04-09-07

CVM This Week
April 9, 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 Thursday. To view CVM This Week as a Web page and access back issues, go to                  http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/publications/cvmthisweek/home.html.

In this issue

• College news

• • Nominations sought for interim dean

  • University to take a lead role in battle against bird flu

  • College Cleanup Day a monumental success: 12 tons sent to recycling center

  • Pet Cleanup Day planned for Tuesday

  • Spring Awards Ceremony is April 26

  • A friendly reminder--VMC must charge faculty, staff, and students for pet care

  • Wanted: Central Veterinary Conference Proceedings

  • Hill's pet food order forms moved

• Calendar

• Media news

• Student news

• Class of 2007 commencement is May 5

• Senior Pig Roast is May 4

• Merck and Merial host PDA giveaway for vet students

• Research news

• • Cats wanted!

  • Two associate dean candidates scheduled to visit College for second interviews; open forums scheduled

  • AHC offers scientific writing classes

  • Clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC

• Links

College news (top)

Nominations sought for interim dean
In an April 4 e-mail, Frank B. Cerra, senior vice president for health sciences, asked CVM faculty, staff, and students to forward their nominations for interim dean -- along with the rationale for the nomination -- to him at cerra001@umn.edu by 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 20. Dr. Cerra will put together a list of final candidates, ask for comments, and make a final selection and appointment. He would like to complete this process by mid-May so there is some overlap between that selection and the departure of Dean Klausner, who will be leaving the College effective July 1.

Dr. Cerra will also be organizing a national search for a permanent dean. That process will be initiated as soon as possible but will not be completed by July.

University to take a lead role in battle against bird flu
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, part of the National Institutes of Health, has named the University of Minnesota as one of six sites across the country to establish a Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance. The center will receive $22.5 million over seven years to focus on surveillance of avian influenza viruses and to provide the federal government with information and public health strategies for controlling the impact of an influenza pandemic.

"We will be keeping our finger on the pulse of avian influenza," said Dr. Marguerite Pappaioanou, principal investigator and professor of infectious disease and epidemiology at the School of Public Health. To learn more, go to http://www.sph.umn.edu/

College Cleanup Day a monumental success --
CVM sends 12 tons to recycling center
Last week's College Cleanup Day evolved into several days due to the overwhelming amount of obsolete equipment and furnishings identified throughout the College. The CVM sent three truckloads -- more than 12 tons -- of surplus items to the U of M Recycling Center last week, with Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine scheduled for final cleaning on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Facilities manager Ed Kosciolek thanks everyone who participated in Cleanup Day in preparation for the AVMA accreditation team visit April 14-19.

Pet cleanup day planned for Tuesday
The Pet Committee has rescheduled pet cleanup day for Tuesday, April 10, at noon, weather permitting. Meet in the Small Animal Hospital lobby to receive gloves, plastic bags, and an assigned area. The cleanup is expected to take no more than 20-30 minutes of your time. Get outside and beautify the College grounds at the same time! Participants will be entered into a drawing for three Veterinary Student Supply gift certificates.

Spring Awards Ceremony is April 26
The annual College of Veterinary Medicine Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday evening, April 26, beginning at 6 p.m. in the North Star Ballroom of the St. Paul Student Center. The evening will begin with a reception for students, faculty, and scholarship sponsors, followed by the presentation of the awards at 6:30.

During the ceremony, D.V.M. students and faculty will be honored for their achievements this past year. More than 60 scholarships will be presented to veterinary students. The evening will conclude with the presentation of teaching awards for the 2006-07 academic year, including the Carl Norden Distinguished Teaching Award as selected by students enrolled in the D.V.M. program. All students and faculty are invited to attend. Formal invitations to students being honored and to faculty are being distributed to mailboxes. Please return your RSVP card to the Academic and Student Affairs Office by Friday, April 20.

A friendly reminder--
VMC must charge faculty, staff, and students for pet care
CVM faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to bring their pets to the Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) for care, but are asked to remember that all consultations must be documented in the medical record and charged for according to the fee schedule. This includes all informal consultations for staff, clinicians, and students. 

If you bring your animal to the VMC for care, their vaccinations will be administered through General Practice. The treatment room will no longer provide this service for employees. Please call 626-VETS (8387) to schedule an appointment with General Practice.

Wanted: Central Veterinary Conference Proceedings
The Veterinary Medical Library is missing copies of the Central Veterinary Conference Proceedings  from years 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. Should anyone have a copy of any of these to donate to the Library, please bring them by!  A bookplate honoring your donation will be placed in the items.

Hill's pet food order forms moved
Hill's pet food order forms have been moved from 460 VMC to the fourth floor kitchen area (460a).

