08-09-10 - College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota

August 9, 2010

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.

College news (top)

New bricks dedicated in Nestlé Purina Memories Garden
Seventeen new bricks engraved in memory of beloved animals were dedicated in the Nestle Purina Memories Garden on August 5. At the annual memorial ceremony held that evening, Duke Addicks, chairman of the Shakopee American Indian Center, led the invocation and blessing of the garden; David Lee, director of the Veterinary Medical Center, welcomed the guests; Jeannine Moga, program director, Social Work Services, led the dedication of the bricks and sharing of memories and stories; and Deb Armstead-Haak, customer relations coordinator, read "The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog," by Eugene O'Neill. Learn more about the Nestlé Purina Memories Garden

Learn more about how the Incident Command System applies to agriculture
CVM faculty, residents, and graduate students interested in knowing more about how FEMA's Incident Command System (ICS) applies to agriculture are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday, August 17, from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Presenters include Mike Starkey, emergency planning director, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and Ty J. Vannieuwenhoven, area emergency coordinator, U.S. Department of Agriculture, APHIS, Veterinary Services. In anticipation of an information-packed and interactive session, the presenters ask that session attendees complete the following online training modules before the meeting:

AHC seeks applications for faculty research development program
The Academic Health Center is soliciting applications for faculty research development grants, which are designed to support new or expanding interdisciplinary and interscholastic research that is innovative and has a high potential for return. The deadline is September 30. Learn more.

Center for Teaching and Learning offers new seminar
The University's Center for Teaching and Learning is offering a new semester-long small-group, facilitated discussion, "Making a Difference: Designing Courses to Improve Student Learning and Teacher Satisfaction." Participants will focus on—

Participants will meet four times during either fall or spring semester and receive a small honorarium and the book Significant Learning. The deadline for completed applications is August 27. For more information and to register, go to www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/faculty/seminars/index.html

Google Analytics: CVM Web traffic report
July 2010

Top 10 CVM Web pages
By number of visits, July 2010

For the top 10 most visited Web pages, the number of visits ranged from 31,753 for the CVM home page to 1,530 for the graduate programs home page (up 16 percent from June). Visits to the CVM home page came from 8,352 people in 95 countries and territories; 20 percent were new visits, and 20,740 (65 percent) of the visits were from within the University.

Spotlight: Education and Student Services
The Education and Student Services Web site received 4,929 visits (up 31 percent from May) from 4,929 people in 42 countries and territories. About 51 percent found the site via a search engine (usually Google), and 39 percent were new visitors. Visitors viewed an average of 3.5 pages per visit and spent an average of 3:06 minutes on the site. The site's pagemasters are Amy Babcock and Karen Nelson.

Faculty and staff news (top)

Welcome to the College
Welcome to the following new employees who joined the College in July:

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department
Jianming Wu, associate professor

New veterinary residents
Daniel Almeida
Jeffrey J. Biskup
Sarah K. Crain
Tabitha L. Fletcher
Joseph P. Greene
Jennifer M. Hall
Kristina M. Kiefer
Amber T. Stiller

New veterinary residents/graduate students
Alexandra C.E. Draper
Bradley A. Goupil

Matthew C. Hearing, post-doctoral fellow
Michelle L. McGraw, USAID project manager
Anna K. Radke, graduate school trainee

Kari Ekenstedt wins first place in Young Investigator Award competition; will make presentation at international conference
Kari Ekenstedt, post-doctoral associate in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, won first place in the recent Young Investigator Award competition sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Kari and four other finalists presented their work at the Merial-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium hosted by the University of Georgia on August 5-8. Graduate veterinarians pursuing advanced research training through doctoral or post-doctoral programs were eligible to compete for the award.

Kari's abstract, "Whole Genome Association Analysis Reveals Two Loci Strongly Associated with Leonberger Polyneuropathy," has also been selected for an oral presentation at the Fifth International Conference: Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics and Inherited Diseases in Baltimore, Maryland, September 22-25. The conference organizing committee has awarded Kari financial aid for the registration fee and meals as well as a complimentary subscription to the Journal of Heredity.

Goldsmith, Hennessey, and Lee pass ACVPM board exam
Tim Goldsmith, assistant clinical professor with the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) and Veterinary Population Medicine Department; Morgan Hennessey, assistant program director with the National Center for Food Protection and Defense; and Brendan Lee, veterinary public health resident with CAHFS, have passed the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM) board exam.

Henson and Husbands are now diplomates of the ACVIM
Assistant clinical professors Mike Henson and Brian Husbands of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department have successfully completed all board certification requirements and are now diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (specialty of oncology).

ASI nominates Cindy Wolf to Animal Health Advisory Committee
Cindy Wolf, assistant professor in the Veterinary Population Medicine Department and Minnesota sheep producer, has been nominated to the Secretary of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on Animal Health by the American Sheep Industry Association. The committee advises the secretary on means to prevent, conduct surveillance, monitor, control, or eradicate animal diseases of national importance while considering public health, conservation of natural resources, and the stability of livestock economies.

Nationally known as a small ruminant specialist, Cindy has spent the last 25 years working with many diverse groups on animal health and is a co-author/creator of scrapie educational materials. She has also traveled outside the United States in connection with sheep health and production projects.

