RVA Newsworthy Issue 2 2023

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Newsworthy Issue 2 / 2023

vvv

Let’s talk Business Working as a Government Vet Addressing Second Victim Phenomenon Dolphins and Pollution

Contents

222

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

4

UNIVERSITY UPDATE

10

DEAN’S LETTER

12

ANZCVS

13

10 YEARS OF GRADUATES: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

14

RESILIENCE 17 WE’RE ONLY HUMAN

20

A YEAR IN REVIEW

22

2024 CALENDAR

24

ADDRESSING THE SECOND VICTIM PHENOMENON IN THE VETERINARY INDUSTRY 26

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Editor: Man-hei Ma

FOCUS ON POCUS

28

APPROACHING BACK PAIN IN HORSES

30

Front cover: Michelle Woolfall (2014 Alumna)

WINE AND DINE

31

DOLPHINS AND POLLUTION

32

Collaborators: RVA committee

CANINE HEARTWORM PREVENTION

34

Guest Contributors:

PREPARING TO DETECT AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCY ANIMAL DISEASES (EADS) 36

Peter Atkinson, Chantelle Franklin, Alissa Hampton, Jemma Hassam, Tobi Leary, Jane Owens, Luiz Santos, Bec Souter, Nicolle Symonds, Natasha Watzdolf, Tom Westermann

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE READINESS FOR THE NEW ZEALAND RED MEAT SECTOR 38 EVERY DISEASE, ANY SPECIES, ALL OF THE QUESTIONS 40 TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

42

Join the Apiam team!

Are you seeking variety and the chance to grow and explore different practices across regional Australia?

Or do you want to find your niche and commit to a practice and community where you can establish roots?

Talk to the team at Apiam Animal Health Why choose Apiam?

• Our vision is “Healthy Animals and Happy People”.

• We are committed to our rural and regional communities.

• Strong commitment to mental health with over 50 mental wellbeing officers in clinics.

• Making on-call sustainable with a triage team that reduces vet call-outs by over 60%.

• Flexible working conditions - full time, part time, family friendly.

• Fabulous employee benefits including paid parental leave, registrations and subscriptions.

• Mentor program for recent grads.

Do You Still Have A Student Debt?

The Apiam Rural Veterinary Support/ Debt Reduction Program aims to support vets by offering 10 placements at eligible Apiam locations.

Over a 4-year period, participants can receive up to $68,800, paid in installments at the end of each 12 month period!

SCAN HERE TO LEARN MORE!

2

Contact Get toCopyright know us! © 2023.

RVA. All rights reserved. recruitment@apiam.com.au or visit apiam.com.au

Newsworthy / President’s letter

Dr Man-hei Ma

BSc(PV), DVM, GCertSAUA, MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology)

RVA President

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PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Another year has gone by and I am sure you are equally baffled by how quickly the months have been and the many more hours in a day we wish there was. Reflecting on the year, the committee has produced another outstanding calendar year alumni program.

With post COVID travelling back in full swing, many have resumed traveling and moving overseas again opening up an opportunity for the committee to survey where our graduating vets are located around the world; results of this survey have been mapped on a global map and can be found on page 14 & 15. Another stellar year for our CPD seminar program with registration numbers reaching 600 in one session! Our first season of our podcast 'RVA Presents ...' was finally released this year and each episode outline can be found on page 25 and can be listened to on any streaming platform.

This year's annual cocktail evening was held at the National Wine Centre and was attended by alumni from all years, DVM students, academics, and former Deans of the Veterinary School. We also celebrated the 10 year reunion for our 2013 cohort and welcomed Kate and Garry Putland, parents of the late Sophie Putland, to speak on 'Sophie's Legacy'. Lastly, this year's AVA conference was held in Adelaide bringing alumni far and near to the University of Adelaide Conference drinks at the Belgium Beer Café.

We thank everyone for their engagement with our survey, CPD seminars, podcast, annual cocktail evening, AVA conference drinks, and contributing to our newsletter 'Newsworthy'. Your ongoing connection with the Alumni Network not only allowed us to continue producing an annual program, but has also provided invaluable alumni data and insight for the SAVS program accreditation by Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC) for the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Our second issue of Newsworthy continues to encompass the RVA committee's goals covering mental health topics on resilience; clinical news in diagnostic imaging, second victim phenomenon in our profession, and sports equine medicine; and the latest research on dolphins and the effects our pollution has on them, and canine heartworm prevention and why we need to rethink our 'one size fits all approach'. This issue we also highlight the veterinary public health sector, pathway to pathology specialisation, and the many alumni who have embraced entrepeneurship/business ownership!

The RVA committee and myself hope you enjoy our second issue.

Happy reading!

Copyright © 2023.

RVA. rightsreserved. reserved.

Copyright © 2023.

RVA. AllAll rights

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Dear Alumni and Newsworthy readers,

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Newsworthy

Guest Contributors Dr Nicolle Symonds

BSc, DVM, MVCS, MVS, MANZCVS DipACV Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (Equine) Registered Specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation After graduating from the University of Adelaide in 2014, Nicolle completed a 12month rotating internship at Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital and then spent 9months locuming in equine general practice in Brisbane. She went on to complete a 6month internship at the University of Sydney before starting a 3-year residency program in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. She then spent 18months working as a specialist in private practice on the Mornington Peninsula before returning to the University of Sydney at the start of 2022 where she currently works as a specialist in equine sports medicine and rehabilitation. Her masters research was on ultrasound of the equine back and she has a particular interest in back pain and strength training.

