinary Practice News
Did you know that you can get a free subscription? Subscribe (or renew) online at https://vpn.magserv.com/cgi-bin/subscribe?cm_sp=SubscribeVPN-_-na-_-na

CVM NewsCalendar is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Please submit news and calendar items to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu.

The University of Minnesota is an equal-opportunity educator and employer.