PVM Report | 2011 Summer Report

PVM Report Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine

In this issue...

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2011 Summer Edition Vol. XXXIV, Number 1

Supporting a Cure Alumni News Faculty in National Spotlight Meet the director of diversity

A Message from the Dean In contrast to the typical ebb and flow of an academic year, this summer is buzzing with activity from remodeling inside the building, to road construction in front of the building, to special summer programs that hold promise for influencing future generations of young people. All of these developments remind us that few things are as certain in life as “change.”

We are excitedly awaiting the arrival this fall of our new freshman class, which will number 84 students, as a result of a planned 20% increase in enrollment. In conjunction with this change, the University has authorized several vital remodeling projects necessary to ensure top quality educational experiences for this larger class. Among the changes underway is a significant renovation and expansion of our space for student services and engagement. Our new Student Services Center on the main floor will bring together personnel involved in both the DVM and Veterinary Technology Programs, while also providing better spaces for student meetings and counseling.

Other changes will enhance teaching areas, such as the G210 lecture hall that has remained nearly unchanged since the early 60s. The renovation will create a larger, modern

teaching space, with the necessary seating and equipment to significantly enhance the educational experience for professor and student alike. Meanwhile, outside Lynn Hall, major roadwork is underway on Harrison Street, which is being upgraded to a four lane road in conjunction with the start of construction of a new leg of US Highway 231. The new highway will funnel more traffic to the southern edge of the Purdue campus, increasing the volume of vehicles on Harrison Street.

Even with these projects, we continued several summer programs that are vital to our efforts to prepare the next generation of veterinary practitioners, specialists, and scholars. We once again hosted both junior and senior Boiler Vet Camps in June, bringing nearly 100 young people from grades 8 through 12 to the Purdue campus to gain up close and personal perspectives of how veterinary medicine could be the key that unlocks exciting future career opportunities. Additionally, several students from our own School and other universities participated in our Summer Research Program, gaining first-hand exposure to the world of scientific discovery and the rewarding career opportunities available in such areas as drug discovery and biomedical engineering.

However, we also endured some sad and sobering changes, as the Purdue Veterinary Medicine family lost three prominent retired faculty members this spring. Dr. Jack Fessler, professor emeritus of large animal surgery, passed away April 23 at the age of 76, and Dr. Ed Page, professor emeritus of equine medicine, died May 21 at the age of 91.

Both were pillars of our School’s clinical education programs and are greatly missed. Then, on May 31, Dr. Carl Lamar, retired associate professor of veterinary anatomy, passed away at the age of 71. Known as a quintessential gentleman as well as a dedicated teacher, Dr. Lamar’s passing also leaves a great sense of loss. Please take time to review the memorial tributes contained in this publication.

These changes teach us that we must always be diligent to be good stewards of the relationships we have with friends, colleagues and mentors, while also being faithful to prepare the next generation of scholars, teachers, and specialists. We are thankful for and encouraged by the new faculty who have joined our ranks in the past year, confident that the fine examples of excellence in teaching, research and service left by our founding faculty will live on through those following in their place.

ABCDE Willie M. Reed, DVM, PhD

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This issue of the PVM Report focuses on some of the School’s efforts in exotic species medicine. It was published through donations from generous alumni and friends.

Please visit us at the School’s Web site: www.vet.purdue.edu.

Dean Willie M. Reed Associate Deans S. Kathleen Salisbury Harm HogenEsch Sandra Amass Assistant Dean John J. Turek Director of Advancement Carol Willoughby Editor Kevin Doerr Designer Kay Hagen Contributing Writers Kevin Doerr Becky Hershey Kay Hagen Kelli Anne White Carol Willoughby Photography Kevin Doerr Sam Royer University News Service Purdue Marketing & Media

The

Veterinary Team 4

News & Notes Catch up on news from around the School.

10 Discovery Learn why PVM is investigating white-tailed deer and timber rattlesnakes.

14 Alumni Meet some PVM alumni who walk on the “wild side” every day at work.

22 Delivery Check out some of the exotic species that come through the doors of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

26 Engagement See how our students are “paying it forward” and helping a local zoo.

28 Teaching Uncover a lesser-known club that helps fulfill students’ desire to learn more about exotic species.

On the cover: Dr. Andy Stamper (PU DVM ‘93), a research biologist and clinical veterinarian with Disney’s Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives in Orlando, Fla., examines an American alligator.

Read more about the Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni who make up an avian, aquatics and exotics “dream team” on page 10.

30 Donors Discover why one Veterinary Teaching Hospital client felt called to become a donor.

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News & Notes

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Hugh Lewis Awarded Purdue University Honorary Doctorate

by Carol Willoughby On Saturday May 14, 2011 Purdue University awarded six honorary doctoral degrees during its commencement ceremonies at the West Lafayette and Indianapolis campuses. Among this year’s honorees was one of PVM’s very own, former Dean Hugh B. Lewis.

On the evening before the Saturday commencement ceremonies, Dr. Lewis and his wife Mair were honored with a reception. A host of family, friends, former and current faculty, staff and students attended to congratulate Hugh on this momentous achievement. Dr. Lewis was often overheard that evening saying, “I don’t know what I’ve done to receive such an honor but Purdue University will always feel like home to Mair and I.” Here are just a few of the many reasons Dr. Lewis is indeed very deserving of this recognition.

Dr. Lewis is a board-certified veterinary clinical pathologist and has been a leader in instituting change in veterinary education throughout the United States. Over his career, he has established a distinguished record of accomplishments in multiple areas of the profession of veterinary medicine.

Lewis received his B.V.M.S., M.R.C.V.S. from Glasgow University in 1965. After a residency at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine from 1966-68, he was an NIH post-doc fellow there until 1970. He then served a year as a Cardeza Research Fellow at Jefferson Medical School.

He first served on the veterinary faculty at Purdue in 1976 as an associate professor of clinical pathology and laboratory director. He left Purdue for Smith, Kline and French Laboratories in 1977 before returning in 1986 to serve as dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. During his 10 year tenure, he spearheaded the creation of a strategic plan, which led to a major renovation and building program, to the realignment of academic departments, to a redesign of the veterinary curriculum, and to a significant expansion of the faculty. He also established a culture that promoted career development for both faculty and staff.

Throughout his academic career and also during two years in a private referral service, Lewis became widely recognized nationally and internationally as an authority in comparative hematology. While at Smith, Kline and French Laboratories, he was instrumental in the development of several major drugs for use in human patients including Tagamet®, which was a breakthrough in the treatment of gastric ulcers.

When he stepped down as dean in 1996, Lewis joined the leadership team at MMI/Banfield The Pet Hospital™ in Portland as senior vice president of practice development.

Former Dean Hugh Lewis, his wife Mair and their two sons (left-right) Ben and Nick are joined by Willie and Dorothy Reed at a reception held in Dr. Lewis’ honor.

Over the subsequent 14 years this has become the largest small animal veterinary practice in the world (more than 750 hospitals by 2009). It is an entirely paperless practice utilizing the very latest generation of integrated, largescale computer support for hospital operations and record keeping. With the benefit of technology, Banfield helps extend the lives of more than four million pets each year.

In 2004, Lewis assumed the role of president of DataSavant, a sister corporation to MMI/Banfield, The Pet Hospital™, whose mission is to generate new knowledge and understanding via mining of the Banfield accumulated database resulting from encounters with its large case load.

He retired from DataSavant in 2009.

As a couple, Hugh and Mair have continued to support the School through their generous financial contributions.

In 2009, in honor of PVM’s 50th Anniversary the Lewis’ contributed $1 million to establish the Dean’s Innovation Fund. “It is vitally important for the dean to have funds at their disposal to support creative, new, bold ventures that might otherwise be overlooked due to budgetary restraints,” states Lewis. Their generosity continues. Most recently they donated a duplex that is being converted into the John Van Vleet International Student House. This property will allow the School to house a host of visiting international students and guests throughout the year. In this same vein the Lewis’ offered a challenge grant to our faculty and students to raise money for Japanese Relief in response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Funds raised will support students from Kitasato University directly impacted by the disaster. PVM and Kitasato have enjoyed a long-standing partnership of academic exchange that dates back to when Dr. Lewis was Dean.

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PVM Introduces Updated Brand and Announces Web Team Changes The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine is “brand” new in many ways.