READ CLINICAL EQUINE NEWS Pg 30 “Approaching Back Pain in Horses: A Strength Issue” Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Dr Chantelle Franklin

DVM, GCertSAUA, MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology), MRCVS Senior Clinical Training Scholar in Diagnostic Imaging The Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, University of Cambridge 2013 University of Adelaide graduate. Following three and a bit years in small animal general practice Chantelle moved to the UK and worked in primary practice in London for 12 months with another 12 months spent in small animal locum roles from as far south as the Isle of Wight and as far north as Fort William in the highlands of Scotland. Following membership examinations for the ANZCVS in Small Animal Radiology in 2019 she started at the University of Cambridge Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital, initially as a service intern and then following in 2020 as an ECVDI resident in Diagnostic Imaging. She enjoys all aspects of diagnostic imaging, from the photon to the pixel. Chantell is currently still in Cambridge UK with her partner and little terrier cross, Fitzroy.

READ CLINICAL NEWS Pg 28 “Focus on POCUS”

Dr Bec Souter

BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM, PhD Candidate Bec is a 2021 DVM graduate from the University of Adelaide and is currently undertaking a PhD focusing on the threats to dolphin health in South Australia.

Bec’s passion for marine wildlife has led her to an externship at the Marine Mammal Centre in California, provide veterinary assistance during sea turtle health projects, and assist with Australian sea lion field work. Bec’s research interests include the effects of anthropogenic activities on wildlife health and disease.

READ RESEARCH NEWS Pg 32 “Dolphins and Pollution” Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / Guest Contributors

5

Dr Jane Owens

BSc, BVMS (Hons), PhD, GradCert (UniTch), MVPHMgt, MANZCVS (Veterinary Public Health)

Jane has been with PIRSA since December 2016 and currently is the manager of the Epidemiology and Risk Team, based at the Glenside office in Adelaide.

She graduated from Murdoch University in 2006 and has since pursued a career in Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology. She has worked at the University of Adelaide from March 2010 to January 2012 and has returned on numerous occasions in recent years as a guest lecturer.

Dr Alissa Hampton BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

Alissa joined PIRSA in January 2023 as a Veterinary Officer (EAD and Epidemiology) within the Epidemiology and Risk Team, having previously worked in private practice, and am also based at Glenside. She is currently studying, via distance education, for a Master of Public Health and Infectious Disease Intelligence through the University of New South Wales.

Dr Jemma Hassam

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

Jemma graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2020 and initially worked in rural mixed practice before joining PIRSA as a District Veterinary Officer for the southeast in November 2022. Her role as a District Veterinary Officer focuses on the Disease Surveillance program within Animal Biosecurity.

READ RESEARCH NEWS Pg 36 “Preparing to detect and respond to emergency animal diseases (EADs): working as a government veterinarian at PIRSA”

Dr Luiz Santos

DVM, MSc, Dip.ACVAA

Luiz is a board-certified veterinary anaesthesiologist, who’s passion lies in prioritizing patient safety and fostering positive cultures within veterinary organizations. Currently serving as a senior lecturer at The University of Glasgow, he is dedicated to establishing a safe and psychologically supportive environment for my team, encouraging open communication.

Complementing my clinical role, Luiz is pursuing a PhD, focusing on patient and staff safety. Within his research, he is examining the existing support structures available for veterinary staff, aiming to enhance their well-being and work experiences. He advocates to improve patient outcomes and foster a thriving and supportive culture within the veterinary community.

READ CLINICAL NEWS Pg 26 “Addressing the Second Victim Phenomenon in the Veterinary Industry” Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Newsworthy / Guest Contributors

Dr Natasha Watzdolf BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

Natasha is a Specialist Advisor Technical Regulatory for the Meat Industry Association of New Zealand providing advice and assistance on food safety and market access regulatory matters between meat processing members and government departments and organisations whose policies and activities have an impact on the meat industry. After graduating with a DVM from the University of Adelaide in 2015, Natasha started her career in public health working for the Ministry for Primary Industries as a Veterinary Technical Supervisor based at several meat processing establishments throughout the North Island. Natasha then moved into the Market Access directorate as a Counsellor for sanitary, phytosanitary and halal matters as relevant to New Zealand’s trade with Indonesia and Malaysia.

READ RESEARCH NEWS Pg 38 “Foot and Mouth Disease Readiness for the New Zealand red meat sector”

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Dr Tom Westermann BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM, DACVP

Tom graduated in 2015, worked in general practice in Victoria, and started pathology training in New South Wales. He then completed an anatomic pathology residency in Upstate New York, and is currently working at Charles River Laboratories in Boston. Tom has particular interests in infectious disease research, toxicological pathology, and trainee mentorship. Outside of work, Tom is happiest outdoors, exploring the Americas with Fabio (human) and Bonnie (dog).

