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News from the College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois 3225 Vet. Med. Basic Sciences Bldg. 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. Urbana, IL 61802 |
May 4, 2009 Release on |
| Contact: |
Chris Beuoy 217/244-1562 beuoy@illinois.edu |
Decatur Woman Sustains Veterinary Dentistry Program with Large Bequest
Thirty years ago, the late Janet Mertz, of Decatur, Ill., was told that there were only two veterinary dentists in the world who could provide appropriate treatment for the serious dental condition suffered by her dog, Sheba.Janet Mertz immediately made arrangements to have Sheba flown to Texas. After her dog returned, Janet Mertz decided that the University of Illinois should be able to provide dental services for animals and offer instruction in veterinary dentistry for future veterinarians. In 1981 she established a veterinary dental service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Through her continued support, the program has grown into one of the most active and productive veterinary dental programs in the world.
On May 1, the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine accepted a check for $400,000 from the estate of Janet Mertz, who designated this gift in honor of the service Dr. Sandra Manfra Marretta has provided as long-time director of the dental program.
"I am deeply grateful to Janet for her vision, compassion and generosity to veterinary dentistry," said Dr. Manfra Marretta, who regularly visited Miss Mertz at her Decatur home. "Her friendship and her passionate commitment to her ideals will be truly missed."
Dr. Manfra, a professor of surgery at the University of Illinois since 1990, was a founding member of the American Veterinary Dental College. Her dental patients have included not only dogs and cats, but horses, cows, swine, wolves, leopards, lions, and other big cats. She has been able to treat animals at the Brookfield Zoo, near Chicago, Ill., and the Exotic Feline Rescue Center in Center Point, Ind., thanks to financial assistance from Janet Mertz.
Thousands more animals receive dental care from the 13 veterinarians who have earned board certification as veterinary dentists by training at the program Janet Mertz began. Of these three head training programs at other veterinary colleges. In addition, thousands of veterinary students have learned dental techniques at Illinois, and students at 23 other veterinary colleges worldwide have received dental training through an online education program.
The estate of Janet Mertz was administered by Busey Wealth Management of Decatur. Additional gifts were designated in support of Decatur's Millikin University and St. Mary's Hospital, in memory of Janet Mertz's father, Dr. Albert A. Mertz.
The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is the only veterinary college in the state and one of only 28 in the nation. Of these only eight have dentistry programs headed by a board certified veterinary dentist