Spring 2024 24 HOURS IN THE LIVES OF HOUSE OFFICERS 20 STAND & DELIVER 32 DR. NED BRINGING MUSIC & HEALING TO LIFE 36
Chris Jones, photographer, and Sandra Sarr, editor, spend 24 hours straight with our residents, interns as they work tirelessly to care for their patients and clients. Come with us behind-the-scenes. Witness their skill, dedication, and compassion, hour-by-hour, as their cases unfold.
When Rieka jumped into Ted and Lisa Fleming’s car to take a ride, she fell to the ground last May. Their beloved 2-yearold German shepherd dog, severely injured, couldn’t walk. They carried her into the LSU Small Animal Hospital, and so began
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY in this issue features 20 24 hours in the lives of house officers
32
Stand & Deliver
the
deliver her to wholeness. 3 Dean’s Message Oliver Garden 4 News Briefs 4 Melissa & John Gates opportunity makers 6 Community Outreach Veterinary Program 8 Meet our raptor co-chairs 12 Beloved professor retires after 35 years 14 Safer bovine vaccine developed 16 $1.8 million for brain research 17 Faculty elected to leadership in national veterinary associations 36 Class Notes 36 Dr. Ned: Bringing music and healing to life 38 News of LSU Vet Med alumni 48 New book: Craig Klimczak publishes equine children’s book ON THE COVER 24 hours in the lives of house officers photo montage incorporates selected images from the feature on page 20. Spring 2024
process that would
Mission Improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care.
Vision Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery.
Values Innovation. Compassion. Integrity.
SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE 1 SPRING 2024
administration
Oliver Garden
Dean
Bonnie Boudreaux
Senior Associate Dean for Student Success
Heidi Banse
Associate Dean for Educational Strategy
Henry Green
Associate Dean for Opportunity and Engagement
Udeni Balasuriya
Associate Dean for Diagnostic Operations
Cherie Pucheu-Haston
Associate Dean for Clinical Programs
Tammy Dugas
Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education
Britta Leise
Associate Dean for Staff and Faculty Advancement
Gretchen Delcambre
Assistant Dean for Student Outreach and Veterinary Admissions
Ernest Tanoos
Senior Assistant Dean for Finance and Administrative Services
Thomas Rooney
Assistant Dean for Strategic Communications
Bunnie Cannon
Assistant Dean for Outreach and Strategic Initiatives
Tracy Evans
Executive Director of Development, LSU Foundation
magazine
Sandra Sarr Editor
Julia Goodwin Class Notes Editor
Ginger Guttner
Contributing Writer
Leslie Nevarez
Proofreader
STUN Strategic Creatives
Graphic Design
Chris Jones, Sara Hamilton, Thomas Rooney, Sandra Sarr
Photography
Mele Printing Printing
School of Veterinary Medicine
Skip Bertman Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Pets and small exotics:
225-578-9600
Horses and farm animals:
225-578-9500
Dean’s Office:
225-578-9900
Fax:
225-578-9916
vetmed@lsu.edu
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Rehabilitated eagle is released
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
back into the wild.
the Dean OLIVER GARDEN BVetMed, PhD, FHEA, FCPP, FRCVS, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA
We’re all in!
For the past three years, the School of Veterinary Medicine at LSU has been steadfastly committed to executing a bold plan for growth, focused on enhancing excellence, reputation, and service within the veterinary medical and biomedical science professions. It’s one thing to devise and conceptualize a plan, but quite another to put shovels in the ground, expand our student, staff, and faculty population, and broaden our clientele, collaborations, and programs. In essence, we are fully committed. We’re all in!
IT’S ONE THING TO DEVISE AND CONCEPTUALIZE A PLAN, BUT QUITE ANOTHER TO PUT SHOVELS IN THE GROUND... IN ESSENCE, WE ARE FULLY COMMITTED. WE’RE ALL IN!
Transformation demands unwavering commitment— commitment to staying the course amidst challenges, commitment to adapting when necessary, and commitment to delivering results for the greater good of LSU Vet Med. We find ourselves amidst worldclass advancements in our curriculum, enlarging our professional and graduate student cohorts, and completing numerous capital projects (see construction timeline on pages 18-19) to enhance our teaching facilities, café, and research laboratories. Concurrently, we’re actively raising philanthropic funds for our clinical enterprise, including an Equine Center and a Wildlife Hospital.
Significant change can understandably evoke apprehension. I extend heartfelt gratitude to our students, staff, faculty, alumni, clients, and friends for joining me
and our exceptional leadership team on these substantial improvements, even amid the clamor of jackhammers, temporary parking shortages, workspace relocations, procedural adjustments, and more. I could not be more grateful for your understanding. The reality is, it requires the commitment of us all to reach the challenging goals we’ve set for ourselves, our cherished school, and those we serve in our community.
As we navigate this period of change and expansion with rigor, I assure you of an ongoing commitment to openness, accessibility, and transparency. Please expect abundant communication and engagement in various formats: emails, open forums, video messages, and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders.
Knowledge empowers us, and with a shared understanding of our objectives, timelines, and rationale, we can navigate change more effectively—united. And when we attain our objectives, we can all take pride in our collective success.
Therefore, let us move forward, bettering lives in all our endeavors, and witness with pride the evolution of our school of veterinary medicine as we build upon the remarkable foundation of previous decades, emerging as a leading force in teaching, healing, discovering, and protecting for all. Excellence motivates us, urgency drives us, aspiration empowers us, and kindness grounds us.
With my warm wishes to you all,
3 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
A Message from
Opportunity makers
BY SANDRA SARR
Drs. Melissa and John Gates’ gift will help pave the way for others’ success.
MELISSA AND JOHN GATES, a couple who crossed paths on their first day at LSU’s freshman orientation, are now giving back to their alma mater to pave the way for others’ success, following accomplished careers in veterinary medicine and academia.
With a planned gift of $1,300,000, Drs. Melissa and John Gates have established four endowed scholarships at LSU:
• Lavigne and Gates Family Veterinary Scholarship (Melissa is a 1980 graduate of LSU Vet Med.)
• Johnnie B. Gates Scholarship (School of Information Studies-John’s mother worked for years at the public library in Franklin, La.)
• Gates-Lavigne Scholarship (Ecology, natural resources, or environmental studies--Melissa is a birder and serves on wildlife rescue teams.)
• John B. Gates Memorial Scholarship (Political Science--John received his master’s degree in political science and a PhD from the University of Maryland.)
“I can appreciate what it’s like to be a veterinary student with financial need. My parents were school teachers in Thibodaux, La. They sacrificed a lot, and it was a struggle. We wanted others to have the opportunity to afford an education and not be burdened with debt after graduating,” she said. Melissa cultivated an expertise in dentistry and has been a member of the American Veterinary Dental Society (now the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry) since 1990. She remains active in local and state veterinary
4 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY News Briefs
associations, having served as president and treasurer of the Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association. She also completed the Don Low/ CVMA Practitioner Fellowship in Small Animal Internal Medicine at U.C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Continuing education has always been very important to me. I received a very good foundation in veterinary medicine. There is always more to learn. I wanted to be sure I was practicing at the highest level for my patients,” she said.
A strong proponent of dentistry as an integral part of veterinary medicine, Melissa studied with pioneers in veterinary dentistry. She accepted referrals from other veterinarians and her dentistry practice expanded.
On a reunion tour of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at LSU Vet Med, Melissa asked, “Where do you do your dentistry?” Shortly thereafter, the Gates gave a gift to establish the new Dentistry and Oral Surgery Suite in the new Stephenson Pet Clinic.
“Dentistry is so important every day to every pet that comes in for an appointment. Some veterinarians see
dentistry as a way to increase their bottom line. My position is that dental care is an integral part of a pet’s overall health. Dental care involves the whole head and neck. Dentistry allows you to catch lots of issues early on to prevent major health problems,” she said.
Melissa founded the Cordova Veterinary Hospital in 1987 and built a hybrid small animal practice comprised of 25 percent dentistry. She sold the business in 2018 and has been retired for three years. Her husband, John, retired ahead of her from his career as a political science professor at University of California, Davis.
The couple built a house in the Sierra Nevada Mountains foothills about 40 miles from Sacramento, Calif., where wildfires are prevalent in the region. Melissa has
WITH A PLANNED GIFT OF $1,300,000, DRS. MELISSA AND JOHN GATES HAVE ESTABLISHED FOUR ENDOWED
SCHOLARSHIPS AT LSU:
LAVIGNE AND GATES FAMILY VETERINARY SCHOLARSHIP
JOHNNIE B. GATES SCHOLARSHIP
GATES-LAVIGNE SCHOLARSHIP
JOHN B. GATES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
put her veterinary skills to use as a member of the California Veterinary Medical Association’s medical response team and the Sierra Wildlife Rescue.
“Burns on animals’ paws were the most common injury we treated,” she said.
She typically sees fawns, opossums, and raccoons in her wildlife rehabilitation work.