READ CLINICAL NEWS Pg 40 “Every Disease, Any Species, All of the Questions”

Dr Peter Atkinson

BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM, MANZCVS (Epidemiology) Peter is a fellow Roseworthy graduate, finishing the DVM in 2019. Since then, he worked in a busy small animal private practice, nestled in the heart of metropolitan Adelaide. In 2022, he decided to move into a non-clinical role and went back to Roseworthy to undertake a PhD. Supervised primarily by Charles Caraguel, his PhD is in veterinary epidemiology, with a specific focus on canine heartworm disease ecology in Australia.

READ RESEARCH NEWS Pg 34 “Canine Heartworm Prevention - Are we doing the right thing?”

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / Guest Contributors

7

Dr Tobi Leary BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

Tobi works as a mixed practice veterinarian in South Australia as well as a casual facilitator for veterinary students at Roseworthy Campus. She researched and co-authored a paper on resilience among veterinarians while studying at the University of Adelaide which sparked her passion for mental health and wellbeing within the profession. Tobi enjoys CBT and schema therapy practices and recently launched Seed Sessions with her sister Dr Meg Learey to help implement psychological safety and practice at a student level.

READ RESEARCH NEWS Pg 17 “Resilience”

A number of our graduates have become entrepreneurs starting up or buying in to established veterinary companies. Each of the following have provided an insight into their journey and lessons as business owners.

Dr Allie Corriprio (nee Brown)

Dr Conor Brand

Dr Manhei Ma

Dr Lachlan Cameron

16_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

30 BEST PRACTICE

READ “Taking Care of Business” Pg 42 34_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

Dr Jonothan Bartsch

Dr Emma Vermeeren Dr Alysha Thriscutt Dr Claire MacRae (nee Johnsson)

24_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

42_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

Dr Ben Linn Dr Kate Linn

BEST PRACTICE 31

Dr Tegan Hadley Dr Chelsea Smith

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Taking Care of Business

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

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Newsworthy

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni Connecting with our alumni across Australia and the world.

Our Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni (RVA) Network aims to nurture the relationship between the University of Adelaide, our veterinary alumni and members of the public through engagement, mentoring, advocacy and support to students and alumni.

Alumni Community

Update your details with us to ensure we can stay in touch and contact you in the ways that best suit you.

RECONNECT WITH THE ALUMNI NOW Being a part of the RVA community has many benefits: • Gain access to ongoing CPD • Reunions and social events • Mental Health Support • Job opportunities Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Did you know the RVA has social media?

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Follow us: @roseworthyvetalumni

2023 Annual Cocktail Evening National Wine Centre

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10

Newsworthy / University Update

University Update

Dr Wayne Boardman

Associate Professor B Vet Med, MANZCVS, PHD, Dip ECZM

Academic and RVA Founder

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Welcome to the second edition of Newsworthy. What a year it has been. The Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni network goes from strength to strength thanks to the amazing committee led capably by Man-hei. And we have been able to celebrate the 10 year graduation of our very first veterinarians at one of two great reunions this year and excellent CPD sessions are humming.

From a university perspective, most of our efforts this year (besides teaching of course) have centred around preparing the self-evaluation report (SER) for the Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC) of the Australian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and of course the visit by VSAAC representatives which occurred in October. I will leave Rob to go into more detail about the whole process but I will outline some aspects where I was involved. For example, the committee needs to assess if we produce day one competent graduates. The answer isn’t simple so I won’t go into it in too much detail but I will say one important component is undertaking and reviewing surveys to see if we are doing a proficient job of ensuring our graduates have sufficient skills, experience and confidence to work safely and competently as a newly qualified veterinarian. We know you develop many more skills as you travel on the ‘train journey’ of veterinary life but VSAAC needs us to do regular health checks on how we ensure graduates are day one competent. So, we checked the ‘pulse’; we surveyed our students, our graduates, employers and mentors and staff (using day one competences as a reference) asking how we are doing and how we can do better.

Furthermore, we have also formed the Roseworthy External Veterinary Advisory Committee (REVAC) composed of staff, graduates and employers to provide more personalised feedback and solutions. Whilst analysis is ongoing, we will incorporate suggestions into curriculum delivery changes. Both veterinary programs are to be reviewed in 2024 as part of standard university policies. Survey suggestions can be added to that review so we can improve our delivery.

Things are happening and changes are occurring!!

On another note, you know evidence based veterinary science is at the heart of our training and the essence of all we do as veterinarians. At the core of this, is access to extensive contemporary literature databases

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

which we can interrogate and critically evaluate and then can use to improve our knowledge and our competence as veterinarians. Well, we are still working on the Student 4 life project for our graduates to get access to our library and more CPD. Its slow going but we have not forgotten how important this is.

On a more personal note, I wanted to share a little something with you of which I am very proud. South African Biosecurity and Conservation Medicine electives have now been going since 2013 with four amazing trips last year and three trips this year. In addition, in 2023, for the first time, Anne-Lise Chaber and myself ran a One health elective in the Okavango Delta in Botswana which was equally life changing.

Students wax lyrical about the transferrable skills and experiences they acquire, which is often portrayed in videos in the Rosie revue. This year we reached a milestone of 20 trips to South Africa and approximately 50% of ALL of our graduates have participated. This is quite an amazing milestone.

On a sad note, Colin Trengrove and Scott Lindsay (our staff cricketing lucky charm) decided to leave university/retire and Lucy Woolford has stepped down to one day a week. We wish them well - we’ll miss you.