Student news (top)

Student chapter of American Veterinary Dental Society formed
A Minnesota student chapter of the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS) has been approved by the University of Minnesota Student Activities Office, says Dr. Kevin Stepaniuk, clinical instructor, veterinary dentistry and oral surgery, and president-elect of the AVDS. Five fourth-year students found the time to start the chapter and lay the foundation for Minnesota veterinary students following in their footsteps. The students, who now make up the executive board of the student chapter, are Olivia Kilian, president; Kaija Wilson Youngner, vice president; Jessica Shepard, secretary; Jennifer Stewart, treasurer; and Tamara Jacobson, member at large.

"This new student chapter will allow me to bring some funds from the AVDS for Minnesota chapter members, to be used for member events and educational programs," Kevin says. "We can now raise more funds, educate students, provide awards to the annual veterinary dental forum, and offer free membership conversions on graduation." With a membership of more than 1,200, the AVDS is the largest organization of veterinary dental professionals in the world. Students interested in becoming members of the new student chapter should contact Dr. Kevin Stepaniuk or one of the students on the executive board.

In the news (top)

Lavender story covers veterinary care and research at CVM
"Five Resources Help Metro Pet Owners," a story in Lavender, covered veterinary care and research at the CVM and included quotes from Bill Venne, chief development officer, and Brian Graves, communications director, as well as photos by Sue Kirchoff, editor/principal informational representative. The story is online at www.lavendermagazine.com/this-issue/featured-articles/five-resources-help-metro-pet-owners/.

Calendar (top)

Every week

Technician Grand Rounds—Immunogenetic Therapy for Brain Tumors in Dogs, presented by Dr. Liz Pluhar: August 9, 8 a.m., 213 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center

Ph.D. Preliminary Oral Examination Research Seminar—"Shared Gene Expression Signatures of Tumor-Initiating Cells From Ontogenetically Distinct Cancers," presented by Aric Franz: Tuesday, August 10, 1:30 p.m., Masonic Cancer Research Building (Minneapolis campus), Room 450. Advisors: Drs. Jaime Modiano and Tim O'Brien. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Technician Grand Rounds—Immunogenetic Therapy for Brain Tumors in Dogs, presented by Dr. Liz Pluhar: August 12, 3 p.m., 213 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center

Ph.D. Thesis Defense Seminar—Maternal Influences on Neonatal Immune Development in Pigs, presented by Meggan Bandrick: Friday, August 13, 2 p.m., 215 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Advisor: Dr. Tom Molitor. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Incident Command System meeting: Tuesday, August 17, 8:30 a.m.-noon. The location of the meeting is to be determined. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Sara Gangelhoff at deus0003@umn.edu by August 2.

American Association of Bovine Practitioners Annual Conference: Thursday, August 19-Saturday, August 21, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Several CVM faculty members are presenting. For details, go to www.aabp.org/meeting/default.asp. The College will host a reception for CVM alumni, faculty, and staff on Wednesday, August 18, from 4-6 p.m. in the Sierra vista Reception Room at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Celebrate U, an appreciation event for staff and faculty: Wednesday, August 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Northrop Mall. For more information, see Celebrate U!

Minnesota State Fair: Thursday, August 26-Monday, September 6. The College will have an exhibit in the U of M Building on Friday, September 3, from 3-9 p.m.

Orientation Session for Class of 2014: Wednesday, September 1-Friday, September 3

Mather Lecture-Feline Exocrine Pancreatic Disease: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge, presented by Dr. Robert Washabau: Thursday, September 9, 7 p.m., 215 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/mather/.

Allen D. Leman Swine Conference: Saturday, September 18-Tuesday, September 21, Saint Paul RiverCentre. For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/adl/.

Distinguished Public Lecture-Bringing Prosperity to the Smallholder African Farmer Through Livestock, presented by Dr. Gregg BeVier, senior program officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: Tuesday, September 21, noon, Saint Paul RiverCentre

Fifth International Conference: Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics and Inherited Diseases: Wednesday, September 22-Saturday, September 25, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kari Ekenstedt, post-doctoral associate, will be speaking on the topic "Whole Genome Association Analysis Reveals Two Loci Strongly Associated with Leonberger Polyneuropathy." For conference details, visit http://caninefelinegenomicsconference.org/.

U of M Homecoming 2010: Sunday, September 26-Saturday, October 2. For details, visit www.homecoming.umn.edu/.

Points of Pride Research Day: Wednesday, September 29, Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine building

Class of 1960 50th Reunion: Friday, October 1, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. By invitation only.

Duke Lecture: Friday, October 1, 4-5 p.m., 215 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Topic: Tracking Apex Predators, presented by Mark Martell, director of bird conservation, Audubon Minnesota, and Dave Mech, founder and vice chair, International Wolf Center, and senior research scientist, U.S. Geological Survey. Free. To register, go to https://cc.ahc.umn.edu/ustar/vce/register_event.cfm?event_id=5181.

Mather Lecture: An Approach to Imaging the Vomiting Patient, presented by Drs. Christopher Ober and Daniel Feeney: October 7, 7 p.m., 215 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/mather/.

Equine Fall Conference: October 8-9, Leatherdale Equine Center. Topic: Equine Lameness and Clinical Updates

Companion Animal Symposium: October 21-22, Leatherdale Equine Center. Topic: Immune "Dysregulation." For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/vetmedce/events/fallconf/.

Needs a home (top)

Jake, a golden lab mix
Jake, a 3-year-old golden lab mix, gets along well with people, other dogs, and cats. He is house-trained, has had his shots, loves the outdoors, and comes with a large outdoor kennel. Contact Deb Wingert at wing007@umn.edu.

Clinical Investigation Center (top)

Links (top)

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 Jenna Fier at fier0045@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.

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

Twitter
Visit the College's Twitter page.

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.