05-05-08

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
• Degrees awarded at commencement ceremony
• Three finalists for associate dean for graduate programs to present seminars
• Equine Center participates in Horse Expo
• Academic and Student Affairs receives funding for PACE Vet Med
• Upcoming opportunities
• Best Practices Institute to focus on advancing critical thinking
• MVMA to offer feline internal medicine seminar
• St. Paul campus reunion planned for June 26
• Teaching Enrichment Series scheduled for August 25-27
• Faculty and staff news
• Lisa Hubinger recognized as Best Director of Graduate Studies Assistant
• Rod DeVrient is candidate for Civil Service Senate
• Welcome to the College
• Leah Cunningham to join Networking and Telecommunications
• Calendar
• Student news
• Three awarded doctoral dissertation fellowships
• Research news
• Recent grant recipients announced
• Equine Center grants awarded
• Healthy canine volunteers needed
• Other clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC
• Needs a home
• 1-year-old golden retriever needs foster home
• Links

College news (top)

Degrees awarded at commencement ceremony
The College hosted its annual commencement ceremony at Northrop Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, May 3. In addition to 91 D.V.M. degrees, 8 D.V.M./M.P.H. degrees, 6 Ph.D. degrees, 4 M.S. degrees, and 1 D.V.M./Ph.D. degree were awarded.  Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall was the commencement speaker. Opening and closing remarks were presented by Interim Dean Trevor Ames and welcome remarks were made by University of Minnesota President Robert Bruininks. The response for the class of 2008 was presented by Mary McKie. Dr. Teresa Hershey, president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, administered the veterinarian's oath, and congratulatory remarks were presented by Dr. Barbara Brandt, assistant vice president of the Academic Health Center. Dr. Jack Risdahl, president of the Alumni and Friends Society, welcomed the group to the Minnesota Alumni Association.

Candidates for associate dean for graduate programs to present seminars
Three finalists for the postion of associate dean for graduate programs will present seminars entitled "Vision for Graduate Programs at the CVM" at the following times.

• Dr. David Brown: Tuesday, May 13
  Seminar: Noon-1 p.m., 280 VDL

• Dr. Sagar Goyal: Thursday, May 15
  Seminar: Noon-1 p.m., 280 VDL

• Dr. Mark Rutherford:  Thursday, May 22
  Seminar: Noon-1 p.m., 280 VDL

 Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend. Copies of each candidate's curriculum vitae and evaluation forms will be available in the dean's office and the office of Student and Academic Affairs.

Equine Center participates in Horse Expo
University of Minnesota Equine Center faculty, staff, and students participated in Horse Expo at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds  April 25-27. Highlights included:

• Equine Club student volunteers staffed an Equine Center booth located in the Cattle Barn, which overflowed with visitors. Information was given to more than 1,500 attendees during the three-day event.
• Drs. Holly Bedford, Mary Boyce, Molly McCue, Micky Trent, Troy Trumble, Stephanie Valberg, Christie Ward made presentations on topics ranging from acupuncture and arthritis to muscle soreness and wound management.
• Dr. Scott Madill organized six successful tours reaching more than 300 visitors touring the Leatherdale Equine Center and Barenscheer Arena.
• A unique opportunity organized by Dr. Trumble allowed visitors to talk to and learn from students from the equine sports and rehabilitation medicine class, who presented research information from their posters.

Academic and Student Affaris receives funding for PACE: Vet Med
Academic and Student Affairs has received funding from the University of Minnesota Office of Service and Continuous Improvement for a pilot of Program for the Advancement of Classroom Excellence (PACE): Vet Med.

"We hope to pilot PACE: Vet Med with approximately three course coordinators with a strong interest in continuous improvement in teaching excellence, passion for experimentation, establishing a foundation for engaging teaching, a desire to develop and share cutting-edge strategies in their classrooms, and the scholarship of teaching and learning," says Laura Molgaard, associate dean for academic and student affairs.

Upcoming opportunities

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 -- including the CVM's own Drs. Julie Churchill, Peggy Root Kustritz, Rebecca McComas, Laura Molgaard, Tom Molitor, Roberto Novo, Liz Pluhar, Micky Trent, and Deborah Wingert -- 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. There is no charge.