A final word to wish our final year Vet Bioscience and DVM students in the upcoming exams. At the moment, 524 veterinarians have qualified from Roseworthy and another 76 are about to join the profession. I wish them all well in the future. Come back and say hello any time – we love to know how you are doing.

Newsworthy / University Update

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Graduating Class of 2022

Alumni Committee News At the start of 2023 we welcomed two alumni joining our committee - Dr Chris Smith and Dr Rory Speirs who have taken position as Vice-President and Sponsorship Officer, respectively for 2023.

Mid this year we farewelled Liz Napier, who was our first Mental Health Advocate. She has been an integral part of the team in organising guest speakers for mental health CPD, writing a mental health article for Newsworthy, bringing the Mental Health First Aid course to alumni, and maintaining connections between Roseworthy’s Alumni and Students Mental Health Fund (RASMHF) and the RVA. At the end of this year we will also be farewelling another committee member Emma Vermeeren who has been with the committee since the very beginning. As a member of the inaugural year, Emma helped found several key student committees and associations during her time at Veterinary School. Her experience in starting up committees has been invaluable to the RVA and her commitment and incredible support will be missed by the committee.

We thank Emma and Liz for their valuable roles they have played in the RVA Committee and wish them all the best!

Dr Chris Smith BSc (Vet Bio), DVM

Dr Rory Speirs BSc (Vet Bio), DVM

Dr Emma Vermeeren

Dr Liz Napier

BSc(PV), DVM, MANZCVS (Veterinary behaviour)

BSc(PV), DVM, MANZCVS (ECC)

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Newsworthy / University Update

Dean’s Letter

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

2023 – what a year! More than 18 months for me now at SAVS and I continue to feel very proud to be able to help lead the School and am still frequently amazed by our staff, students, facilities and graduates.

Congratulations to the ten years of Vet Science graduates who are making great contributions as members of the profession or in other fields all over Australia and the world. I am very sorry for not being able to attend the recent reunion, but I look forward to continuing to catch up with many of you in the coming years. Also, congratulations to the 11th cohort to complete the DVM, who are due to join the graduate ranks very soon.

A major part of this year for me, in fact longer than that, since I joined SAVS in August 2022, has been review and preparation for re-accreditation of the Veterinary Science Program. The SAVS Program is currently accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and so, at least every seven years, the program needs to undergo a major review. In between these major re-accreditation years, SAVS must submit an annual report regarding progress and any major changes, to be assessed by the accrediting bodies.

So, in August this year, SAVS submitted a 100-page Self Evaluation Report and a very significant online collection of supplementary material for consideration by a Site Visit Team representing the Veterinary Science Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC) within the AVBC and including a representative of the RCVS. This report detailed the very wide range of policies, systems and activities that go in to making a veterinary science program work. The Team then spent six days

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Professor Rob Woodgate Head of School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences

with SAVS in October. This included visiting our core distributed private mixed animal practices in the southeast of SA and also SASH in Adelaide. The Team also met with a wide range of staff and students and some alumni and other practitioners and inspected a range of facilities during an intensive four days on site at Roseworthy.

There are no ‘official results’ yet but we will begin to receive formal feedback during the next few weeks.

Overall, it was a very intense and busy process, however, it was also a very good chance to reflect on what we do in teaching, research and practice and think about what will be needed in the future.

The veterinary profession is, I think, a very respected, engaging and rewarding one, but it is also not without its current challenges. There is always new knowledge and techniques, but it is also important to remember to look after ourselves and our friends and colleagues and be comfortable and confident that we are all trying to do our best for the animals and people who we deal with. We will be conducting a major review of our veterinary programs during the coming months and will be seeking a broad range of views and input. If anyone would like to get involved in the review or has any ideas or other suggestions, please feel free to drop me an email via rob.woodgate@adelaide.edu.au Thank you to everyone who contributed to a great year for SAVS and a very enjoyable year for me. We do very much value our relationships with RVA and the Roseworthy Old Collegians Association and I look forward to continuing to work together in the future.

I also wish everyone a very healthy, relaxing and enjoyable summer break and a great 2024.

Newsworthy / ANZCVS

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ANZCVS

The Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) seeks to serve the veterinary profession and reward excellence.

The following alumni have obtained Membership of the College which is an official recognition of a veterinarian’s knowledge and experience in a designated field of veterinary science. To become a member of the College the candidates successfully completed both written and oral +/- practical examinations of the Chapter.

ANZCVS YEAR

Zoe

Anastassiadis

Member - Graduate in Small Animal Medicine

2019

Jonathon

Bartsch

Member - Graduate in Pig Health and Production

2021

Abigail

Brough

Member - Graduate in Small Animal Medicine

2018

Chalette

Brown

2017

Richelle

Butcher

Allie

Corripio

Member - Graduate in Veterinary Behaviour Member - Graduate in Avian Medicine and Surgery Member - Graduate in Equine Dentistry