Melissa also volunteers with Angel Flight West, a nonprofit comprised of private pilots who provide free medical appointment flights to people in need.
“I’m what’s called an earth angel. I drive people to the local airport to catch flights to their appointments,” Melissa said.
Once a week, she and John volunteer in a dining hall, where those in need can access free meals.
“We’ve always been charitably minded. And we decided to put our plan for scholarships into action at LSU,” John said.
“I hope our gift inspires others to give. There is always a need for equipment upgrades and student scholarships, for example. Our passion is the vet school and LSU,” Melissa said.
5 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Petco Love and LSU Vet Med partner in LSU Community Outreach Veterinary Program
THE LSU SCHOOL OF Veterinary Medicine and national nonprofit, Petco Love, are partnering to improve the health and wellness of pets through the new Petco Love and LSU Community Outreach Veterinary Program. Thanks to a $665,000 investment to the LSU Foundation by Petco Love, a veterinary faculty position was created and a newly purchased mobile clinic is now heading into surrounding communities to provide essential veterinary health care for pets.
Krista Miller, DVM, was hired as an assistant professor of LSU/Petco Love Community Outreach effective Aug. 31, 2023. Since then, she has begun designing the LSU Vet Med/Petco Love Community Outreach program and reaching out to community partners like Companion Animal Alliance, a non-profit animal shelter located on the LSU campus dedicated to increasing the save rate
Drs. Oliver Garden, dean, and Krista Miller, assistant professor of LSU/Petco Love Community Outreach, in the 26-ft. mobile veterinary clinic.
Watch 3Q with Oliver featuring Dr. Krista Miller: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ9BbRy6Dao
of pets in the Baton Rouge community. Dr. Miller has also begun attending high school career fairs and events to introduce young people to veterinary medicine and discuss career opportunities.
Dr. Miller received her DVM from Mississippi State University in 2008 and her BS from Alcorn State University in 2004. She has worked in private practice in Arkansas, California, and Baton Rouge.
Dr. Miller’s work often involves the more than 26-ft. mobile clinic provided by Petco Love. This vehicle can be used as part of the LSU Vet Med shelter medicine program to provide care for
pets in shelters, offer free or low-cost veterinary care in underserved communities, provide veterinary education to students, and deploy to affected areas following disasters to provide veterinary care as needed. It contains two exam/surgery tables, anesthesia machines, kennels, a generator, and a refrigerator.
“The desire to secure a mobile unit for community outreach, disaster relief, and student teaching at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine has been a priority and vision for many years,” said Tracy Evans, executive director of development. “We are grateful to Petco Love for helping this
News Briefs
6 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
vision become a reality. We are looking forward to doing good things in the name of Petco Love and LSU Vet Med for the state of Louisiana with our new, incredibly modern veterinary mobile clinic.”
In her role as community outreach veterinarian, Dr. Miller serves as an ambassador to Baton Rouge and surrounding areas for pet health and wellbeing through direct work in community shelters, community educational events, population control events, One Health initiatives, and disaster relief. She provides instruction for pre-clinical and clinical veterinary students and supports veterinary students at the Companion Animal Alliance. Other activities for engagement include community events at Petco pet care centers, educational events for children and the public, preventative medicine clinics, including Petco Love free vaccine clinics, and spay/ neuter activities both at LSU Vet Med and externally.
In January, Dr. Miller partnered with Companion Animal Alliance and The Inner Pup to host a heartworm
clinic at the Charles R. Kelly Community Center in Baton Rouge to provide heartworm tests and free 12-month heartworm preventative injections. Forty-eight volunteers consisting of LSU Vet Med veterinary students and alumni, LSU undergraduate students, and volunteers from CAA and The Inner Pup saw 151 dogs. Thirty-seven of the 151 dogs were heartworm-positive and enrolled in a treatment program with Proheart 12 and doxycycline. The team is scheduling a debriefing with these owners to follow up with them. The Inner Pup is a New Orleans-based nonprofit dedicated to preventing suffering and saving the lives of pets by eradicating heartworm disease, providing low-cost veterinary services, and teaching responsible pet ownership. The Inner Pup’s mission empowers pet owners to provide top-notch health and well-being to ensure that no one has to face the heartwrenching decision of parting with their beloved pets due to health issues.
“Heartworm disease is a large contributor of heart
disease, sickness, and death in many pets in the south, especially those in marginalized and lower socioeconomic areas,” said Dr. Miller. “Many factors contribute including financial constraints, but more than anything people being aware and understanding what it is and what it does! Understanding that heartworms live in the heart and cause heart damage creates lightbulb moments for many people when they realize dewormer from the co-op doesn’t fix the problem. Being able to provide knowledge and awareness and a heartworm prevention clinic to this area is a start. We are hopeful and plan to continue collaborations with The Inner Pup in decreasing and preventing these positive numbers, one clinic at a time!”
“This amazing program is absolutely groundbreaking. LSU Vet Med is grateful to Petco Love for its generosity and for this partnership that facilitates Petco Love’s mission to create a better world for pets, and helps move LSU Vet Med forward in its mission to improve and protect the
ABOUT PETCO LOVE Petco Love is a life-changing nonprofit organization that makes communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999 as the Petco Foundation, it has empowered animal welfare organizations by investing $375 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts and helped find loving homes for more than 6.75 million pets in partnership with Petco and organizations nationwide. Its love for pets drives it to lead with innovation, creating tools animal lovers need to reunite lost pets. It inspires and mobilizes communities and its more than 4,000 animal welfare partners to drive lifesaving change. Visit petcolove.org or follow on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
To learn more about Petco Love’s lifesaving work, visit petcolove.org.
Learn more about LSU Vet Med outreach at lsu.edu/vetmed/outreach
lives of pets and people. This program exemplifies our commitment to impactful community engagement through the delivery of outstanding clinical service and compassionate care,” said Oliver A. Garden, BVetMed, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, LSU Vet Med dean.
“Petco Love’s commitment to the health and wellness of underserved pets is exemplified in this partnership with LSU,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “The LSU Vet Med/Petco Love Community Outreach program will save more pet lives by going directly into communities and providing vital health care services and supporting relief and recovery efforts during times of disaster. We also hope to inspire future veterinarians with educational opportunities through this mobile clinic.”
With this most recent investment, Petco Love’s investments in the LSU Foundation totals more than $1,015,000 to date, including subsidized funding to help pet parents with the cost of pet cancer treatment.
7 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Wild and Wonderful Introducing the 2024-25 LSU Vet Med raptor co-chairs
OUR LSU VET MED raptor co-chairs are veterinary student volunteers who care for and work with our resident raptors, those birds that come to our Wildlife Hospital for treatment but are unable to be released because they can longer fend for themselves in the wild. In addition to providing daily care for these birds, the raptor co-chairs educate our community by speaking to school children and the public about wildlife conservation.
SENIOR CO-CHAIRS (CLASS OF 2026)
Ethan Neal, head co-chair, from Pineville, La., wants to pursue a career in mixed animal practice.
Sonni Tarver, head co-chair, from Alexandria, La., wants to pursue a career in small animal medicine.
Alec Filson, social media co-chair, from Conway, Ark., wants to pursue a career in small animal internal medicine.
Dominic Scheurer, social media co-chair, from New Orleans, La., wants to purse a career in exotic animal medicine.
Justine Sheu, fundraising co-chair, from Honolulu, Hawaii, is interested in pursuing a career in exotics and radiology.
Seth Smith, fundraising co-chair, from Metairie, La., wants to pursue a career in mixed animal practice.
JUNIOR CO-CHAIRS (CLASS OF 2027)
Chelsea Duplantis, from Houma, La., wants to pursue a career in exotic animal medicine, focusing on exotic pets.
Ben Kuntz, from Kankakee, Ill., wants to pursue a career in wildlife and zoo medicine.
Charlotte Lea, from Covington, La., wants to pursue a career in wildlife medicine.
Grace Miller, from Asheville, N.C., wants to pursue a career in wildlife medicine.
Erin Schwalbe, from Reno, N.V., wants to pursue a career in wildlife medicine and conservation, as well as pathology.
Mary Claire Stewart, from Helena, Ark., wants to pursue a career in wildlife medicine.
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On left page: The raptors and raptor co-chairs are (from left to right) Bruce (red-tailed hawk), Ethan Neal (Class of 2026), Justine Sheu (Class of 2026), Seth Smith (Class of 2026), Dominic Scheurer (Class of 2026), Alec Filson (Class of 2026), Mary Claire Stewart (Class of 2027), Grace Miller (Class of 2027), Ben Kuntz (Class of 2027), Charlotte Lea (Class of 2027), Erin Schwalbe (Class of 2027), Sonni Tarver (Class of 2026), Chelsea Duplantis (Class of 2027), and Shelly (great horned owl).
