CVM This Week
January 29, 2007
CVM This Week is a weekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Please submit news and calendar items for next week's issue to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu before noon Friday. To view CVM This Week online and access back issues, go to http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/publications/cvmthisweek/home.html.
In this issue
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College news
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Installation of linear accelerator starts today
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PowerPoint class scheduled for Feb. 5
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College hosts Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership
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Minnesota VBMA chapter wins award for education program
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Mileage rates increase
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Calendar
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Media news
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Research news
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AHC offers summer fellowships in clinical research
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Applications sought for postdoctoral training program
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Clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC
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Need a home
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Links
College news (top)
Installation of linear accelerator starts today
The installation of the linear accelerator begins today in 259 VMC, the former location of the nuclear medicine program.
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents recently approved the purchase of the linear accelerator to replace cobalt radiation equipment that had been used to treat cancer patients for 25 years. VMC oncologists will now be able to map tumors three-dimensionally and focus radiation on cancerous lesions, minimizing the impact to surrounding healthy tissue. The VMC's linear accelerator is the only one for veterinary use in the Upper Midwest. Identical to those used for human radiation treatment, the linear accelerator represents the cutting edge for cancer treatment in animals and is critical for maintaining the high standard of practice required in academic medicine and developing a federally funded research program.
The project requires removing the room's existing concrete flooring and installing a new foundation to accommodate the linear accelerator unit. Removing the floor requires jackhammering, which is scheduled for today through Friday from 6-10 a.m. each day. The area adjacent to room 259 will be subject to noise, and vibrations may travel throughout the VMC. Daily activities have been adjusted to work around this activity, and every effort is being made to minimize the inconveniences that result from this project. If you experience any significant disruption to your daily activities because of the project, please notify Ed Kosciolek, facilities manager, at 5-1960.
PowerPoint class scheduled for Feb. 5
Dr. Jim Waddell will teach participants how to create research posters using PowerPoint at a free workshop on February 5 from noon to 1 p.m. in 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. To register, e-mail Lisa Hubinger at hubin006@umn.edu.
College hosts Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership
Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) enjoyed a presentation and tour by Jim Collins, director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Jeffrey Klausner, dean, and assistant clinical professors Marie Gramer, Jeremy Schefers, and Andre Ziegler on January 19.
MARL's mission is to develop the skills of Minnesota agricultural and rural leaders so they may maximize their impact and effectiveness in local, state, national, and international arenas. A two-year leadership development educational experience includes nine two-day in-state sessions, a one-week national study tour, and a two-week international study tour. The program is privately funded through the Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation and administered by Southwest Minnesota State University in partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension Service.
Minnesota VBMA chapter wins award for education program
The Minnesota chapter of the Veterinary Business Management Association (VBMA) received an award for "Best Regional Education Program of 2006" for their September event with Ken Rotondo, D.V.M., M.B.A., who made a presentation on "The Emotional Economy." The award was presented at the VBMA's national meeting at the North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando Jan 12-14.
Library rejuventated
The Veterinary Medical Library has just been rejuvenated by replacing almost all of its furniture. New study carrels with outlets for laptop users are now on the west side of the library. Head librarian Andre Nault invites everyone to visit the library and check it out.
Mileage rates increase
The IRS has announced increases in the standard business mileage rates for 2007. On January 1, the standard business mileage reimbursement rate for personal vehicle use on approved University business increased from 44.5 cents to 48.5 cents per mile. The standard mileage rate for moving expenses also increased, from 18 to 20 cents per mile. Business mileage incurred in 2006 but reimbursed in 2007 must be reimbursed using the 2006 mileage rate. For more information, see the Rates section of the University of Minnesota policy Traveling on University Business 3.8.3 at
http://www.fpd.finop.umn.edu/groups/ppd/documents/policy/Travel.cfm.
Calendar (top)
Monday, January 29
New Employee Orientation
8:30 a.m.-noon
458 Veterinary Medical Center
Tuesday, January 30
Graduate Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
Toll-Like Receptors and Airway Epithelial Secretions Contributing to Innate Immune Function
Presented by Dr. Tamene Melkamu
Advisor: Dr. Scott O'Grady
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science
Contact: Dr. Mark Rutherford, ruthe003@umn.edu or 612-625-4281
Wednesday, January 31
Legislative Coffee Briefings
Get an insider's look at the University's 2007 legislative requests and learn about the easy ways you can support the U.
Sponsored by the University of Minnesota Legislative Network
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Minnesota Commons, St. Paul Student Center
Registration is not necessary. Refreshments will be served.
Contact: Emily Johnston, john5091@umn.edu or 5-8739
State of the Academic Health Center Address
Presented by Dr. Frank B. Cerra, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
3 p.m. (preceeded by the Academic Health Center Faculty Assembly at 2:00-2:45 p.m.)
Mayo Auditorium, telecast in 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
No Comparative Biosciences Seminar today
Thursday, February 1
No Veterinary Clinical Sciences Grand Rounds today
Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) Annual Meeting
Starts today and continues through Saturday, Feb. 3
Hilton Minneapolis
For more information, contact the MVMA at 651-645-7533 or info@mvma.org.
Friday, February 2
Large Animal Grand Rounds
Presented by Hoven, C. Johnson, and Erker
8 a.m.
215 Veterinary Science
CVM Seminar on Teaching
Teaching Pharmacology Across the Curriculum -- a Basic and Clinical Science Perspective
Presented by Dave Brown and Paul Rapnicki
Noon
280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Friday Professional Development Seminar
Time Management
Presented by Jessica Miller
Noon-1 p.m.
135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
What's ahead
Making Posters Using PowerPoint: Feb. 5, noon-1 p.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Dr. Jim Waddell will teach participants how to create research posters using PowerPoint. Free. To register, e-mail Lisa Hubinger at hubin006@umn.edu.