Jessica

Farrugia

2022

Chantelle

Franklin

Ashleigh

Hargreaves

Alexander

Hibbard

Kathryn

Johnson

Man- Hei

Ma

Eve

Mant hor pe

James

Meyer

Elizabeth

Napier

Caitlyn

Page

Hannah

Passmore

David

Porublev

Jia

Siow

Nicolle

Symonds

Emma

Tragar

Gemma

Turner

Member - Graduate in Small Animal Surgery Member - Graduate in Veterinary Radiology (Small Animal) Member - Graduate in Veterinary Behaviour (2019), Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (2022) Member - Graduate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Member - Graduate in Avian Medicine and Surgery Member - Graduate in Veterinary Radiology (Small Animal) Member - Graduate in Veterinary Pathology (includes Anatomical and Clinical Pathology) Member - Graduate in Equine Dentistry Member - Graduate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Member - Graduate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Member - Graduate in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Member - Graduate in Small Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Member - Graduate in Veterinary Radiology (Small Animal) Associate Membership granted Member - Graduate in Veterinary Radiology (Small Animal) Member - Graduate in Small Animal Medicine

Emma

Vermeeren

Member - Graduate in Veterinary Behaviour

2022 2021 2019 2019, 2022 2022 2021 2019 2022 2021 2021 2022 2021 2022 2021 2023 2021 2021 2021

**Please note data has been provided and approved by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists**

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

ANZCVS QUALIFICATION

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Newsworthy / Where are they now?

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

10 Years of Graduates:

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / Where are they now?

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

: Where are they now?

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Newsworthy

We want to hear from you FEATURE IN OUR NEXT NEWSLETTER We are seeking contributors If any of the following resonate with you, please email us.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

COVER PAGE ARTWORK Do you have a hobby in photography or design and would like to have your creative work feature as our next cover page?

CONTACT THE RVA COMMITTEE

CLINICAL NEWS Are there any particular clinical topics (common or rare, case study) which you feel passionate about?

RESEARCH Have you recently been involved in new research and would like to update the community?

Share your VETERINARY JOURNEY through our ‘STORIES OF ALUMNI’ Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Are there any topics you would like to see the RVA committee cover in the newsletter?

Resilience

Newsworthy / Mental Health

In May 2021, a fantastic group of academics produced a paper which analyzed the effect of demographic and psychological factors on resilience within veterinarians.

Which sounds great! But what does it all mean?

Resilience is commonly described as the ability to bounce back and was traditionally treated as a trait that a person either has or hasn’t got. Instead, this study looks at resilience as a capacity or skill that can be developed through awareness and training of psychological protective factors, which can be implemented on an individual, professional and organizational/industry level. This means that veterinarians from all career stages and all demographic contexts have the same potential to develop and strengthen resilience.

Interestingly, 30% of participants in the mid- and late career stage were at risk of leaving the profession in the next 2-3 years and had lower perceived resilience than their new graduate counter parts. This supports that demographic and career stage does not reflect a veterinarian’s resilience, and that implementing protective psychological factors to increase resilience among veterinarians is a whole-profession responsibility to sustainably support the profession.

So, what are the psychological factors accounted for in this study and how can we support them?

General self-efficacy (GSE) is the strength of an individual’s belief in their own ability to respond to

Dr Tobi Leary BSc (Vet BioSc), DVM

Figure 1 Demographic and psychologic information collected and categorised via survey

Demographic • Career stage

• New graduate, Mid- (6-15 years), Late- (>15 years) • Type of practice

• Small animal, large/mixed/equine, other (wildlife, government, industry, academic, etc) • Gender • Age • Location

Psychological factors • General self-efficacy Scale • Brief COPE Scale

• problem-focused, emotion-focused, dysfunctional coping strategies • Personal Resources

novel or difficult situations and deal with associated obstacles or setbacks. Improved GSE increases resilience and skill acquisition which is important during the rapid and steep learning curve of early transition to practice (Crane et al 2017). Nursing and teaching graduate’s GSE is significantly improved by mentoring programs (Wang et al 2018, Jnah et al 2015).

Implementation of these programs for new graduate veterinarians is progressing, however, it is reasonable to assume mentorship is useful across the career span given the ever-changing and novel nature of veterinary practice.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Resilience of veterinarians at different career stages: The role of self-efficacy, coping strategies and personal resources for resilience in veterinary practice surveyed veterinarians across Australia to collect information described in figure 1. Overall, this study found that gender, age, career stage, type of practice and location have no significant effect on resilience when psychological predictors such as general selfefficacy, coping strategies, and personal resources for resilience in veterinary practice are considered.

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Newsworthy / Mental Health

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Coping strategies are briefly described in figure 2. This study found emotion-focused coping strategies have positive correlation with resilience, while problemfocused and dysfunctional coping strategies have a negative association with resilience. In a profession where some stressors are unavoidable, such as patient deaths, client constrains, fast-paced or high-pressure environments (Nett et al 2015); problem-focused coping strategies can only go as far as managing the efficiency and ease of which these stressors are processed. The ability to bounce back or behave resiliently can be accomplished by emotion-focused coping strategies such as acceptance, humor, accessing familial and collegial support, etc. Use of dysfunctional coping strategies has a deleterious effect on resilience, however awareness of these strategies highlights when a veterinarian should invest in their psychological support factors and seek professional guidance in improving their capacity for resilience.

