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.
Researchers honored at annual Points of Pride Research Days event
Faculty, staff, and students flocked to Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine on March 25 and 26 for the annual Points of Pride Research Days event, which included a poster competition, seminars, and award presentations.
The recipient of the 2008 Pfizer Research Excellence Award was Michael Murtaugh, a professor in the Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences department, who presented "Solving the Problem of PRRS: Knowledge is Power." Dr. Murtaugh's research centers on infectious diseases in swine, where he has done extensive work on the molecular and cellular components of the immune response.
Chand Khanna, who completed a residency in veterinary oncology/internal medicine and Ph.D. in pathobiology at the University of Minnesota, received the Distinguished Research Alumnus Award. Dr. Khanna is now with the National Cancer Institute, where he heads the Tumor and Metastasis Biology Section in the Pediatric Oncology Branch and is director of the comparative oncology program. He presented "Improving Our Understanding of Metastasis Biology and Therapy Through a Comparative Approach" and presented awards to the poster competition winners, including:
Graduate students
Post-doctorals
Mike Olin
Poster topic: Mouse Model for the Study of Central Nervous System Tuberculosis
Mike Completed his Ph.D. in 2005 under Tom Molitor and Phil Peterson. He just accepted a postdoctoral position in pediatrics.
Summer Scholars
Aric Frantz
Poster topic: Characterization of Canine Bone Marrow-Derived Cell Lines Which Had Therapeutic Efficacy in a Canine Model of Chronic Myocardial Infarction
Aric is a second-year D.V.M. student who participated in the Summer Scholars program in 2007, working with Tim O’Brien. He has been accepted into the D.V.M./Ph.D. program and will be starting his Ph.D. work in the fall.
AVMA Council on Education votes to continue full accreditation of CVM
During its spring 2008 meeting, the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education voted to continue full accreditation of the College. The council commended the College for:
An aggressive approach to continued improvements and innovations with respect to the medical and teaching facilities
A continued effort to refine clinical competencies outcomes
Its success in acquiring externally funded training grants to enhance the opportunities for veterinary students to participate in the Summer Scholars program
The council also commended the College for "an excellent and detailed interim report."
Special offer in Veterinary Student Supply runs through today; book fair is Tuesday; Justine Lee book-signing is Thursday
Veterinary Student Supply (VSS) and Elsevier are teaming up to make you a special offer on Vet Consult titles: Order your Vet Consult title today and receive a 20 percent discount.
Don't miss the VSS book fair on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Stop by to see the latest Saunders and Mosby books and take advantage of discounts.
Dr. Justine Lee will be signing copies of her new book, It's a Dog's Life. . . but It's Your Carpet: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Four-Legged Friend at VSS on Thursday, April 3, from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Buy the book from VSS for a special price of $11.75.
Annual open house is Sunday
The College's annual open house, scheduled for Sunday, April 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include opportunities to visit the Veterinary Medical Center, The Raptor Center, and the Equine Center, learn about the veterinary education program, visit more than 40 animal and veterinary-related booths, and take part in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and exhibits, including a book-signing by Dr. Peggy Root Kustritz and more. For details, see the College's media alert.
Minnesota Board of Animal Health offers e-mail updates on bovine tuberculosis
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is creating a listserv for those who would like to receive updates on the Minnesota bovine TB investigation by e-mail. For the signup form, go to www.bah.state.mn.us/diseases/tuberculosis/tb_signup.html
MeetingMaker upgrade coming in April
AHC Information Systems will install a MeetingMaker upgrade over the weekend of April 26 and 27. When users start MeetingMaker on April 28, it will be a new version. Highlights of the upgrade:
This is likely the last MeetingMaker upgrade. All AHC units will move toUMCal (LINK) next.
There will be a new Web version to access from anywhere.
The new version uses the iCal format which is easier to synch with Palm Pilots, Blackberrys, iPhones, and UMCal.
Best Practices Institute set for May 20-21
Registration is now open for the third annual Best Practices Institute 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.
"Dr. Walsh makes a very compelling argument that the majority of the students who are in our classes and in our applicant pool are from the 'Media Generation' of 'more, easy, fast, and fun,' and that this has an impact on their attitudes and abilities, including their work ethic," she says. For more information about the Best Practices Institute and to register, go to http://www.bpinstitute.umn.edu/. All courses will be held in Moos Tower and Weaver Densford Hall on the Minneapolis campus.
Monday, March 31
New Employee Orientation
8:30 a.m.-noon
458 Veterinary Medical Center
Open Dialog with Frank B. Cerra, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences
Dr. Cerra will give a brief presentation and then open the floor to questions.
