First veterinary TED Fellow speaks to the plight of an ocean in troubleMarch 1, 2018You don't hear the title conservation medicine veterinarian often. What inspired you to become one, and what did your educational/post-grad path look like? Is this sector lacking in veterinary professionals? My father was an environmentalist, and some of my earliest memories with him were watching David Attenborough and asking questions about nature. I credit my father with inspiring me to love science, wildlife and the environment. My career path trajectory really began after graduating from veterinary school at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. I completed an internship in aquatic medicine with the National Marine Mammal Foundation and SeaWorld San Diego, both of which I credit for giving me my foundation in marine mammal medicine. The aquatic medicine sector is a highly specialized one, but one in which there are many nontraditional veterinary careers—researchers, pathologists, and consulting specialists, to name a few. What does it mean to be the first veterinarian to become a TED Fellow? What are your responsibilities and obligations? It's absolutely a dream come true, and I'm honored to be selected in a field with so many talented and qualified individuals. I'm currently preparing my talk for TED2018, which will involve the intersection of marine mammal …
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ISU professor receives AAVMC 2018 Melcher awardFebruary 22, 2018 The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has named James A. Roth, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, the Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in Iowa State University's (ISU) College of Veterinary Medicine, as the recipient of the 2018 Senator John Melcher DVM Leadership in Public Policy Award. Dr. Roth directs the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics, developed an internationally recognized Veterinary Biologics Training Program that trains employees and government officials on the United States Department of Agriculture's regulatory process, and helped establish the Center for Food Security and Public Health at ISU with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He also developed an online course on emerging and exotic diseases for veterinary students that is part of the USDA's initial accreditation process for new veterinarians. Since 2011, more than 30,000 people have taken the course. He is currently working on developing global online training about animal disease outbreaks. Roth also is the recipient of the USDA APHIS Administrator's Award for contributions in Animal Health. The award will be presented officially during the AAVMC's 2018 Annual Conference and Assembly, March 2-4, in Washington, D.C.
Inaugural Feather in Her Cap awards go to 4 industry leadersFebruary 20, 2018Four women in the animal health industry have been recognized with inaugural Feather In Her Cap awards, recognizing their achievements and contributions and for mentoring and developing future women leaders. The award, established in 2017 as part of the nonprofit Feather In Her Cap Association Inc., honors women who have made outstanding contributions in animal health through scientific, industrial, or commercial excellence and by demonstrating commitment to mentoring women in the animal health industry. The four awardees, who each received a gold feather brooch and a feathered hat, are: Kimberly Allen, president of commercial operations for Henry Schein Animal Health, has served in various leadership positions within in the veterinary distribution industry for 36 years. She was the first woman to serve on and the first to chair the American Veterinary Distributors Association Board, serving several terms as president. Catherine Knupp, DVM, MS, executive vice president and president of research and development for Zoetis. She is a champion of the Zoetis Midwest Women's Mentoring Network, serving as a speaker at educational events and as a mentor. Marie-Paul Lachaud, DVM, head of European program management at Aratana Therapeutics Inc. The founder of the first animal health clinical research organization in …
Petplan announces 2018 Veterinary Excellence AwardsFebruary 14, 2018 Petplan pet insurance hosted its annual Veterinary Excellence Awards dinner early this month, naming six veterinary professionals and one exemplary pet parent 2018's winners. The awards event was held in tandem with the Veterinary Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Fla. This year's winners: Practice of the Year: Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Fort Collins, Colo. Veterinarian of the Year: Thomas Newland, DVM, Adobe Animal Hospital, Scottsdale, Ariz. Practice Manager of the Year: Amanda Inman, Pet Care Clinic of Kokomo, Inc., Kokomo, Ind. Veterinary Technician of the Year: Jamie Rauscher, Animal Hospital of Towne Lake, Woodstock, Ga. Receptionist of the Year: Rebecca May, Town N' Country Animal Hospital, Burlington, N.C. Pet Parent of the Year: Danny Shelton, Cleveland Browns Defensive Lineman and Animal Health Advocate Nominees in each category were submitted by both professional peers and clients; then, each completed a rigorous application process to accept their candidacy and advance to the semifinalist and finalist rounds. The judging panel included veterinary professionals, several of whom are past award winners. "I'd like to extend a warm congratulations to each of this year's winners," said Natasha Ashton, Petplan co-founder and co-CEO. "It is an honor for all of us to witness …
Southern Veterinary Partners network hits animal hospital No. 40February 13, 2018Southern Veterinary Partners (SVP), based in Birmingham, Ala., has acquired its 40th animal hospital with Friendship Veterinary Hospital in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Veterinarian owned and operated SVP regional network of animal hospitals is the largest veterinary management company based in the South. Friendship Veterinary Hospital is an American Animal Hospital Association-accredited hospital that provides care to companion animals and exotic pets. SVP provides centralized support for the animal hospitals in its network, including marketing, HR, finance, inventory, and purchasing management, and enhanced benefits to team members, according to the organization. The hospitals retain their names, culture, and local commitment to their communities as well as veterinarians and staff that provide their clients with high-quality veterinary care. SVP believes that leveraging its infrastructure allows the hospitals in its network to focus on medicine and their patients to facilitate best-in-class veterinary services and exceptional client experiences, the company stated.
