Vet Public Relations Leader DiesApril 17, 2009 Ralph Lee, president of the Veterinary Assn. Management of Maury, N.C., died unexpectedly on March 23. He was 68. After graduating from Atlantic Christian College, now Barton College, Lee worked with the North Carolina Board of Health and later pursued his interest in country music as a promoter and producer of country performances. In the 1980s, Lee began his 24-year career in public relations in veterinary medicine. During this time, Lee and his wife, Martha, directed the South Carolina Assn. of Veterinarians, and in 1996, helped three veterinarians organize the Virginia Academy of Small Animal Medicine. More recently, Lee helped form the North Carolina Animal Academy. <HOME>
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Company Unveils Canine Breed TestApril 17, 2009A human and animal health life sciences company says it is launching one of the first commercial DNA-based diagnostic tests that can genetically determine the breed composition of dogs. MetaMorphix Inc. subsidiary MMI Genomics is launching Canine Heritage, a diagnostic test that uses DNA technology to certify up to 38 major breeds. The test requires only a cheek swab sample to be mailed to the company for analysis. Results are returned to owners in four to six weeks. Once the test is available, owners of mixed-breeds and dogs without breed registration papers could take advantage of the technology to directly determine pedigree. The company believes that dog breed analysis will help dog owners and veterinarians address health and behavior issues, as well as satisfying curiosity. A list of the 38 identifiable breeds as well as more information on the new product will be available on the company's website: www.metamorphixinc.com. <HOME>
UC Davis IT Executive To Lead New Eklin DivisionApril 17, 2009 Previously, Dr. Ballance served as director of hospital information technology at the University of California, Davis, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He has also consulted with industry software companies and the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at North Carolina State University. In addition, Ballance is co-chair of the industry’s DICOM Standards Committee along with William Hornof, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, Eklin’s chief medical officer. The company has also named Larry Sullivan as director of corporate IT and Telecom services. He has more than 15 years managing IT, Telecom and network departments. <HOME>
Wyeth Names New President, CEOApril 17, 2009 Wyeth of Madison, N.J., parent company of Fort Dodge Animal Health, has named Bernard Poussot its president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1. Robert Essner, chairman and CEO, will remain in his current positions through the end of 2007 and then will continue as chairman of the board of directors for a period of transition. <HOME>
UF’s Green Named First Female AAEP PresidentApril 17, 2009 The American Assn. of Equine Practitioners has named Eleanor Green, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ABVP, as its 54th president. She will serve through 2008 and becomes the first female veterinarian to lead the association. The installment took place at the equine practitioner’s annual convention in Orlando, Fla., in December. Dr. Green is a professor and chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. She also is the chief of staff of the college’s Large Animal Veterinary Medical Center. Green most recently served as the AAEP’s president-elect. Her other work with the AAEP includes serving as the District III director from 1996-1999 and chair of the Internship and Student Relations Committee and the AAEP Foundation’s Student Scholarship Task Force. “Dr. Green brings many terrific qualities to the AAEP presidency—enthusiasm, an unmatched work ethic and, most importantly, the desire to do what is best for the horse,” said David Foley, AAEP executive director. “I am sure 2008 will prove to be another successful year for our association under Dr. Green’s leadership.” <HOME>
DeLuca Named President Of Fort Dodge Animal HealthApril 17, 2009 Fort Dodge Animal Health of Overland Park, Kan., has named Richard DeLuca president. He succeeds E. Thomas Corcoran, who is retiring after serving as president for 23 years. DeLuca has been with parent company Wyeth since 1988 serving most recently as chief operating officer at Fort Dodge Animal Health. <HOME>
Guillemette Joins Bayer Animal HealthApril 17, 2009 Bayer Animal Health of Shawnee, Kan., has hired Gilles Guillemette as vice president of Business Planning and Strategy. In the new position, Guillemette will create a new team focus on operational and financial opportunities. Guillemette, who began his career as a veterinarian in private practice in Nice, France, comes from Johnson & Johnson, where he served as the North American director for Noramco Animal Health. He has also worked at VetCentric, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Vector International and Geoff Howe International. In related news, Joerg Ohle, Bayer Animal Health president and general manager, will co-chair the Kansas Innovation Consortium, a new initiative aimed at stimulating economic growth in Kansas through education and innovation. Ohle will work with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to lead and mobilize a coalition of leaders from industry, government and academia to develop policies and programs that accelerate research and development investments across high-tech industry clusters such as animal, plant and life sciences; aerospace and biofuels. <HOME>
Commerce Bank Founder Named Chairman Of PetplanApril 17, 2009 Petplan USA, a pet health insurance provider based in Philadelphia, has named Vernon Hill II as its chairman of the board. Hill, founder of Commerce Bank, has been tied to the veterinary profession since 2005 when he donated $10 million to the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. In related news, the Vernon and Shirley Hill Foundation recently funded the Penn Vet World Awards, which was designed to recognize innovation, creativity and leadership in the veterinary profession worldwide. The first awards ceremony took place in April. <HOME>
WVC Installs New PresidentApril 17, 2009 Ann Johnson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, an orthopedic surgeon and educator, has been elected president of the Western Veterinary Conference for 2008-2009 and was installed at the February conference in Las Vegas. This is the first time in WVC’s 80-year history that a woman has taken the helm. Dr. Johnson has served as recorder, regent, president and chair of the Board of Regents for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and is the ACVS Residency Program Facilitator. She is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Assn., Illinois State Veterinary Medical Assn., AO Vet (an international surgical specialty organization) and the Veterinary Orthopedic Society. <HOME>
Eklin Names VPs Of Worldwide Sales, Corporate CommunicationsApril 17, 2009 Eklin Medical Systems of Santa Clara, Calif., has named Robert Royea vice president of worldwide sales. He has 25 years of sales and marketing management and operational experience and has held senior executive positions with medical device and PACS companies such as Acuson, AGFA Healthcare and Siemens Medical Systems. Eklin also named Laurie Hallwyler vice president of corporate communications. Hallwyler, who has consulted with Eklin for several years, has more than 25 years experience in corporate and marketing communications with extensive experience in health care. <HOME>
