04-28-08

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 to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu before noon Friday. To view CVM This Week as a Web page and access back issues, go to     www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/publications/cvmthisweek.

In this issue

• College news
• Awards ceremony celebrates accomplishments of students and faculty
• In memory: Dr. JoAnne Schmidt O'Brien, one of the first women to earn her D.V.M. at the U
• Swine Center Web site redesigned
• Bill allowing chiropractors to work on animals passes Minnesota House
• Mark your calendar
• This is National Volunteer Appreciation Week
• Veterinary Medical Library will offer refreshments to celebrate finals on Thursday
• Nominations sought for Little Red Oil Can Award by Thursday
• Class of 2008 Commencement Ceremonies to be held Saturday
• Canine Canter for Cancer planned for Sunday
• Best Practices Institute to focus on advancing critical thinking
• MVMA to offer feline internal medicine seminar
• Calendar
• CVM in the news
• Equine Center featured in The Land
• Research news
• Healthy canine volunteers needed
• Other clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC
• Links

College news (top)

Awards ceremony celebrates accomplishments of students and faculty
The College's annual spring awards ceremony, held at the North Star Ballroom on the evening of Thursday, April 24, celebrated the accomplishments of students and faculty, presented  scholarships, and recognized the generous support of donors. Speakers included Dr. Trevor Ames, interim dean; Dr. Marie Gramer, chair of the Awards, Honors, and Scholarship Committee; and current student and past scholarship recipient Nina Kieves, class of 2009.

In addition to more than $160,000 in scholarships, these awards were presented:

Caleb Dorr Medal: Leah Renne

Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Award: Dr. Jane Quandt

Mark of Excellence: Dr. Cathy Carlson

Outstanding Service Award: Dr. Joni Scheftel, state public health veterinarian, Minnesota Department of Health (class of 1982)

Veterinary Clinical Sciences teaching awards

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Leslie Sharkey
• Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award: Dr Jane Quandt
• Excellence in Clinical Teaching Resident Award: Dr. Susan Simmerson

Veterinary Population Medicine teaching awards

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Dr. Christie Ward
• Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award:  Dr. Susan McClanahan
• Excellence in Resident Teaching Award: Dr. Stacy Tinkler

In a new category of teaching awards for course coordinators, the recipients were Dr. Jeff Bender in public health, Dr. Leslie Sharkey in veterinary clinical pathology, and Dr. Robert Washabau in veterinary physiology. Dr. Stephanie Valberg was also recognized for a U of M Distinguished Women Scholars Award she received earlier that day. The primary sponsor of the event was the College's Alumni and Friends Society.

In memory: Dr. JoAnne Schmidt O'Brien, one of the first women to earn her D.V.M. at the U
Dr. JoAnne Schmidt O'Brien, one of the first two women to receive her D.V.M. from the University of Minnesota, was found dead in her home in Washington, D.C., on April 21.  Her death was believed to be a sudden collapse due to congestive heart failure. She was 79 years old.

"It was in the summer of 1947 that she and I were rejected from admission to the year-old College of Veterinary Medicine," recalls Dr. Bee Wolf Hanlon, the other female graduate. "She and her employer were University alumni and went to work contacting other prominent alumni, the president of the U, the Board of Regents, and other influential people. The rejection was overturned, two chairs were added to the class of 48 male applicants, and thereafter the school remained  open to women."

Contributions in memory of JoAnne should be made to the Virginia Tech Foundation., Inc. for the Joanne O'Brien Fund - 87-26l2 and mailed to Dr. Frank Pearsall, College of Veterinary Medicine - MC 0442, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Swine Center Web site redesigned
The Web site for the University of Minnesota Swine Center has received a complete makeover. The new site conforms more closely to the University template and provides easy access to Swine Center members' contact information according to their expertise. The site also has links to other sites useful to swine veterinarians, swine researchers, and pork producers. Visit the site at www.academic-server.cvm.umn.edu/swine/

Bill allowing chiropractors to work on animals passes Minnesota House
The Minnesota House has passed an Agriculture Policy bill that allows chiropractors to work on animals if they receive training and have a referral from a veterinarian. Chiropractors and veterinarians were at odds over the initial bill, but compromised on requiring the veterinary referral. The House passed the bill on a 121 to 7 vote. The Senate has included similar language in its Agriculture Policy Bill, and the two bills now need to be reconciled in conference committee. For more information, go to  http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/04/25/chiro_pets/

Mark your calendar

This is National Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 27-May 3 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. Did you know that The Raptor Center (TRC) has 325 volunteers, 275 of which are on a crew each week? Crews include Education (educating the public); Clinic (caring for sick and injured raptors); Flight (rehabilitating and exercising raptors); Lobby Assistance (greeting the public); and Transport (transporting sick and injured raptors to TRC).

The Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) has about 80 volunteers with an additional 20-30 in neonatal care from April to August. The crews include Lobby Assistance (greeting and assisting humans and their companion animals waiting for appointments); Dog Walkers (exercising canine patients); Dog Rehab (assisting with rehabilitation activities); Anesthesia (assisting staff with animals undergoing surgery); Tour Guide (providing scheduled tours through the hospital for the public); Intensive Monitoring Crew (on-call position for monitoring sick horses); Client and Horse Handlers (assist staff with horses); and Neonatal (a seasonal on-call position monitoring sick foals and assisting staff). For more information about TRC or VMC volunteer programs, contact Vivian Neiger at neige001@umn.edu or 612-624-3928.

Veterinary Medical Library will offer refreshments to celebrate finals on Thursday
The Veterinary Medical Library will be offering cookies and hot drinks to celebrate finals on Thursday, May 1, from 11 a.m. until the refreshments run out. You're invited to stop by for a free snack!

Nominations sought for Little Red Oil Can Award by Thursday
Nominations are being sought for the Little Red Oil Can Award sponsored by the St. Paul Board of Colleges. A recipient will be selected in student, staff, faculty, organization, and alumni categories. Award winners will be recognized at an outdoor ice cream social on the north side of Coffey Hall on Friday, May 9, from noon-1 p.m. The nomination deadline is Thursday, May 1, at 4:30 p.m. Eligibility, criteria, past recipients, an online award application, and more are online at www.cfans.umn.edu/Little_Red_Oil_Can_Award2.html

Class of 2008 Commencement Ceremonies to be held Saturday
Commencement Ceremonies for spring 2008 graduates of the College will be held on Saturday, May 3, 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. Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall will deliver the commencement address. After the commencement ceremony, she will do a book signing at Northrop. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend both events, which are free and open to the public.

Canine Canter for Cancer planned for Sunday
Participate in a two-mile run/walk around Lake Como to benefit human and canine cancer research on Sunday, May 4, starting 8 a.m. at the Como Lakeside Pavillion. All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Morris Animal Foundation (earmarked for canine cancer research). You do not have to bring a dog to participate! To register online, go to http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1553486. Registration includes a T-shirt. Sponsored by Purina. If you have questions, contact jlj@umn.edu

Best Practices Institute to focus on advancing critical thinking
It's not too late to register for the third annual Best Practices Institute: Advancing Critical Thinking in the Health Professions on May 20-21. The institute will feature presentations by education leaders from Academic Health Center schools and colleges, as well as a national keynote speaker. The two-day program will provide opportunities for skill-building in small groups and sharing of ideas among faculty who teach in the health professions. For more information about the Best Practices Institute and to register, go to www.bpinstitute.umn.edu/. All courses will be held in Moos Tower and Weaver Densford Hall on the Minneapolis campus.

MVMA to offer feline internal medicine seminar
The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association will offer a summer seminar on feline internal medicine at the Continuing Education and Conference Center on June 19. Topics will include fever of unknown origin in cats and infectious diseases of the feline gastrointestinal system. The speaker will be Michael R. Lappin, D.V.M., Ph.D., who is the assistant department head for research in small animal clinical veterinary medicine and the director of the Center for Companion Animal Studies at Colorado State University. For details and to register online, go to http://mvma.org/SummerSeminar2008.asp

Calendar (top)

This is National Volunteer Appreciation Week

Monday, April 28

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

Tuesday, April 29

Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
In vivo Analysis of Vaccine-Induced Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Specific CD8 T Cell Responses
Presented by Jung Joo Hong
Advisor: Dr. Pam Skinner
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science

Wednesday, April 30

Opportunities in International and Cultural Immersion
Penguin Rehabilitation in South Africa
Presented by Sandra Marks-Stubacher
Noon-12:50 p.m.
215 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
Everyone is welcome to attend.

Comparative Biosciences Seminar
Presented by Dr. Tim Carpenter, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis
Hosted by Alfonso Lagos and Duane Robinson, Veterinary Medicine Graduate Program
3 p.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Everyone is welcome to attend. Refreshments available.
Contact: Jaclyn Barnes at barne063@umn.edu or 612-624-2700

Grant Writing for Interdisciplinary Research Workshop
A panel of seven faculty members will share their perspectives and experiences of developing successful proposals, focusing on the issues and concerns unique to interdisciplinary contexts.
Sponsored by the Graduate School
3-5 p.m.
McNamara Alumni Center
Free, but space is limited and registration is required at   OII workshops.

Thursday, May 1

Small Animal Grand Rounds
8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Cookies and Hot Drinks to Celebrate Finals
11 a.m.- until cookies and hot drinks run out
Veterinary Medical Library

PharmacoNeuroImmunology (PNI) Seminar
Presented by Jonathan Marchant, Ph.D.
Sponsored by the PNI Program and Coca-cola Academic Initiative Grant
Noon-1 p.m.
1-110 McGuire Translational Research Facility, Minneapolis
Contact: Yorie Smart, smart006@umn.edu
Pizza and beverages will be provided.
Everyone is welcome to attend.