LSU Vet Med PhD student receives $25,000 scholarship
SAMANTHA D. CLARK, a pathobiological science LSU Vet Med PhD student, recieved the AAVMC Dr. Catherine A. Knupp Scholarship March 2024. This scholarship awards two veterinary students in the nation $25,000 each to support their education and commemorates Dr. Knupp’s many contributions to scientific innovation as a veterinary scientist and leader in human and animal health research and development.
Samm primarily studies the eco-epidemiological factors associated with transmission of arboviral disease while working in Dr. Rebecca C. Christofferson’s lab. They also have a project focusing on elucidating the transmission potential of orthobunyaviruses within the United States, and how to impact attitudes and practices of populations to decrease their risk potential.
LSU Diagnostics first line of defense against vectorborne disease
FINDING
A CULPRIT MORE responsible for human disease than the mosquito would be impossible. Despite their small size, these insects pose a significant threat to communities worldwide as vectors for deadly diseases like malaria, West Nile virus, and dengue fever.
In Louisiana, LSU Diagnostics serves as the first line of defense against vector-borne disease outbreaks, offering molecular diagnostic testing to parishes statewide. These abatement programs, in partnership with government agencies and corporate partners, safeguard communities from potential disease outbreaks.
At the 66th Annual Conference of the Louisiana Mosquito Control Association (LMCA) in December 2023, Tarra Harden, a research associate at LSU Diagnostics, received the LMCA Presidential Citation Award for her exceptional work in providing molecular diagnostic testing for arboviruses like West Nile virus. Dr. Alma Roy, adjunct associate professor of veterinary microbiology and parasitology at LSU Vet Med, presented a lecture on the cost-benefit analysis of surveillance programs. Dr. Roy is a past recipient of LMCA’s prestigious Hathaway/Ritter Distinguished Achievement Award in 2017.
During the conference banquet, Dr. Roy and Harden received a generous donation of $63,877 from the Target/ENVU Environmental Sciences Company to support arbovirus surveillance testing programs at LSU Diagnostics. LSU Diagnostics has received over $600,000 in funding from Target/ ENVU and Adapco in previous years to support mosquito testing and abatement programs.
LSU Diagnostics' commitment to mosquito mitigation demonstrates its invaluable contribution to protecting communities and ensuring a healthier future. By implementing effective strategies to test mosquito populations, LSU Diagnostics and its partners reduce the transmission of deadly diseases and alleviate the economic burden on local healthcare systems. Through surveillance and targeted interventions, these partnerships create safer environments for communities, promote public health, and enable individuals to thrive.
9 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
New Faculty
MICHAEL BLOCK, DVM (LSU 2017), assistant professor of community practice, joined the faculty in February 2024. Dr. Block’s clinical interests are in small animal medicine, surgery, and behavior.
JUDE BORDELON, DVM (LSU 2002), DACVS, joined the faculty in September 2023 as a professor of companion animal surgery and section chief. Dr. Bordelon’s clinical interests are in small animal orthopedic surgery, minimally invasive orthopedic surgery, computerassisted surgical planning, regenerative medicine, fracture and joint stabilization, and total joint replacement.
AUTUMN DUTELLE, DVM, MS, DACVIM, assistant professor of medical oncology, joined the faculty in January 2024. In addition to her board certification, Dr. Dutelle is Certified in Acupuncture, Certified in Food
Therapy, and Certified in Tuiu Na (Chi University). Her clinical interests are in compassionate care for oncology patients and their families, integrative medicine, and nutrition.
EMILY ERWIN, MPA, PhD, joined the faculty in February 2024 as an associate professor of curricular analytics. Her teaching interests include education policy, curriculum design & assessment, and leadership in higher education. Dr. Erwin has more than a decade of experience in conducting quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research to develop and improve teaching and learning methods.
MD MEHEDI HASAN, BSc, MSc, PhD, research assistant and professor of biostatistics and bioinformatics, joined the faculty in November 2023. With a background in both statistics and bioinformatics, Dr. Hasan has conducted
Top (l. to r.): Michael Block, Jude Bordelon, Emily Erwin Middle (l. to r.): Autumn Dutelle, Md Mehedi Hasan Bottom: Jeongha Lee
Opposite: Jose Len, Arturo Otamendi, Madeleine Stein
research in bioinformatics and data science. His research interests are in machine learning, deep learning, NGS data analysis, bioinformatics, and statistics.
JEONGHA LEE, DVM, MS, DACVP, joined the faculty in October 2023 as an assistant professor of diagnostic pathology. Dr. Lee completed her diagnostic pathology at LSU Vet Med in 2023.
JOSE LEN, MVZ, MS (LSU 2008), PhD (LSU 2016), DACT, associate professor of theriogenology, joined the faculty in December 2023. Dr. Len’s clinical interests are in
mare and stallion infertility and gametes cryopreservation. His research interests are in in vitro embryo production in equine and canine species.
ARTURO OTAMENDI, DVM (LSU 2014), DACVIM (neurology/neurosurgery), joined the faculty in March 2024 as an assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery. Dr. Otamendi’s clinical interests are in managing complicated seizure cases and patients with inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. He also enjoys performing and teaching
News Briefs
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LSU Vet Med Professors receive NIH National Cancer Institute research grant to expand options for patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders
DRS. WEISHAN HUANG, Gianluca Veggiani, and Mariano Carossino, faculty members in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, have received a $385,688 twoyear grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, for research on CAR-T cell therapy, which has demonstrated success in curing B cell (CD19+) malignancies and has shown promise in treating lupus.
neurosurgical techniques, including decompressive spinal surgeries for conditions such as intervertebral disc disease, lumbosacral stenosis, wobbler’s disease, spinal fractures, as well as intracranial surgeries.
MADELEINE STEIN, BSc, BVetMed, MSc, assistant professor of small animal internal medicine, joined the faculty in January 2024. Dr. Stein’s clinical interests are in renal and urinary cases, along with some interventional urinary procedures. She also enjoys managing complicated and multi-drug resistant bacterial infections.
According to Dr. Huang, there is an urgent need for novel strategies to elicit potent and persistent tumor-specific effector and memory T cell responses and minimize off-target toxicity in CAR-T therapy. A better understanding of the role of antigen receptor signaling in CAR-T cell development and function, and new approaches to targeting molecules in this signaling pathway in CAR-T cells, will improve CAR-T cell production, therapeutic sustainability, and help expand the therapeutic options for patients with cancer and/or autoimmune disorders.
Dr. Huang and collaborators found that a kinase called ITK can modulate the activity of antigen receptor signaling of CAR-T cells. Her team therefore proposed to target ITK to modulate CAR-T cell function for improving therapeutic outcomes. Specifically, they aimed at enhancing CAR-T cell expansion, longevity, and memory, while reducing cytotoxicity.
"Our work is innovative and supported by exciting preliminary data that challenge conventional thinking. Validating our hypothesis will unveil ITK's role, relevant signaling pathways, and biomarkers in CAR-T cell production, safety, and efficacy. We also propose developing a novel class of CAR molecules that contain TCR signaling modulators, which will further our understanding of CAR-T cell signaling and enable a handy production of safe, effective and sustainable
Weishan Huang
CAR-T cells. Completion of the proposed work will add to our knowledge of new molecular principles for the design of improved CAR-T cell production, safety, and therapeutic efficacy. Our pre-clinical results will be directly transferable to understanding human CAR-T cell biology and have the potential to improve CAR-T therapy," Dr. Huang said.
11 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Professor retires after 35 years, is lauded as a masterful mentor
JOSEPH TABOADA, DVM, DACVIM, has retired after more than 35 years on the faculty of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Taboada joined the faculty as an assistant professor of small animal internal medicine in 1988. In his time at LSU Vet Med, he was promoted to full professor and served as both the associate dean for student and academic affairs and associate dean for academic affairs and accreditation.
Dr. Taboada taught courses on internal medicine to more than 2,800 veterinary students. In his role as associate dean for student and academic affairs from 2001-18, he mentored countless students as they navigated the veterinary curriculum and career opportunities. He also served as an interim director of the LSU Vet Med Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 2006-07 and in 2015-16. From 2018-20, he served as associate dean for academic affairs and accreditation, managing the arduous process of veterinary school re-accreditation, which occurs every seven years. In 2020, he returned to his role
as professor of small animal internal medicine, educating future veterinarians.
At Dr. Taboada’s farewell reception, former students and colleagues expressed what Dr. Taboada has meant to them and LSU Vet Med.
Steven Marks, DVM, DACVIM, former LSU Vet Med internal medicine faculty member and inaugural dean of the Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine, stated that when he was at LSU Vet Med, the interns, residents, and students often asked,
‘WWDTD,’ or, “What would Dr. Taboada do?” He said, “You’re mentored by incredible people in your career, and I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by many, and then one day you wake up and you’re the mentor. And then you think, ‘Who have I become and why do I mentor that way?’ I mentor the way that I do because of Joe Taboada.”
