Colin Harvey honored with 2018 WSAVA Scientific Achievement AwardJuly 12, 2018Colin Harvey, BVSc, FRCVS, DACVS, DAVDC, has received the 2018 World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Award for Scientific Achievement in recognition of his work to highlight the importance of veterinary oral and dental health in companion animals as well as in developing tools to support the incorporation of dental procedures and dental preventive strategy into daily veterinary practice. The award will be presented during this year's WSAVA World Congress, Sept. 25-28 Singapore. Dr. Harvey graduated from the University of Bristol School of Veterinary Sciences before completing an internship and surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He was trained in dental procedures by faculty of the School of Dental Medicine at the UPenn. Until his retirement in 2013, he was professor of surgery and dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania, a position he held for 33 years. As a boarded specialist in both surgery and dentistry (charter diplomate of American Veterinary Dental College), he introduced a range of oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures into clinical, teaching, and research activities. This led to improvements in the major oral surgery reconstructive techniques necessary for cancer patients, as well as in the management of oral trauma …
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AVMA announces 2018-2019 congressional fellowsJuly 10, 2018The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has selected two veterinarians to serve in the 2018-2019 AVMA Fellowship Program, providing Congress with counsel on important policy issues. Beginning in August, the two selected fellows will serve for one year in Washington, D.C., as full-time staff for a congressional office or congressional committee. During their tenure, the fellows will advise policymakers on a wide range of issues, such as food safety, public health, animal welfare, research, and small business policies. This September, the fellows will interview with congressional offices to receive their year-long placements. Once placed, they will support the activities of that office full-time. The fellows are not AVMA employees or lobbyists. The 2018-2019 fellows are: Meera Chandra, DVM, MPH: Dr. Chandra is a 2018 cum laude graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Public Health & Health Professions. During her time in veterinary school, she gained significant public health and veterinary experience—including positions at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. She was also president of the University of Florida's Public Health …
WSAVA announces 2018 Global One Health Award recipientsJune 29, 2018The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has announced that a veterinarian and a physician are the joint winners of its 2018 Global One Health Award. Edward B. Breitschwerdt, DVM, from North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and Christopher W. Woods, MD, from Duke University, Durham, N.C., were nominated for the award in recognition of their work on atypical manifestations of bartonellosis in people and veterinary healthcare providers in particular. The WSAVA Global One Health Award is presented by the WSAVA's One Health Committee (OHC) to an individual or organization which has promoted an aspect of One Health relevant to companion animals. Drs. Breitschwerdt and Woods will receive their award and jointly present the One Health Award lecture during this year's WSAVA World Congress, Sept. 25-28 in Singapore. Multiple Bartonella spp. can infect people and their pets, with cat scratch disease being the most recognized manifestation. However, Bartonella spp. are considered "stealth" pathogens and can be difficult to diagnose. Breitschwerdt and Woods have developed more sensitive Bartonella tests for use with humans and other species and have applied these tests to people, in the process discovering new chronic disease associations, including headaches, …
VIN Foundation announces Solutions for the Profession Competition winnersJune 28, 2018The VIN Foundation, a nonprofit that provides tools and resources to support veterinary students and veterinarians throughout their careers, has announced the results of its second annual Solutions for the Profession Competition. This year's competition asked veterinary students to share in essay form what information would have been helpful to know before applying to veterinary school. It also asked applicants to suggest ways veterinary schools could better communicate the realities and challenges veterinary students face. Veterinary student debt and mental health were among the most common problems addressed. "This essay competition provided an opportunity for veterinary students to suggest ways pre-veterinary and veterinary students can be better prepared, which will help future colleagues, and therefore the veterinary profession as a whole," said Richard Headly, DVM, VIN Foundation board chairman. More than 100 entries were submitted from around the world. Three winners were awarded cash prizes to help with educational expenses. The winners of this year's essay competition are: Paige Livingston won first place for her essay on ways to improve student debt education. Livingston is entering her fourth year as a student at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Cheyenne Cannarozzo …
Western Veterinary Conference welcomes new board president, membersJune 28, 2018Western Veterinary Conference (WVC) has announced three additions to the organization: 2018 incoming board president Darwin R. Yoder, MS, DVM, and new board members Travis McDermott, DVM, and Suzanne Russo, DVM, MS. Dr. Yoder, a Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences graduate, has held various positions, including working in private practice, as a veterinarian at Pfizer Animal Health, as a full-tenured professor, and as a director in the veterinary technology program at Sul Ross State University. Now retired, Yoder acts as a veterinary medicine consultant to the range sheep industry in the western U.S. Dr. McDermott, a Texas A&M grad whose interests include dermatology, dentistry, internal medicine, surgery, and endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures. He served on the Nevada Veterinary Medical Association board of directors and the AVMA Political Action Committee prior to his election to the WVC board. Dr. Russo, who holds a DVM from The Ohio State University and a master of science in human resources management from Golden Gate University, has served in small animal private clinical practices for 13 years in Northern California and Connecticut and held multiple roles at Pfizer Animal Health (now Zoetis), thereafter. From 2016-2017, she was the vice president …
