CVM This Week
September 10, 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
From the dean (top)
Welcome students!
By Trevor Ames, D.V.M.
Interim Dean
Welcome to the class of 2011 and all our returning students, including our D.V.M., D.V.M./M.P.H., and graduate students! I hope that everyone, including our faculty and staff, enjoyed their summer. This marks the start of a new academic year, and I look forward to working with you all. The following is an update on some exciting initiatives as we move into the fall:
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The Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center has welcomed its first class, and since its recent opening has been used by a variety of external groups. We invite everyone to our October 26 building dedication, where we will recognize our donors in this historic renovation.
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The Equine Center opens in October. This new building will provide the much-needed space to house our excellent research program and provide state-of-the-art care in the area of horse performance and lameness. In addition, we are excited by our partnerships with the We Can Ride Program and the U of M Mounted Horse Patrol. Everyone is invited to an open house on October 15.
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A new linear accelerator was installed to provide radiation therapy to cancer patients. Our oncology program will continue to grow both in terms of patient care and research, especially under the leadership of Dr. Jaime Modiano, who recently filled the Al and June Perlman endowed chair in oncology.
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Dr. Srirama Rao started as associate dean for research. We are excited to embark on his leadership in this area. We thank Dr. Bert Stromberg for his service over the years and wish him well in his faculty role and as codirector of the Clinical Investigation Center and international programs. I have appointed a research strategic planning subcommittee comprised of faculty members, both internal and external, to develop a collegiate plan that will direct our research efforts.
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Sharon Staton has started as advancement director. Sharon will be working on setting the strategic direction for our combined alumni affairs, development, continuing education, and communications efforts. It is through the relationships of our College that we will continue to enhance our reputation among our many stakeholders. This new structure will help us focus our scarce resources to maximize our reach and our abilities to seek funds to support our research and academic programs.
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Shaun Kennedy will lead partnership and business development for the College to enhance the strength and vitality of our research and business efforts by identifying new opportunities, developing collaborations, and establishing partnerships between faculty, industry, government, and other sources of support.
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Activities involving our collegiate facilities continue to progress, with both remodeling of current space and addition of new space. Tim Gordon has assumed the facilities manager position, and we look forward to his leadership in this area. He is currently working on the completion of the Equine Center, the BSL-3 necropsy facility, two research laboratory remodeling projects, the MRI project, and remodeling projects in the Veterinary Medical Center involving the clinical laboratories.
There have been new faculty and staff added over the summer, and there are always new activities, so I encourage you to read CVM This Week and The VMC Pulse to keep up-to-date on all the activities within the College.
I also encourage you to wear your employee/student name badges. Security issues over the recent months should remind all of us to be on alert and to watch out for each other.
Finally, I want to thank all of the students, staff, and faculty who are helping us deal with our current labor issue. Your willingness to pitch in is greatly appreciated. The University is continuing to work with AFSCME to resolve this issue and we look forward to resuming our level of service to our clients and students.
Thank you for your part in ensuring animal and human health; you do impact lives every day. I wish everyone a great academic year!
College news (top)
AFSCME workers strike
On September 5, one-third of about 3,150 University clerical, health care, and technical workers represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) began a strike. The biggest issue is wages. Union officials are unhappy with the University's proposed 2.25 and 2.5 percent raises, saying they don't keep up with inflation. University officials maintain that when service-anniversary step increases of 2 percent are considered, the offers are fair. Despite the strike, classes are being held as scheduled and day-to-day operations continue. For more information, go to www1.umn.edu/ohr/er/negotiations/index.html
Does your pet come to work with you?
It's time to register with the pet committee
Did you know that the College of Veterinary Medicine is the only college in the University that allows pets at work? It's a great perk, but we need to comply with a few rules: Animals that come to work/school must be registered with the CVM pet committee and display a proper tag.
It's time to register your pet with the pet committee. The application form, policy, and list of pet committee representatives are online at https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/petpolicy/index.html. Please print out and complete the application and turn it in to your pet committee representative with the $5 application fee. If your application is approved, you will receive a tag for your pet to wear whenever he or she comes to work with you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your pet committee representative.
Veterinary Medical Library news
Requesting an article from the Bio-Medical Library is now easier!
CVM students, staff, and faculty may now place online requests for articles from the print collection of the Bio-Medical Library that are not held at the Veterinary Medical Library or other St. Paul campus libraries. Articles will be retrieved, scanned, and delivered electronically within one to two working days at no cost to the CVM user.
Bookmark this link for future use: http://www.vetmed.lib.umn.edu/services/ordering/request
Hill's College Feeding Program update
Jamie Nett, one of the Hill's College Feeding Program coordinators, recently learned of some problems with the availability of Nature's Best dog food on the Hill's Web site. Hill's changed the size, SKU numbers, and prices of Nature's Best, so Jamie had to manually re-enter them onto the ordering site. Nature's Best is now available again, but the types and sizes have changed. For example, Nature's Best Beef has been replaced with Nature's Best Lamb & Rice. There are also more sizes available now. If you have had trouble ordering Nature's Best and are still in need of it for September distribution, please contact Jaime at nett0049@umn.edu. She will do what she can to make sure the program has enough in stock. To order food through the Hill's program, go to https://www.summationdata.com/hpn.
