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Illinois VetNews

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IN THE AUGUST 2008 ISSUE:


MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

TrophyIt is my pleasure to announce the recipients of the 2008 alumni and special service awards given by our College and its Veterinary Medical Alumni Association. This year’s honorees have truly made a difference in public health and food safety, in veterinary education, in agriculture, and in the veterinary profession in our state, in our nation, and around the world.


There are three recipients of the Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award:


• Dr. Joseph Connor (DVM IL ’76, MS MN ‘06), owner of Carthage (Ill.) Veterinary Service;
• Dr. Stephen Sundlof (DVM IL ’80, MS IL ’76, PhD IL ‘80), director, FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition;
• Dr. John Van Vleet (DVM Cornell ’62, MS IL ’65, PhD IL ’67), professor of veterinary pathology; associate dean of students, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

The Special Service Award will be given to:


• Peter Weber (MS IL ’94), executive director, Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association

Our College and our profession are greatly enriched by the achievements of these individuals. I hope you can join me at the award presentation during our Annual Fall Conference on September 11.--Herb


NEW ON THE WEB

Fall Conference: Four Days of Fun & Learning

You already know that Fall Conference offers outstanding value in diverse and practical veterinary education. This year on September 11 and 12 brush up on oncology, ophthalmology, minimally invasive surgery, avian/small mammal surgery, equine ultrasound, production animal welfare, and four wet labs.

You can double your pleasure with outings before and after the conference that put you in touch with friends and students. On Wednesday, September 10, join us for 18 holes at the UI course, followed by dinner and prizes with veterinary students. On Saturday, September 13, celebrate with former classmates and current students before the football match up with Louisiana-Lafayette.
Register online at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/fallconf/.

Specific questions about the golf outing can be directed to advancement@vetmed.illinois.edu.

Oskee Bow Wow

Oskee Bow WowJoin us on Thursday, September 4, for a special evening for people who love pets and pets who love parties. Come help us celebrate the human-animal bond and support the Companion Animal Memorial Fund, which promotes animal health and veterinary education.

Admission is $50 if you come on two legs, $10 if you come on four.

Click here to register online or call 217-333-2761 to mark your spot. RSVP by Monday, August 25.

Download an Oskee Bow Wow poster to share!

Doorway to Services

Need to access findings from the diagnostic lab in a hurry? Wonder who the expert on blastomycosis is in the teaching hospital? Or looking for information on the DVM program, earning online CE credits, or posting a position announcement?

We’ve put all these resources at the practitioners’ fingertips on a single Web page, the new Veterinarian’s Portal. Please check it out at http://www.vetmed.illinois.edu/4dvms/.

PRRS Vaccine Advances

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the biggest disease threats plaguing U.S. pork producers today. Dr. Dongwan Yoo, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, was awarded a USDA grant in July to continue his efforts to show how the virus evades the pig's immune response and to use a genetically engineered mutant PRRS virus to create a vaccine against PRRS. Read more about Dr. Yoo's recent advances.

Surgeon Aided Virginia Bald Eagle

Dr. Avery BennettDr. R. Avery Bennett, an Illinois veterinary surgeon known internationally as the "go-to guy" when it comes to complicated surgical cases in birds and exotic animals, led a team of surgeons in a three-hour surgery to straighten the beak of a young bald eagle. The eaglet developed a golf-ball-sized mass on the left side of its beak in the first weeks of its life. The mass, caused by a severe case of avian pox, resolved after treatment but left the eaglet with a malformation of its developing beak. Read more about the eaglet.


FROM THE TEACHING HOSPITAL: Spotlight on Dr. Robert O'Brien

Dr. Robert O'Brien

Dr. Robert O'Brien, professor of veterinary clinical medicine in diagnostic imaging, has come to Illinois from Kansas State University and is continuing the whole body scanning research he began there in collaboration with researchers from Kansas State, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Helsinki.

Whole body scanning allows for improved detection of the spread of cancer and other diseases. His team has begun to create a basic model of normal imaging in felines and will then move on to create a canine model.

Dr. O'Brien's clinical and research areas include contrast ultrasound; feline cardiopulmonary imaging; and advanced CT imaging of emergency and critical care patients.

Citing the excellence of his own teachers as inspiring him to pursue a career in imaging, Dr. O'Brien "really missed teaching during his two years in private practice" and has found the Illinois students, residents and interns to be very enthusiastic.

Dr. O'Brien can be reached for imaging questions or referrals through the imaging coordinator at 217-244-2031.

Read more on Dr. Robert O'Brien

Note: Illinois VetNews features a VTH clinician or clinical coordinator each month.


RESOURCES FROM VETERINARY EXTENSION: For you & your clients

Recent Pet Columns

HorseThe Hiccupping Horse

The Flea Days of Summer

Vaccines: What Cat Owners Need to Know




Pet columns are archived on the Web where you can also subscribe to receive them by email as they are issued.

Listen to Pet Columns podcasts.

Upcoming Continuing Education Opportunities

  • Fish Medicine Short Course, November 15-16, 2008
  • Dental Wet Lab, January 9, 2009.

 


ALUMNI NEWS

Welcome to the Alumni Association!

Alma MaterDid you know that the University of Illinois Alumni Association moved to an all-inclusive membership structure in July? Now all current and former students, graduates, faculty and staff at the University are members! You will hear from the Alumni Association soon with details of the new membership plan and its benefits for you.

The Alumni Association still needs your support for the special functions, activities, and communications that keep you connected to the University. You can find out more about this new membership model and how you can be involved by visiting www.uiaa.org/urbana/membership.

Alumni, Get Connected!

Stay connected to colleagues and classmates with Always Illinois, a secure professional online community for the Urbana-Champaign campus.of the University of Illinois. Learn more about Always Illinois.


CALENDAR

View our calendar for other events.

comments or questions? contact advancement@vetmed.illinois.edu

The College of Veterinary Medicine is located at 2001 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, Ill. 61802