While veterinary medicine has inherent stressors, it also has many opportunities associated with positive psychology (Clise et al 2021). For example, Seligman 2012 researches the importance of positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment (PERMA) on positive psychological states. Careers that offer the opportunity to experience PERMA interactions or events, have a high chance of sustaining long term happiness and fulfillment with work. Coincidentally, the practice of veterinary medicine allows ample opportunity for PERMA, see figure 3. However, the ability to recognize and acknowledge these opportunities varies between individual’s due to their ability to access personal resources. In the discussed study, personal resources such as flexibility, adaptability, optimism, strengths

Figure 3 Examples of opportunities for PERMA experiences during practice • Positive emotion

• joy, unconditional love, interest • Engagement

• a positive flow state eg hospital management, surgery, etc • Relationships

• kind clients • a tight knit team who rely on each other during difficult or busy times • Meaning

• there is no doubt vets and support staff make a difference in the lives of the patients and clients that interact with them • Accomplishment

• the changing and novel nature of veterinary medicine means we never run out of things to learn, develop and accomplish.

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Figure 2 Brief COPE Scale categorised into style of coping strategy • Emotion-focused coping strategies

• Strategies implemented when outcomes cannot be changed or altered e.g. patient mortality • Problem-focused coping strategies

• Strategies implemented when a situation/outcome can be changed or resolved e.g. overbooked schedule • Dysfunctional coping strategies

• Strategies that give short term relief but are destructive with ongoing use e.g. procrastination, distraction, isolation, substance use building, enjoying challenges, and maintaining motivation and enthusiasm at work were evaluated. A positive correlation with accessing personal resources and resilience was found. Therefore, individuals can develop resilience by building and practicing personal resources for positive psychology, such as mindfulness, observation, gratitude, etc.

Overall, a veterinarian’s ability to bounce back from the inherent challenges that arise from practicing veterinary medicine does not depend on their age, gender, level of experience, location or type of practice and is certainly not something that some of us are born with, and others are not. Instead, resilience is a capacity that can be developed through implementation and practice of psychological protective factors by anyone, anywhere. For sustainability of the profession and increased attrition and longevity of veterinarians, the active practice of developing resilience is the responsibility of the individual, company and profession. We’re all in this together.

On a personal note, I believe the meaning of life is to enjoy the passage of time. We have chosen careers that facilitate incredible opportunities to enjoy our time here, but for anyone who isn’t, wherever you are and whatever you’re doing, it can change. Please reach out and seek a guide or supportive shoulder. Thank you to the RVA for supporting and continuing the conversation surrounding veterinary mental health. I hope anyone reading, knows you are loved by anyone who shares the title Doctor, because we’re all human.

References Clise M, Mattews S, McArthur M. Sources of pleasure in veterinary work: A qualitative study.

Vet Rec. 2021;188:e54 Crane MF, Brabazon G, Gucciardi DF, Loveday T, Wiggins M. General self-efficacy and psychological resilience promote skill acquisition rate under psychological pressure.

Australas J Organ Pschol. 2017;10:1-12 Jnah A, Robinson C. Mentoring and Self-Efficacy Implications for the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Workforce. Adv Neonatal Care 2015;15(5):E3-11 Nett RJ, Witte TK, Holzbauer SM, Elchos BL, Campagnolo ER, Musgave KJ, et al. Risk Factors for suicide, attitudes towards mental illness, and practice-related stressors among US veterinarians. J AM Vet Med Assoc. 2015l247(8):945-55 Seligman, ME. Flouish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. Atria Paperback 2012 Wang L, Tao H, Bowers BJ, Brown, Zhang Y. Influence of social support and self-efficacy on resilience of early career registered nurses. West J Nurs Res. 2018;40(5):648-64

Newsworthy / Mental Health

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Mental health support resources 13 11 13

1300 726 306

24-hour counseling and crisis support chat trained crisis supporters available 24 hours a day, 7days a week.

PANDA supports women, men and families affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood. They also provide support relating to postnatal psychosis.

Telephone counseling service 24hours, 7 days a week.

1300 659 467 Free nationwide professional telephone and online counseling service for anyone affected by suicide.

1300 687 327 Counseling Service available to AVA members, the vet professionals that work for them and family members – available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

2023 Annual Cocktail Evening National Wine Centre

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

1300 224 636

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Newsworthy / Sophie’s Legacy

WE’RE ONLY HUMAN Sophie’s Legacy to curb mental health crisis among veterinarians The grieving family of a young veterinarian who died by suicide has launched the “We’re Only Human” campaign urging people to be kind to vet staff and help curb the mental health crisis among veterinarians.

Adelaide parents Garry and Kate Putland lost their beloved daughter and dedicated vet Dr Sophie Putland in September 2021. Sophie was among the inaugural intake at Roseworthy in 2012.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

In the wake of her death, the Putlands established a GoFundMe Page and raised more than $50,000 to establish Sophie’s Legacy and the new national campaign to help prevent suicide in the vet industry.

On average, one vet tragically takes their own life every 12 weeks, while 67 % of vets reported having experienced mental illness in the 2021 Australian Veterinary Association Wellness report.

The “We’re Only Human” posters have now been delivered to over 4150 clinics in Australia, with 500 additional requests for posters in July alone. The poster features Adelaide Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH) veterinarian Dr Lauren Beilby nursing a dog.

The posters include a QR Code, which pet owners are asked to scan and pledge that they’ll treat staff with respect. Almost 5000 people have taken the pledge so far.

