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New Labs Strengthen Research Leadership
College Acknowledges SponsorsThe College of Veterinary Medicine acknowledges its sponsors for the support of these alumni and student events: Alumni receptions at the North American Veterinary Conference and the Western States Veterinary Conference; Student Applicant Interview and Recruitment Program; Open House; White Coat Ceremony; Awards and Scholarships Ceremony reception; Senior Student Farewell; and Commencement reception.
Platinum Sponsors:
College of Veterinary Medicine Achievement Fund
Elanco Animal Health
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.
Hill’s Student Feeding Committee
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
VCA Animal HospitalsGold Sponsors:
Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association
Merial
Pfizer Animal HealthSilver Sponsors:
Banfield, The Pet Hospital
Novartis Animal Health
University of Illinois Veterinary Medical Alumni AssociationBronze Sponsor:
Chicago Veterinary Medical Association
Eastern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association
Kankakee Valley Veterinary Medical Association
Northern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association
New Labs Strengthen Research Leadership
On November 1, the College dedicated 14,700 square feet of new biomedical laboratory space on the second and third floors of the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building with a symposium entitled “Expanding Biomedical Research.”
The $3.6 million construction of the laboratories, funded primarily by the National Institutes of Health, strengthens the college’s position as a leader in human and animal biomedical research.
Thomas Silhavy, Warner-Lambert Parke-Davis Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, and Asgerally Fazleabas, professor of physiology and director of the Center for Women’s Health & Reproduction in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois-Chicago, gave presentations.
A brief dedication ceremony and tours of the new space followed the symposium.
Among the faculty occupying the new laboratory space are:
Indrani Bagchi, who studies the molecular basis of steroid hormone regulation of embryo implantation;
Paul Cooke, who investigates the role of steroid hormones in the differentiation, growth, and morphogenesis of male and female reproductive organs;
Lois Hoyer (shown above talking with Humphrey Yao, of veterinary biosciences), who explores the mechanisms of pathogenesis in Candida albicans;
Uriel D. Kitron, who looks at the ecology and epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, particularly those carried by insects and ticks; and
Jianyong Li, who investigates biochemistry and molecular regulation in mosquitoes.
When the Veterinary Medicine Basic Sciences Building was built in 1983, about one-fourth of the usable floor space was left unfinished, awaiting additional funds to create laboratory and animal facilities. With the completion of these laboratories, the building is fully occupied.
Research is a key activity of the College, with areas of scholarly focus on comparative cardiovascular sciences, conservation medicine, environmental toxicology, infectious diseases and biosecurity, molecular pharmacology and endocrinology, cancer biology, orthopedic biology, and reproductive biology.
Leader for Pathobiology Department Sought
The College has issued a call for applications for an outstanding individual to serve as head of the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology. Candidates must have a strong record of leadership, a clear vision of the future of veterinary medicine, and a desire to lead a diverse, dynamic community of veterinarians and biomedical researchers into that future. Preference will be given to candidates with DVM or MD and/or PhD degrees. Candidates must possess a strong professional record compatible with appointment as professor with tenure.
See the full announcement online at http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/vphead/.
On February 7, Dean Herb Whiteley (at left) and veterinary students Caroline Tonozzi, Class of 2004, and Tom Satkus III, Class of 2006 (at right) were guests on Pet Central, a show hosted by Steve Dale (center) on Chicago’s WGN Radio. Also featured on this discussion about veterinary education was Kate Lesciotto, a prospective veterinary student.
The College calendar was crowded in April. In addition to the annual Open House on April 3 and the veterinary student awards program on April 17 (see story next issue), the following successful events took place:
Seventh Annual New & Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Conference, April 15 & 16
Third Annual Doodle for Wildlife Fund-raising Auction, April 17
Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: The Cruel Connection, April 24
The Intensive Toxicology Short Course: Common Small Animal Toxicoses, held March 25 and 26, and the Phi Zeta Honor Society Research Day, on April 26, and Awards Banquet, on May 1, provided bookends to a busy period!
6th Biennial Short Course on Industrial Toxicology and Pathology July 18-21, 2004, Chicago
Under the direction of Dr. Wanda Haschek-Hock (whaschek@uiuc.edu) this course addresses global issues in the rapidly advancing fields of toxicology and pathology associated with product development. It is designed to enhance attendees’ skills in interpreting animal safety studies and to facilitate interactions with federal and international regulatory agencies.
