Two professors emeriti from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Drs. Wanda Haschek-Hock and Rex Hess, will be honored at the annual meeting of the American College of Veterinary Pathology (ACVP) at the end of next month.
ACVP, which has more than 2,000 active diplomates spanning 17 countries, is the administering body for board certification and continuing education of veterinary pathologists, specialists who work to protect and improve animal, human, and environmental health. Veterinary pathologists hold diverse roles in academia, diagnostic laboratories, industry, and governmental agencies.
Distinguished Member: Dr. Wanda Haschek-Hock
Dr. Haschek-Hock, an internationally recognized expert in toxicologic pathology, has been named a Distinguished Member. This designation, selected by majority vote of the ACVP board of directors, signifies exceptional service to the ACVP and/or to veterinary pathology. Dr. Haschek-Hock was nominated by Dr. Anne Barger, professor and head, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois.
In announcing the award, the ACVP stated, Dr. Haschek-Hock “has made highly distinguished contributions through her editorial leadership in prominent scientific journals and as editor of Haschek and Rousseaux’s Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology (now entering its fourth edition, comprising approximately 4,500 pages across five volumes).” ).” Dr. Haschek-Hock continues to inspire “colleagues and students with her unwavering dedication and impactful mentorship.”
“I have been very fortunate to spend the majority of my career at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pathobiology,” noted Dr. Haschek-Hock. “I have greatly enjoyed teaching veterinary and graduate students, performing research focused on natural toxins such as algal toxins and fumonisins, and serving the public through the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.”
Dr. Haschek-Hock completed her veterinary degree at the University of Sydney. After practicing veterinary medicine in her native Australia, she moved to the United States for a residency/PhD program in pathology at Cornell University.
During her 27 years at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, she used her expertise in pathology and toxicology to establish an outstanding training program in toxicologic pathology. As professor emerita, Dr. Haschek-Hock continues her involvement in research, teaching, and mentorship.
“Mentorship of graduate students and residents has been tremendously rewarding,” she said. “Many trainees have achieved outstanding successes in the drug development sphere as well as in academia. University of Illinois veterinary pathologists have held leadership positions in the ACVP and been the recipients of various awards.”
Dr. Haschek-Hock’s leadership within ACVP includes serving as Councillor, on the editorial board of the journal Veterinary Pathology, and on a joint task force between ACVP and the Society of Toxicologic Pathology(STP) to develop industry-academic partnerships for increasing the pathology trainee pool. She previously received the STP Lifetime Achievement Award and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology
Honorary Membership: Dr. Rex Hess
Dr. Hess, a prominent figure in veterinary pathology with particular expertise in reproductive toxicology, was awarded honorary membership in ACVP by vote of both the board of directors and the ACVP members. Recognized for extraordinary contributions to the advancement of veterinary pathology, honorary members have all privileges of membership except the right to vote or hold office and are exempt from dues payment. Dr. Hess was nominated by Dr. Wanda Haschek-Hock.
The ACVP noted that Dr. Hess’s “ongoing, distinguished work continues to shape testicular staging and the endocrine pathways regulating male reproductive development and function… His work has impacted federal regulatory process and has had an outsized influence on toxicologic pathology and safety assessment.”
“I am grateful to the college and the Department of Comparative Biosciences for permitting me, for the past 39 years, to think and collaborate freely across multiple disciplines and to integrate across numerous species,” said Dr. Hess. “The thrill of discovery never escapes me.”
Dr. Hess completed bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Missouri and a PhD at Clemson University. Before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois, he worked as a postdoctoral scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency and as a research associate at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City, and Washington University, Saint Louis.
He spent 23 years at the College of Veterinary Medicine before retiring in 2009. He continues to conduct and publish research, lecture, and mentor students. Dr. Hess has been active in the Society for the Study of Reproduction, the Endocrine Society, the Society of Toxicology, and the American Society of Andrology. He was honored with the Presidential Merit Award and Distinguished Service Award by the American Society of Andrology.