Over the past year and a half the School has invested heavily in meeting strategies set forth in the strategic plan. A key directive in the plan is to create and adopt a brand identity that will significantly increase the School’s visibility and recognition on campus, in Indiana, the nation and the world.

Many employees attended a reception and launch of the brand strategies and received a copy of “Brand-Aids” – a helpful “toolbox” which is intended to help all Purdue Veterinary Medicine employees meet brand standards.

“The key to making a brand stick is consistent messaging and utilization. With an organization as large as the School this can sometimes be tough,” says Carol Willoughby, PVM director of advancement. “The good news is that we are fortunate to have a unit dedicated to helping all of us achieve this very important goal. If you ever have a question please do not hesitate to give Kay Hagen, communications specialist in the Office of Advancement a call at (765) 496-3631.”

The next phase, led by Kevin Doerr, in following this portion of the strategic plan is to develop and implement a marketing and communications plan that will increase public awareness, international recognition, alumni support and PVM rankings.

As part of that initiative, Dean Willie Reed announced the hiring of a new Web Team. These individuals were hired to revamp the School’s Web presence and bring PVM’s story to the world.

Terry Patterson is the new Web editor/team leader.

She is charged with overseeing, reviewing, contributing to, and approving Web content, beginning with a redesign of the PVM Web site. Patterson has extensive knowledge and experience in Web development and information technology. She comes to the School from Purdue’s information technology group, ITaP, where she had served since 2008 as an educational technologist, instructional designer, and development supervisor.

Before coming to Purdue, Patterson worked as a multimedia specialist and Web developer for the University of

Alaska, Anchorage. She also has provided Web design and development services for several private enterprises and non-profit organizations.

Seth Bossingham, was recently hired as the School’s new Web developer. In this role, he will be responsible for content management systems and the collaborative tools needed for developing and maintaining Web content. He also will help manage new media presence on applications such as Facebook, Twitter and You-tube. He will likely even help “make an app for that” with his experience with Smartphone technology. Bossingham is a 2011 graduate of Purdue University where he majored in Computer Sciences.

“We are thrilled to have these individuals join the PVM family and look forward to rolling out the remainder of the communications plan over the next several months,” says Willoughby.

Free Brand Toolkit for PVM Alumni Show your Purdue Veterinary Medicine roots with pride! Pick up a free BrandAids publication at the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association booth at the PVM 2011 Fall Conference in September. Also watch your mail for additional details about a PVAA membership reward available at the conference.

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PVM Distinguished Scholar Visits Lynn Hall Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumna Nancy MonteiroRiviere returned to campus in March from her home in North Carolina to be recognized as one of three inaugural Distinguished Women Scholars. Dr. Monteiro-Riviere earned her master’s and doctorate degrees in veterinary anatomy from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1979 and 1981, respectively. She is a professor of investigative dermatology and toxicology at the Center for Chemical Toxicology Research and Pharmacokinetics in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University, and professor in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the UNC-Chapel Hill/NCSU and research adjunct professor of dermatology at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Additionally, she is Dr. Monteiro-Riviere with one of her mentors, Dr. Ed a Fellow in the Academy of Toxicological Sciences and in the Hinsman, professor emeritus of veterinary anatomy, at a Lynn Hall American College of Toxicology. reception in her honor.

The Distinguished Women Scholars awards program, led by Purdue’s Office of the Provost, in partnership with Discovery Park’s Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, honors alumnae who earned a Purdue doctorate and have made significant scholarly contributions to their academic communities. Dr. Monteiro-Riviere gave a presentation at Lynn Hall about her research in nanotoxicology prior to a reception in her honor. The following day, she was recognized along with the two other award recipients, at a special program in Purdue’s Stewart Center. Dr. Monteiro-Riviere recalled her days as a graduate student in Lynn Hall, and the value of the education she received under the mentorship of the late Dr. Mel Stromberg, who was head of the Department of Anatomy at the time, and Drs. Ed Hinsman, and Ronald Hullinger.

National Award Honors Dean Reed for Diversity Efforts Dean Willie Reed received the national Iverson Bell Recognition Award during the 2011 annual meeting of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) in Alexandria, VA, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions in promoting opportunities for underrepresented minorities in veterinary medical education. The award was presented as part of the 18th Iverson Bell Symposium, which is the longest-running symposium dedicated to promoting ethnic, gender, and racial diversity in the veterinary medical profession.

Dean Reed’s nomination for the award was supported by Purdue University Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion G. Christine Taylor, who commended Dr. Reed as someone who “… understands that active engagement around issues of diversity and inclusion is a cornerstone for effective leadership in the 21st Dean Willie Reed received a standing ovation while century.” Dr. Taylor further explained, “It is clear that diversity being presented with the 2011 Iverson Bell Award by and inclusion is a priority in his college and is evidenced through AAVMC President-Elect Gerhardt Schurig, Dean of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. hiring practices, recruitment and outreach strategies to students, college-wide colloquia and conferences, and the classroom experience for the students. His advocacy extends beyond his college into broader campus conversation and dialogue as he pushes the diversity and inclusion agenda through thoughtful questions and challenges—all leading toward impacting the common good.”

The Iverson Bell Recognition Award is given biennially by the AAVMC as a tribute to Dr. Iverson Bell, a Terre Haute, Ind. veterinarian and civic leader who also served as vice president of the AVMA and president of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. During a career that spanned more than 30 years, Dr. Bell mentored hundreds of veterinary students as a practitioner and visiting lecturer at Purdue and Tuskegee universities, and was highly regarded as a tireless advocate for improved diversity within the veterinary profession.

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DVM Class Enrollment Increased will unite all PVM student services into a central location This fall, PVM will increase the size of the incoming and expand the support provided PVM students. Several DVM class of 2015 by 20 percent, going from 70 students to other renovations will occur over the next two years as 84 students. This modest increase is in response to the need we transition to this larger student body. We are excited for more veterinarians in certain sectors of the profession. about all the improvements that we will be able to make PVM will still have one of the smallest veterinary because of the increased class size. school class sizes in the country. This is intentional so that we maintain the close studentfaculty interactions and the hands-on experiences. In preparation for the larger classes, many of the School’s facilities will be remodeled. Additional seats have already been added to one of the newer lecture rooms, G167. Lecture room G210 (old room 31) will be renovated into a state-of-the-art flexible classroom that will allow group activities. The pathology laboratory (“Path Lab” 1214) will be gutted and converted into a modern flexible laboratory that promotes group interaction and incorporates the new technology of digital microscopy.

The anatomy lab is also undergoing upgrades. The space of the former classroom 1191, across from the Alumni/ Faculty Lounge, is being incorporated The proposed floor plan for the new Student Services Center. Construction on the into a new Student Services Center that center is slated for completion in July.

Large Animal Hospital Construction Plans The Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine will be embarking upon the most significant development campaign in its history. We have created a vision for the future that will build on our strengths and position PVM as the leader in teaching the veterinary team. A large portion of this plan involves the construction of a major new facility to house a new, state-of-the-art large animal hospital.

A task force made up of faculty and staff has been meeting with the architectural firm, FWAJDB, since last

An architect’s rendering of the proposed Purdue Veterinary Medicine campus, including a new large animal hospital.

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fall. The group meets monthly and has been gathering information from faculty and staff from all parts of the School to identify needs for a new large animal hospital and to develop a master plan for the PVM complex. A preliminary location for the new hospital has been selected, and awaits University approval. The proposed site on South River Road, is situated in proximity to the path for the new US 231 bypass that is under construction.

The new large animal hospital will include space for medical and surgical suites, digital imaging, equine sports medicine, theriogenology, intensive care, isolation, and large animal research complexes along with an ambulatory garage and storage space. The hospital will be divided into food animal and equine sections. It also will include a large conference space which will serve as the instructional heart of the new building, and provide an exceptional venue for students and faculty to learn. Current projections show that the new large animal hospital would cover 160,000 square feet. The present facility is only 35,000-40,000 square feet.

Stay tuned as we build the future of Purdue Veterinary Medicine – together!

Regional Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center Update On April 14, 2011 members of the Dean’s Advisory Board for Equine met to discuss the preliminary architecture plan for the Purdue University Regional Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center at Shelbyville.