“If you have worked with Dr. Taboada, you know he is a mentor in everything that he does. From teaching to finding solutions in the workplace, he finds ways to offer guiding support in all endeavors,” said Kayla Baudoin, wellbeing manager at LSU Vet Med. Marie Cenac, DVM, 1991, said, “When I was in New York, Dr. Michael Garvey (who I thought was the smartest internal medicine veterinarian
News Briefs
Joseph Taboada takes a selfie with his students.
12 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
and one of the scariest people for new interns) would often reference Dr. Taboada. Anytime I would give a wrong answer or not give the answer he wanted, Dr. Garvey would say, ‘Cenac, I know that’s not what Taboada taught you.’ And every time I did something right or answered something correctly, he would say, ‘Good. I knew that you couldn’t have been absent for every Taboada class!’”
Dr. Taboada received his BS from Georgetown University in 1980, and his DVM from the Virginia/ Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1984. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine). Dr. Taboada is a diplomate of the ACVIM, as well as a past President and Chair of the Board of ACVIM, of
the Specialty of Internal Medicine, and of the ACVIM Foundation. He has served in numerous leadership roles in professional organizations and has won several awards recognizing his contributions to teaching, mentoring, and service. He is a widely published author and has special interests in feline
medicine, hepatology, fungal and other infectious diseases, and veterinary education.
Dean Oliver Garden said, “Dr. Taboada’s influence over the past three-anda-half decades cannot be overstated. He has played a pivotal role in advancing our school in so many important and lasting ways.”
JOE TABOADA IS A MENTOR IN EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES. FROM TEACHING TO FINDING SOLUTIONS IN THE WORKPLACE, HE FINDS WAYS TO OFFER GUIDING SUPPORT IN ALL ENDEAVORS.
Dr. Joe Taboada with faculty, staff, and students over the years.
13 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Transformative research: Dr. Chowdhury develops safer bovine vaccine
LSU VET MED
PROFESSOR, Dr. Shafiqul Chowdhury, has developed a new vaccine against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and related illnesses that kill around 8 million calves each year and cost the U.S. cattle industry more than $1 billion.
This vaccine is safer for calves and far more effective than what is currently used, according to Dr. Chowdhury. He took bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV-1) and genetically modified it to provide the protective proteins of other bovine respiratory viruses — bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 & 2 (BVDV 1 & 2), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus
(BRSV) — to prevent BRD. There is no chance for the vaccine virus to spread and circulate in the cattle population, Dr. Chowdhury also said.
He applied for and was awarded several U.S. and international patents, with others still pending.
“Dr. Chowdhury’s transformative research squarely aligns with our vision of bettering lives for all. Our work in One Health at LSU Vet Med has farreaching implications for animal and human health, as well as huge economic impact,” said LSU Vet Med Dean Oliver Garden.
Morris Animal Foundation supports equine laminitis research
THE LEISE LAB WITHIN the Equine Health and Sports Medicine Performance Program has received $142,916 in funding from the Morris Animal Foundation to support Dr. Antonio Catunda in a two-year post-doctoral research program.
Dr. Catunda intends to evaluate the cell signaling pathway, mTOR, and its role in the development of equine laminitis using a cell culture model of disease. The study further proposes to evaluate mTOR pathway inhibitors as potential therapies for the prevention and treatment of laminitis in horses.
News Briefs
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Drs. Britta Leisa, Antonio Catunda, and friend
LSU Vet Med Palpation Team brings home third place in national competition
THE LSU VET MED
“Laminitis is a horrible disease. Anything we can do to ease suffering from this painful and potentially fatal disease is important work to do,” said Dr. Britta Leise, associate dean for staff and faculty advancement.
Dr. Catunda received his veterinary degree from the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Arido in Mossoro, Brazil, and his PhD from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. His PhD advisor, Dr. Rafeal Falerios, is a collaborator on this Morris Animal Foundation grant. The proposed study is an extension of previous collaborative work from both Dr. Leise’s and Dr. Falerios’ laboratories.
Palpation Team, led by Dr. Clare M. Scully, and assisted by Dr. Matt Welborn, and Dr. David Martinez, placed 3rd of 12 teams nationwide at the 2024 Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) Palpation Competition, an annual event held in conjunction with the SAVMA Symposium in Knoxville, Tenn., in March. Their win is a testament to skill, perseverance, and passion with weekends spent traveling 1.5 hours each way to 7 a.m. practice sessions. The 2024 Team members are third-year students Avia Laborde, Tori Olivier, Carlos Zervigon, Callie Ezell, and Ethan Reeves.
“We are so proud of this team. It is completely a voluntary activity for our students that starts in August and runs through March. They devote early mornings and weekends to palpating practice and learning everything they can about
bovine theriogenology. It has been an honor to witness their progress and a privilege to see them succeed,” said Dr. Scully, a 2016 founder of the team and member of her own team while in veterinary school.
It’s a commitment. To qualify for the LSU Palpation Team, interested students must take a written exam, and those chosen will then get to compete in the national contest at SAVMA symposium where vet schools from around the country compete. The contest is three rounds. The first round is a written exam with the top 10 scores advancing to practical exam. This second portion includes such skills as identifying instrumentation, ultrasound images, and anatomy measurement. The top five teams of this portion of the contest then compete in the third round palpating live cows. The team decides which two members will represent them in the palpation portion of the competition.
During the competition, team members must determine whether a cow is pregnant, and if yes, how far along it is, and if not, what structures are on the cow’s ovaries. Correct answers lead to advancing toward winning an award.
Participation on the Palpation Team is an opportunity to gain invaluable experience, and the skill of palpation is vital and used in veterinary medicine with any animal.
Team members past and present say that it is a humbling experience, and it is a hands-on skill that requires practice over time to master it. Their spirit, dedication, hard work, and talent and the dedication of their coaches speak loudly about the excellence of our students, school and program.
“It is so rewarding to see them go from unsure to becoming confident and competent. Their faces change when they finally know what it is that they are touching. It is very rewarding for me and for them,” Dr. Scully said.
Palpation team celebrates their win in Knoxville.
15 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
LSU Vet Med researcher awarded $1.8 million grant by NIMH for brain circuit research
BY GINGER GUTTNER
OLALEKAN MICHAEL OGUNDELE, PhD, associate professor of anatomy and systems neuroscience in the Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, has received a significant grant of $1,826,550 from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The grant aims to support Dr. Ogundele’s research, which focuses on understanding how our brain circuits work when we encounter positive or negative things in our environment and how these experiences influence our behavior.
The research will investigate how our brain processes information, particularly when it comes to learning and memory. Dr. Ogundele’s team will use advanced techniques to record neural activity in different areas of the brain simultaneously. They are particularly interested in studying the connection between two crucial brain regions: the hippocampus (associated with memory) and the ventral tegmental area (associated with detecting reward or punishment).
The project will help us better understand how our brains prioritize and store memories based on whether an experience
was positive or negative. The unique techniques used in the research allow the team to monitor the activity of hundreds of neurons in these brain regions over several months. This extended observation period will help researchers see how animals learn to recognize positive and negative environmental cues and adapt to them over time.
Dr. Ogundele’s team is also using genetic tools to map and isolate specific neural pathways related to neurotransmitters. This will help them understand the role of these pathways in assigning value to experiences and adapting to them. The ultimate goal is to use these insights as a foundation for developing targeted interventions for neurological disorders, such as schizophrenia and autism, which exhibit abnormal responses to habituation. In simpler terms, Dr. Ogundele’s research is like decoding how our brain processes and remembers experiences, especially those with positive or negative emotions attached. The advanced tools used in this study provide a unique window into the intricate workings of our brain, offering potential insights that could benefit individuals with neurological disorders.
DR. OGUNDELE’S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING HOW BRAIN CIRCUITS WORK WHEN
ENCOUNTERING ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI AND HOW THOSE EXPERIENCES INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR.
News Briefs
16 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
LSU Vet Med faculty elected to leadership positions in national veterinary associations
Drs. Clare Scully and Henry Green
THE LSU SCHOOL OF Veterinary Medicine is proud to announce that two of our faculty members have been elected to leadership positions in national veterinary associations: Henry Green, DVM (LSU 1999), DACVIM, associate dean for opportunity and engagement and associate professor of veterinary cardiology, has been elected as presidentelect of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for 2024; and Clare Scully, DVM, DACT, associate professor of food animal health maintenance, was inducted as president of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners (AASRP).
Dr. Green received his BS from the University of New Orleans in 1994 and his DVM from LSU Vet Med in 1999. He is a Diplomate of the ACVIM and joined the faculty of LSU
Vet Med in 2020. Dr. Green will serve a four-year term on the board, first as presidentelect, then president, then chair, and finally past chair of the board.