SCAVMA to host comedy night with E-Vet's Kevin Fitzgerald
E-Vet's Kevin Fitzgerald will be be featured at a pizza and comedy night presented by the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SCAVMA) on Sept. 21 in the North Star Ballroom at the St. Paul Student Center. Eating and mingling will begin at 6 p.m., and the show will start at 7 p.m. SCAVMA members can attend at no charge; tickets for nonmembers are $10; College and Veterinary Medical Center staff, $7. Tickets will be available at the door or can be obtained by contacting SCAVMA at scavma@umn.edu.
Calendar (top)
Monday, September 10
New Employee Orientation
8:30 a.m.-noon
458 Veterinary Medical Center
Ross Student Orientation: Lauren Kramer
Provided by Lynne Lura, Laura Molgaard, Tom Molitor, Robert Washabau, Peg Dimatteo, Larry Bjorklund, Marilyn Pierce, and Andre Nault
8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Equine Club Meeting
Join the Herd
Presented by Dr. Julie Wilson
Noon
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Snacks and prizes!
M.P.H. Project Presentation
Understanding the Role of Companion Animals in Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Long-term Care Facilities
Presented by Kat Coughlan
2 p.m.
213 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
Tuesday, September 11
Ross Student Orientation: Lauren Kramer
Provided by Tina Ohata and Dan Cronk
9 a.m.-noon
Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
Development of a Grading Scheme for the Assessment of Lesions of Osteoarthritis in Mice
Presented by Margaret McNulty
Advisor: Dr. C. Carson
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Wednesday, September 12
Comparative Biosciences Seminar
Multidrug Efflux Pumps: Molecular Basis of Regulation and Roles in Pathobiology of Campylobacter Jejuni
Presented by Dr. Qijing Zhang, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University
Hosted by Srinand Sreevatsan
Sponored by Veterinary Population Medicine
3 p.m.
125 Animal Science Veterinary Medicine
Contact: Jaclyn Barnes, barne063@umn.edu or 612-624-2700
Thursday, Sept. 13
Small Animal Grand Rounds
Changes in Anesthetic Monitoring Parameters Observed in Acute Gastrointestinal Perforation During Feline Gastroduodenoscopy
Presented by Dr. Lynelle Graham
8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
MVMA Academy Seminar-Small Animal Endocrinology
Presented by Dr. Richard W. Nelson, University of California-Davis
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Continuing Education and Conference Center
For more information and to register, go to www.mvma.org/AcademySeminar07.asp
PharmacoNeuroImmunology Seminar Series
Vaccine Development for Malignant Brain Tumors
Presented by John Ohlfest, Ph.D., Director, Neurosurgery Gene Therapy Program, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Cancer Center
Sponsored by the PharmacoNeuroImmunology Program and Coca Cola Academic Initiative Grant
Noon
Conference Room 1-110 MTRF
McGuire Translational Research Facility, 2001 6th Street SE, Minneapolis
Lunch provided. No registration necessary.
For more information, contact Yorie at smart006@umn.edu
Friday, Sept. 14
Ph.D. Preliminary Oral Examination Seminar
Regulation of CD38/ADP-ribosyl Cyclase Expression in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells: Role of Posttranscriptional Mechanisms
Presented by Joseph Jude
9:30 a.m.
215 Veterinary Science Building
Everyone is welcome to attend.
College-wide Personal and Professional Development Time
Noon-1 p.m.
What's ahead
2007 Current Issues in Clinical Research: Sept. 18-19, Minneapolis Convention Center. For more information and to register, go to http://www.mayocts.com/research/
Lunch Presentation by Dr. Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation: Sept. 20, noon-1 p.m., 135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine. For veterinary students. For more information, go to www.tc.umn.edu/~behavior/grandin.htm
Presentation by Dr. Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation: Sept. 20, 6 :30 p.m., North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center. Admission is free for veterinary students, $10 for everyone else. Dinner will be served. For more information and to register, go to www.tc.umn.edu/~behavior/grandin.htm
Pizza and Comedy Night with E-Vet's Kevin Fitzgerald: Sept. 21, 6 p.m. (eat and mingle), 7 p.m. (show), St. Paul Student Center North Star Ballroom. Presented by the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association. SCAVMA members: free. Nonmembers: $10. College and Veterinary Medical Center staff: $7. Tickets will be available at the door or may be obtained by contacting SCAVMA at scavma@umn.edu. Bring your own nonalcoholic beverage.
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society Conference: Sept. 26-30, Hilton New Orleans Riverside. For more information, go to http://2007.iveccs.org/
Getting Started as a Successful Grant Writer and Academician: Sept. 27, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center. Sponsored by the AHC Office of Clinical Research. For more information and online registration, go to www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/gettingstarted/home.html. Registration is limited to the first 100 people, and the seminar fills very quickly.
Policy and the Role of the Animal Health Professional: Sept. 27-29, University of California, Davis. Speakers include Dr. Will Hueston, director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety. For course information, contact Mandy Murray at almurray@ucdavis.edu. For registration information, contact Saundra Wais at sjwais@ucdavis.edu.
Hoof 'n Woof, a walk/run to benefit Josh and Friends and the Alliance for Rabies Control: Sept. 30, 10 a.m., East Picnic Grounds (Midway Pavilion), Como Park. Participants will walk with their pets. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For more information, contact Ashley Nichols, 651-808-5085 or nicho362@umn.edu.
Dean's Circle Dinner: Oct. 2, 6-9 p.m., Memorial Hall, McNamara Center
Equine Center Grand Opening: Oct. 15, 2-4:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/home.html
American College of Veterinary Surgeons Symposium: Oct. 17-21, Chicago, Illinois. For more information, go to www.acvs.org/Symposium/
Go to the Academic Health Center's calendar of events.
Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.
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