Dean Willie Reed and Mr. David Post, project manager for Moody Nolan, addressed the group and presented the preliminary plans for the facility. The exchange provided valuable insight from the “client” perspective that was then shared with the internal planning committee and acted upon. We are pleased and excited at this time to share with you preliminary renderings and the site development plan.

Just one week later, on April 20th the School closed on the purchase of a 71 acre site where the facility will be located. Only 20 acres are needed for this facility’s purposes. The remainder of the land will be retained for

possible future development. The site will be owned by the Purdue Research Foundation and loaned to the University.

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and donors we have raised $3 million to date. The School has committed to raising the $12 million needed to support this project through private fundraising. Your contributions toward this goal will enable the School to move steadily toward the completion of this new and exciting project that will deliver specialty referral services to a growing industry in Indiana. More than 50 opportunities are available to name spaces, either for you or in recognition of others who have influenced you, the School and the profession of equine veterinary medicine. The gift amount can be pledged for three to five years and you may use multiple asset options to maximize your charitable gift deductions.

Equine Center Naming Opportunities Contact Carol Willoughby, PVM director of advancement, at (800) 830-0104 for additional details.

Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center

$2,700,000

Surgical suite Large exam room Standard exam room Laboratory Surgery Induction/recovery area Surgical prep Pharmacy

$500,000 $100,000 $50,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000 $25,000

Imaging suite MRI Video endoscope Digital X-ray Nuclear imaging Ultrasound C-arm Advanced shockwave therapy

$850,000 $250,000 $150,000 $75,000 $50,000 $30,000 $20,000 $15,000

Conference center Reception Lobby Consultation room Veterinarian’s office Business office

$500,000 $250,000 $50,000 $30,000 $25,000 $15,000

Stall suite Holding stall Mare & foal stall Standard stall Isolation stall Lameness corridor On-call suite

$100,000 $10,000 $7,000 $5,000 $5,000 $15,000 $15,000

Outdoor Opportunities Fencing Landscaping Roofed round pen Signage Large paddock Outdoor lameness track Overnight parking Storage buildings Small paddock

$200,000 $50,000 $40,000 $25,000 $20,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $10,000

Endowed Positions Surgeon DVM Veterinary Technologist

$1,500,000 $1,000,000 $500,000

Indoor Riding Arena

$1,000,000

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Discovery

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“ ” A Tail of Two Species Why White-Tailed Deer and Timber Rattlesnakes Piqued the Interest of PVM

by Kay Hagen Research underway in Dr. Roman Pogranichniy’s laboratory is linking a common cattle disease to whitetailed deer in Indiana.

Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) is an economically important disease that is estimated to cause between $760 million and $2.2 billion in losses each year for cattle producers in the United States. Both cattle producers and veterinarians have campaigned for the eradication of this disease.

“In order for a control program to be successful, the source of infection needs to be understood to prevent reintroduction to herds that are free of infection,” says Dr. Pogranichniy, associate professor of virology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology.

He postulated that white-tailed deer could be a reservoir for the disease. So in 2006, Dr. Pogranichniy, with cooperation from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, began collecting samples from white-tailed deer harvested by hunters. Indiana hunters are required to “check in” their deer at DNR-approved stations, and these check-in stations provided an ideal place to gather ear notch samples from the deer for further testing.

“One positive sample from a lymph node, and one positive ear notch from two different white-tailed deer were BVDV positive,” says Dr. Pogranichniy. From those samples he was able to determine that a small percentage of white-tailed deer in Indiana were infected with BVDV. “White-tailed deer and cattle do share common pastures,” says Dr. Pogranichniy. So the next step was to determine if deer could transmit the virus to cattle.

A subsequent study showed that calves can be infected with BVDV from white-tailed deer. Dr. Pogranichniy says this underscores the importance of taking wild animals into account when creating disease prevention protocols.

“BVDV from wild deer can be transmitted to calves through oral or nasal pathways. These animals co-mingle because they may share the same pasture,” he says.

These findings could be especially important to cattle producers with cows on pasture.

If a cow is infected with the virus during gestation, embryonic death, abortion and congenital defects can occur. Additionally, calves born to infected mothers may present with fever, discharge from the nose and eyes, profuse diarrhea and mucosal lesions.

But perhaps more importantly says Dr. Pogranichniy, “Fetuses between 18 and 125 days of gestation that survive infection with BVDV invariably develop immune tolerance to the virus and are born persistently infected (PI).”

Persistently infected animals shed large amounts of virus during their lifetime and are the primary spreaders of the virus in the herd.

Additionally, they do not respond to treatments for, or vaccinations against BVDV. Dr. Pogranichniy is continuing his work with BVDV and is investigating management practices related to prevention and control in Indiana. He will present information about ever-changing viruses, including BVDV at the Purdue Veterinary Medicine 2011 Fall Conference in September. His research is available through PubMed.gov.

While Dr. Pogranichniy’s research focuses on a wellloved species, Dr. Steve Thompson, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, is focusing on a much-maligned animal.

Over 50 technician and veterinary students have helped implant radio transmitters into timber rattlesnakes, exposing them to conservation and wildlife cooperatives within the university and the state.

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The timber rattlesnake is an endangered species that may have a future in Indiana thanks to Dr. Thompson’s partnership with the College of Agriculture’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

“We both have our place in the ecosystem,” Dr. Thompson says. “In addition, if an animal becomes extinct, we may never know the uses we might have found for it.

There is medical research being done using other reptile venom for treatment of diseases such as diabetes.”

Once found in abundance in the woods and hills of Indiana, researchers now have a hard time finding the snakes. Dr. Thompson is implanting radio transmitters in the snakes so the IDNR and Purdue biologists can monitor their movement and hibernation. The snake can live to be 20 years old, but is endangered largely because of habitat loss and human persecution.

So far, Dr. Thompson and a team of Purdue surgeons that includes Dr. David Huse, of the Department of Basic

Medical Sciences, Dr. Nic Lambrechts, of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, and Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinician Dr. Lori Corriveau (PU DVM ’99), have implanted 86 transmitters. Some of the transmitters have been replacements because the batteries last only two to three years and 2011 is the fifth year for the project.

Undergraduate student biologists search southern Indiana habitats three times a week and bring the snakes they find into a lab where the device, which is about the size of a AA battery or C battery, are implanted.

Close to 40 snakes are being tracked this summer with the devices, recording their habitat and environmental data. These snakes are typically two- to five-feet-long and can weigh up to six or seven pounds.

“Pain management is included during and after the surgery, so activity levels have been observed to be absolutely normal after the surgery,” says Dr. Thompson.

“The snakes eat, shed their skin and move about regularly.

Implanted females have had young while the transmitters

Dr. Steve Thompson implants a radio transmitter into a timber rattlesnake captured in southern Indiana with assistance from Dr. David Huse. The battery powered transmitter will omit a signal for about two years before needing to be replaced.

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are in place.” Dr. Thompson says timber rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, which means the eggs hatch inside the female and the snakes are delivered from the cloaca.

When a snake is brought in to have a transmitter implanted, it is placed in a clear three-foot-long tube that circulates general anesthesia while protecting the surgeons and handlers from the snake’s head and fangs.

Dr. Thompson inserts the transmitter in the back half of the snake behind the stomach then closes the incision

with absorbable sutures and tissue glue. The snake is then released in the same GPS location where it was found.

The rattlesnake project is part of a large collaborative project including the Department of Natural Resources, Purdue and other universities called the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment. The purpose of the project is to determine the ecological and social impacts of long-term forest management on public and private lands in Indiana and the central hardwoods region.