Dr. Scully received her BA from the State University of New York at Old Westbury in 1998, her MA from Hunter College in 2002, and her DVM from the University of Tennessee in 2011. She also received her MS from Oregon State University in 2015. Dr. Scully is a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists and joined the faculty of LSU Vet Med in
2015. Dr. Scully will serve a two-year term as president of the AASRP.
“Through the tireless dedication and expertise of our exceptional faculty, LSU Vet Med continues to elevate the standard of professional veterinary medicine,” said Oliver Garden, dean of LSU Vet Med. “Drs. Henry Green and Clare Scully exemplify the pinnacle of leadership, now assuming key roles in prestigious national veterinary associations. Their contributions not only reflect the caliber of our faculty but also underscore LSU Vet Med’s commitment to shaping the future of veterinary practice. As we celebrate their well-deserved appointments, we affirm our mission to better lives through education, public service, and discovery, standing at the forefront of excellence in veterinary medicine.”
17 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE SANDRA SARR sarr1@lsu.edu SUBMIT NEWS
hours in the lives
SUFFERING
26
20 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FEATURE
24
EASING
page
A QUILLED BALL page 28 REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS page 24
of house officers
a pictorial essay
CONCEPT AND WORDS: SANDRA SARR PHOTOGRAPHS: CHRIS JONES
21 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
We spent 24 continuous hours in our Veterinary Teaching Hospital during the December holidays to portray the innovation, compassion, skill, and dedication our House Officers bring to our patients and owner-clients. (All House Officers, also known as residents and interns, are Doctors of Veterinary Medicine.)
As day turned to night and back to day, LSU Vet Med Videographer/ Photographer Chris Jones and UPROAR Editor Sandra Sarr shadowed House Officers as they met with owner-clients,
diagnosed and treated patients, consulted each other and on-call clinicians, and delivered happy news and heartwrenching choices— all with professionalism and compassion.
24 Hours
22 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
23 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
1:03 P.M.
Dr. Murphy Sachse, internal medicine resident, steps into the darkened room where Dr. Devin Osterhoudt, radiology resident zeroes in on an image of a dog’s trachea.
Dr. Sachse wants to pinpoint the object’s size and location and help formulate a plan for endoscopic removal. The dog’s owner says the object has been inside for quite some time, but now it is difficult for her to breathe.
WILLOW, A DOG, HAS FOREIGN OBJECT INHIBITING BREATHING
1:30 P.M. Dr. Sachse speaks with the owner about treatment options, and she approves X-rays. The object is seen on the X-rays within the trachea. Dr. Sachse recommends bloodwork to prepare for general anesthesia for an attempted endoscopic removal of the object obstructing breathing. Meanwhile, a hospital committee considers and approves the owner’s application for financial assistance to help cover the cost of a procedure that she is unable to afford and that could save the dog’s life.
REMOVING OBSTRUCTIONS 24 Hours RADIOLOGY, INTERNAL MEDICINE, ANESTHESIA
DECEMBER 21, 2023
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY UPROAR 24
2:45 P.M.
3:23 P.M.
Finally, the object is dislodged and dropped in a cup. It’s a thick, plastic ball the size of a marble. The whole team smiles and cheers!
5:46 P.M.
Dr. Sachse is in a procedure room headed up by Dr. Andrea Johnston, professor of small animal medicine. With them is a team of clinicians, including anesthesia interns Dr. Alaina Kuehr and Stacy Gau-Pan. Anesthesia cannot be administered in a typical manner because the dog has a foreign object is in her airway, where the tube would normally be placed. Creative thinking is required. The dog is placed on the table and put in various positions to get the best opportunity to grab the foreign object from her trachea. A hand-held endoscope with a tiny camera and light is inserted into her oral cavity, and images are projected on screens to guide the procedure.
Dr. Sachse and a student walk the dog into the Stephenson Pet Clinic waiting room, where Willow’s owner greets her and brings her home to enjoy life unobstructed.
25 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
DECEMBER 21, 2023
MIA, THE CAT, IS FOUND INJURED
Dr. Wu meets with clients and informs them that he has assessed her general and neurological status and is stabilizing Mia. There are multiple lacerations on Mia’s back legs. She is in respiratory distress and hypovolemic shock and her right hind limb is absent reflex, and there is lack of tail and anal tone. He communicates that Mia’s prognosis is not good.
Dr. Yen-Tse Wu, Emergency and Critical Care intern, takes the lead on a case involving Mia, the cat, who is found by her owner on the ground with reduced responsiveness and inability to walk due to a suspected traumatic incident. Four family members arrive with Mia, age 3. She is examined by a team of ECC clinicians, catheterized, and IV fluids and pain medications are administered.
She is more responsive to stimuli after initial stabilization and resuscitation. Her hind limbs and chest are X-rayed to look for underlying causes of her abnormalities and the extent of disease.
24
SUFFERING
CRITICAL
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EASING
EMERGENCY AND
CARE
8:55 P.M. 9:41 P.M. 9:55 P.M. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY UPROAR 26
10:38 P.M.
11:55 P.M.
Dr. Wu conducts detailed phone consultations with a radiologist and a surgeon, who review images and discuss details of the case.
Dr. Wu goes into a private room to talk with Mia’s family and reports there is evidence of a sacroiliac luxation on the left and a pubic and ileal fracture on the right. There is neurological damage. The prognosis of her returning to normal function is poor without surgery, however, even if they fix the fracture, Mia may not regain neurological function, including the ability to walk or control bodily functions, including urination.
11:50 P.M.
11:21 P.M.
Family absorbs the information and shares concerns about whether Mia could ever recover and not suffer. They agree that the most humane and loving decision is to say goodbye.
Dr. Wu returns to the ECC where they gently tuck a fluffy blanket around Mia. He and a team member wheel Mia into a comfort room, where the family gathers and says goodbye.
DECEMBER 22, 2023
12:10 A.M. Mia takes her last breath.
27 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
6:14 P.M.
MABEL,
7:11 P.M.
Dr. Tithipong Plangsangmas, Zoological Medicine resident, completes a physical examination of Mabel, age 3, and then meets with the client to discuss diagnostic plans and treatment options for the hedgehog. They agree to anesthetize her, which is necessary to fully examine her because hedgehogs ball up as a form of defense with quill protection. A lesion is found inside the mouth, on the right side. There is evidence of diarrhea, and she’s underweight.
THE HEDGEHOG, STOPS EATING, DRINKING
6:14 P.M.
Mabel, the African pygmy hedgehog, arrives from New Orleans with her owner. Owner says she has diarrhea, not eating or drinking, and feeling lethargic. Lillian Smith, fourth-year veterinary student, intakes the patient and gathers a full medical history about Mabel. Lillian takes Mabel to the Zoological Medicine treatment area to be assessed by the on-call House Officer.
7:31 P.M.
Subcutaneous fluids are given. Blood is drawn and sent to Clinical Pathology for a complete blood count and chemistry panel to assess overall health, immunity, and organ function. From the physical exam and blood work, it is clear that Mabel is stable enough to be medically managed as an outpatient with antibiotics, gastric protectants, and nutritional support.
24 Hours A QUILLED BALL ZOOLOGICAL MEDICINE DECEMBER
21, 2023
28 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
7:50 P.M.
Dr. Plangsangmas assembles medications for Mabel and writes a discharge summary, which includes examination notes, care recommendations, and medication instructions.
8:10 P.M.
Dr. Plangsangmas and Lillian bring Mabel to her owner in the waiting room. He explains and demonstrates how to administer the medications, gives her discharge papers, and instructs her to return for a recheck examination of Mabel’s condition.
8:25 P.M.
Mabel’s owner places her inside a cozy cloth tube, and Mabel goes home to New Orleans.
29 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Dr. Laken Russell, Zoological Medicine resident, examines a ferret, age 4, with stiff hind limbs. "With exotics, our challenges every day are different," says Dr. Russell, who once was a zookeeper at Walt Disney World.
DECEMBER 21, 2023
2:30 P.M.
LSU Vet Med Communications team members, Chris Jones and Sandra Sarr, after 24 hours inside the LSU Vet Med’s hospital capturing this story
Dr. Shelby Fincher, intern, Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care
24 Hours
30 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
HOUSE OFFICERS ON DUTY AND PHOTOGRAPHED DURING THE 24 HOURS 10:10-10:47 A.M. DECEMBER 22, 2023
Dr. Andrea Johnston, professor of small animal medicine, shows Drs. Miessler and Hare methods of calculating custom sodium solution infusions needed to increase sodium slowly and incrementally for their patient, Stavos, the dog.
ANESTHESIA
Stacy Gau-Pan (intern)
Alaina Kuehr (intern)
DERMATOLOGY
Marley McInnis (resident)
EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE
Shelby Fincher (intern)
Navjit Mahal (rotating intern)
Bruna Miessler (intern)
Yen-Tse Wu (intern)
EQUINE SURGERY
Francisco Morales (resident)
INTERNAL MEDICINE
Victoria Hare (resident)
Enjolie Levengood (resident)
Murphy Sachse (resident)
RADIOLOGY
Devin Osterhoudt (resident)
ZOOLOGICAL MEDICINE
Tithipong Plangsangmas (resident)
Laken Russell (resident)
31 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY UPROAR 32
visits LSU Vet Med for a follow-up appointment with her clinical team.
STAND & DELIVER
Rieka dog makes miraculous recovery after injury left her unable to stand.
