U.S. Rep. Tim Walz visits campus, meets with Dr. Trevor Ames
Legislature passes higher education funding bill
College moves up in U.S. News & World Report rankings
Pets to be memorialized at Nestle Purina Memories Garden ceremony
Personnel respond quickly to waste water backup in Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Spotlight on Research Animal Resources
Veterinary Student Supply summer hours in force
Welcome to the College
Drew Bickford publishes article in Veterinary Technician
Humane Society seeks summer help
Normal dogs aged 7-12 needed for study
Clinical studies currently enrolling in the VMC
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz visits campus, meets with Dr. Trevor Ames and others
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz visited the University of Minnesota on June 1, meeting with a variety of individuals to discuss agricultural research and its partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the State of Minnesota, and the University. Dr. Trevor Ames, who will become interim dean of the College on June 18, had lunch with the congressman along with Bev Durgan, dean and director of the U of M Extension Service, Al Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and Soybean Growers Association members Rob Hanks, Jim Palmer, and Bob Worth. The congressman toured and talked with a number of faculty in the area of soybean research, renewable energy, and applied economics.
Legislature passes higher education funding bill
On May 21, the final day of the 2007 session, the Minnesota State Legislature passed a higher education spending bill to provide an increase in funding of $149.6 million for the University of Minnesota for the 2008-09 biennium. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both bodies -- by a vote of 65-0 in the Senate and 127-7 in the House. Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the bill on May 30. The College extends a special thanks to those who spread the word about the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory's $3.5 million request, which was a part of the overall funding request.
College moves up in U.S. News & World Report rankings
The University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine moved from 11th to 10th in U.S. News & World Report's 2008 rankings. The magazine's rankings of health programs are the result of assessments by program directors and faculty. They are compiled every four years.
Pets to be memorialized at Nestlé Purina Memories Garden ceremony
Newly merged Humane Society will be honored
On Tuesday, the College will pay special tribute to the newly merged Humane Society at the annual Nestlé Purina Memories Garden ceremony. In addition to this special tribute, clients and friends of the college will dedicate 21 new bricks that have been permanently placed in the garden in memory of their companion animals. For details about the event, see the College's news release.
Hill's College Feeding Program ordering system now online
The Hill's College Feeding Program's online ordering system is now available at www.summationdata.com/hpn/Login.aspx and accepting orders for July distribution. A few reminders from Jaime Nett, the program's co-coordinator:
Personnel respond quickly to waste water backup in Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
On May 21, a waste water backup from the drainage system of the animal holding area on the second floor of the Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine building flowed through the ceiling into two of the research laboratories on the first floor (rooms 164 and 168). The water leaked onto laboratory benches and caused damage to equipment and supplies. Laboratory personnel were evacuated for the day from room 164 during cleanup efforts.
The water leak was caught quickly, and Facilities Management responded immediately to ascertain cleanup needs in consultation with Darlene Charboneau, an environmental health and safety specialist with the University of Minnesota Department of Environmental Health and Safety. Damaged equipment and supplies were removed from the laboratory for disposal, cleaning, and evaluation, and an external waste mitigation firm was brought in to decontaminate the affected area.
Facilities Management is investigating the cause of the backup and working with Research Animal Resources (RAR) to determine changes to the drainage system and cleaning processes to prevent the problem in the future. Laboratory safety protocols were followed by laboratory and Facilities Management staff, and it is believed that there is no health risk to these employees. RAR staff veterinarian Dr. Marcia Brower has indicated that the animals in the animal holding area are healthy. Areas other than rooms 164 and 168 were not exposed to any hazardous substances.
An insurance claim will be filed to recover cost for lost equipment, supplies, and time. Any questions about the incident should be referred to Ed Kosciolek, facilities manager, at 612-625-1960 or ejkadm@umn.edu.
Spotlight on Research Animal Resources (RAR)
Providing for the care, health, and well-being of animals used in research and education
Mission: Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides for the care, health, and well-being of animals used for research and education at the College, administers to the animal-related needs of College researchers and educators through dissemination of knowledge and resources, and serves the public by ensuring observance of all legal and ethical standards pertaining to the use of animals for research and education at the College.
Key Research Animal Resources staff
St. Paul Campus RAR veterinarian, all facilities: Dr. Marcy Brower, browe006@umn.edu, 625-1982, pager 612-589-9174
St. Paul Campus RAR manager, all facilities: Mr. Les Westendorp, weste006@umn.edu, 625-5794, pager 612-386-1548
St. Paul Campus RAR supervisor, small animal facilities: Mr. Craig Atkinson, atkin006@umn.edu, 625-5259, pager 612-589-9175
St. Paul Campus RAR supervisor, large animal facilities: Mr. Ed Craig, craig006@umn.edu, 624-7768, pager 612-589-6416
RAR veterinarian on-call emergency pager (weeknights, weekends, holidays): 612-899-6285
RAR director: Dr. Cynthia Gillett, gille002@umn.edu, 624-4625
For management issues, Dr. Gillett reports to Mark Paller, assistant vice president for research at the Academic Health Center. For Regulatory and Compliance issues, she reports to the institutional official for animal care and use, Richard Bianco.
