UC Davis Vet School Dean To RetireOctober 1, 2010 The University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine reported today that Bennie Osburn, DVM, Ph.D., will retire as dean in the summer of 2011, a position he has held for 14 years. A national search for his successor will begin within the next few months, according to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Enrique Lavernia. “Dean Osburn’s accomplishments and his vision for veterinary medicine and education reach far beyond U.C. Davis,” Lavernia said. “He is one of the longest-serving veterinary school deans in the nation and has been a tireless advocate for the profession and for veterinary education, as well as an outstanding colleague. “California and the nation have benefited from his steady leadership and his resolute commitment to effecting positive change for the school in everything from facilities to research support to curriculum.” Osburn addressed faculty, staff and students this week. “It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as dean,” he said. “Leading this school has been one of the most rewarding challenges I have ever experienced, and together we have accomplished a great deal in a short amount of time.”
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Do you own a spleen?October 1, 2010BY PHIL ZELTZMAN, DVM, DACVS, CERTIFIED FEAR FREE Dr. M. is a funny woman. When she interviews potential technicians, she knows not to ask illegal questions, such as marital status, ethnic origin and age. Yet without blinking an eye, she asks possible hires if they have a spleen. This was so intriguing to me that of course I had to investigate. Our colleague explained: "I read once in a human morbidity and mortality review that if you do not have your spleen and you are bitten by a dog, the bite has the potential to be fatal. There have been reports of deaths in spleen-less people because of the organ's role in our immunity. Since I've read this article, I thought I should make sure any potential technician does own a spleen." Indeed, an old JAVMA article* describes dysgonic fermenter-2 infections. Since then, the "fastidious, gram-negative, opportunistic" bacterium was renamed Capnocytophaga canimorsus. More recently, Scott Weese, DVM, DACVIM, has written about this topic in his excellent blog (wormsandgermsblog.com). His is an associate professor in the Department of Pathobiology at the University of Guelph, Ontario. Simply said, our internist has become an infectious disease specialist. Here how …
Vet Student Scholarship Applications Available Oct. 1September 30, 2010 Veterinary students are being invited to apply for the second annual Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, made possible by a partnership between the American Veterinary Medical Foundation and Pfizer Animal Health of New York. Applications will be accepted from Oct. 1 to Nov. 15. Pfizer Animal Health will provide up to $625,000 in student scholarships—about 250 scholarships of $2,500 each—to eligible second- and third-year veterinary medicine students studying at the U.S. and Caribbean-based AVMA-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. In addition to traditional selection criteria such as academic excellence and financial need, the scholarships will focus on meeting ongoing needs of the veterinary profession: diversity, sustainability and the availability of veterinarians to serve in mixed or rural practices. Scholarships will be awarded to students in all areas, including food animal medicine, small animal clinical medicine, research, government services and organized medicine. Last year’s program awarded 222 veterinary students with a total of $555,000 in scholarships. To apply, visit www.avmf.org/pfizer.
U Of Florida Plans Grand Opening For Small Animal HospitalSeptember 28, 2010 The University of Florida will be hosting a weeklong series of events in October to celebrate the grand opening of its new Small Animal Hospital. The $58 million facility, which has been in construction for about two years, officially opens Nov. 1. “We are thrilled to see construction almost completed and everything falling into place after all the time, energy and passion that has gone into creating the new U.F. Small Animal Hospital,” said Glen Hoffsis, DVM, dean of the college. “We want everyone to know their efforts are appreciated and hope everyone will take advantage of the opportunity to tour the new hospital and see for themselves what the excitement is all about.” Events include: • Tuesday, Oct. 19: Sneak preview and building dedication for faculty, staff and students. (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) • Wednesday, Oct. 20: More previews for faculty, staff and students. (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.) • Friday, Oct. 22: Invitation-only donor recognition event and official grand opening dedication. (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.) • Saturday, Oct. 23: An annual continuing education event hosted by the university for veterinary receptionists and technicians will be held in the morning, followed by a two-hour …
Schwarzenegger Vetoes Pet Insurance BillSeptember 27, 2010 California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Friday rejected a bill that would have required greater disclosure from pet insurers. Existing law already allows the Department of Insurance to regulate pet insurance if there is a demonstrated need, Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. “As such, this bill is not necessary,” he said. Assembly Bill 2411, introduced by Assembly Member Dave Jones in February, aimed to help consumers make informed choices about pet insurance by improving disclosures of the benefits and limitations included in insurance policies issued for veterinary services. Specifically, the bill would have required that insurers post coverage limits, benefit schedules, preexisting conditions and other limitations of pet insurance policies on the insurer’s website. The bill also would have allowed consumers to easily track complaints on the Department of Insurance’s website, according to Jones <Home>