Calendar (top)

Monday, April 9

New Employee Orientation
8:30 a.m.-noon
458 Veterinary Medical Center

Tuesday, April 10

Open forum with Dr. Sriramo Rao, candidate for associate dean of research
7:30-9:00 a.m.
280 VDL
A continental breakfast will be served. If you plan to attend, please contact Cindy Irons at 4-6244 or irons005@umn.edu. Dr. Rao's CV is also available from Cindy.

Pet Cleanup Day
Noon
Meet in the Small Animal Hospital Lobby to receive gloves, plastic bags and an assigned area. The cleanup should take no more than 20-30 minutes of your time. Participants will be entered into a drawing for three Veterinary Student Supply gift certificates.

Pet First Aid
6-10 p.m.
Veterinary Medical Center
For more information, go to http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/events/home.html.

Wednesday April 11

Effective Applicant Interviews (Center for Human Resource Development program)
1-4 p.m.
210 Donhowe
For more information and to register, go to http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/supervisors/workshops/

Comparative Biosciences Seminar
Marine Mammals at Risk From Global Pollutants
Presented by Dr. Peter Ross, Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Hosted by Terri Mattila
3 p.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments available.
Contact: Jaclyn Barnes, barne063@umn.edu or 4-2700

Yoga Class
Wednesdays through April 25
Presented by Margot Bassett, One Yoga Studio
5-6 p.m.
281 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Thursday, April 12

Open forum with Dr. Peter Ernst, candidate for associate dean of research
7:30-9:00 a.m.
280 VDL
A continental breakfast will be served. If you plan to attend, please contact Cindy Irons at 4-6244 or irons005@umn.edu. The candidate's CV is also available from Cindy.

Veterinary Clinical Sciences Grand Rounds

• Aldose Reductase Inhibitors for the Prevention of Canine Diabetic Cataracts, presented by Dr. Amy Pauli

• Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Infects Cells of the Megakaryocytic Lineage But Fails to Alter Platelet Production, presented by Dr. Jen Granick

8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Companion Animal Critical Care
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Continuing Education and Conference Center
For details and to register online, go to http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/springconf.html.

Managing Differences in the Workplace (Center for Human Resource Development program)
1-4:30 p.m.
210 Donhowe
For more information and to register, go to http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/supervisors/workshops/

Friday, April 13

Large Animal Grand Rounds
Presented by Bethke, Neumann, and Kavanagh
8 a.m.
215 Veterinary Science

CVM Teaching Seminar
Infectious Agents: Bacteriology -- Existing Format and Ideas for Improving the Course
Presented by Dr. K. Nagaraja
Noon-1 p.m.
280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Coffee and cookies will be served.

Scientific Writing Development Series-Tackling the Writing Process
Noon-1 p.m.
1-450G Moos Tower
Registration is required at https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writing/registration.html.

College-wide Personal and Professional Development Time
Noon-1 p.m.

What's ahead

American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation site visit: April 14-19

Celebration of Teaching and Learning: April 16, 12:30-3 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. For details and to register, go to www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/celebration/

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 18, noon-12:50 p.m. and 3-3:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 19, 7-7:50 a.m. and 12-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

National Volunteer Week event: April 19, The Raptor Center

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 20, 7-7:50 a.m. and 12-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

VMC Volunteer Recognition Lunch: April 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Scientific Writing Development Series-Anatomy of a Manuscript: April 20, noon-1 p.m., 1-450G Moos Tower. Registration is required at             https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writing/registration.html.

Distinguished Teaching Awards Ceremony: April 23, 3:30-5 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center. Dr. Tom Molitor will receive an Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education.

Domestic Violence (Center for Human Resource Development program): April 25, 9-11 a.m., 210 Donhowe. For more information and to register, go to http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/supervisors/workshops/

Emergency Readiness Rounds-Providing Care in Nontraditional Settings During an Emergency: April 25, noon-1:30 p.m., Mississippi Room, Coffman Memorial Union. For details, go to       http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/meret/rounds/rounds_042507.html

Spring Awards Ceremony: April 26, 6 p.m., North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center

Scientific Writing Development Series-Effective Introductions and Abstracts: April 27, noon-1 p.m.,1-450G Moos Tower. Registration is required at https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writing/registration.html.

Minnesota Horse Expo: April 27-29, Minnesota State Fairgrounds. For details, go to www.mnhorseexpo.org/.

Veterinary Medical Center Town Hall Meeting: May 1, 7:30 a.m., 125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Technology-Enhanced Learning Seminar Series -- Situating Instruction in the Real World Through Technology: May 3, noon-1:30 p.m., 402 Walter Library, Minneapolis (East Bank) campus. For details, go to http://dmc.umn.edu/series/spring07.shtml

Mather Lecture--Pruritus in the Cat: Diagnosis and Management, presented by Dr. Sandra Nogueira: May 3, 7:00-8:30 p.m., 135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine. For more information about the Mather Lecture Series, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/mather.html.