Purdue Veterinary M edicine Fall Conference September 20 - 23, 2011 Purdue University/University Plaza Hotel

Register Now! www.vet.purdue.edu/fallconference

...educating today’s TEAM to impact tomorrow 2011 Discovery 

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Alumni

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to

Exotics PVM Alumni Make Their Mark Caring for the World's More Unusual Animals With a campus set in the midst of Indiana’s corn and soybean fields, Purdue University may seem an unlikely training ground for veterinarians who have a knack for treating exotic and aquatic species, and managing the facilities that house such animals. Nevertheless, since the first class of Purdue veterinarians graduated a half-century ago, the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine has produced a cadre of specialists who today are leaders in exotic and aquatic medicine. The following story pulls back the curtain on the remarkable careers of these Purdue Veterinary Medicine pioneers.

by Kevin Doerr When Curtis Eng (PU DVM ‘88) set foot in Lynn Hall as a first year veterinary student in 1984, he seemed an unlikely candidate to succeed at achieving his dream of becoming a zoo veterinarian. He had only decided in his junior year of undergraduate studies at Purdue that he even wanted to go to veterinary school. Moreover, he was in Indiana – not known as a home where the exotic animals roam. “When I went through clinics, their sense of exotics was parakeets and guinea pigs,” comments Dr. Eng. But, today, he is living his dream as the chief veterinarian and director of health services for the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical gardens. Additionally, he serves as the manager of the California Condor Program for the zoo. A typical day includes bits and pieces of more than a dozen major areas of responsibility, including: managing the entire veterinary medical program which includes but is not limited to providing internal medicine and surgical services, and round the clock veterinary care and specialty care as needed; evaluating and consulting on nutritional services and diets; assisting with animal husbandry decisions, including reviewing new and modified exhibits; assuring building maintenance on a more than 29,000 square foot hospital; and developing and managing a yearly departmental budget of almost $1 million annually.

“While I had always hoped to end up in a zoo setting, I could never have imagined ending up at a large institution such as this,” Dr. Eng remarks. “Having the ability to work on such a diverse collection and then getting to do

actual conservation work on animals in the wild is really overwhelming sometimes. I am very fortunate to have these opportunities.”

The dream, however, was a long-time coming and required a lot of sacrifice. “As you can imagine, just getting into and through veterinary school is a challenge,” he says.

“If you are fortunate enough to do so, then getting a zoo vet position is the ultimate challenge. Fortunately when I was going through this, I got into this field the old fashioned way, through-on-the job training.”

Dr. Eng says even though Purdue was short on opportunities to work on exotic animals, “Where Purdue did help me is that they provided me the foundation in basic pathophysiology and medical principles to become a very good veterinarian. Understanding how organs work and how diseases occur and develop are underlying principles

(left) Dr. Eng with a Koala [not a Koala Bear]

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that need to be understood regardless of what field of veterinary medicine you pursue. “And that is what Purdue provides... a solid course of education, focusing on the basics of medicine. Purdue provides the framework from which it is the expectation that each student will expand,” he says.

Dr. Eng also says he actually did have the opportunity to take some courses in exotics on a voluntary basis and some exotics were treated in the clinics. “I adopted my first pet, a guinea pig, from my 4th year surgical rotation,” he recalls.

After earning his Purdue DVM degree, Dr. Eng found that the hard work was only beginning. He spent seven years doing weekly volunteering and learning the trade of zoo medicine at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago before he was offered a part time position. “During this time I was working in a small animal/exotic hospital to strengthen my basic medicine skills plus moonlighting at another clinic, so it was seven days a week working,” he remembers.

“Through private practice I learned how to work with clients and communicate medical conditions,” he adds.

His Lincoln Park Zoo experience gave him the confidence to accept a full time position at the much

Dr. Mullican “behind the scenes” at the world’s largest aquarium.

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smaller Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Ind. Though this position gave him a chance to grow and become a better zoo veterinarian, the smaller collection at that zoo left him restless for another opportunity. He then accepted an offer to be the chief veterinarian for the Phoenix Zoo, which then led to his current position at the Los Angeles Zoo. “There is something so innately satisfying working with zoo animals,” he explains. “And it is that satisfaction that makes all the sacrifice and hard work worth it.”

Aqua-sized Another story about an unlikely dream job involves Purdue veterinary graduate Tim Mullican (PU DVM ‘84), who came to West Lafayette from Evansville, Ind., with a longtime interest in fish, which isn’t all that easy to pursue in Indiana either. However, during his preveterinary undergraduate studies at the University of Dayton in Ohio, he had learned about what was then a new program called “Aqua Vet.” After he came to Purdue, then Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine Jack Stockton approached him with some very good news: the School would contribute $500 so he could participate in the Aqua Vet Program.

The 30 day Aqua Vet learning experience took place at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, in Massachusetts. It included wet labs, classes and field trips. Dr. Mullican recalls it as one of the most enjoyable things he has done. He met and learned from a diverse group of fish biologists, Ph.D. researchers and industry representatives. But, despite the memorable experience, Dr. Mullican put off his interest in aquatics after graduation and instead entered private practice in the race-horse industry in Kentucky and Ohio. After ten years in equine medicine at a practice he founded in Cincinnati, Dr. Mullican left private practice to work with his wife, Dawn in a medical marketing and publishing company she had started. He says the opportunity was wellsuited to him, since, as a veterinarian, he had the medical knowledge and background to communicate effectively with the physician clients.

Unknown to Dr. Mullican at the time, it was this very opportunity that brought him to his first break in the aquarium business. In 1997, construction began on a brand new aquarium just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati in Newport, Kentucky. Through his wife’s contacts, he learned that the new aquarium director was looking for a consulting veterinarian, and he got the assignment.

The facility was a medium size aquarium with fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. In his new responsibility, Dr. Mullican began reaping unanticipated rewards from his participation in the Aqua Vet program years earlier. “I found that many of the people I had met through Aqua Vet and gone on to become veterinarians at aquariums, faculty at schools, or specialists in aquaculture. These individuals

Dr. Scott McDonald examining a bird at one of many bird clinics across the country.

became an important network of people to interact with,” says Dr. Mullican.

Another mark in Dr. Mullican’s favor was his familiarity with profit and loss statements and other financial aspects of running a business. His combination of business sense and medical training made him the likely choice for a promotion, and he became the Aquarium’s executive director within four years.

With an eye open to other opportunities, Dr. Mullican then left the Newport Aquarium to become a consultant for a new aquarium that was to be built in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but the plans for that facility fell through and it was never built. As Dr. Mullican looked for another opportunity, a door opened at the Georgia Aquarium, and in 2008 he accepted the position of director of veterinary medicine.

He was promoted to vice president for veterinary medicine and husbandry, and then was promoted again to his present position of vice president of zoological operations.

“I am responsible for all animal operations at the aquarium except the clinical veterinarians,” explains Dr. Mullican.

His responsibilities include life support engineering, water quality control, and oversight of the four curators who manage the different sections of the animal collection.

“My job is to be the liaison for that side of the business – to make sure those groups work together, and then to also

work with the finance and public relations areas to make sure the zoological side is well integrated with the rest of the enterprise and has what it needs to move forward.”

It’s a daunting challenge. Still able to boast that it is the largest in the world, the Georgia Aquarium, which opened in 2005, holds 10,000,000 gallons of water and supports 600 different species, amounting to some 20,000 animals as well as corals.

Though his position does not involve the kind of clinical medicine he thought he would do working at an aquarium, he sees his job as a great fit for his particular combination of medical knowledge and business savvy. “I like the variety of things I can do. I not only am involved in the daily operations but also am included in strategic planning for the aquarium.”

Birds of a feather…

Other Purdue graduates have found their dream job in private practice treating exotic pets or birds. Dr. Scott McDonald (PU DVM ‘75), of Indianapolis, originally wanted to become a zoo veterinarian before discovering his interest in running an exclusively avian, multi-state specialty practice. When he was growing-up, he loved spending time at the Indianapolis Zoo. But, as an Indiana resident bound for veterinary school at Purdue, he realized that on-campus opportunities to pursue his interest in

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exotics would be few and far between. Moreover, there were only two internships and no residencies available at the time anywhere across the country. “After graduating in 1975,” he recalls, “I joined a small animal practice in Chicago and became well grounded in medicine and surgery.“ Meanwhile, a zoo medicine residency was being started at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis).

“Three years after veterinary school, my break came, and I was accepted into the residency program.”

As a new resident, Dr. McDonald realized that much of the exotics case load consisted of pet birds, and his interest in avian medicine took off. He also took advantage of an opportunity that involved new technology at the time.

Endoscopes and laparoscopes had just come on the scene and Dr. McDonald recognized the value of these tools in developing a method for surgically sexing birds, which have internal sex organs. He became the first person to provide such a service in northern California. “I perfected the technique and ran with it and turned it into a business.

I can do the procedure in four minutes.” As word got around about his success, the demand for his service grew.

To help aviculturists who had lots of birds that needed sexing, Dr. McDonald started taking his service on the road, and his Veterinary Mobile Office was born – a service that continues to this day.