First WSAVA CEO charged with attracting sponsorship revenueFebruary 2, 2018Arpita Bhose has been named CEO of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). She will work with WSAVA President Elect Shane Ryan, BVSc (Hons) (Qld), MVS (Murdoch), CVA (IVAS), GradDipAnimChiro (RMIT), MChiroSc (RMIT), MRCVS. Bhose's responsibilities include generating sponsorship revenue to support the organization's activities, including the development of global guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including vaccination, nutrition, and pain management; developing information, tools, and other educational resources to veterinarians; providing continuing education, including its flagship annual WSAVA World Congress; and campaigning on key issues to veterinarians globally, such as access to veterinary medicines and animal welfare.
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski to address 2018 AAVMC conferenceJanuary 23, 2018The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) has announced that during its annual conference, March 2-4 in Washington, D.C., Freeman Hrabowski, Ph.D., president of University of Maryland - Baltimore County, will address conference attendees on March 2 during the 1:30 p.m. session. Hrabowski, who served as UMBC's president since 1992, was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time (2012) and one of America's Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report (2008). A child-leader in the civil rights movement, Hrabowski was featured in Spike Lee's 1997 documentary, "Four Little Girls," on the racially motivated bombing in 1963 of Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Hrabowski and UMBC have been featured on CBS' "60 Minutes" and other media. He holds honorary degrees from more than 20 institutions, including Harvard, Princeton, Duke, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Haverford College, and Harvey Mudd College. Note: Discounted lodging incentives for the AAVMC annual conference expire on Jan. 29.
Tufts veterinarians treat canine cancer with experimental drugJanuary 18, 2018When Edward Sloan's dog, Dozer, a 7-year-old bull mastiff went blind seemingly overnight, a devastating diagnosis revealed Dozer had cancer. Desperate to save his best friend, Sloan found a clinical trial at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, where Abbey Sadowski, DVM, found that Dozer had "lost a lot of weight [and] had several weeks of history before he even saw us." Dr. Sadowski and Cheryl London, DVM, Ph.D., are testing an experimental drug—called KPT-9274—combined with just one round of chemotherapy to treat lymphoma. "We had this remarkable response … when you combine these two things together you can get a dramatic reduction in disease," Dr. London said. Early results of the small study have been promising, especially for Sloan and Dozer. "A single heroic dose … the next day he was able to see," Sloan said. Dozer is three months in remission, and his medical reversal of fortune could eventually lead to a breakthrough in human medicine. London said the outcome of a canine trial is a valuable piece of the research puzzle. "The benefits to the human side are that you get a drug into humans that's actually much …
AAVMC names Jennifer Hodgson as veterinary teaching award recipientJanuary 18, 2018The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) named Jennifer Hodgson, BVSC, DIP VET PATH, Ph.D., DACVIM, from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) as the recipient of the 2017 AAVMC Distinguished Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis. The award, considered one of the most prestigious teaching awards in international academic veterinary medicine, recognizes excellence in professional veterinary medical education and is presented to an educator whose sustained record of teaching excellence and ability, dedication, character, and leadership has contributed significantly to the advancement of the profession. Dr. Hodgson is associate dean for professional programs, where she is responsible for all academic and student affairs relating to Virginia-Maryland's DVM program. She is also a professor of population health sciences who teaches bacteriology and mycology in the DVM curriculum. "Dr. Hodgson represents the very best of what thousands of outstanding educators and researchers bring to their work every day in our member institutions," said AAVMC CEO Andrew T. Maccabe, DVM, JD, MPH. "We're pleased to be able to recognize her outstanding achievements and contributions through our awards program and look forward to honoring her publicly during our 2018 annual conference." Hodgson is active in the North American …
Registration open for Veterinary Biologics Training ProgramJanuary 17, 2018The Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics (IICAB) has opened registration for the Veterinary Biologics Training Program, which will be held May 14-18 in Ames, Iowa. The program provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's regulatory process for assuring the purity, safety, potency, and efficacy of veterinary biologics (vaccines, bacterins, antisera, diagnostic kits, and other products of biological origin). During the weeklong program, staff from the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) at the USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service provides information on the requirements and processes for licensing/registration and testing of veterinary biological products. The inspection and compliance process for production, release, and post-marketing surveillance of veterinary biological products is also covered in both lectures and workshops, IICAB said. Professionals working in the veterinary biologic industry, researchers developing biologics, and regulatory personnel are encouraged to attend to learn about current CVB requirements. More than 2,700 individuals have attended the program since it was launched in 1996, including 750 individuals from 90-plus countries. The program is organized by IICAB and is co-sponsored by CVB and the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Individuals interested in an introduction or refresher in the ever-changing field of immunology …