Hill's pet food orders due: May 4, noon

Scientific Writing Development Series-Responding to Reviewer Comments: May 4, noon-1 p.m.,1-450G Moos Tower. Registration is required at https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writing/registration.html.

Senior Pig Roast: May 4, 4:30 p.m., Livestock Pavilion

Class of 2007 Commencement Ceremony: May 5, 7 p.m., Northrop Auditorium

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 16, noon-12:50 p.m. and 4-4:50 p.m., Gorter Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 17, noon-12:50 p.m. and 4-4:50 p.m., Gorter Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 18, noon-12:50 p.m. and 4-4:50 p.m., Gorter Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

• Go to the Academic Health Center's calendar of events.

• Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.

Media news (top)

Dr. Andrea Ellings was on Spirit FM radio on April 2, talking about pets and taking animal health-related questions from callers.

On March 30, Dr. Juli Ponder, director of The Raptor Center, was interviewed about the College's annual open house on the Craig and Kate Affair morning show on WNMT, which broadcasts in northern Minnesota.

Student news (top)

Class of 2007 Commencement is May 5
Commencement ceremonies for spring 2007 graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine will be held on Saturday evening, May 5, beginning at 7 p.m. at Northrop Memorial Auditorium on the Minneapolis East Bank campus. Graduates of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, and Master of Public Health programs will be awarded their degrees. The ceremonies are open to the public.

Senior Pig Roast is May 4
Join the class of 2007 in celebrating the completion of their D.V.M. program. The annual Senior Class Pig Roast will be held on Friday evening, May 4. The fun begins at 4:30 p.m. at the Livestock Pavilion on Carter Avenue, with serving beginning at 5 p.m. Students and their guests, staff, and faculty are welcomed to stop by for food, fun, and fellowship and to bid farewell to the class of 2007.

Merck and Merial host PDA giveaway for vet students
In recognition of the recent launch of the first-ever PDA (personal digital assistant) version of the Merck Veterinary Manual (MVM), book producers Merck & Co., Inc. and Merial Limited are teaming up to host a PDA giveaway contest for veterinary students across North America. One student at each of the 32 AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada will receive a PDA along with a free download of the MVM. Veterinary students can enter the contest, which runs through June 15, 2007, by visiting www.pdagiveaway.com .  Students may also visit that site to order the PDA or book version of the MVM.

Research news (top)

Cats wanted!
Cats are needed for a two-week study to compare three ways of dosing cats by mouth: capsule, oil, and film. Cats must be 1-15 years old, in good health, and not receiving oral medication for any medical condition. Successful participants will receive $100 credit at the Veterinary Medical Center. Please contact Dr. Andrea Ellings at ellin033@umn.edu or Lora Bode at 4-1352 or netzk002@umn.edu.

Two associate dean candidates to visit College for second interviews; open forums scheduled
Dr. Peter Ernst and Dr. Sriramo Rao will be at the College this week for second interviews for the associate dean for research position. Faculty, staff, and students who would like to meet the candidates are invited to the following open forums:

Dr. Sriramo Rao: Tuesday, April 10, 7:30-9:00 a.m., 280 VDL

Dr. Peter Ernst: Thursday, April 12, 7:30-9:00 a.m., 280 VDL

A continental breakfast will be served. If you plan to attend, please contact Cindy Irons at 4-6244 or irons005@umn.edu. The candidates' CVs are also available from Cindy.

The candidates will also be meeting with Paula Buchner, chief operating/financial officer; Laura Larson, director of human resources; Mark Paller, the Academic Health Center's assistant vice president for research; and Bert Stromberg, associate dean for research; as well as the search committee, research staff, and other external faculty.

AHC offers scientific writing classes
The AHC Office of Clinical Research is sponsoring a free Scientific Writing Development Series consisting of four one-hour sessions from noon to 1 p.m. on consecutive Fridays from April 13 through May 4. Lunch will be provided. Organizers include editors and writers from the College of Veterinary Medicine (Karin Matchett), Departments of Surgery and Family Medicine, Office of Clinical Research, and Department of Rhetoric.
Topics will be:

• Tackling the writing process (April 13)
• Anatomy of a manuscript (April 20)
• Writing effective introductions and abstracts (April 27)
• Responding to reviewer comments (May 4)

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.

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 Jaime Nett at nett0049@umn.edu or Alisha Leonard at leona156@umn.edu. Order forms are available in the kitchen area (460a) on the fourth floor of the Veterinary Medical Center.

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.