BY SANDRA SARR
FEATURE
Rieka
33 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Rieka (pronounced Reeka), a 2-year-old German shepherd dog, became a central focus in the lives of Ted and Lisa Fleming when the couple, in their 50s, decided to bring home their first-ever dog nearly three years ago. Lisa, a former national training manager for the Hertz Corporation, and Ted, a founding partner in a technology company, both traveled extensively. Their lifestyle didn’t lend itself to children or pets. That changed when they took a leap and brought home Rieka, which means shadow of a wolf in German. Their shared love of her enriched their lives in ways they’d never imagined.
The dog was smart and loved to play. Most of all, she loved car rides. One day, last May, she jumped up into the car for an outing and her back legs overextended. She took a few steps and fell to the ground. She began vomiting.
Ted and Lisa rushed her to their primary care veterinarian, Dr. Harriett Latkovich at Kleinpeter Veterinary Hospital in Baton Rouge.
Lisa and Ted Fleming with Rieka, their first-ever dog, during a visit to LSU Vet Med.
Stand & Deliver
34 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
ONE DAY, RIEKA WENT FROM BARELY WALKING TO A TROT TO FULLON RUNNING.
“She couldn’t walk at all. She continued to deteriorate, and we were referred to LSU Vet Med,” said Lisa Fleming.
“We had to carry her and put her onto a cart to bring her in to LSU’s Small Animal Clinic,” Ted said.
Seen by Neurology, imaging and physical examinations revealed an enlarged esophagus and nerve damage thought to be caused by the injury.
“There was not one simple diagnosis. Some who saw her said they weren’t certain she’d make it. We decided to do anything we could to save her,” Ted said.
“We were not going to let this girl go,” Lisa said.
LSU Vet Med clinicians representing various specialty services consulted with each other and made a plan for treatment.
“Rieka was seen by eight doctors and two therapists at LSU. Their collaborative approach made all the difference,” Ted said.
The Flemings brought Rieka to LSU Vet Med’s Integrative Medicine service, where she was seen for the first time in May 2023. Dr. Lorrie Hale, clinical assistant professor of integrative medicine and rehabilitation, outlined treatment options, including osteopathy, acupuncture, electro-therapy, physical rehabilitation, and hydrotherapy.
“She had never been in water and was nervous at first in the underwater treadmill, but Jennifer Bridges, a physical rehab tech, helped her acclimate. I did everything she told me to do, including
things like making her stretch for her water bowl,” Lisa said.
Lisa and Ted shared how LSU Vet Med clinicians helped them set Rieka up for success. Every morning, Lisa stretched all four of Rieka’s legs according to instructions by Anaïs Musso, osteopath. Then Lisa placed hot and cold compresses and massaged Rieka along the spine. She did this faithfully each day for months and continued treatments in LSU Vet Med’s Integrative Medicine service even though there were few significant signs of improvement.
“The months of no progress were scary and sad. For two months, she couldn’t empty her bladder or bowels on her own. It really took a toll on us. Lisa kept hope, even in the hard times. She kept working with her the way LSU told us to. They showed us not only how to do things, but why doing them was important over time,” Ted said.
“When I first started working with her at home, I’d start to cry because it was so stressful. I was afraid I might overdo it and hurt her. I’d look at her little face, and she’d let me continue to help her. As we worked together, it became a routine for Rieka and me,” Lisa said.
The Flemings rearranged their house and every part of their lives for Rieka, and their
dedication to her eventually paid off.
“One day in September, Rieka went from barely walking to a trot and full-on running within the span of a month. It was truly miraculous. If we hadn’t made our way to the vet school, Rieka would have been put down,” Ted said.
Rieka, who comes to LSU’s Integrative Medicine Service once a month now, has made a remarkable full recovery.
“They really care here at the vet school. They love her,” Ted said.
Ted said Rieka’s professional trainer at US K9 helped her with mental stimulation and “reminded her how to be a dog again.”
“If not for LSU working on the nerves, muscle, skeleton, including physical therapy, she’d not be where she is today. She’s totally healed. If I didn’t know she was injured, I’d never know,” Lisa said.
The Flemings made a presentation in February 2024 for LSU Vet Med residents and interns to share Rieka’s success story in hopes that the lessons, techniques, and approaches can be replicated to help other animals--and also to show that their chosen profession can save lives and bring families joy. Rieka, the star of the show, looked on, and her prance across the room said it all.
35 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Dr. Ned Bringing music and healing to life
BY JULIA GOODWIN
NED HENRY KEEPS HIS veterinary patients in their own little slice of paradise at Crescent City Vet, a brightlycolored tropical treehouse tucked away where Jefferson meets Tchoupitoulas in New Orleans, La.
Beneath the shade of the palm trees, vibrant New Orleans-style folk art paintings of various pets hang on the wooden fence in front of each parking spot, all created by Ned.
Upon entering the building, a celebratory photoshoot for a puppy’s first trip to the vet takes place. Laughter fills the
room as employees gather around trying to catch the small patient’s eye for the camera.
Ned first established Crescent City Vet in 2003 operating out of a trailer home, but now runs a large, successful business with his 37 employees. It takes a certain level of creativity to run any business, and a veterinary clinic is no different.
“Being a vet, you kind of have to be creative all day long,” he said, with a chuckle.
Ned brings his artistic mind to work every day, especially
Ned’s music is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube
when finding solutions for patients.
He said a client once brought in a turtle found in the wild with a large crack on its shell, affecting its ability to breathe. Ned acted quickly in finding a way to solve the issue and went out to Home Depot to buy a fiberglass material used to repair boats. He said he applied the substance to the crack and sealed the turtle’s shell before releasing it back into the natural environment where it was found.
Before finding his passion in veterinary medicine, Ned
36 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Ned Henry in his clinic displaying his original EP titled “Dings.”
Class Notes
followed another path and played in a band while he earned a bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, he followed the woman who would become his wife down to New Orleans, La., for Jazz Fest 1992 and decided to stay in the city where he worked at Tower Records in the French Quarter.
Ned started playing guitar when he was 12 and is still a passionate musician at heart today. When he isn’t helping animals, he unwinds by playing one of his many stringed instruments, writing music, and listening to his very favorite artist—Jimmy Buffett.
Ned often spends time in his home recording
studio where he produced his most recent original song titled, “Hippie From Mississippi,” a song honoring the Margaritaville maestro released December 2023.
“As a kid, my older brother and sister were always listening to him,” he said.
Ned’s interest was piqued when he got wind of Buffett’s whereabouts, and sought out to meet the icon at a restaurant in Virginia Beach, his hometown.
“He was so nice to me as a sixteen-year-old that I just thought he was so cool,” he said.
Ned said that Buffett sells a “positive, escapist, fun lifestyle,” and he tries to follow this way of life for
Ned Henry signs his CD for a visitor at Crescent City Vet.
himself, which can be seen within the ambience of his animal hospital.
It wasn’t until he completed an aptitude test that Ned connected with his other skill, science, and considered a different career path while continuing with his creative side. He then worked at a kennel in New Orleans and fell in love with the tight-knit camaraderie in the profession. Not long after, Ned completed his prerequisites at the University of New Orleans and earned his DVM at LSU Vet Med in 1998.
At Crescent City Vet, he enjoys the sense of community created by his staff and clients every day.
Ned often rides his bike to work as his clients greet him while they sip their morning coffee on the front porch. Even on his grocery runs to Whole Foods, he said, he winds up chatting with clients whose pets he has cared for throughout their lives.
“I’ve got a box of thank you notes from people over there,”
Ned said, pointing to the room behind him in his clinic.
When pets are brought in with cancer, he typically refers them to LSU Vet Med. Ned said he has seen several success stories, and that an animal’s spirit plays a larger role in recovery than many may think.
“It’s about the animals just plowing ahead, not complaining a lot, and just dealing with the moment,” he said.
Not all patients heal, unfortunately, and Ned has established a fund that may help clients cope with losing their pets.
The Crescent City Vet Memorial Fund, he said, gives an owner a way to honor the loss of their pet for a good cause. This opportunity allows the grieving client to donate to others who may not have the funds to pay for their own pets’ treatment.
As Jimmy Buffett once said, “It takes no more time to see the good side of life than to see the bad,” and Ned embodies this philosophy every day—you can see it the moment you step into his clinic.
37 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
1977
Larry Ernst, a member of LSU Vet Med’s first graduating class, recently sold his animal hospital in Ponchatoula, La. He founded it in 1980. He is currently semi-retired and enjoys playing pickleball, his new favorite hobby, and spending time with his grandchildren. Larry said he also plans to travel more with his wife, Mary.
Robert Lewis, also a part of LSU Vet Med’s first graduating class, is now retired and lives in Bastrop, Texas, with his wife, Nancy, and family. After receiving his DVM, Robert worked as the owner and founder of his private equine practice in Elgin, Texas, from 1978 to 2020. He specialized in orthopedic surgery and lameness diagnostics and treatment. Since retiring, Robert said he enjoys spending time on his cattle ranches, traveling with Nancy, spoiling his three grandchildren, and attending LSU football games. He also travels to Natchitoches, La., multiple times a year “to be a cowboy,” he said.
