05-07-07

CVM This Week
May 7, 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 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      http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/publications/cvmthisweek/home.html.

In this issue

• College news

• • Scholarships and awards presented at annual ceremony

  • Staff appreciation day planned for June 5

  • Dean appoints committee to work with Enterprise Financial System

• Calendar

• Media news

• Faculty and staff news

• • Shaun Kennedy to be honored

  • Welcome to the College

• Student news

• • Canine Club plans doggie wash, seeks towels

  • Molly McCue awarded doctoral dissertation fellowship

  • Sarah Crain will continue as NAVC student rep; Hollee Kubik wins free NAVC registration

• Research news

• • New policy on sponsored projects

  • Dogs needed for dermatology studies

  • Dogs needed for tissue oxygen monitor study

  • Other clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC

• Needs a home

• • Hedgehog

• Links

College news (top)

Scholarships and awards presented at annual ceremony
Awards and scholarships were presented at the College's annual spring awards ceremony at the St. Paul Student Center on April 26. The awards included --

• Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award for 2007: Dr. Roberto Novo
• James O. Hanson Continuing Education Awards: Dr. Tsuyoshi Murakami and Dr. Jennifer Granick
• Mark of Excellence Award: Dr. Al Bietz
• Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education: Dr. Tom Molitor
• Outstanding Service Award: Mr. Kevin Elfering
• Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Teaching Award: Dr. Vic Cox
• Veterinary Clinical Sciences Teaching Award: Dr. Peggy Root
• Veterinary Clinical Sciences Clinical Teaching Award: Dr. Karin Christopher
• Veterinary Clinical Sciences Clinical Teaching Resident Award: Dr. Domenico Bianco
• Veterinary Population Medicine Teaching Award: Dr. Sandra Godden
• Veterinary Population Medicine Clinical Teaching Award: Dr. Christie Ward
• Veterinary Population Medicine Clinical Teaching Resident Award: Dr. Mary Boyce

For the full list of award and scholarship recipients, go to    www.cvm.umn.edu/about/awardwinners/2007Awards.html

Staff appreciation day planned for June 5
The College's annual staff appreciation day is set for Tuesday, June 5, with the awards program planned for 11:30 a.m. in 125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine. Lunch will follow in the Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine lobby.

Nominations are sought for the Chuck Edborg award, which recognizes hard work, dedication, positive attitude, cooperation, and customer service, and the Outstanding Faculty Award, which honors a faculty or professional and administrative staff member who supports the staff. Nominations are to be submitted by Friday, May 18, to Helen Pederson, 455 VMC, or via e-mail to h-pede1@umn.edu.

New financial software system coming in July 2008--
Dean appoints committee to work with Enterprise Financial System
In July 2008, the University's Enterprise Financial System (EFS) will implement a new financial software system. In preparation for the new system, EFS staff will work with a newly formed organizational design committee to address the impact of the new system on the College. The members of the committee, appointed by Jeffrey S. Klausner, dean, are:

• Paula Buchner, chief financial/operating officer (CVM project lead)
• Laura Larson, director of human resources
• Jan Williams, director of communications

The committee will work with EFS staff to manage the transition to the new financial software system. The project will occupy approximately 20 percent of their time until July 2008. Regular reports on progress will distributed over the next year.

Throughout the University, more than 130 committee members are participating on 42 committees representing all the colleges, administrative units, and campuses. For more information on the organizational design committees, visit www.finsys.umn.edu/EFS_kickoffcc.htm.

Calendar (top)

Monday, May 7

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

Tuesday, May 8

Risk Communication and the Food System: Gauging the Hazard, Managing the Outrage
3:30-5:00 p.m.
Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
For more information, contact Lisa Brienzo at brien002@umn.edu or 612-624-2614.

Annual Celebration, University of Minnesota Alumni Association
Registration at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m., program at 7:30 p.m.
Mariucci Arena
Complete ticket pricing and event information is available at www.alumni.umn.edu/celebration.

Thursday, May 10

Veterinary Clinical Sciences Grand Rounds
Orthotics and Prosthetics in Veterinary Patients
Presented by Dr. Liz LaFond
8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Friday, May 11

CVM Teaching Seminar
More is Definitely Better: Actively Engaging Large Classes in the Sciences
Presented by Tom Molitor, Ph.D. and Deb Wingert, Ph.D.
Noon-1 p.m.
280 VDL
Coffee and cookies will be served.

Ph.D. Thesis Defense Seminar
Behavioral and Metabolic Observations of  Dairy Cows in the Transistion Period
Presented by Jerome Carrier, D.V.M., M.S.
Advisor: Dr. Sandra Godden
Noon
215 Veterinary Science
Everyone is welcome to attend.

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

What's ahead

Minnesota Dairy Health Conference: May 15-17, Continuing Education and Conference Center. For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/dairy/home.html or call the Veterinary Continuing Education office at 612-624-3434.

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

Deadline for Chuck Edborg and Outstanding Faculty Award nominations: May 18. Submit nominations to Helen Pederson, 455 Veterinary Medical Center or via e-mail at h-pede1@umn.edu.