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

St. Paul campus reunion planned for June 26
A St. Paul campus reunion is planned for Thursday, June 26, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. For more information, go to http://www.cfans.umn.edu/spcreunion.html

Teaching Enrichment Series scheduled for August 25-27
Mark your calendar: The 2008 Teaching Enrichment Series workshops will be conducted on August 25-27 and the new TA orientation will be held on August 28.

Register for teaching workshops and the new TA orientation at www.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/faculty/enrichment/index.html. Choose from among 12 workshop topics including:
- Course design
- Student-centered teaching
- Resolving conflicts in the classroom
- Teaching through active lectures
- Student ratings of teaching

For more information, contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at 612-625-3041 or teachlrn@umn.edu.

Faculty and staff news

Lisa Hubinger recognized as Best Director of Graduate Studies Assistant
Lisa Hubinger, graduate program coordinator, is being honored with the Best Director of Graduate Studies Assistant Award.

Each graduate program has a faculty director of graduate studies (DGS), whose office is responsible for coordinating all graduate student activities in the program – recruitment, admissions, financial aid, degree progress tracking, fellowship nominations, and more. Staffed by the DGS sssistant, the DGS’s office becomes the center of activity for most communication between the graduate program and prospective and currently enrolled students and the Graduate School. Many DGS assistants are the graduate students’ first line of contact in dealing with milestone events, so the day-to-day smooth functioning of the office and the quality of the assistance given to a program’s students depends greatly on the organizational and communication skills of the DGS assistant.

The Graduate School established the “Best DGS Assistant” award in 2003 to recognize and reward the University’s most outstanding DGS assistants. Lisa was nominated by the Comparative and Molecular Biosciences (CMB) graduate program and the CMB DGS, Dr. Bruce Walcheck. She  is one of only two people campus-wide to receive this award.

Lisa will receive a $1,000 honorarium and a special plaque at a reception in her honor on Wednesday, May 14, from 3-4 p.m. in the Upson Room, Walter Library. For more information about the award, go to www.grad.umn.edu/Faculty-Staff/recognition/assistant_dgs.html

Rod DeVrient is candidate for Civil Service Senate
Rod DeVrient, the CVM's own personnel specialist, is one of six candidates for four open seats from the Academic Health Center on the University Senate.

"I think it would be a huge benefit to our College to have someone representing our interests on the Senate and ask the staff to consider me when voting," says Rod. Rod submitted the following statement:

"As an HR professional, I recognize the importance of balancing the organization's goals with the employee's interests and needs. Being elected to the University Senate will give me the opportunity to influence the future direction of the University of Minnesota and the role of Civil Service employees in its growth and development. As we strive to become one of the top three public research institutions, we must come together as a unified team to make the necessary changes that will get us to this milestone. With an understanding of University policies and hands-on experience in personnel administration I have the experience and passion to ensure everyone's best interests are served."

The election begins today and ends May 23 at 4:30 p.m. A University e-mail will be sent today with directions on where to vote. If you have questions about the election, contact Becky Hippert at 612-626-8743 or hippe003@umn.edu

Welcome to the College
Welcome to the following new staff members who joined the College in April:

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Brooke Ashley Ptrichard Winberg, senior laboratory technician

Veterinary Medical Center
Kimberly D. Barrett, senior veterinary technician
Sabrina C. Neil, senior veterinary technician

Leah Cunningham to join Networking and Telecommunications
Leah Cunningham of Information Systems (IS) has accepted a new position at University Networking and Telecommunications. Her last day at the College will be May 9. 

"We all wish Leah the best in her new opportunity and I thank her for the excellent job she has done over the past three years," says Edward Deegan, director, Academic Health Center Information Systems.

Jan Anderson of the Minneapolis office of IS will help with the transition to ensure no disruption in technical support for the College. A new person will be assigned to the College's on-site technical support team.

Calendar (top)

Monday, May 5

The University Senate election starts today and runs through May 23 at 4:30 p.m. The candidates include Rod DeVrient, personel specialist at the CVM. Don't forget to vote!