Faculty Meeting
3:00-4:30 p.m.
135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Mather Lecture
Cytology
Presented by Dr. Leslie Sharkey
7:00-8:30 p.m.
215 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
$30. For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/mather.html

Friday, May 2

Hill's Pet Food Orders Due

Bioinformatics Platform Applied Computational Genomics Course
Starts today; continues through Thursday, May 8
University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario
For details, go to      www.gcbioinformatics.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=18&Itemid=61

Saturday, May 3

Public Lecture by Jane Goodall
11 a.m.-noon
Mayo Memorial Auditorium, Minneapolis campus

Spring Raptor Release
Sponsored by The Raptor Center and Three Rivers Park District
11 a.m.-2 p.m. (release at 1 p.m.)
Hyland Lake Park Reserve, Bloomington
For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/raptor/news/home.html

Commencement
Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall will deliver the commencement address.
7 p.m.
Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis campus
After the commencement ceremony, Dr. Goodall will do a book signing at Northrop. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend both events, which are free and open to the public.
Contacts: Joe Maple at jmaple@umn.edu or Peggy Dimatteo at dimat001@umn.edu.

Sunday, May 4

Canine Canter for Cancer
Participate in a two-mile run/walk around Lake Como to benefit human and canine cancer research. All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Morris Animal Foundation (earmarked for canine cancer research).  You do not have to bring a dog to participate!
Sponsored by Purina
8 a.m.
Como Lakeside Pavillion
To register online, go to http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1553486. Registration includes a T-shirt. If you have questions, contact jlj@umn.edu

What's ahead

Clinical Rounds for First, Second, and Third-Year Veterinary Students: May 6, noon, 135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

AHC Office of Clincal Research Open House: May 6, noon-1 p..m., 717 Delaware St. SE, second floor, room 202. Light lunch included. Parking in Oak Street Ramp can be validated. Learn more about OCR services, sign up to receive the monthly newsletter, and view the events calendar at www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr.

May Makeover: May 3-17. Sponsored by Veterinary Medical Center Social Committee. The event will be kicked off with a gathering of interested staff, students, faculty, interns, and residents who would like to join the East (St. Paul) or West (Golden Valley) team for the Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals. If you are interested in joining one of the teams, e-mail Bridget Monson at ocon0003@umn.edu. To learn more about the Walk for Animals, go to www.animalhumanesociety.org/walk

Ice Cream Social to Recognize Little Red Oil Can Award Winner: May 9, noon-1 p.m., north side of Coffey Hall. More information about the Little Red Oil Can Award is online at more are online at www.cfans.umn.edu/Little_Red_Oil_Can_Award2.html

Dentistry Workshop: Advanced Periodontal Treatment and Pain Management: May 10, 8 a.m.-noon. For details, go to  www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/dentallabs.html

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 14, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 15, noon-12:50 p.m., and 5:00-5:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: May 16, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Best Practices Institute: Advancing Critical Thinking in the Health Professions: May 20-21, Moos Tower and Weaver Densford Hall, Minneapolis campus. Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn more about teaching and learning in the health sciences from faculty at each of the Academic Health Center schools. For more information and to register, go to http://www.bpinstitute.umn.edu/.

Minnesota Dairy Health Conference: May 20-22, Continuing Education and Conference Center, St. Paul campus. For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/dairy/home.html

Memorial Day holiday: May 26

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

Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.

CVM in the news

The Equine Center was featured in the March 21 issue of The Land, a Mankato-based magazine. The story is online at  www.the-land.com/currentedition/local_story_087141306.html

Research news (top)

Healthy canine volunteers needed
Dr. Lisa Reiter is looking for matched control dogs for a study comparing the skin of dogs with atopic dermatitis with the skin of normal dogs. She needs healthy dogs of the same breed, age, and sex as the dogs with atopic dermatitis in her study. The healthy dogs should not have any history of skin or allergic disease. Participants will need to bring their dog to the VMC for sample collection only once, at no charge. No sedation or general anesthesia is involved, and you will receive compensation of $30.

Dr. Reiter is looking for the following dogs -- within six months of the ages specified -- and especially needs the Gordon setter and English setter:

• Australian shepherd--4-year-5-month-old neutered male
• English setter--3-year-old spayed female
• German shepherd--2-year-old spayed female
• Golden retriever--8-year-old neutered male
• Gordon setter--2-year-3 month-old spayed female
• Labrador retrievers
  • 3-year-old neutered male
  • 4-year-old neutered male
  • 6-year-old neutered male
  • 7-year-old spayed female
• Lab crosses
  • 1-year-3-month-old neutered male
  • 9-year-old spayed female
• Shih Tzu--1-year-10-month-old neutered male
• Soft-coated wheaten terrier--7-year-old neutered male
• Staffordshire terrier--6-year-old neutered male

Links (top)

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

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.

Hill's College Feeding Program
Order online through the Hill's online ordering system at https://www.summationdata.com/hpn. For more information about the Hill's College Feeding Program, contact Alisha Leonard at leona156@umn.edu or Nick Place at plac0026@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.

University of Minnesota Legislative Network News
http://ga4.org/u_of_m_leg_net/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=8620389&r=

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 to Sue Kirchoff, editor, at kirch004@umn.edu before noon Friday.

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