“It’s true that I do much the same thing every day,” observes Dr. McDonald. “But it’s the travel that keeps the job interesting for me – going to the clients and working side-by-side with them. The relationships I can build with

them and the opportunity to regularly travel to different communities is what I truly love about this job.”

Dr. McDonald’s travel is no small matter, either. After he concluded his residency at Davis, he returned to Chicago in 1980 and worked as a staff veterinarian for the Brookfield Zoo for five years. However, Dr. McDonald’s clients in California still requested his avian services because they had no one else to turn to. “So I started traveling back to California twice a year. Then two trips a year became three.

My business also expanded into Oregon and Washington.

In addition, I also travel to many states in the Midwest, and the Southeast. Thanks to my understanding wife, it’s an arrangement that has proved to be my dream job.”

Over the years, Dr. McDonald has had to cope with changes in the nature of his practice. “Twenty-five years ago, 95% of what I did was surgical sexing. Today it is probably less than 20%. I see far more pet birds for routine examinations and grooming…” he explains. “These changes reflect a decline in the breeding of birds because the demand for exotic birds, primarily parrots, has waned. Additionally, the introduction of DNA technology has given aviculturists a non-invasive option for surgical sexing.”

Nevertheless, Dr. McDonald has no regrets. His advice for today’s students who want to develop a career in avian or exotics, is the same as Dr. Eng’s and Dr. Mullican’s – persevere, work hard, and remember, it’s what you do after you graduate that tends to make the biggest difference.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine's Avian, Aquatics and Exotics Dream Team Here is a “line-up” of other Purdue Veterinary Medicine alumni who have achieved success in exotic, aquatic and avian medicine Dr. Andy Stamper (PU DVM ’93), • Research Biologist and Clinical Veterinarian, Disney’s Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives • Orlando, Fla • Years on staff: 10 Background: Dr. Stamper had a strong interest in marine animals in veterinary school, and the faculty was supportive in enabling him to apply traditional medicine to unusual situations, which gave him a lot of confidence. He also was able to learn from marine animal-related externships. After graduation he was able to obtain positions at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, North Carolina State University as a Zoological/Aquatic Resident and the New England Aquarium before joining Disney. “I love the diversity of my job. Each day is very different. I am able to make a difference in the world. My primary research activities at “The Seas” exhibit in Disney World’s Epcot Center is on how dolphins think and communicate, and developing different techniques for providing health care for the aquatic animals that are tended by humans. I also have had the opportunity to be involved in marine conservation and educational outreach programs around the world.”

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Dr. Michael Murray (PU DVM ’77) • Staff Veterinarian, Monterey Bay Aquarium, consultant at the Avian and Exotic Clinic • Monterey, Calif.

• Years on Aquarium Staff: 16 as consulting veterinarian (no full time position at the time) 7 as full-time veterinarian Background: In veterinary school, Dr. Murray took every opportunity to work with exotics, including a poultry block and an externship. After six years in US Army Veterinary Corps, he entered a traditional companion animal practice, seeing all their exotics. He also served as a consulting veterinarian for a variety of conservation-related wildlife groups. After six years of “mixed” dog/cat and exotics practice, he started an avian/exotics only practice in 1989 and left in 2004 to start full time at Monterey Bay Aquarium. “I love the challenges of working with such a broad spectrum of species, most of which are rarely if ever presented in the literature. This job places me in a role in which I not only practice clinical medicine, but also am heavily involved in conservation efforts, research, public awareness/outreach, and zoo/aquarium industry-related work.”

Dr. Leslie “Les” Martin Dalton (PU DVM ’77) • Staff Veterinarian, SeaWorld • San Antonio, Texas • Years on staff: 24 Background: Dr. Dalton went to Barrow, Alaska in 1979 as a Research Veterinarian in the Army assigned to the Navy and responsible for the use and care of arctic mammals at the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory. When the facility closed in 1981, he was released from active military duty and went to work for the North Slope Borough Health Department as their Public Health Officer/Veterinarian. In July of 1981, six walrus pups were found orphaned on the beach and were transported to Sea World in San Diego. He was offered a job that year but declined. In 1987, he was again offered a job as the staff veterinarian with the SeaWorld park being completed in San Antonio, Texas and he accepted. “Every day is different, fun, and exciting. We have over 5,000 specimens representing 391 species in our park which includes killer whales, dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions, birds and fish.”

Dr. Larry Nemetz (PU DVM ’87) • Owner, The BIRD Clinic Veterinary Corporation • Orange, Calif • Years in Avian Practice: 24 Background: Dr. Nemetz always was interested in birds. With the help of an upperclassman in veterinary school at Purdue, he heard some avian lectures and became hopeful that a bird-only veterinary practice might be possible. By doing relief work during the day after graduation, and then borrowing another veterinarian’s clinic to do avian medicine in the evening, his idea for an avian-only practice began to take flight. A front page story in the LA Times in 1989 tripled his business overnight. In 1991 he built his first clinic that was totally his own and three years later the practice had become 100 percent avian. He says bird only clinics are rare, and he loves the fact that his hobby actually became his career. “Working 7:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. and saving birds is still something I get a thrill out of. When work is your fun, it’s not work. I also enjoy teaching other veterinarians.”

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Dr. Todd Driggers (PU DVM ’94) • Veterinarian, Avian & Exotic Animal Clinic of Arizona • Chief Veterinarian for Phoenix Herpetological Society and the Oasis Sanctuary • Mesa, Ariz.

• Years in exotic animal practice: 17 (15 exclusive) Background: After graduating from the mixed animal track, he moved to Arizona in 1995 as the head of a multi-doctor specialty practice. In 1997 he started an exclusive exotic animal mobile practice to enable a thorough understanding of how birds and reptiles were being cared for in private homes.

In 2004, the practice migrated to a stationary facility with mobile service offered to small zoological and large rescue and aviculture facilities. “I enjoy incorporating species specific biological information in integrative veterinary medicine. It is wonderful to be educated in such a way where you can be taught how to problem solve and find practical and innovative ways to apply medicine and surgery to many unique species.”

Dr. Steven D. Osborn (PU DVM ’83) • Staff Veterinarian, SeaWorld • San Antonio, Texas • Years on staff: 6 Background: Dr. Osborn started out as an associate veterinarian in a small animal practice in Fort Wayne, Ind. for two years. Then he entered the US Army Veterinary Corps where he ultimately focused on clinical military veterinary medicine. When he retired from the military after 20 years, his experience along with some “luck” and good timing secured him a position at SeaWorld San Antonio.

“You just never know where a career in veterinary medicine will take you. The diversity of opportunities drew me to the field initially and then held me there. While at Purdue, I certainly never dreamed of the places I would live and work or the variety of animals I would work with over my career.

I also want to thank Dr. Dalton for being my friend, partner and mentor at SeaWorld. He taught me a great deal of what I know about aquatic animal medicine.”

Dr. Maryanne E. Tocidlowski, (PU DVM ’93) • Associate Veterinarian, Houston Zoo, Inc. • Houston, Texas • Years on Staff: 14 Background: Dr. Tocidlowski completed a one year small animal internship, then a zoological medicine residency at North Carolina State University with the North Carolina Zoo, before coming to Houston to accept the position as an associate veterinarian. “I like the daily and day to day variety, the challenges that I face when treating or taking care of exotic and unusual animals. Zoo veterinarians are the true generalists.”

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Dr. Angela Lennox (PU DVM ’89) • Owner, Avian and Exotic Animal Clinic • Past president, Assoc. of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians • Indianapolis, Ind. • 20 Years in exotic animal practice Background: After graduating from the mixed animal track, Dr. Lennox worked one year in traditional canine/feline practice. Then in 1991 she took a position with Purdue alumna Nicole VanDerHeyden (PU DVM ’85) who was running one of the nation's very first all exotic clinics in Indianapolis. She has never looked back since. When asked what she has liked best about the career path she chose, she commented, “It’s different every single day!”

