FEBRUARY 2013 EDITION
FROM THE DEAN
Looking critically serves as an important catalyst for making improvements. For many months the college has been gathering information to share with the reaccreditation site team from the AVMA Council on Education. When the team of six comes in April, every aspect of our DVM program will receive a very close examination. Feedback from the previous site visit, in 2006, helped spur the college to take a close look at the curriculum. I am extremely proud of the changes that the faculty implemented over the past four years: an innovative approach to veterinary education, dubbed the Illinois Integrated Veterinary Professional Curriculum. With it, Illinois has emerged as a pacesetter in veterinary education, developing graduates who are clinically competent and adept at solving problems. Stay tuned for more information about the reaccreditation process over the coming months.
VETERINARY MEDICINE DEAN SEARCH
Nominations and applications for the position of dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine are invited. Visit the Veterinary Medicine Dean search to learn more or to read the position announcement, scoping document and a list of search committee members.
IN THE NEWS
Comparative biosciences professor Suzanne Berry-Miller, veterinary clinical medicine professor Robert O’Brien and their colleagues developed a method that enhanced cardiac function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Read the full story.
Primary care veterinarian Dr. Kandi Norrell recently donated a pet oxygen mask kit to the Gibson City Fire Department as part of Project Breathe, a cooperative effort between the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association and the Invisible Fence Brand. Read the full story and find out how you can make a donation to Project Breathe.
Wildlife Encounters, a new classroom-focused educational website created by the Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois, educates students about wildlife, natural resources, and conservation efforts by through four sets of hands-on, Internet-based lessons.
EVENTS
Walk on the Wild Side or Run Wild to Support Wildlife
Local wildlife fans can enjoy two ways support local wildlife and tomorrow's veterinarians.
Take a "Walk on the Wild Side" at this new auction and dinner event benefitting the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic. Join us on March 9 at the I Hotel & Conference Center and express your wild side with face painting from The Zoo Lady's Zoo Crew while enjoying close encounters with our resident hawks and owls. Bid on one-of-a-kind animal footprints and other art work by wild animals, including Clinic residents Nokomis, a great horned owl, and Odin, a red-tailed hawk.
R.S.V.P. by March 1. Register now :: Watch the "Walk on Walk Side" video:: Preview the auction gallery on Flickr.
Prefer to "Run Wild"? Run Homer Lake's only trail race on April 7 from 8 to 11 am and help support the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Chose either the 10-mile long course or the 6K short course. Register by March 31 for the $35 early bird rate.
> Register or learn more about "Run Wild." .
One Health & You: News You Can Use
This spring, our Center for One Health Illinois is hosting a lecture series to bring awareness to health issues with human, animal, and environmental dimensions. The goal is " to provide the general public with reliable information and to clear up misconceptions," notes Dr. John Herrmann, Center co-director and clinical professor of veterinary clinical medicine.
The series will run through May and will host talks both in Urbana and in Chicago. The next lecture, "Health Risk or Hype: Emerging Diseases You Should Care About," will be held on March 7 at the college. Find out more about this series.
ALUMNI NEWS
Dr. Robin Downing (DVM '86) and Dr. Amber Labelle, ophthalmologist at the teaching hospital were named among 25 veterinarians to watch by Veterinary Practice News. Read the full announcement.
Dr. Ronnie Elmore (DVM, '72), has received the Association of American Veterinary Medical College's 2013 Iverson Bell Recognition Award for his contributions to advancing inclusion and diversity in academic veterinary medicine. Read the full announcement.
Dr. Natalie Marks (DVM '02) of Blum Animal Hospital, Chicago, has been named the 2013 Veterinarian of the Year by Petplan Insurance.
Hollywood isn't the only place buzzing with awards talk. We're looking for the next winners of the Dr. Erwin Small Distinguished Alumni Award or Special Service Award. Nominate a colleague by April 15, 2013. Download the nomination forms and guidelines.
Alumni can now share their experiences and knowledge with current veterinary students thanks to the new Veterinary Career Partnership Program, launched by the Veterinary Medical Alumni Association. To find out how you can participate, visit go.illinois.edu/VCPP_program or email vcpp@vetmed.illinois.edu.
KUDOS
Dr. Melissa Clark, post-doc fellow in comparative biosciences, and Dr. Katherine McGovern, graduate student in veterinary clinical medicine, have been selected to represent the Mu-Chapter of the Phi Zeta at the National Phi Zeta Literary Awards Competition in mid-April. Dr. Clark's manuscript, “Molecular and histological evidence of brown adipose tissue in adult cats,” will compete in the Basic Science category. Dr. McGovern's manuscript, “The Effects of Hyperglycemia and Endotoxemia on Goagulation Parameters in Healthy Adult Horses," will compete in the Clinical/Applied Science category. They will receive their awards at the College Research Day awards presentation on April 19, 2013.
The Feline Fixation, a spay/neuter event organized by the Illinois Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians, sterilized 70 cats with the help of 35 students and Illinois faculty members Drs. Bob Weedon, Amy MacNeill, and Amy Fischer on February 17. Read the full story.
Last month veterinary student members of the Illinois Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and the Production Medicine Club (PMC) organized the Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training Program, the first program of its kind to be offered in Illinois. During the two-day training session, 150 veterinary students, clinicians, and first responders (such as firefighters) learned how to to deal with large animals involved in emergency situations, ranging from natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina to barn fires to overturned transport vehicles. Read the full story.
PET COLUMNS
WORK AT VET MED
The Department of Veterinary Medicine is seeking a full-time, 100% (12 month basis) open rank (clinical or tenure-track) assistant, associate or full professor in veterinary small animal surgery.
Learn about our residencies and other employment opportunities.
UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION
- February 23, Diagnostics for Veterinarians and Technicians: Hematology, Urbana, Ill.
- May 4, Diagnostics for Veterinarians and Technicians: Urine-Nation, Urbana, Ill.