Merck, AVMF announce 2018 Veterinary Student Innovation AwardsJune 25, 2018Merck Animal Health and the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF) have announced the winners of the 2018 Veterinary Student Innovation Awards, a new award program designed to recognize graduating seniors at each veterinary school accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association in the U.S. and Canada. Awards were given to students in good academic standing and who have demonstrated innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity in developing a project or product that inspires others within the veterinary profession. "At Merck Animal Health, we believe in the science of healthier animals," said Scott Bormann, Merck's North America vice president. "Part of what drives that science is the identification of new challenges and the development of initiatives to address them in our ever-changing industry. We're excited to partner with the AVMF to support these inspiring students." "We are pleased to recognize and support these outstanding veterinary students," said Jan K. Strother, DVM, chair, AVMF board of directors. "Not only have these students displayed entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and creativity, but they are also making a positive difference in their communities and in our veterinary profession." Award recipients include: Carolyn Benedetto, Louisiana State University Amanda Carlson, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Meredith Chamberlain, University of Prince Edward Island Caitlin Conner, Texas …
AAVMC updates its Cost Comparison ToolJune 19, 2018The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has updated and enhanced its Cost Comparison Tool (CCT) for 2018. Introduced in 2016, the CCT web-based tool helps applicants and students more precisely estimate the cost of earning a DVM degree, according to AAVMC. Updates now allow users to research schools and use interactive filters to compare data related to tuition, projected cost-of-living, and the cost of financing one's education. The tool still features information on all 30 U.S. schools, but now includes 13 international members, up from 11. Five-year international programs are designated, and calculations have been adjusted for the differential. The tool demonstrates three levels of cost: tuition, tuition and living expenses, and total cost of attendance (TCA). The TCA includes the previous two categories as well as the cost of loan interest accruals on an assumed fully financed DVM education (the current interest rate for graduate students using the Federal Stafford Loan is 6 percent). The sorting feature has been enhanced so that programs generally are shown from higher costs to lower cost. The map includes resident, nonresident, and international total tuition (adjusted for colleges where residency may be established after the first year) …
APPA president and CEO Vetere to retireJune 14, 2018Bob Vetere, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) will retire following Global Pet Expo 2019 in March. Steve King, president of the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), has been chosen by the APPA board to be Vetere's successor. King will join APPA in January 2019; both will work together to ensure a smooth transition. Vetere has headed APPA since 2002. Under his leadership, APPA's membership has grown from 668 to 1,270 current members, according to the association. He has led several pet industry-wide initiatives and is credited with establishing the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, the Pets Add Life Campaign, and the Pet Leadership Council. He was honored at Global Pet Expo 2016 with the Rolf C. Hagen Hall of Fame Award for his achievements in the pet industry and also received the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council Chairman's Award of Excellence. "On behalf of the board of directors, I want to thank Bob for his dedicated and exceptional leadership of APPA for 16 years," said APPA chairman Kevin Fick. "Bob's passion for this industry …
Winn, AAFP announce 2018 scholarship winnersMay 25, 2018The Winn Feline Foundation and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) have announced the recipients of the 2018 joint scholarships for clinical practice and clinical research scientist. Each winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship. Nicole Rowbotham, a junior at Mississippi State University who was awarded the clinical practice scholarship, aspires to obtain her American Board of Veterinary Practitioners certification in feline practice and become the owner of a feline-exclusive hospital. Courtney Meason-Smith, a junior at Texas A&M University who was awarded the clinical research scientist scholarship, seeks to develop an independent research career investigating histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis in cats and is developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics to address these conditions. In 2016, the boards of directors of both Winn and the AAFP approved a joint scholarship. The application process prompts students to answer two essay questions explaining their specific interest and background in feline health and welfare, as well as their plans for future participation in feline medicine. Recipients of the scholarships are selected based on individual academic achievement, strong leadership, and deep dedication to the study of feline medicine, health, and welfare. "Both Nicole and Courtney have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills that …
AAHA Connexity 2018 reimagines traditional conference learningMay 14, 2018In an effort to change conference learning, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has combined learning facilitator and emcee into one role for its Connexity conference in Denver, Sept. 13-16, and has named Heather Loenser, DVM, as content weaver. "The content weaver opens and closes each general session asking provocative questions and framing the context of the conference's learning opportunities," according to business improvement consulting firm Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. "As research has shown, learning doesn't happen in bulk and the content weaver challenges attendees to carve out intentional time to engage with peers and reflect on the important content and topics." "I hope to be the catalyst for many 'AA-HA!' moments," said Dr. Loenser. "My job as Connexity's content weaver is to be a sense-maker. I'll help guests answer the crucial questions we often ask after attending a conference—'So what?' and 'Now what?'—by connecting them to colleagues and innovative actions they can immediately implement in their hospitals." Throughout the conference, Loenser will observe educational sessions, work closely with keynote speakers and learning facilitators, and initiate conversations to help attendees make the most of what they've learned. At the end of each day, she'll "weave together" key concepts …
