11-12-07

In this issue

• College news
• • Better World Project credits U of M with four academic innovations
  • MVMA seeks award nominations
  • Veterinary Medical Library news
  • Tuesday book fair to be held outside Veterinary Student Supply
  • National Center for Food Protection and Defense seminar is Nov. 19
  • Free flu shots available Nov. 28
  • Open enrollment continues through Nov. 30
• Calendar
• Media coverage
• Dr. Jaime Modiano in The Journal of Life Sciences
• Faculty and staff news
• • CVM radiologists to be involved in the ACVR Annual Scientific Meeting
  • Press release quotes Dr. Will Hueston
• Student news
• • Student Council coin war continues
• Research news
• • New clinical studies launched
• Needs a home
• • Rummy, a collie
• Links

College news (top)

Better World Project credits U of M with four top academic innovations
The Association of University Technology Managers' 2007 Better World Project credits the University of Minnesota with 4 of the world's top 100 academic innovations with real-world applications -- 2 of which are from research at the College of Veterinary Medicine: relieving an age-old equine metabolic disorder (Drs. Stephanie Valberg and Jim Mickelson), and combating swine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (Drs. Jim Collins, Vivek Kapur, and Mike Murtaugh). The other two accomplishements were treating HIV and fighting parasitic infection in the developing world. U of M President Robert H. Bruininks highlights these accomplishments in the upcoming issue of Your Business Partner, a publication of the Office of the Vice President for Research.

MVMA seeks award nominations
The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association is seeking nominations from members for awards to be presented at the annual meeting at the Minneapolis Hilton Feb. 7-9. The awards are:

• Veterinarian of the Year
• Distinguished Service Award
• Outstanding Faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine
• Outstanding Industry Representative
• Veterinary Service Award

Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 1. For more information and a nomination form, go to http://www.mvma.org/members/2008NominationForm.pdf

Veterinary Medical Library news

• Open house draws nearly 200; many prize winners
  Nearly 200 faculty, staff, and students attended the Veterinary Medical Library's first open house on Oct. 30. Many were prize winners. If you received an e-mail saying you were a winner, don't forget to visit the library to pick up your prize.
• The library's October acquisitions can be seen here:  http://www.vetmed.lib.umn.edu/news/acquisitions

Tuesday book fair to be held outside Veterinary Student Supply
The book fair scheduled for Tuesday from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. will now be held in the lobby outside of Veterinary Student Supply. Special promotions and discounts on many Elsevier (Saunders and Mosby) titles will be offered.

National Center for Food Protection and Defense seminar is Nov. 19
The National Center for Food Protection and Defense Fall Seminar will be held Monday, November 19, from 3:30-4:45 p.m. in the Cargill Building Seminar Room (105). The topic: "Best Practices for Defense Against Terrorism: What Consumers Expect and Food Companies Do."

Food manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers have approached their preparation for dealing with a potential terrorist attack on food and facilities with various degrees of intensity. A benchmarking survey and subsequent diagnostic tool discovered the strengths and weaknesses in potential resilience to such an attack. Consumers also have various degrees of fear and expectations about deliberate attacks on the food system. Three national surveys tracking their attitudes and expectations about protection by government and the private sector reveal dramatic changes in confidence in our food supply.

Refreshments will be served before the seminar. For more information, go to http://www.ncfpd.umn.edu/

Free flu shots available Nov. 28
A free walk-in flu shot clinic will be offered for University of Minnesota students, employees, and their dependents 18 years of age or older on Nov. 28 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine building lobby. The clinics are sponsored by Employee Benefits, School of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy. For more information, contact Julia Sanem at jsanem@bhs.umn.edu

Open enrollment continues through Nov. 30
Open enrollment -- the month-long period during which you can make changes in your health plan coverage -- continues through Nov. 30. Options this year include selecting different medical and dental plans, adding or canceling medical or dental coverage, adding or canceling dependent coverage, adding $25,000 of additional employee life insurance without evidence of insurability, and adding or increasing the amount of long-term disability insurance. If you want to participate in the health care or dependent day care flexible spending accounts in 2008 or make other benefit changes, you must make your choice on the Employee Self-Service Web site by Nov. 30. See Open Enrollment, which includes a narrated presentation. Call the Employee Benefits Service Center at 612-624-9090 or 1-800-756-2363 if you have specific questions about open enrollment.

Calendar (top)

Monday, November 12

American College of Veterinary Pathologists Annual Meeting
Underway--continues through Wednesday
Savannah, Georgia
For more information, go to http://www.acvp.org/meeting/

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

Environmental Roundtable: Biofuels and Environmental Quality
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
105 Cargill Building for Microbial and Plant Genomics
Attend online via UMConnect at https://umconnect.umn.edu/ione111207/ 
For details, go to http://environment.umn.edu/events/roundtables.html

VMED 5190 Graduate Seminar

• Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy: Overview and Advancements
  Presented by Lisa Borgia
• Murine Model for Tubercular Meningitis
  Presented by Deepti Joshi

3-4 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science
Contact: Dr. Sandra Godden, godde002@umn.edu or 612-625-8177
Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Tuesday, November 13

VMC Update Meeting
The agenda will include a discussion of the strategic plan by Dr. David Lee, VMC director, a project update by Pat Berzins, director of operations, and a look at the vision and budget for the VMC by Dr. Trevor Ames, interim dean.
7:30-8:30 a.m.
135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Student Supply Book Fair
Special promotions and discounts on many Elsevier (Saunders and Mosby) titles
9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Lobby outside Veterinary Student Supply

Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
Research Rotation Presentations
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science
Everyone is welcome to attend.