Noon-1 p.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Refreshments available.
Tuesday, April 1
Veterinary Student Supply Book Fair
Stop by to see the latest and most popular Saunders and Mosby books. Discounts from VSS prices will be offered.
9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Outside Veterinary Student Supply in the lounge area
Seminar in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences
The Language of Cryptosporidium
Presented by Mary Mauzy
Advisor: Dr. Mark Rutherford
Noon-1 p.m.
215 Veterinary Science
Clinical Rounds for First, Second, and Third-Year Veterinary Students
Noon
135 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
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.
AHC Student Lunch Meeting
A discussion with Frank Cerra, M.D., senior vice president of health sciences
12:15-1:15 p.m.
2-690 Moos Tower, Minneapolis Campus
Lunch provided
Contact: Jenny at 6-7072
The discussion will be available via audio podcast on April 2.
Discussion of It's a Dog's Life. . . but It's Your Carpet: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Four-Legged Friend
Presented by Dr. Justine Lee
4 p.m.
U Bookstores, Coffman Union
For more information or to order a signed copy of the book, visit U Bookstores. After today, the book will be available in Veterinary Student Supply.
Wednesday, April 2
Annual Plant Sale
Conducted by College of Biological sciences greehouses and phytograduate students. Blooming plants, tropical plants, herbs, carnivorous plants, succulents, and orchids available.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Commons of the St. Paul Student Center
Opportunities in International and Cultural Immersion
Noon-12:50 p.m.
215 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
Everyone is welcome to attend.
Comparative Biosciences Seminar
The Ups and Downs of Gene Expression During Prion Disease
Presented by Dr. Pamela Skinner, Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
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, April 3
Small Animal Grand Rounds
8 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Annual Plant Sale (second day)
Conducted by College of Biological sciences greehouses and phytograduate students. Blooming plants, tropical plants, herbs, carnivorous plants, succulents, and orchids available.
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Commons of the St. Paul Student Center
Book-Signing by Dr. Justine Lee
Justine will be signing copies of her book, It's a Dog's Life. . . but It's Your Carpet: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Four-Legged Friend. Buy the book from Veterinary Student Supply for a special price of $11.75.
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Veterinary Student Supply, A305 VMC (near the VMC entrance on Boyd Avenue)
Mather Lecture Series
Film Interpretation Session: Watch the Experts at Work
Presented by Dr. Kari Anderson and Dr. Laura Ziegler
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, April 4
Ph.D. Thesis Defense Seminar
Optimizations with Uncertainty in Pork Production
Presented by Stephanie Rutten-Ramos
Advisor: Dr. John Deen
8:30 a.m.
385J Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Everyone is welcome to attend.
CVM Seminar on Teaching
Writing Effective Multiple-Choice Questions
Presented by Dr. Liz Pluhar
Noon
213 Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center
Refreshments will be served.
Hill's Pet Food Distribution orders due
Sunday, April 6
CVM Open House
Includes opportunities to visit the Veterinary Medical Center, The Raptor Center, and the Equine Center, learn about the veterinary education program, visit more than 40 animal and veterinary-related booths, and take part in hands-on activities, demonstrations, and exhibits, including a book-signing by Dr. Peggy Root Kustritz and more.
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
For details, see the College's media alert.
What's ahead
AHC Office of Clincal Research Open House: April 8, 7:30-8:30 a.m., 717 Delaware St. SE, second floor, room 202. Continental breakfast 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.
Agriculture and Forestry in the Natural World: April 10, 5:30-6:30 p.m. reception, 6:30-8:30 p.m. panel discussion, Twin Cities Campus Club, Coffman Memorial Union, Minneapolis campus. Sponsored by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. For details and to RSVP, go to www.cfans.umn.edu/MNSesqui.
White Coat Ceremony: April 13, 1:30 p.m., St. Paul Student Center. Featured speakers will be Dr. Theresa Hershey, president of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, and Andrew Federer, representing the class of 2009. Faculty "coaters" for the event, chosen by the class, are Dr. Roberto Cortinas, Dr. Tom Fletcher, Dr. Roberto Novo, Dr. Juan Romano, and Dr. Leslie Sharkey. The ceremony is a joint effort of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and the College of Veterinary Medicine, with financial support provided by Hills Pet Nutrition. CVM faculty are welcome to attend.
Companion Animal Spring Conference-Digital Radiology: Is Now the Right Time for Me?: April 15, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Continuing Education and Conference Center. For details and to register, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/radiology.html
Opportunities in International and Cultural Immersion: April 16, noon-12:50 p.m., 215 Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.