Dr. Susan A. Brown (PU DVM ’76, PVM Distinguished Alumnus Award ’98) • Founder, Midwest Bird & Exotic Animal Hospital and Rosehaven Exotic Animal Veterinary Services • Batavia, Ill. • 31 years in exotic animal practice Background: Dr. Brown professes a love from childhood for unusual pets, caring for animals ranging from rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and chinchillas to lizards, snakes, turtles and parrots. Four years after graduating from Purdue, she switched to practicing exotic animal veterinary medicine exclusively. In 1985, she founded the Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital in Westchester, Ill, as the first all exotic animal veterinary hospital in the country. Her partner, Richard Nye, later became her husband and when they sold the practice in 2004, it had grown to a staff of five full and part-time veterinarians and a support staff of 20.

Three years later, she started the Rosehaven Exotic Animal Veterinary Services, which is a consulting service aimed at primarily helping shelters and animal control facilities that manage exotic pets. Currently she is involved in teaching clients the science of behavior and positive reinforcement training for any species of companion animal from exotics to farm animals in order to enrich the relationship with their human caregivers. “I have greatly enjoyed taking care of these special animals and being an advocate in the veterinary profession to improve the quality of the care we

give. I am a firm believer in the power of education – the more educated a person is about the animal for which they are providing care, the higher the quality of life will be for that animal.”

Pioneering Spirit Leaves "Exotic" Legacy Dr. Tom Van Cise earned his Purdue Veterinary Medicine DVM degree in 1974, and then moved to California, where he specialized in treating exotic animals and in 1981 purchased the “All Animals Exotic or Small Hospital” in Norco, Calif. Known by his clients as “Dr. V,” he became renowned for a blend of alternative and conventional medicine that sought to provide pet owners as many options as possible for caring for their exotic and small animal companions.

His career spanned more than 35 years before he died of a heart attack in December, 2010, at the age of 60. He is remembered as a veterinarian who above all, shined with true compassion for helping all living creatures.

His compassion also was evidenced by his decision in 2001 to create a provision in his will for a six figure gift in support of Purdue Veterinary Medicine and scholarships for Purdue veterinary students.

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Delivery 22 ďƒś 2011 PVM Report

Oh My! Lions,

Zebras andLizards

Experiencing the Wild Side of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue

by Kay Hagen On any given day it’s not uncommon to walk through the hallways of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital and see a myriad of cats, dogs and horses, but sometimes those hallways can be more like a walk on the “wild side.”

Recently, fourth year veterinary student Janet Behm was thrilled to find Ten Dai (pronounced Ten Day-uh), a nine-month-old zebra on her list of clients.

“I’m interested in marine mammal and zoo medicine,” she says. “I did a lot of research once I found out he would be one of my cases.”

While not exactly a run of the mill patient, Ten Dai did present with a very common equine ailment, colic. Hospital records show that VTH surgeons perform around 80 colic surgeries every year. And research shows there are about 400,000 cases of equine colic in the United States annually.

Even though it’s common, Ten Dai’s owner was rightfully concerned.

“It was about 9 a.m. Sunday morning when I went out to the barn and you could tell he had rolled all night,” says Ten Dai’s owner, Melinda Hughes of Hillsdale, Ind. The normally rambunctious zebra was so weak he could barely stand.

Hughes’ local veterinarian, Dr. Ted Harpold (PU’ DVM ’95) answered the emergency call, passed a nasogastric tube in the zebra and removed about two pints of reflux, she says.

By that time Hughes had called Dr. Jan Hawkins, an associate professor of large animal surgery, who was involved when Ten Dai came to the VTH for gelding in March 2011.

“Dr. Harpold talked with Dr. Hawkins, left the tube in and helped us load him into the trailer,” Hughes says.

“They knew then that he was a candidate for surgery.”

Dr. Karine Pader, a large animal surgery resident, was on call when Ten Dai required emergency colic surgery.

“Zebras are wild animals, so they are much more sensitive to anesthesia,” says Dr. Pader. “But, besides the stripes the anatomy is identical.”

She removed almost 50 percent of Ten Dai’s small intestine during his colic surgery because even with his owner’s early detection, most of Ten Dai’s small intestine was affected. The surgery was a success despite having a larger than normal amount of intestine removed. It’s usually possible to remove up to 40 percent with few effects.

While recuperating Ten Dai was under Behm’s care.

“I treated him with a lot of respect, and we were on the cautious side with drugs. We kept him on a bit shorter of a time period for medications because we didn’t want to inject him too often,” she says.

After a week-long stay in the last stall of Ward 3, he was able to go home. Hughes also has noticed an interesting side-effect of his visit to the hospital.

“He’s much less afraid of strangers,” she says.

Prior to his hospitalization, Ten Dai preferred to keep four to five feet between himself and people, now he’ll approach strangers.

“We had a local newspaper guy out yesterday and he actually tried to take a paper out of the guy’s hands,” Hughes says.

The clinicians and staff of the Large Animal Hospital have had their share of experience with exotic animal species. Just last year an adult camel with a foot injury took

(left) Prior to moving to an animal sanctuary, several wolves “stopped” by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for spay or castration procedures. (right) Dr. Janet Behm (PU DVM ‘11) with Ten Dai, a zebra who underwent colic surgery in the VTH.

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up residence in Ward 1 of the hospital. On another occasion a younger camel was brought in for castration.

Most of these animals belong to people who operate private zoos or have other reasons for owning them, but it’s not just current-day clients who have brought in exotic species. A search through School archives revealed past work with elephants and lions as well.

The Large Animal Hospital isn’t the only place to encounter wildlife, and less-than-usual pets. Dr. Lori Corriveau (PU DVM ‘99), a Small Animal Community Practice wellness clinician, frequently sees patients of a more exotic variety.

One such case was, Jari, an egg-bound bearded dragon.

“Jari came in because she hadn’t eaten for several days, was lethargic and had brown liquid refluxing,” says Dr. Corriveau. “It turns out she had peritonitis from being egg bound.”

Dr. Corriveau prescribed antibiotics and scheduled Jari for surgery. “It went well. We removed the ovaries, oviduct and some free-floating eggs.”

Jari was a bit slow to recover from anesthesia, but she was up and around that evening and was able to go home.

“She was almost 100 percent healed a week later,” says Dr. Corriveau.

Jari’s owner Marilee Cook (DVM Class of 2013) is a veterinary student who provides excellent diet and living conditions says Dr. Corriveau, but it’s pretty common for bearded dragons to become egg bound. Veterinarians see the condition in snakes and turtles as well.

On other occasions Dr. Corriveau, or other clinicians in the Small Animal Hospital, have seen skunks, wolves, monkeys, and a host of snakes, lizards and pocket pets.

For one unique case Dr. Corriveau performed surgery to remove a tumor from the abdomen of a seven pound Koi fish named Karla. The anesthesia was dissolved in water and a tube of water was inserted into the mouth to keep her gills wet and allow her to breathe.

While the majority of the approximately 13,300 cases seen each year in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital are for traditional pets, there seems to be a growing population of “exotic” pets and livestock like Ten Dai and Jari who require care. That suits the expanding interests of the future veterinarians that the School is teaching.

“I was excited to have an experience that I didn’t think I was going to get at Purdue,” says Behm.

Dr. Lori Corriveau (top left) leads a team of veterinary technicians, residents and students during a surgery to remove a tumor from “Karla” the Koi fish.

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Saying Goodbye Dr. H. Leon Thacker Retires After 33 Years at Purdue

“Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and again,” are humble words from Dr. H. Leon Thacker, a great man and true friend of Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and the veterinary profession.

After several earlier attempts, Dr. Thacker, officially retired on June 18. The PVM family hosted a retirement reception in Leon and Rita Thacker’s honor at Historic Prophetstown. In true “Thacker style” the traditional hog roast was the perfect send off for a man who spent the majority of his career serving rural Indiana.

A 1965 DVM graduate of the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Thacker went on to earn his Ph.D. in 1976. He worked tirelessly to solve problems for livestock producers throughout his 45 year career, beginning with his role as a private practitioner in Campbellsville and Cynthiana, Ky., then as a Purdue faculty member, director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and most recently as Interim Department Head for Comparative Pathobiology.

Under Dr. Thacker’s directorship, the ADDL advanced the health of animal populations and contributed to the economic vitality of rural Indiana.

During his tenure, the ADDL assisted the Indiana Board of Animal Health, swine producers and swine veterinarians in the eradication of pseudorabies from

Indiana. He also worked to unravel the complexities of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome, a disease that has caused widespread chronic infections in swine.