Dr. Peter Eyre Receives Top Honors From University Of EdinburghSeptember 23, 2010 The University of Edinburgh Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies recently honored Peter Eyre, DVM, Ph.D., with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, honoris causa, for his contributions to veterinary medicine. Dr. Eyre, who served as the second dean of the college, is currently a professor and dean emeritus of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. Eyre was also invited to sign the University of Edinburgh’s Sponsio Academica registry, joining a small number of individuals who received similar distinctions since the university’s founding more than 400 years ago. “It is humbling to be honored among such noted individuals, especially at my alma mater – 50 years after I received my first veterinary degree there,” Eyre said. Among Eyre’s accomplishments: leading a series of initiatives that consolidated the operating partnership between Virginia and Maryland, serving on the board of directors and as president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, receiving the American Veterinary Medical Association President’s Award and acquiring and completing more than $1.2 million in sponsored grants and contracts as a biomedical researcher. <HOME>
Entest BioMedical Entering Veterinary MarketSeptember 22, 2010 Entest BioMedical Inc. plans to get its immunotherapeutic cancer vaccine for dogs, ImenVax, on the market within 12 months, the La Mesa, Calif., company said Tuesday during a blogcast. The vaccine would mark Entest BioMedical’s entry into the veterinary market. One out of three to four dogs will develop cancer and 50 percent of dogs older than 10 will get cancer, according to David Koos, Ph.D., chairman and CEO of Entest BioMedical. “This is a huge market,” he said. Entest BioMedical recently adopted a “veterinary first” approach with its research and products. This means the company’s primary focus will be on the veterinary market, not the human market as it was previously. The shift, according to Koos, will help Entest BioMedical get to market and generate revenue faster than if the company focused on human trials. Koos noted that getting animal products to market is easier than with human products because of different regulatory structures. Ultimately, data the company generates from its animal studies can support human trials, either from Entest BioMedical or through partnerships, Koos said. The company’s immediate focus is the veterinary oncology market with ImenVax I, II and III. As …
Cornell’s New $70M Diagnostic Lab Opens Oct. 1September 22, 2010 Cornell University will host a grand opening ceremony for its New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1. The event is free and open to the public. The $70 million, 125,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground in May 2008, is a key state asset for maintaining the health of animals, protecting the food supply, ensuring public health and sustaining the economic vitality of several industries, according to Cornell University. “The New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will inspire 21st century discovery, strengthen our ability to successfully respond to emergencies and protect the animals and citizens of New York state,” said Michael Kotlikoff, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Kotlikoff, along with Cornell President David Skorton and Patrick Hooker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, will be speaking at the event. The facility was funded with $50 million from the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, along with $20 million from Cornell and other sources. <HOME>
They Ate WhatSeptember 21, 2010 Animals will swallow just about anything they can get in their mouth. Don't believe it? The proof isonthe pages of this month's Veterinary Practice News. Our annual radiograph contest, sponsored by Sound-Eklin of Carlsbad, Calif., was judged by Matt Wright, DVM, Dipl.ACVR, of Animal Insides, who has seen just about everything on an X-ray. His verdict: First place to Florida veterinarian Amy McGinnes, DVM, of Black Creek Veterinary Hospital in Middleburg, Fla., whose canine patient, Hooch, ate 39 screws, nails and staples. Veterinary Practice News thanks all readers who e-mailed radiographs. McGinness will receive a digital single-lens revlex camera courtesy of Sound-Eklin. Runners-up Patricia N. Young, DVM, and Stephen H. Hart, DVM, each get a point-and-shoot camera. Click here to see X-ray winners and runners-up.
New Four-Way Canine Leptospirosis Vaccine ApprovedSeptember 20, 2010 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health reported today that its Nobivac Lepto4 is the first and only four-way canine leptospirosis vaccine to be approved for protecting dogs against mortality. The vaccine is indicated to protect dogs from L. canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, L. pomona and L. grippotyphosa. “We subjected the vaccine to rigorous testing with the ultimate goal of providing the broadest possible protection of dogs’ lives and health,” said Steve Shell, companion animal business unit head of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Acute kidney failure occurs in 80 percent to 90 percent of dogs with significant clinical disease from leptospirosis. The mortality rate of these dogs is about 20 percent, according to the company. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health noted that Nobivac Lepto4 was also shown to prevent clinical disease including thrombocytopenia, preserve kidney and liver function and reduce leptospiremia. The vaccine was well tolerated in efficacy studies and proven safe in these and additional field studies involving dogs of various breeds and ages, according to the company. In clinical studies, no dogs vaccinated with the vaccine died or became severely ill as opposed to more than half the dogs in the control group, the company noted. Leptospirosis is most …