Soon after Dr Putland’s death, a Sophie’s Legacy Survey was launched and drew almost 600 responses in just over 10 days from vets and vet staff who identified client abuse - where clients lash out at staff - as the biggest trigger for poor mental health.

Other issues identified include burnout, under resourcing and unattainable treatment time targets set by some employers.

Kate and Garry continue to widely share Dr Putland’s story to try to make a difference, attracting state-wide, national and international support They featured in journalist Caroline Winter’s “Sick As A Dog” podcast which outlines the vet industry crisis.

“We never want anyone to experience the pain and loss that we have, and we certainly don’t want to discourage anyone from pursuing a career as a vet. We just want to make sure that vet staff are as well supported as possible, and part of that is educating the public that vets are human too,” Kate said.

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Newsworthy / Sophie’s Legacy

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Sophie’s Parent’s Advice to Young Vets: Be Change Agents Despite losing their beloved daughter Sophie to suicide, Garry and Kate Putland describe the vet profession as a fantastic one for young people who care about animals.

But they say more needs to be done to ensure that workplaces are safe for young vets and nurses so they can flourish.

And they’re calling on young vets/vet nurses to be “change agents” when they enter the vet profession.

“We want them to challenge the things which are not acceptable. Speak up about how they are feeling.

Contribute towards a healthy and positive environment.

Discuss - and work towards - a healthy work/life balance,” Garry said.

Kate said Sophie was a passionate advocate for fellow vets, nurses and admin staff and always offered support and a bit of humour to ease workplace pressures. She defended her work colleagues when clients became abusive.

Sophie worked in Adelaide, including at Roseworthy Clinic’s Hospital and moved to Melbourne in 2018, where she enjoyed the challenge of problem solving complex health issues and ensuring the best care for animals.

“This led her to emergency medicine although the dreadful hours and needing to cover shifts, not enough nurses for the patient workload, client abuse and unethical practices by one clinic owner wreaked havoc on her mental health,” Garry said.

To learn more visit sophieslegacy.com or the social media pages listed below.

Instagram

Facebook

LinkedIn

@sophies.legacy @SophiesLegacyAustralia @sophieslegacy-au

Sophie’s story is featured on Caroline Winter’s podcast on the mental health crisis in the vet industry:

www.sickasadogpodcast.com.au

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

“And practice owners need to look after them, ensure compliance with WorkSafe practices and to protect the mental health of workers.”

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A year in review CPD Seminars

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Thank you to our speakers for sharing their knowledge and advice to our veterinarians, alumni, nurses and students.

Thank you to our sponsors and all those who joined us in person or via zoom!

We hope you gained knowledge which you have been able to bring to your daily workplace.

Dr Dillon Devathasan (2015 alumnus) Fundamentals of Neurolocalisation & Referral in the Neurosurgical Patitient

Dr Gerardo Poli

Dr Zoe Anastassiadis

Emergency Intravenous Fluid Therapy

(2013 alumna) Ophthalmic emergencies for rural and general practice vets

Dr Wayne Boardman One Health in Australia: A New Veterinary Paradigm?

Dr Rhonda Andrews Grief: Let’s Call it Out and Deal With It

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Newsworthy / A year in review

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Our annual cocktail evening brought together alumni, DVM students, academics and former Deans, as well as this year marking the 10 year anniversary for the 2013 cohort.

Sophie Putland’s parents were present to celebrate with her 2013 cohort and remember her through ‘Sophie’s Legacy’.

AVA Conference Drinks Belgian Beer Cafe

The night included a panel talk with three 2013 graduates (Dr Chalette Brown, Dr Madeleine Gugger, Dr James Meyer), highlighting their decade journey as Veterinarians!

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

2023 Annual Cocktail Evening National Wine Centre

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2024 Calendar March

ANNUAL COCKTAIL EVENING Hotel Richmond

21st Sept

June

SEMINAR Clinical Topic

Nov

SEMINAR Mental Health

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

SEMINAR Business

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RVA. All rights reserved.

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RVA. All rights reserved.

SEASON 1 PODCAST25 IS NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUR FAVOURITE STREAMING PLATFORMS

1(PartWorking as a new graduate 1) Guest: Tobi Leary

Dr Tobi and Dr Emma discuss and compare their experiences as new graduates and provide some advice to new graduates as well as employers to make the experience of entering the workforce the smoothest it can be.

Dr Emma Maley BSc (Vet Bio), DVM

2 Working as a new graduate (Part 2)

Committee member

Dr Tobi and Dr Emma continue to discuss and compare their experiences as new graduates and provide some advice to new graduates as well as employers to make the experience of entering the workforce the smoothest it can be.

3 Considerations and expectations for internships and residencies Guest: Zoe Anastassiadis Dr Zoe has had the privilege as well as the struggle of completing an internship as well as a residency and in this episode she discusses how she found both experiences and what advice she has for others.

4 Starting and successfully running a veterinary business Guest: Jon Bartsch Dr Jon started and continued to grow his business through COVID. In this episode he describes the challenges, the triumphs and what he has learnt from the experience.

5 The importance of veterinary research Guest: Georgia Moloney and Bec Souter Dr Bec and Dr Georgia chose to pursue research in their first year post graduation. This episode delves into why they went into research and the impact is has on the Veterinary profession.