Willie M. Reed, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, says Dr. Thacker has made more contributions to the rural people of Indiana and to our nation in the field of animal disease diagnostics than any alumnus of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

“He served the veterinary and agricultural communities in Indiana with distinction, and his commitment to transferring knowledge and helping our rural citizens has never wavered,” Reed says.

Dr. Thacker served as chair of the Accreditation Committee of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, during which time the organization became recognized worldwide as the accrediting body for U.S. veterinary diagnostic laboratories.

He later became president of the organization and received the Pope Memorial Award, the highest recognition bestowed on a member. The Indiana Veterinary Medical Association selected Dr. Thacker as Veterinarian of the Year in 2009, when Gov. Mitch Daniels also honored him as a Sagamore of the Wabash.

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Engagement

Poultry Veterinarian Dr. Pat Wakenell with Center for Inquiry #2 student Emma.

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PVM Ambassadors and Veterinary Exotic Animal Club Members

Pay it Forward Ever heard of the Columbian Park Zoo Ambassadors?

These chinchillas, prairie dogs, guinea pigs, hedgehogs and other critters travel with a zoo educator as part of the ZooMobile program to teach kids and adults in our community about exotic animal care and behavior. These animals contribute a lot to our community, but back at the zoo, their enclosures were becoming outdated.

Veterinary students Kimberly Anderson (DVM Class of 2012) and Geoff Lossie (DVM Class of 2014) diligently constructed enclosures for the Columbian Park Zoo’s Animal Ambassadors.

Next, meet the kids in the Hanna Community Center After School Program  kindergarten through sixth grade students working hard to build their skills in subjects including math and reading. They really wanted to meet the Zoo Ambassadors and Vanessa Hale (DVM Class of 2012) PVM Ambassador, and member of the Veterinary Exotic Animal Club helped make that dream a reality when she wrote a proposal for, and was awarded, a grant from Purdue University’s Office of Engagement to bring everyone together and support the Lafayette-West Lafayette community.

The award money purchased supplies to build new cages for the zoo ambassadors. Hale, along with classmate Kimberly Anderson, Maggie Placer (DVM Class of 2014), Geoff Lossie (DVM Class of 2014), and Jeremy Hale assembled four new enclosures for the Columbian Park Zoo. The Hanna students helped out too. They held a penny drive to purchase enrichment items for the enclosure and raised $24.84, enough to buy eight enrichment items for the zoo’s animal ambassadors.

In return, the ZooMobile, complete with animal ambassadors and educators, visited the Hanna Community Center for a very special after school program. Hanna students were thrilled to meet a baby alligator, a giant opossum, an armadillo and others. Before and after the live animal presentations, nine veterinary students, who are PVM Ambassadors and Veterinary Exotics Club members, led activities focusing on exotic animals and their care.

Organizers say everyone had a wonderful time and learned about exotic animals.

Raising Poultry  Veterinarians, That Is The NIH/NCRR/SEPA-funded “Fat Dogs and Coughing Horses” program recently had an unexpected, yet wonderful outcome. Last year, a third grade activity book was developed to highlight Purdue scientists, including Dr. Pat Wakenell, poultry veterinarian. As part of the program, Dr. Wakenell visits third graders at a PVM partner school, Center for Inquiry #2 in Indianapolis. The annual visit is intended to make the book come alive and provide role models for the students. Dr. Wakenell didn’t visit alone though, she brought along eggs for the third grade students to incubate and explained care of the chicks upon hatching, thus preparing the students for parenthood. After the students raised the chicks at school, the parents became involved and asked if they could take the chicks home so their children could participate in 4-H. Two students showed chickens in the 4-H program. Both received blue ribbons; and one even had the Grand Champion Cockerel. Then, our future poultry veterinarian, Emma, brought to school the first egg laid by the chickens that she and her classmates had raised.

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Teaching 28 ďƒś 2011 PVM Report

Exotic Student Experiences Want to know how to secure a seal kiss while at Purdue? Tag along with the Exotics Club!

by Kelli Anne White The Exotics Club, one of many special interest clubs for Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine students, has a goal of providing an opportunity for students interested in wildlife, zoo or exotic medicine to be exposed to exactly that type of medicine while they are at Purdue. Without the Exotics Club, students interested in exotic species medicine could get some exposure to exotic animal anatomy, surgery, and medicine in elective courses.

There are also opportunities during a rotation through community practice, which sees the occasional bird, turtle, or ferret. Still others may rely on herd medicine experiences in large and food animal medicine tracks to understand how to work with group populations. Some will make the extra effort to take what they learn in domesticated species and extrapolate it to medicine in exotics.

Partially because of these reasons, the Exotics Club had approximately 75 members in 2010 says Club officer Vanessa Hale (DVM Class of 2012).

Students join for a variety of reasons. Some aspiring small animal veterinarians want experience with rabbits, guinea pigs, and other exotics, whereas some students are more interested in the reptiles and amphibians, zoo medicine, or even wildlife medicine.

“Still others,” Hale explained, “just think the activities are fun.”

Meetings are typically scheduled four times per month, and offer a vast array of wet labs, field trips, and volunteer opportunities. Hale says these meetings are a way to quench the up-and-coming veterinarian’s thirst for knowledge and exposure to exotic medicine that they may not get in the set DVM curriculum. Activities from last year included behind the scenes tours of the Shedd Aquarium and the Indianapolis Zoo; volunteering at the annual Columbian Park Halloween event, Boo at the Zoo; holding a cell phone drive to benefit Black Pine Animal Park in northern Indiana; Wet Labs for avian, small mammal, and reptile medicine; lectures by PVM alumni and others; and trips to national conferences.

On Nov. 13, 2010, several PVM Exotics Club students were given, “an incredible opportunity,” in Hale’s estimation to work alongside USDA/APHIS wildlife biologists and veterinarians at the Brookfield Reservoir where they surveyed wild deer for tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease. This partnership between the students and the deer hunting public afforded the students the opportunity to examine the heads of these animals

to sharpen their skills and assist the USDA/APHIS in detecting the diseases.

The students collected lymph node samples and prepared them for shipment to the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, located at Purdue.

Hale says, “This project was especially cool for us because it had a purpose: to keep TB [tuberculosis] out of wild deer in Indiana.” Students also were exposed to the types of opportunities open to veterinarians in the USDA/APHIS. The majority of these activities are funded by club dues or out-of-pocket by the students. Other sources include club T-shirt and donut fund-raisers and generous discounts at zoos and aquariums. The students network with Purdue alumni and local veterinarians to discover new activities. If you know of opportunities for Exotics Club members, contact co-president Tamara Kruse (DVM Class of 2013) (kruset@purdue.edu ) or faculty advisors Dr. Lori Corriveau (corrivea@purdue.edu ) or Dr. David Huse (dhuse@purdue.edu ).

DVM Class of 2012 and Exotics Club member, Helen Ingraham gets a hug from “Isabella,” a Solomon Island prehensiletailed skink, who belongs to Dr. Sandy Amass (PU DVM ‘93), PVM associate dean for engagement.

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Donors

Kathy Scheffler’s horse Aldaron Hisan enjoys romping in a snow covered pasture.

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An

Attitude Gratitude of

The story of a grateful client who discovered the transforming power of appreciation

by Becky Hershey Moving to a new area always has its challenges, but when Kathy and Jim Scheffler moved to Kokomo, Ind., in 1994, they were looking forward to country living and enjoying their Arabian horse, Gandalf Aldaron. Within a few weeks of being settled in their new home, Kathy noticed Gandalf had a scratch on his leg. The stable that kept Gandalf recommended that he be seen by Purdue equine ambulatory veterinarian Dr. Willliam Hope, now a professor emeritus. Dr. Hope treated the wound and sent Gandalf out to play. Unfortunately, Gandalf broke his leg and required immediate surgery.

The active horse presented with a radial fracture so severe that the break had moved up his entire leg to his shoulder. This type of fracture is common in performance horses and the chance of a successful repair depends largely on the temperament of the horse and its overall well-being.

While the prognosis did not appear favorable, Dr. Hope believed that there could still be a positive outcome for Gandalf, as well as a wonderful teaching opportunity for veterinary students and residents.