Today's New Employee Orientation has been canceled.

Tuesday, May 6

Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
Gene Expression Profiling of Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis in Vivo and in Vitro
Presented by Sajan George
Advisor: Dr. Sreevatsan
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science

AHC Office of Clincal Research Open House
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.

Wednesday, May 7

Comparative Biosciences Seminar
Marek's Disease Virus Trickery: New Insights from Genomics
Presented by Dr. Robin W. Morgan, dean, College of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Delaware
Hosted by Dr. Mahesh Khatri
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

Thursday, May 8

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

Friday, May 9

Clinical Rounds for First, Second, and Third-Year Veterinary Students
Presented by Dr. Kelly Hall
Noon
135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Ice Cream Social to Recognize Little Red Oil Can Award Winner
Noon-1 p.m.
North side of Coffey Hall
More information about the Little Red Oil Can Award is online at www.cfans.umn.edu/Little_Red_Oil_Can_Award2.html

Saturday, May 10

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

What's ahead

Ph.D. Thesis Defense Seminar: The Role of NK-1 Receptors in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla in Hyperalgesia Produced by Intraplantar Injection of Capsaicin, presented by Cholawat Pacharinsak: May 12, 9 a.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Advisors: Dr. Al Beitz and Dr. Don Simone. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Vision for Graduate Programs at the CVM, presented by Dr. David Brown, candidate for associate dean for graduate programs: May 13, noon-1 p.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

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

Award Ceremony and Reception for Best Director of Graduate Studies Assistant award recipients (Lisa Hubinger, the CVM's graduate program coordinator, will receive the award): May 14, 3:00-4:30 p.m., Upson Room, Walter Library, Minneapolis

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

Vision for Graduate Programs at the CVM, presented by Dr. Sagar Goyal, candidate for associate dean for graduate programs: May 15, noon-1 p.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

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 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

Vision for Graduate Programs at the CVM, presented by Dr. Mark Rutherford, candidate for associate dean for graduate programs: May 22, noon-1 p.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to attend.

Memorial Day holiday: May 26

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

Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.

Student news (top)

Three awarded doctoral dissertation fellowships
Congratulations to Rebecca LaRue and Tamene Melkamu of the Comparative and Molecular Biosciences graduate program and Patrick Pithua of the Veterinary Medcine graduate program! The three have been named recipients of  a doctoral dissertation fellowship for 2008-09, awarded by the Graduate School.  Students are nominated by their respective graduate program. Selection criteria include:

• Potential for the student's research to make a significant contribution to the field
• Potential for the student to become an influential leader in their discipline
• The student's demonstrated independence, resourcefulness, and originality

Research news (top)

Recent grant recipients announced
Congratulations to these recent research grant recipients:

• Dr. Scott Dee received $25,000 from Boehringer Ingelhiem VetMedica for an evaluation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus aerosol biosecurity programs for warm weather.
• Dr. Rebecca McComas  was awarded a Technology Enhanced Learning grant of $10,000 for "VirtualVet II: the Veterinary Clinic of Croquet."
• Dr. Travis Saveraid received a Technology Enhanced Learning grant for $9,200 for "Mastery of Veterinary MRI Interpretation Through Animated Query Learning."

Equine Center grants awarded
The following faculty members received University of Minnesota Equine Center grants for 2008:

• Dr. James Mickelson received $10,000 for mapping the recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis gene in thoroughbred horses.
• Dr. Mark Rutherford was awarded $9,900 for his study "Equine Recurrent Uveitis in Appalossas: Association with the MHC Haplotype."
• Dr. Troy Trumble received $13,230 for a pilot study of the relationship of gait analysis for lameness and molecular biomarkers of osteoarthritis in horses with naturally occuring joint disease compared to traditional examinations.

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 still looking for the following dogs -- within six months of the ages specified:

• English setter--3-year-old spayed female
• German shepherd--2-year-old spayed female
• Gordon setter--2-year-3 month-old spayed female
• Labrador retriever--6-year-old neutered male
• Staffordshire terrier--6-year-old neutered male

Needs a home  (top)

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.