For more information, see http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/itp/ or call 217/333-2907.
Pfizer Gift Advances Clinical Pain Research
With a gift of more than $650,000 from Pfizer Animal Health, several faculty members in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine have begun pain-related research projects in recent months.The funding was sought and coordinated through the newly organized Veterinary Interdisciplinary Pain Service (VIPS) program, led by anesthesiologists Drs. William Tranquilli and Kurt Grimm. Through this program, pain management efforts are integrated into patient care throughout the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
"These projects really get to the heart of the VIPS program, which brings together experts across specialties to deal with pain,” says Dr. Tranquilli.
Funds from the Pfizer gift have been allocated to the following research projects and faculty members.
Sedation and pain management: Jennifer Grimm, radiology, and Louis Philippe de Lorimier, oncology, $12,000
Pain management and clinical pharmacology: Kurt Grimm, anesthesiology, and Steve Marks, internal medicine, $170,000
Rehabilitation and pain management: Dianne Dunning, Greg Marsolais, surgeons, and Kim Knap, rehabilitation, $132,000
Cancer therapy and pain management: Sarah Charney, Tim Fan, Louis Philippe de Lorimier, oncology, and Anne Barger, clinical pathology, $170,000
Skin allergy: John Angus, dermatology, $20,000
Eye surgery and pain management: Paul Gerding, Tomas Martin, and Amity Huskey, ophthalmology, $22,000
Oral cancer therapy and pain management: Tim Fan, Sarah Charney, Louis Philippe de Lorimier, Lorin Hillman, oncology, and Sandra Manfra, dentistry, $133,800.
The first step in a comprehensive review of the veterinary curriculum undertaken by the College Courses and Curriculum Committee took place on May 18 and 19. A process called “concept mapping” was used to define the skills, knowledge, aptitudes, and attitudes DVM graduates should possess. Participants in the initial process included veterinary employers, veterinary students, College faculty, staff, and members of the public. In the fall, the next step will take place.
In April the College hosted the inaugural meeting of the Family Advisory Committee, a group of 14 parents of current or former DVM students that will assist the College in finding ways to enhance the veterinary student experience. Primarily, these parents will help bring about novel educational opportunities by opening doors in areas the College has not yet made contacts. Expected outcomes include opportunities to work and learn in new contexts over summers as well as expanded funding sources for student programs. If you have an interest in the work of this committee or want to help students through a scholarship, please write to Dean Herbert Whiteley at dean@cvm.uiuc.edu.
A $44,446 grant from PETsMART Charities to the Champaign County Humane Society will support a collaborative spay/neuter program between the humane society and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The program will increase both the number of surgeries students perform and their exposure to the unique challenges of shelter medicine.
An up-to-date source of job, internship, externship, and career information for current and prospective DVM students, called the Veterinary Career Resource Center, is now available online at www.vcrcillinois.org. Employers may list position openings for free. Illinois students have created this interactive Web site with funding from the Schnurmacher Foundation.
On March 25, the College hosted a group of students from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Facilitating the visit by organizing tours, hands-on case studies, and career information were members of the newly formed Veterinary Student Outreach Program. VSOP was created by Illinois veterinary students to share their knowledge and excitement about their profession through educational programs for school groups, undergraduates, alumni, and others. See http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/asa/vsop/ for more information.
Fall Conference 2004 Speakers Announced
An exciting line-up of keynote speakers and topics are slated for the 85th Annual Fall Conference for Veterinarians on October 14 and 15.
Dr. Nigel Cook, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, on cow comfort and its relationship to lameness and mastitis; sponsor: the Class of 1962 Endowment Fund.
Dr. Richard Ford, professor of internal medicine at North Carolina State University, on current vaccine debates and on infectious and zoonotic diseases; sponsor: Merial.
Karyn Gavzer, certified veterinary practice manager and business consultant, on compliance in veterinary practice and profitable pricing; sponsor: Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Dr. Bill Hollis, swine veterinary consultant with Carthage Veterinary Service, Carthage, Ill., on management tools for disease control; sponsor: the Dr. LeRoy Biehl Endowment Fund.
Dr. Karl Salzsieder, consultant veterinarian and attorney with Salzsieder Consulting and Legal Service in Kelso, Wash., on medical metrics and liability issues; sponsor: Veterinary Pet Insurance.
Make your reservations today. Conference hotels are listed on the Web at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/fallconf/. A full program listing will be mailed and posted to the Web in August.