Larry Ernst and his grandchildren ready to play pickleball.
38 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Class Notes
Above: Robert Lewis supporting the LSU Tigers at a football game. Right: Robert Lewis and his wife, Nancy.
1978
Carol (O’Neill) Foil said she often spends time with her red-haired grandson as a pontoon boat “captain” on the St. John's River in Satsuma, Fla. Carol’s daughter, Allison Foil, is also an LSU Vet Med alumna and works as an equine veterinarian in Florida after graduating in 1998.
1979
Larry Findley received the John Andreini Special Recognition Award as a 2023 recipient. The award honors an individual who contributes great dedication and enhancement to the American Quarter Horse racing industry. Larry serves as the owner and leading surgeon at Delta Equine Center in Vinton, La.
1984
Patrick McSweeney runs his own practice in Metairie, La., and takes care of a wide variety of animals in the area, including kangaroos and wallabies. He recently attended a conference for the Education and Conservation Society of Macropodidae in Gainesville, Texas, where the conference hall served as a nursery for joeys (baby kangaroos).
Patrick McSweeney examining an injured tortoise at his animal hospital.
39 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Patrick McSweeney at a Macropodidae conference in Texas.
Carol (O’Neill) Foil with her grandson.
Lacie Lee with patients and staff at her feline-exclusive animal hospital.
1999
Clay Hellner was named chief veterinary officer at NewDay Veterinary Care after joining their team as regional veterinary medical director in 2020. He also recently reached the highest level of recreational scuba diving and earned his PADI Master Scuba Diver certification.
2000
Kasi Russell-Lodrigue was announced as associate director, chief veterinary medical officer, and chair of the division of veterinary medicine at Tulane National Primate Research Center.
2001
Jimmy Barr was appointed chief medical officer of Mars Science and Diagnostics and Antech in January 2024 after working in his former position at BluePearl Pet Hospital for five years.
Jimmy Barr
2002
Lacie Lee founded Cat Care Center, Baton Rouge’s only feline-exclusive veterinary hospital and boarding resort, in 2019. Since then, she has hosted a wide variety of free community events with the aim of improving welfare for cats everywhere while also continuing to practice advanced feline medicine. As an American Association
40 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Class Notes
Chris Boehm enjoying the Belgium version of King Cake, which comes with a small teacup inside.
of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) acknowledged Rising Leader, she has been appointed and serves on AAFP committees, including the Student Engagement and Feline Veterinary Guidelines committees. Recently, she has been appointed as an intern for the AAFP Executive Board of Directors for 2024-25.
2007
Chris Boehm recently moved to Brussels, Belgium, and is working as
the head of the laboratory animal facility at Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Piper Norton serves as president of the Texas Equine Veterinary Association. The association hosts collegial continuing education events for equine practitioners and provides a foundation that supports disaster relief, scholarships, and student recruitment to the equine profession. Recently, she had 70 equine students at the association’s 2023 symposium which included a wet lab. Piper also has her own equine ambulatory practice in the Austin, Texas, area.
Top: Piper Norton and part of her team stabilizing and transporting a critical neonate this spring.
Bottom: Piper Norton and a custom-built sprinter van used in her equine ambulatory practice.
41 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
2012
Brittany Marble has served 10 years as an active duty veterinarian in the U.S. Army, the last three being with the Special Forces. Over the years, she also taught U.S. Special Operations Forces pack animal classes, attended the U.S. Army Airborne School, and ran the trauma and medical training courses for Special Forces soldiers. Brittany was first stationed at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida for three years where she and her husband welcomed twin boys. She soon relocated to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba where she welcomed a third son and researched Cuban boa constrictor conservation and reproductive rates. Brittany then became board certified in veterinary preventative medicine while stationed at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut for two years. Shortly after, she was selected to be a Special Forces veterinarian and served three years with 1st Special Forces Group at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Currently, Brittany is the 20th
Special Forces Group Veterinarian with the Alabama National Guard.
2013
Melanie Schroeder works as an associate veterinarian at Coastal Sunrise Animal Hospital in Pensacola, Fla. Recently, she focused her attention on taking care of five badly burned Shih Tzus: Busy, Farrah, Pie, Puddin’, and Rex. In January 2024, the kennel at a breeder’s home in Alabama caught fire, sparing 15 dogs and killing 19. Melanie and staff consulted with human burn specialists to find ways to treat five of the survivors in need of advanced care. She said in her experience, most fire survivors are treated for smoke inhalation injuries and dogs with severe burns are often euthanized. Melanie uses a fish skin mesh graft and autologous skin
Above: Melanie Schroeder with three of the five burned dogs she has been working to heal.
Left: One of Melanie Schroeder’s recent patients wears a onesie to keep their bandages in place.
42 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Class Notes
cell suspension treatment on the patients. The fish skin mesh graft is nonmammalian, which leaves less of a chance for the dogs to reject the new cells and the autologous skin cell suspension treatment uses the patient's own cells to create a new spray-on graft.
2014
Stephanie LaGrone works as the on-site veterinarian at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center, an exotic cat sanctuary in Texas, home to over 70 tigers, lions,
cougars, leopards, cheetahs, and more. She previously volunteered at the sanctuary in high school and seized the opportunity to return after working in a small animal practice. Stephanie also works part time as a wilderness survival instructor at Texas Survival School.
2016
Hilary Householder moved to New Orleans, La., in October 2023 and is working as an associate veterinarian at the Audubon Zoo.
LaGrone tends to a tiger as part of her job in an exotic cat sanctuary.
2018
Chelsey Leisinger was appointed vice president of Network Lab Compliance at CCRM Fertility, a major leader in the fertility treatment and research industry. She studied biomedical and veterinary medical sciences with a concentration in
reproductive physiology at LSU Vet Med after becoming interested in human IVF. Chelsey also worked as a consulting senior embryologist at a Seattle fertility clinic throughout her time at LSU. At CCRM Fertility, she will supervise different laboratory locations while ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
43 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Stephanie
Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients
Announced
Dean Oliver Garden (left) and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education
Tammy Dugas (right) congratulate Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients
Dr. Judy Pawlusiow and Dr. Cyril Clarke.
THE LSU SCHOOL OF Veterinary Medicine is proud to announce the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients: Jay Addison, DVM (LSU 1983); Cyril Clarke, BVSc (RSA), PhD (LSU 1987), DACVP; and Judy Pawlusiow, DVM (LSU 1992), MS (LSU 1981), DACVIM (SAIM). The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes alumni of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for outstanding professional and personal achievements. Any graduate from Louisiana State University is eligible for the award. Candidates are recognized for their accomplishments in veterinary medicine or science and/or contributions to the community through public service.
LSU Vet Med Dean Oliver Garden presented Dr. Addison with his award at the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association Winter Meeting in Shreveport, La., on Jan. 27, 2024, at the LSU Vet Med Alumni Reception. Drs. Clarke and Pawlusiow received their awards from Michael Graziano, MS (LSU 1981), PhD, on April 3, 2024, at LSU Vet Med. Dr. Graziano was LSU Vet Med’s first master’s graduate and a recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
JAY ADDISON, DVM (LSU 1983)
Dr. Addison has become a prominent figure within equine veterinary medicine and environmental conservation over his 40-year career. He works as a private equine practitioner and partner at Equi-Vet, LLC, using cuttingedge technology to contribute and advance the thoroughbred racing industry. He introduced the use of ultrasounds, digital radiology, and endoscopy, into the racing world at a time when these technologies were in their infancy. His impact extended beyond the clinic as he developed a unique relationship with the LSU Equine Health Studies Program, bringing clinicians, equine residents, and students to the racetrack, fostering mentorships and preceptorships. He continues to share his expertise through professional presentations on topics such as video endoscopy for detecting upper airway diseases in racing thoroughbreds and new techniques for correcting dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Beyond veterinary medicine, Dr. Addison founded and served as CEO of Land Trust for Louisiana, a non-profit organization protecting and enhancing the state’s land and water resources. His contributions to the establishment of the Cherokee Beach Research Forest and the Justin Addison Memorial Research Fund showcase his commitment to education and research in biological sciences. Additionally, he received the Land Trust for Louisiana’s
44 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Class Notes
Most Valued Donor Award in 2022, and he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by Southeastern Louisiana University in the same year. His extensive involvement in professional associations, such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Land Trust Alliance, further attest to his leadership in the field. Overall, Dr. Addison’s career reflects a multi-level commitment to veterinary medicine, environmental conservation, and community service.