Master's Thesis Defense Seminar
Use of a Wireless System to Measure Invasive Arterial Blood Pressure During General Anesthesia in Ponies
Presented by Carolina Ricco
1 p.m.
280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Wednesday, November 14

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

Comparative Biosciences Seminar
Programmed Cell Death: Not Just for Eukaryotes Anymore
Presented by Dr. Kenneth W. Bayles, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska
Sponsored by the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department
3 p.m.
125 Animal Science Veterinary Medicine
Contact: Jaclyn Barnes at barne063@umn.edu or 612-624-2700

Thursday, Nov. 15

Small Animal Grand Rounds
The Multiple Manifestations of Clinical Teaching
Presented by Dr. Robert Washabau
8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

Hill's Pet Food Distribution
Noon-12:50 and 4-4:50 p.m.
Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Friday, Nov. 16

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

CVM Seminar on Teaching
Use and Abuse of Powerpoint
Presented by Bill Rozeitis
Sponsored by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Noon
Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center

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

Saturday, Nov. 17

TPLO Surgery and Interlocking Nail Fracture Fixation Workshops
Starts today; continues through tomorrow
213 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/tplo.html or call Veterinary Continuing Education at 612-624-3434.

What's ahead

National Center for Food Protection and Defense Fall 2007 Seminar: Nov. 19, 3:30-4:45 p.m., Cargill Building Seminar Room (105). For details, go to http://www.ncfpd.umn.edu/

Thanksgiving holiday: Nov. 22-23. University offices closed; no classes

CVM Seminar on Teaching: Assessment: Writing Test Questions, presented by Dr. Elizabeth Pluhar: Nov. 30, noon, Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Sponsored by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

A Global Perspective on the Concept of One Health, presented by Dr. David Sherman: Nov. 30, noon-1 p.m., 215 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Using animal agriculture as the basis for discussion, Dr. Sherman will explore the relationship of animal, human, and environmental health and the value of a one-health approach to global well-being.

Hill's Pet Food Orders Due: Nov. 30. To order food, to to  https://www.summationdata.com/hpn. 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.

CVM Seminar on Teaching: Connecting the Curriculum: Integrating the Basic Science and Clinical Curriculum, presented by Dr. Robert Washabau: Dec. 7, noon, Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Sponsored by the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.

Monthly Clinical Rounds: Dec. 10, noon-1 p.m., 135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine

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

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: Dec. 13, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital

Hill's Pet Food Distribution: Dec. 14, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner 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 coverage (top)

Journal quotes Dr. Jaime Modiano
Dr. Jaime Modiano was quoted in an article about studying the dog genome in the October issue of The Journal of Life Sciences.

Faculty and staff news (top)

CVM radiologists to be involved in ACVR Annual Scientific Meeting
Several CVM radiologists will be involved in the American College of Veterinary Radiologists Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago Nov. 26-Dec. 1. Dr. Kari Anderson is this year's program chair, and Dr. Dan Feeney is the coordinator of and a presenter at the ACVR resident review session, where he will present a lecture on acute abdomen and collapse. Dr. Laura Crews will present an abstract, "Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Gall Bladder Disease," and Dr. Travis Saveraid will present "Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Stifle in Anesthetized Horses."

Press release quotes Dr. Will Hueston
Dr. Will Hueston, director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, was quoted in a press release about a conference organized by the World Bank and the World Organisation for Animal Health in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., Oct. 9-11. The press release is online at www.oie.int/fr/OIE-WB_Conference_1007/fr_Global_Animal_Health_Initiative.htm

Student news (top)

Student Council coin war continues
The Student Council's "coin war" to raise money for Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS) continues through Nov. 21. Coin buckets are located outside 125/135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine during the lunch hour and in Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center and the VMC Pharmacy at other times of the day. Each class, as well as faculty and staff, have a team bucket to put change into. In the coine war, pennies count as postive funds and should be put into your own team's bucket, while silver coins and bills count as negative funds and should go into other teams' buckets. All funds will go to RAVS. For more information, contact Allison Schnurrer at schn0515@umn.edu.

Research news (top)

New clinical studies launched
Several new clinical studies are seeking dogs, including:

• Dogs admitted to the VMC ER for seizures. Seeking dogs admitted for cluster seizures or any prolonged seizure for a clinical trial of Levitiracetam (drug would be added to standard-of-care protocol). Contact Dr. Ned Patterson at 612-625-5799 or patte037@umn.edu.
• Purebred Great Danes with and without osteochondrosis. Study is collecting blood samples for DNA analysis; seeking 100 Great Danes affected and 100 unaffected with osteochondrosis. Principal investigator: Dr. Vicki Wilke. Contact Alexa Hart at 612-624-5695 or hart0318@umn.edu.
• Purebred Newfoundlands with or without cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). Need dogs under 2 years old with CCLR and over 8 years old without CCLR to provide blood samples for DNA analysis. Principal investigator: Dr. Vicki Wilke. Contact Alexa Hart, 612-624-5695 or hart0318@umn.edu.
• Six dogs with follicular thyroid carcinoma. Dogs with invasive or non-invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma are needed for a study of gene expression. Dogs will receive standard of care plus a biopsy of the thyroid tissue. Principal investigator: Dr. Vicki Wilke. Contact Alexa Hart at 612-624-5695 or hart0318@umn.edu

For a complete 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)

Rummy, a collie
Rummy, a 5-year-old male collie, needs a new home because his owners are moving and can't take him with them. Rummy is a good-natured dog, great with kids, cats, and other dogs, but he needs to be neutered. Contact Kristi Miller at kristi.miller@heart.org

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.

Hills pet food distribution program
Food ordering is now done online through the Hills online ordering system at https://www.summationdata.com/hpn. 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.

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 atnbsp;               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.