Canine Elbow Workshop: May 19, 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/elbow.html.

Canine Club Doggie Wash Fund-Raiser: May 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Pet Crossing Animal Hospital, Bloomington. For directions, go to www.petcrossing.com.

Memorial Day holiday: May 28

CVM All-Class Reunion: June 2, Ben Pomeroy Student/Alumni Learning Center. Includes a tribute to Dr. Carl Osborne. For details, go to      www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/reunion/home.html.

Staff Appreciation Day: June 5. Awards program: 11:30 a.m., 125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine. Lunch: 12-1:30 p.m. The deadline for Chuck Edborg and Outstanding Faculty Award nominations is May 18. Submit nominations to Helen Pederson, 455 Veterinary Medical Center or via e-mail at h-pede1@umn.edu.

Nestle Purina Memories Garden Ceremony: June 5

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

• Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.

Media news (top)

KARE 11’s Sven Sundgaard taped a Simply Science segment at The Raptor Center on April 25. The first of the two-part segment -- online at   www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=252813&GID=q+DmsI1HIMVV/Yk+uJH38cmMltk1o62HF6VR7JJL9zU%3D -- aired on May 3. The second part will air on the 6 p.m. news on Thursday, May 20.

Faculty and staff news (top)

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

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Jeannette Alejandra Munoz Aguayo, research specialist
Christian Daniel Flores Figueroa, research specialist

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Mary Katharine Hendrickson, junior scientist

Veterinary Medical Center
Jean Marie Dominguez, veterinary technician
Lindsay Lea Hill, principal office and administrative specialist
Margaret Grant Thompson, principal office and administrative specialist
Susan Wenker, principal operations/student services specialist

Student news (top)

Canine Club plans doggie wash, seeks towels
The Canine Club is planning a "doggie wash" fund-raiser on Sunday, May 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Pet Crossing Animal Hospital in Bloomington. Half of the proceeds will go to the Minnesota Valley Humane Society and half to CVM students for Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) trips. Pet Crossing is also holding a Furever Fun Day on May 20, so there will be vendors and other activities available. For directions, go to www.petcrossing.com. The Canine Club is also looking for old towels to use. If you have any to donate, e-mail Alli at schn0515@umn.edu or Nina at kiev0001@umn.edu.

Molly McCue awarded doctoral dissertation fellowship
Molly McCue has been awarded a doctoral dissertation fellowship from the University of Minnesota Graduate School. Recipients receive a stipend of $21,500 for the academic year, plus full tuition for thesis credits. Molly's advisors are Drs. Jim Mickelson and Stephanie Valberg.

Sarah Crain will continue as NAVC student rep; Hollee Kubik wins free NAVC registration
The North American Veterinary Conference (NAVC) announced that Sarah Crain, class of 2008, will continue as NAVC student representative for the 2007-08 academic year. Hollee Kubik, class of 2007, was a Clinical Case Challenge "What is Your Diagnosis?" winner for March, winning free registration for the NAVC 2008 conference in Orlando, Florida, in January.

Research news (top)

Dogs needed for dermatology studies
Dr. Sheila Torres has an urgent need for dogs with year-round environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis). Dogs must be at least 1 year old and weigh at least 2 kg. (4.4 pounds). A few details:

• One study is evaluating a new drug for pruritus (itchiness). This 28-day placebo-controlled study is offering an $800 VMC credit to be used to cover costs of workup necessary to determine if your dog has atopic dermatitis, the remainder of which can be used on any services in the VMC. Dogs must be at least 1 year old and weigh 2–50 kg. (4.4-110 pounds). For the trial period, dogs will be off other medications.
• Dr. Lisa Reiter's study needs tissue samples. Local anesthesia is used, and only one visit is required.
• Dr. Torres' U of M-Mayo partnership study also needs tissue samples, which are taken in one visit. Dogs can potentially donate skin samples to both studies.
• Dogs can participate in all three studies – but the drug study must complete enrollment by the end of October, so hurry! Only 16 dogs are needed and spots will go fast!

Contact: Dr. Sheila Torres, 612-625-3715; Lora Bode, 612-624-1352; or Sara Pracht, 612-626-3574

Dogs needed for tissue oxygen monitor study
Healthy dogs from 2-8 years old weighing over 9 kg. (20 pounds) are needed for a tissue oxygen monitor study. The study will draw venous and arterial blood samples and measure doppler blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and tissue oxygen levels, which requires four to eight small (1x2-inch) shaved areas. Sampling should take less than 20-30 minutes. Incentives include results of blood tests run, a $10 Caribou card for you, and a $5 PetCo card for your dog. The plan is to gather data on dogs all day May 16 and early mornings (7-8 a.m.) May 17-June 5 (except for Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial day).
Contact: Dr. Kelly Hall, 612-624-6288 or wilke022@umn.edu.

Other 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.

Needs a home (top)

Female hedgehog, approximately 2 years old. Comes with a cage, wheel, food, etc., as well as care sheets and assistance from the Hedgehog Welfare Society. Contact Jennifer Plombon at jenners@comcast.net or 612-332-5335.

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.

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

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.