AHC Office of Clincal Research Open House: April 22, 7:30-8:30 a.m., 717 Delaware St. SE, second floor, room 202. Continental breakfast 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.
Respectful Workplace Training: April 22, 9-11 a.m., 280 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. To sign up, contact Helen Pederson at 4-8673 or h-pede1@umn.edu
Hold Your Horses Seminars: April 22, 7 p.m., Hamel Community Building, Hamel, Minn. For more information, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/holdyourhorses.html
Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 23, noon-12:50 p.m. and 4:00-4:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital
Duke Lecture: Mercury Threats: Unraveling Reality, Linking with Policy, presented by Dr. Dave Evers: April 23, 7 p.m., Ben Pomeroy Student Alumni Learning Center. Open to the public.
Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 24, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital
Duke Lecture: The Toxicity of Mercury: Effects of Mercury on Wildlife, presented by Dr. Dave Evers: April 24, noon, 365 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle
Distinguished Women Scholars Award Presentation to Stephanie Valberg: April 24, 2:30-4:30 p.m., McNamara Alumni Center Memorial Hall
CVM Awards Ceremony: April 24, 6 p.m. (reception), 6:30 p.m. (awards program), North Star Ballroom, St. Paul Student Center
Hill's Pet Food Distribution: April 25, 7:00-7:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital
Minnesota Horse Expo: April 25-27, Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Includes presentations by representatives of the Equine Center and Equine Center tours on April 25 at 2:30, 4:00, and 5:30 p.m., and April 26 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. For details, go to http://www.mnhorseexpo.org/
Commencement: May 3, Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis campus. Renowned primatologist Jane Goodall will deliver the commencement address at 7 p.m. 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. Contacts: Joe Maple at jmaple@umn.edu or Peggy Dimatteo at dimat001@umn.edu.
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.
Go to the Academic Health Center's calendar of events.
Go to the University of Minnesota campus events calendar.
Robert Washabau interviewed by KARE, KSTP, WCCO, MPR, Rochester Post-Bulletin
Robert Washabau, chair of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences department, was interviewed by KARE-11, KSTP, WCCO, Minnesota Public Radio, and Rochester Post-Bulletin for a stories about chiropractic care for pets and a bill moving through the Legislature that would let chiropractors treat animals as long as they got additional training.
WCCO.com tours Equine Center
"Touring the U of M's New Equine Center" debuted on WCCO.com March 24. Check out the two-minute video at http://wcco.com/pets/new.equine.center.2.683917.html
Jeff Bender quoted on CTV, The Canadian Press
Jeff Bender, veterinary public health program director, was quoted in an article about new infection-control advice for animal visitation programs in The Canadian Press on March 25, online at http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ihQLOAWjnpZ-P2Dkg__MEHqSsiaA. He was also quoted on CTV, online at www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080326/hospital_petvisits_080326/20080326?hub=Health
Duluth News Tribune reports on moose calf testing
Duluth News Tribune reported that veterinarians at the University of Minnesota were testing a moose calf that had been acting almost tame in northeastern Minnesota for brainworm. The story is online at http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8071940
Raptors on Kent Hrbek Outdoors
A segment about The Raptor Center aired on KARE-11's Kent Hrbek Outdoors on March 30.
Frank Cerra seeks student perspective
Frank Cerra, M.D., senior vice president for health sciences, will host a student lunch meeting on Tuesday, April 1, from 12:15-1:15 p.m. in 2-690 Moos Tower on the Minneapolis campus. Lunch will be provided. Contact Jenny at 612-626-7072. The discussion will be available via audio podcast on April 2.
Nominations sought for student travel award program
The Veterinary Student Liaison Committee of the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) is seeking nominations of veterinary students for the ASLAP Veterinary Student Travel Award Program. Up to five awards of up to $1,500 may be given towards registration, travel, meals, and accomodations to attend the 2008 AALAS national meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 9-13, 2008. For more information, see the announcement.
NIH funded? Ready to publish?
After April 7, the new National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy will require researchers to submit any articles that arise from NIH Funding to NIH's PubMed Central, where articles will be freely and permanently accessible to all in order to advance science and improve health. But researchers need to make sure they do not sign away the necessary rights in the journal's author agreement. For more information, go to: http://www.lib.umn.edu/scholcom/NIHaccess.phtml.
AHC offers scientific writing development series
The Academic Health Center's Office of Clinical Research is offering a scientific writing development series consisting of 4 90-minute sessions on consecutive Mondays from April 7-28. Enrollment is limited, so interested faculty should sign up soon. For details and to register, go to www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/writing/scientificwriting/home.html
Clinical studies currently enrolling 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.
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 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 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.