Engaged in over a six-hour surgery, Dr. Hope performed external fixation using screws and bone plates to stabilize the broken leg while it healed. Even though this technique has many advantages including quick healing time and less post-surgery complications, Gandalf developed an infection and was later euthanized. In the midst of her loss, Kathy and her husband, Jim, were comforted knowing that Gandalf’s case was special and that it helped provide an important learning opportunity for Purdue veterinary students. Shortly thereafter, Kathy fell in love with another Arabian horse, Aldaron Hisan, who also was cared for and treated by Dr. Hope. He is a vibrant, healthy horse that she enjoys riding through the countryside.

Through her experiences, Kathy saw first-hand how important it is for clinicians like Dr. Hope to have high quality medical and surgical care in the field. Motivated by

her deep appreciation for Dr. Hope in all that he has done for her and her animals, she inquired about how she could make a difference for Purdue ambulatory veterinarians, and especially other equine patients. Then, together with her parents, Karl and Ruth Teigler, she provided funding to purchase a portable x-ray machine. Thanks to those generous gifts, Purdue ambulatory veterinarians are now equipped with digital radiography, ultrasound units and endoscopy equipment that is available to use for farm calls.

Through the years Kathy has continued to choose the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for equine care and treatment because of the personal commitment to quality that faculty, staff and students demonstrate. She shares a passion for horses as well as other animals, including her 7 ½ year old rescue boxer, Asia, who was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital by Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate Mark Stanforth (PU DVM ’82). After seeing Asia several times, Dr. Stanforth diagnosed the boxer with a fairly aggressive form of skin cancer. He performed surgery on her foot and recommended she have follow up radiation treatments at Purdue. Dr. Wallace “Wally” Morrison, a professor of radiation oncology who has since retired, treated Asia with radiation on her lymph node and foot. After a few rounds of treatment, Asia was given a clean bill of health and has been doing great ever since.

In the spring of 2010, Kathy joined the Dean’s Advisory Board for Equine to represent the voice of pleasure horse owners and clients who would potentially use the referral services of the planned Regional Equine Diagnostic and Surgical Center at Shelbyville, Indiana. “I love being on the board”, said Scheffler. “There is much to be discovered with this project, lots of issues and lots of ideas. I look forward to what lies ahead.”

The hospital’s continuing commitment to quality care is why Kathy financially supports the VTH. “I am so thankful that Purdue was here for us over the years, and especially when we needed it most.”

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Dr. Fessler gives a special address on the history of the School in honor of the School’s 50th Anniversary at the 2009 Fall Conference Awards Banquet.

Retired Faculty Remembered for Legendary Careers The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family lost three long-time faculty members who died of natural causes this spring. Dr. John F. (Jack) Fessler, professor emeritus of large animal surgery, died April 23 in Lafayette. He was 76. Dr. Edwin H. (Ed) Page, professor emeritus of equine medicine, passed away May 21 at the age of 91. And Dr. Carlton H. (Carl) Lamar, who taught a host of Purdue veterinary students as associate professor of veterinary anatomy, died May 31 in Lafayette. He was 71. Together, these three professors served more than 90 years on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty. In each case, the families have provided instructions about where to direct memorial gifts, as detailed below.

Dr. Fessler was one of the School’s founding faculty members, arriving at Lynn Hall in 1960 as an instructor, after earning his DVM degree at the Ohio State University, where he graduated summa cum laude. In 1962, he completed his master’s degree at Purdue and was appointed assistant professor. As he rose through the professorial ranks and obtained tenure, he also served as chief of the Equine Section from 1975 to 1988, and as assistant head

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of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences from 1988 to 1990. Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), Dr. Fessler also served his chosen specialty by taking on numerous responsibilities in the ACVS, including serving as president and chairman of the Board of Regents.

During his Purdue Veterinary Medicine career, which spanned more than four decades, Dr. Fessler won several prestigious awards. He was a recipient of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Outstanding Instructor Award, and, in 1997, he was honored with both The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Alumni Recognition Award, and the ACVS Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award. The year following, he received the National Gamma Award of the Omega Tau Sigma Professional Veterinary Fraternity. In 2002, on the eve of his retirement, he was recognized as the recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

Perhaps Dr. Fessler’s greatest legacy is his success in training residents as large animal surgeons. Known for his

sometimes gruff and always tough approach to education, he became greatly admired and respected for his ability to push veterinary students and residents alike to excel and develop into truly outstanding clinicians, educators, and scholars. He also pushed himself as a researcher, launching numerous clinical investigations related to his interests in equine lameness, endotoxin shock, Salmonellosis and nosocomial infections, perioperative antibiotics and comparative orthopedics.

Dr. Fessler also was well known for his work as a clocksmith. Upon hearing of Purdue University’s plans to restore the clockworks that had been saved from the famous old Heavilon Hall clock tower, Dr. Fessler was quick to express his interest in the project and to volunteer his services. His help was accepted and in 1997 a display featuring the clockworks he fully restored was dedicated in Purdue’s Materials and Electrical Engineering Building (MSEE). Additionally, Dr. Fessler had an interest in the arts, and he was a lead volunteer for the Dog Days of Summer project jointly conducted by the veterinary school and the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, to celebrate the organizations’ 50th and 100th anniversaries, respectively.

Contributions in Dr. Fessler’s memory may be made to the Fessler Large Animal Surgery Residency Endowment Fund and/or to the First United Methodist Church Foundation or the Kiwanis Foundation. Gifts to the residency fund should be made payable to Purdue Foundation, with a notation that the gift is for the Fessler Surgery Residency Fund.

Dr. Page served on the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty for more than two decades before retiring in 1985.

A native of Glasgow, Ky., Dr. Page studied biology and music as an undergraduate student at Western Kentucky University. After his service in the Navy during World War II, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart, he taught high school biology and music for two years before joining a relative’s dairy operation, where his interest in veterinary medicine developed. He earned his DVM degree at The Ohio State University in 1953 and established a private practice in Kentucky where he worked until coming to Purdue as an associate professor in 1964.

Dr. Page was promoted to full professor in 1967 and in 1975, he became head of the Department of Large Animal Clinics, a position he held until his retirement. Widely

Dr. Fessler demonstrating an IV procedure on a cow in the early 1960s, with colleagues (left-right): Cliff Blakemore, Bob Lewis, and Andy Lavignette (identity of person on far right unknown).

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Dr. Ed Page with members of the PVM Alternative Medicine Club in April, 2009.

recognized for his expertise in equine medicine, especially equine lameness, Dr. Page was an award winning educator whose warm and caring personality endeared him to students. He also had an interest in alternative medicine that was ahead of his time, and he is considered a pioneer in the use of acupuncture in veterinary medicine.

Additionally, he was active in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, serving on committees, the board of directors, and as the association’s president. In recognition of his career, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the Large Animal Hospital was named in his honor when it was dedicated in 1992. His family has asked that gifts in his memory be made to the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Education Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to Purdue Foundation, with a notation that the gift is “IMO Dr. Page.”

Dr. Lamar was a native Dr. Page of Lebanon, Ind., and graduated in the Purdue DVM Class of 1966, which was just the fourth class to complete the DVM program after the veterinary school opened in 1959.

He also earned his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. degrees at

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Purdue. His career as a Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member spanned more than 30 years. Greatly admired and appreciated for his teaching skills and caring demeanor, Dr. Lamar was honored as the recipient of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award in 1998.

He also collaborated on development of interactive multimedia instructional programs in anatomy and physiology for use in on-campus and distance learning courses for veterinary technicians.

Additionally, he was a past Dr. Lamar president of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists. Dr. Lamar officially retired in 2007. His other interests included woodcarving, photography and singing in the choir at the Federated Church in West Lafayette, where he was a member. His family requested that gifts in his memory be made to the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Memorial gifts to any of the Purdue University funds mentioned above can be sent to the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine; Lynn Hall Room 1177A; 625 Harrison Street; West Lafayette, IN 47907.

DVM and Vet Tech Classes of 1986 We want to recognize you! Each year during the PVM Fall Conference the School honors 25th anniversary classes. While it may seem like graduation was just yesterday, we need updated pictures of each member of the DVM and Vet Tech classes of 1986 to incorporate into a special presentation at the conference.

Remind your classmates!

Please e-mail your photos to vetalumni@purdue.edu, or mail them to the Office of Advancement, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907. No photos will be harmed in the making of this presentation.

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School of Veterinary Medicine Office of Advancement 625 Harrison Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026

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