MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Your College is entering a critical phase of challenge and opportunity. We have much to celebrate: in early 2009, we will open the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine. We are also preparing a revolutionary new veterinary curriculum. Both these initiatives bring unprecedented opportunity for recognition and reward for our College. I invite you to read an overview of College achievements in the past year and join me in congratulating our dedicated faculty, staff, and students on their efforts.

I extend my gratitude to alumni and friends who have supported our mission. As state dollars for higher education continue to dwindle, your gifts allow us to continue to provide teaching, research, and service with relevance for our society. With the dedication and support of our extended College family, we look forward to everything the future holds. –Herb

P.S. To find out more about our initiatives, attend our reception this Saturday, November 8, at the ISVMA convention in Lombard, Ill., or email me at dean@vetmed.illinois.edu

NEW ON THE WEB

• Hospital Receives AAHA Re-Accreditation
• College Experts at November Horse Expo

SPOTLIGHT ON THE TEACHING HOSPITAL

Dr. Pamela Wilkins, new head of the equine section, says she was attracted to the position by the vibrant young equine faculty and the College's demonstrated commitment to building a strong equine program.  After earning bachelor's, DVM, master's, and PhD (in cardiovascular studies) degrees all from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Dr Wilkins spent 11 years at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. There she started the equine emergency and critical care academic section in 2002, serving as its chief until joining the Illinois equine program. She is double boarded in internal medicine and emergency and critical care. Her areas of research interest range from the care of the critically ill foal to lactate concentrations and bacterial blood cultures as indicators of disease severity and prognosis to cardiorespiratory disease of horses of all ages. Read more about Dr. Wilkins.

RECENT PET COLUMNS

• Keeping Your Geriatric Cat Healthy
• Old, But Not Ready to Retire
• Caring for the Canine Senior Citizen
• Clinical Trials Offer Hope for the Future

  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

• Canine Dentistry Laboratory , January 9, 2009, University of Illinois-Chicago. http://vetmed.illinois.edu/dentistry/

• Fish Medicine, January 10-11, 2009, University of Illinois-Chicago. http://vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/fish/

• Horseman’s Clinic, February 7, 2009, http://vetmed.illinois.edu/ope/horseclinic/

• Small Animal Toxicology Short Course, March 26-27, 2009. E-mail ope@vetmed.illinois.edu for additional information.

ALUMNI NEWS