Veterinary Student Supply summer hours in force
Veterinary Student Supply (VSS) is now open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. and by appointment, with the following exceptions:
VSS will be closed June 25, 26, and 27
VSS will be closed July 4
For an appointment, call 612-624-1702 or e-mail vssvth@umn.edu.
Monday, June 4
New Employee Orientation
8:30 a.m.-noon
458 Veterinary Medical Center
Tuesday, June 5
Staff Appreciation Day Awards program
11:30 a.m.
125 Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine
Staff Appreciation Day Luncheon
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Animal Science/Veterinary Medicine Lobby
Nestle Purina Memories Garden Ceremony
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Nestle Purina Memories Garden
Wednesday, June 6
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum
Starts today and continues through Saturday
Seattle, Washington
For more information, go to http://www.acvim.org/
Civil Service and Bargain Unit Staff Day
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
South Area at Carter and Eckles Avenues
Lunch: beef or veggie burger, chips, fruit, cookie, beverage
To claim a gift and be eligible for a raffle, present the card you received via campus mail.
Contact: Mary, 612-626-9462
Friday, June 8
College-wide Personal and Professional Development Time
Noon-1 p.m.
What's ahead
Retirement Party for Ed Kosciolek: June 12, 1 p.m., Hayloft (Ben Pomeroy Student-Alumni Learning Center)
Hill's Pet Food Distribution: June 14, 7:30-9:30 a.m. and noon-4 p.m., Gortner Avenue dock, Large Animal Hospital
MVMA Summer Seminar -- Practical Small Animal Anesthesia with Dr. Bruno Pypendop: June 14, Continuing Education and Conference Center. For more information, go to http://www.mvma.org/SummerSeminar07.asp or contact the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association at 651-645-7533 or info@mvma.org.
Farewell Reception for Dean Jeff Klausner: June 21, 3:30-6 p.m., Cargill Building, 1500 Gortner Avenue
Minnesota Equine Dental Symposia (MEDS) 1-Fundamentals of Equine Dentistry: June 22-24. For details, go to www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/meds/meds1.html.
Independence Day holiday: July 4
Hill's Pet Food Orders due: July 6. Go to www.summationdata.com/hpn/Login.aspx
Molecular Biotechnology Workshop: July 9-13. For information, go to
http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/mbtw-45e4451b44b0c.html
This workshop is also available for graduate student registration as CMB 5335, Molecular Biotechnology Laboratory for the Novice. For information on this course, go to http://www.cvm.umn.edu/researchandgradprog/gradprog/cmb/courses/home.html.
Dr. Petra Mertens explained why dog bites occur and how to prevent them on the University of Minnesota Moment radio feature on May 29. Listen to the feature at http://blog.lib.umn.edu/urelate/radio/dog-bites.mp3
On May 24, Jackie Fallon, coordinator for the Midwest Peregrine Falcon Restoration Project and a volunteer at The Raptor Center, appeared with one of TRC’s education peregrine falcons on KARE 11 and FOX 9 to promote peregrine falcon banding events. Dr. Julia Ponder, executive director, was interviewed by MNN radio on May 25.
Welcome to the College
Welcome to the following new employees who joined the College in May:
The Raptor Center
Gail Marie Buhl, education director
Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Lauren Ann Neils, junior scientist
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Michael Araya Etbarekh, principal accounts specialist
Kelly Marie-Strande Whitstone, junior scientist
Veterinary Medical Center
Mechelle R. Kelly, principal office and administrative specialist
Veterinary Population Medicine
Alejandrina Da Silva De Pita, post-doctoral associate
Michael Gerard O'Sullivan, clinical specialist
CVM Communications welcomed a new intern, Jenna Kromann.
Drew Bickford publishes article in Veterinary Technician
Drew Bickford, senior veterinary technician, had an article published in the “Case Report” section of the May 2007 issue of Veterinary Technician magazine. The article described the treatment of the wing fracture in California condor #350 at The Raptor Center in November 2005.
Humane Society seeks summer help
The Animal Humane Society in Coon Rapids is looking for two veterinary students or technicians to work full time this summer through August or September. For more information, call the facility directly at 763-862-4030.
Normal dogs aged 7-12 needed for study
The Clinical Investigation Center announced a need for normal dogs between the ages of 7 and 12 for a study being conducted by Dr. Leslie Sharkey and Dr. Inese Berzina. The study involves exam, blood pressure, one blood sample, and follow-up calls for a year. The dogs need to have a normal medical history, not be on medications or supplements (except heartworm preventive), have a normal physical exam and serum creatinine level. Contact Dr. Leslie Sharkey at shark009@umn.edu or 612-624-6171 and Inese Berzina at berzi008@umn.edu or 612-626-5322.
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.
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 Katie Cartledge, cart0333@umn.edu, Jaime Nett, nett0049@umn.edu, or Alisha Leonard, 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 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.