CYRIL CLARKE, BVSC (RSA), PHD (LSU 1987), DACVCP
Dr. Clarke earned his veterinary degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and earned his PhD in veterinary pharmacology
from LSU Vet Med. After completing his doctorate in 1987, Dr. Clarke joined the veterinary faculty at Oklahoma State University. He became academic department head and then associate dean for academic affairs at the OSU Center for Veterinary Health Sciences. While at OSU, he became certified as a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and completed a master’s degree in higher education. Dr. Clarke taught veterinary pharmacology while performing research and received the Pfizer Award for Research Excellence.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Lois Bates Acheson Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University. Dr. Clarke continued to teach veterinary pharmacology, receiving the Certificate of
Excellence in Teaching Award and the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association’s President’s Award. He joined Virginia Tech in 2013 as dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and currently serves as executive vice president and provost of Virginia Tech.
Dr. Clarke’s academic service includes serving on the Board of Directors of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), membership on the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education, responsibility for accreditation of North American veterinary medical institutions, president of the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, as well as other prominent and important professional organizational leadership positions.
JUDY PAWLUSIOW, DVM (LSU 1992), MS (LSU 1981), DACVIM (SAIM)
Dr. Pawlusiow was the second student to graduate from the LSU Vet Med master’s program in 1981 and built a strong and lasting connection with the school.
After earning her master’s degree in Toxicology of Veterinary Clinical Science in 1981 and her DVM in 1992 at LSU, she completed an internship and residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Surgery at Ohio State University in 1995. Dr. Pawlusiow then received diplomate status in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 1996.
She has over 25 years of experience as a small animal internal medicine veterinarian and works as the founder of Advanced Veterinary Mobile Diagnostics, PC. This diagnostic service provides ultrasound, echocardiography, and endoscopy at veterinary hospitals on Long Island, N.Y. Dr. Pawlusiow is also owner and founder of BAER Mobile Testing Service, an evaluation system for deafness among canines and felines. Using brain auditoryevoked response testing, the service is provided on-site for breeders and pet owners.
In addition to her mobile diagnostic services, she remains an active member in several veterinary medical associations and an instructor in training programs for veterinary technicians, veterinary medical students, and area veterinarians who wish to gain more ultrasound skill and experience.
Ellen and Jay Addison at the LVMA Winter Meeting, where Dr. Addison received his award.
At LSU Vet Med, Dr. Pawlusiow established the Pawlusiow Scholarship, which is an endowed scholarship for out-of-state students with financial need.
45 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Birth
Alissa St. Blanc, class of 2016 and assistant professor of small animal surgery at LSU Vet Med, welcomed a baby girl to the family on Valentine’s Day.
Marriage
Georgia Hansen, class of 2023, recently celebrated her wedding to Kyle Chavis and is working at a small animal practice in Flower Mound, Texas.
In Memoriam
Dr. Thomas (Doc) Greene passed away March 22, 2024. He was 75. Dr. Greene was a member of the LSU Vet Med class of 1979. In addition to a veterinary degree, he also had two other degrees from LSU: a BS in electrical engineering and a Master of Science in nuclear engineering. In 1970, Dr. Greene served as president of the College of Engineering student body. After receiving his DVM, he worked as a mixed animal veterinarian for 44 years at his practice in Livonia, La. Dr. Greene was also a member of the American and Louisiana veterinary medical associations, as well as the Louisiana Cattlemen’s and International Brangus Breeders associations. In addition to his veterinary contributions, he also served as a Louisiana State Senator for two terms.
Dr. Clint Harper passed away Feb. 10, 2024. He was 46. Dr. Harper first decided to pursue a veterinarian career in 2002 when he accepted a position as a vet tech at
Cooper Veterinary Hospital in West Monroe, La. He attended LSU Vet Med and earned his DVM in 2007. After graduating, Dr. Harper worked at a vet clinic in Nacogdoches, Texas, for a short period of time before returning to Downsville, La., and Cooper Veterinary Hospital as a DVM. He also joined Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo as their veterinarian in 2014. Dr. Harper’s areas of interest included small animal internal medicine, equine internal medicine, exotic animal medicine, and whitetailed deer preventative medicine and reproduction.
Dr. J. Raymond “Ray” McClure Jr. passed away Feb. 4, 2024. He was 81. Dr. McClure, Professor Emeritus, was a faculty member from 1977 to 1998. Throughout his time at LSU, many thought of him as a remarkable teacher and mentor with a witty sense of humor. Dr. McClure
earned his DVM from Kansas State University in 1970 and his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1977. He also served several years on the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association Board of Directors and as president in 1992. Dr. McClure was an expert in equine medicine and made lasting contributions to the field.
Dr. Michael McBride passed away Jan. 6, 2024. He was 55. Before he found his passion for veterinary medicine, Dr. McBride worked as a lighting designer after earning a bachelor’s degree in theater from Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif. Shortly after, he earned his DVM at LSU Vet Med in 2001 and worked as a clinical veterinarian at Old Marple Animal Hospital
46 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY Class Notes
in Springfield, Pa., for two years. Dr. McBride then decided to continue his education at the University of Georgia where he studied zoo and exotic medicine. He worked as an associate veterinarian at Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, R.I., for four years before working as the zoo’s director of veterinary services for 11 years. Dr. McBride spent his last three years as an attending veterinarian at the United States Department of Agriculture in Fort Collins, Colo.
Dr. Robert Oliver passed away Dec. 16, 2023. He was 61. Dr. Oliver grew up in Lafayette, La., where he first took interest in developing computer software. After graduating high school, he followed his other interest of veterinary medicine and earned his DVM at LSU Vet Med in 1987. Dr. Oliver served honorably in the U.S. Army as a veterinarian for some time before returning to his passion of computer software. He furthered his education at the University of North Carolina where he studied computer and electrical engineering and graduated in 1995 as Valedictorian. Dr. Oliver worked as a software engineer for many years
and contributed profound knowledge to the industry.
Dr. Donald Gene Luther passed away Dec. 4, 2023. He was 87. Dr. Luther was born and raised in Elk City, Okla., and earned his DVM at Oklahoma State University in 1963. He moved to Plaquemine, La., where he ran a private practice for five years. Dr. Luther completed graduate school at LSU earning doctorate degrees in microbiology and biochemistry before joining LSU Vet Med faculty in 1971. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1994 and made great contributions throughout his career. After retiring, Dr. Luther established his company called University Products, LLC, where he was able to save the lives of cattle using a bovine vaccine he invented at the LSU AgCenter during his role as a research scientist.
Dr. Luther was an inspiration and mentor to countless students and colleagues, leaving a lifelong imprint on many.
Dr. Charles Root passed away Aug. 31, 2023. He was 81. Dr. Root is remembered fondly as one of LSU Vet Med’s very first radiologists. He attended Montana State University for undergraduate work before he earned his DVM from the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Soon after, Dr. Root received a master’s degree in veterinary radiology at Colorado State University. His veterinary career lasted 57 years. He worked in both academia and private practice. After his time at LSU, Dr. Root was the owner and referral clinician at Animal Medical Imaging in Bothell, Wash., for 39 years until retirement.
47 SPRING 2024 SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Craig Klimczak publishes a picture book about horses for children
CRAIG KLIMCZAK AND HIS wife, Aimee, wrote and published a children’s book in 2023 titled, “T is for Tilly!” The book was inspired by their great-niece, Anna, and one of her horses, Chantilly Lace.
Craig and Aimee both said they could not remember any picture books featuring horses from their own childhoods and wanted to create one for Anna.
“It’s shocking how few horse books there are,” Craig said.
Aimee completed her undergrad in general studies at LSU before earning a PhD in education at the University of MissouriColumbia. She recently held a reading of “T is for Tilly!” at Anna’s elementary school.
“That’s how you build readers, you let them read,” Aimee said.
She has fond memories of horses from childhood, as does Craig, and enjoys the nostalgia that comes with Anna’s love for all things equine.
Craig grew up on a farm in Bogalusa, La., and knew from the time he was 14 years old that he wanted to be a large animal veterinarian.
“T is for Tilly!” is available at Target, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.
After earning his DVM in 1981 at LSU Vet Med, he returned to his hometown to work as an equine veterinarian and practice owner of Equine Farm Medicine.
“I was very well prepared at LSU,” said Craig.
Craig’s wife, Aimee, commissioned the book’s artwork through an artist on Etsy.
He held this position for 10 years before switching to academia and now serves as the chief information officer for the Community College of Baltimore County.
Craig and Aimee live in St. Louis, Mo., and hope to publish another children’s book for Anna and other young readers.
—Julia Goodwin
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48 UPROAR LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
OF 1981
CLASS
Class Notes
Parting Shot
“Mike has to bring energy. You have to be willing to put yourself out there. Getting into Mike character boosted my confidence, which has translated to the rest of my life, including my new job with the vet school,” David says.
MIKE THE TIGER MASCOT We welcome David Smith, 2017-20 Mike the Tiger mascot, to our Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine headed by Dr. Rhett Stout, veterinarian and caregiver of Mike VII, LSU’s live mascot. David says a highlight of donning the Mike suit was LSU’s 2019 national football championship.
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803
A tall order: Two admitted students at LSU Vet Med on Showcase Day, in March 2024