VMC Town Hall Meeting: Feb. 6, 7:30 a.m., 125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Emergency Readiness Rounds--Psychological Issues Following Disaster: Feb. 7, noon-1:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, third floor, Coffman Memorial Union. For more information, go to http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/meret/rounds/rounds_020707.html.
Mather Lecture Series-How to Help Puppies Become Better Dogs: Feb. 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m., 135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine. Presented by Margaret Duxbury. For more information about the Mather Lecture Series, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/mather.html.
Horse Owner Education Days: Feb. 10, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., U of M College of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/horseowner.html.
Delivering Great Customer Service: Feb. 12, 9 a.m.-noon, 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Presented by Jessica Miller of Training Services, this class is mandatory for all VMC employees and strongly encouraged for residents, interns, and faculty. To sign up, contact Patty Shudy at shudy003@umn.edu or 4-4674.
Horse Owner Education Days: Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., U of M Crookston Horse Facility. For more information, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/horseowner.html.
Horse Owner Education Days: Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Heintz Center, Rochester, Minn.. For more information, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/horseowner.html.
Delivering Great Customer Service: Feb. 26, 1-4 p.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Presented by Jessica Miller of Training Services, this class is mandatory for all VMC employees and strongly encouraged for residents, interns, and faculty. To sign up, contact Patty Shudy at shudy003@umn.edu or 4-4674.
Media news
The January issue of Accelerate, a publication of the AHC Office of Clinical Research, spotlighted the use of spontaneous animal models in clinical research at the CVM. Timothy O'Brien, a professor in the Veterinary Population Medicine Department, is quoted; nine other researchers are also mentioned.
Veterinary Medical Center manager Sheryl Ferguson was quoted in "Want a Piece of Animal Artistry? Pony Up $50" in the Jan. 23 issue of the Star Tribune and "'Moneighs' Fund New Equine Center," in the Jan. 22 issue of The Minnesota Daily. Hercules, an 8-year-old Belgian gelding, was pictured with one of his paintings in both papers. The Star Tribune story is online at http://www.startribune.com/462/story/953331.html. The Minnesota Daily story is online at http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/01/22/70398.
Research news (top)
AHC offers summer fellowships in clinical research
The Academic Health Center Office of Clinical Research is offering paid summer fellowships and training in clinical and translational research for pre-doctoral students. Anyone currently completing a doctoral degree is eligible. Fellows will receive a weekly stipend of approximately $430. Travel funds of up to $750 will also be available. The application deadline is Thursday, Feb. 1. For more information, go to www.ahc.umn.edu/research/funding/predoc/home.html or contact Nancy Johnson at 612-625-1651 or nancyj@umn.edu.
Applications sought for postdoctoral training program
The College is accepting applications from veterinarians seeking state-of-the-art research training in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) postdoctoral training program in Comparative Medicine and Pathology. The application deadline is Thursday, Feb. 1. For details, go to http://www.cvm.umn.edu/about/humanresources/employment/Postdoc.html.
Clinical studies underway in the VMC
For a list of clinical studies currently enrolling in the Veterinary Medical Center, visit the Clinical Investigation Center Web site at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/cic/current.
Need a home (top)
Veterinary Medical Center blood donors need foster homes
The Veterinary Medical Center has a small number of dogs and cats that live in the hospital and provide life-saving blood products for patients. Rescued from area shelters, these in-house donors are young, healthy, fully vaccinated, neutered, temperament-tested animals that donate blood about once a month and serve as blood donors for about two years years. While they are blood donors, they are “owned” by the Companion Animal Blood Donor program, which takes care of minor medical problems they may have while in foster care. Foster parents are needed to provide them a loving, safe, home while they are donors and bring them back once a month for blood donation. The foster family is then the first on the list to be able to adopt them permanently. These blood donors need foster homes:
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Chili
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Tracker
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| Chili, a neutered male black lab/husky cross, 3-4 years old, with one blue and one brown eye. Smart and sweet, he likes to run and play ball, but is a bit shy. He came from the Crossroads Animal Shelter. |
Tracker, a neutered male coonhound , is 1-2 years old and likes to bay like a beagle when he is excited. He loves people and playing with other dogs. He will need to stay on leash or in a fenced yard at all times given his tracking tendancies. With a little obedience training and lots of TLC, he will make someone a great friend.
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If you are interested in providing a foster home for Chili or Tracker, please contact Dora or Beth at 612-625-9726, extension 2, and leave a message or stop by the Intensive Care Unit.
Links (top)
CVM This Week
Back issues of CVM This Week, from June 2004 to today's issue, are at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/publications/cvmthisweek/home.html.
Hills pet food distribution program
For more information about the Hill's Pet Food Distribution program, contact Melissa Caid at caid0002@umn.edu or Jaime Nett at nett0049@umn.edu.
Housing
For information about student and off-campus housing, including a housing and roommate search service, go to http://www.housing.umn.edu/.
Job openings
For information about positions available at the College, visit www.cvm.umn.edu/About/HumanResources/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 http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/index.html.
The VMC Pulse
Issues are available online by logging in at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/vmc/staffresources/Pulse.html.
Veterinary conferences
Dates, places, and links for national and international veterinary conferences are on the College Web site at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/conferences/home.html.
Veterinary Medical Library
For information about the Veterinary Medical Library, including new acquisitions, visit http://www.vetmed.lib.umn.edu/news.
Veterinary Practice News
Did you know that you can get a free subscription? Subscribe (or renew) online at www.vetpracticenews.com.
CVM This Week is a weekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Please submit news and calendar items for next week's issue to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu before noon Friday.
The University of Minnesota is an equal-opportunity educator and employer.
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