Copyright © 2023.

RVA. rightsreserved. reserved.

Copyright © 2023.

RVA. AllAll rights

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Guest: Tobi Leary

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Newsworthy / Clinical News

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Addressing the Second Victim Phenomenon in the Veterinary Industry ‘During my residency I remember it vividly the day, Daisy, a fiveyear-old Beagle, was brought to our veterinary hospital. She had a severe case of pyometra, a lifethreatening uterine infection that necessitated emergency surgery. To manage her intra-operative pain, I decided to administer fentanyl, a potent analgesic. But as I was preparing the drug, something unthinkable happened. Fatigue from successive strenuous shifts clouded my judgment, and I made a terrible mistake. I misread the dosage and ended up giving Daisy ten times the recommended dose.

The hospital director, however, was understanding and supportive. She reminded me that mistakes, even devastating ones, are part of our human nature and that even the most seasoned professionals can err under pressure. That didn’t take away the guilt, but it taught me the importance of growing from my mistakes.

In no time, Daisy went into cardio-pulmonary arrest. Panic surged through the room as we desperately tried to resuscitate her, but our attempts were in vain.

Daisy didn’t make it. A wave of grief washed over me, accompanied by the crippling weight of guilt. I was responsible for the death of a patient, a reality that was difficult to come to terms with.

Daisy’s untimely passing still haunts me to this day, leaving a deep psychological scar. Her memory serves as a powerful reminder of my fallibility, the tremendous responsibility I hold, and the urgency for ongoing learning and vigilance in my current practice.

She has profoundly influenced my approach to how I do veterinary anaesthesia today, a bittersweet testament to her legacy.’

The painful task of informing Daisy’s owners fell upon my fellow surgeon. Hearing my colleague’s heart-breaking conversation over the phone was one of the most difficult moments of my career.

Their loss was a deep wound I had unintentionally inflicted, adding to my guilt.

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In the aftermath of Daisy’s tragic loss, a double-check system for high-risk medications became standard practice in our hospital.

We also focused on managing staff fatigue, recognizing its role in compromising our ability to provide optimal care.

Dr Luiz Santos DVM, MSc, Dip.ACVAA

In veterinary medicine, we often focus primarily on the patients.

However, there’s another group that frequently gets overlooked, known as ‘second victims.’ Coined

by Dr. Albert Wu in 20001, the term ‘second victims’ refers to healthcare professionals who experience emotional trauma as a result of adverse patient events, particularly those in which they were directly involved. These can range from medical errors to patient complications or deaths. While the patient is the ‘first’ victim, the ‘second’ victim - the healthcare provider - also experiences considerable emotional turmoil.

Understanding and addressing the plight of second victims is of crucial importance in the veterinary environment. It not only affects individuals but also has significant implications for team morale, the broader veterinary organization, and ultimately, the quality of patient care.

In this article, we delve into the complexities of second victims, shedding light on the emotional, professional, and personal

repercussions they face, the support systems currently in place, and potential strategies for better support in the future.

The Incidence and Impact of Second Victims The phenomenon of the second victim is common, with a prevalence of anything between 10%2, to 72.6%3,4 of all healthcare practitioners.

These estimates suggest that a substantial proportion of healthcare professionals will become second victims at some point in their careers. According to Susan Scott, manager of Patient Safety and Risk Management at University of Missouri, approximately half of healthcare workers experienced a second victim event within their career.

The impact of such experiences on these second victims is multilayered, manifesting emotionally, professionally, and personally.5 Emotionally, second victims often grapple with feelings of guilt, anxiety, and depression.

Professionally, they may experience diminished confidence in their abilities, leading to increased stress, burnout and potentially leaving the profession. On a personal level, the stress can bleed into their home lives, affecting relationships and overall quality of life.

Current Support Systems and Approaches In order to nurture a culture of transparency, open dialogue, and staff well-being following adverse events, the establishment of support structures for second victims in the veterinary industry is paramount.

This importance is emphasized by

the distressing statistics showing that the proportional mortality ratio for suicide among UK veterinarians is approximately four times higher than the general population and twice as high as other healthcare professionals.6

safety, allowing individuals to express their emotional distress without fear of negative professional repercussions. Such a culture is also key for the broader implementation and utilization of support programs.9

Several systems and strategies have been developed to support second victims, with varying degrees of efficacy. In healthcare, some hospitals have established support networks, providing counselling and other resources for professionals involved in adverse events. Initiatives such as the RISE (Resilience in Stressful Events) program by Johns Hopkins Hospital7 provides peer support to second victims, offering emotional first aid at the workplace.

The wider veterinary community needs to be better educated about the concept of second victims.

Increased awareness can lead to more research, policy development, and stigma reduction, all of which can contribute to improved support for second victims. A more rigorous evaluation of existing support programs is needed by veterinary organizations, allowing for evidence-based improvements and benchmarking. This way, we can ensure a proactive, compassionate response to second victims, benefiting both veterinary professionals and the patients we serve.

The incorporation of debriefing sessions, like Schwartz Rounds, into veterinary practices can offer additional support.8 Schwartz Rounds are multidisciplinary forums where staff can address the emotional aspects of delivering care, promoting well-being, and fostering compassion. Although originally developed for human healthcare teams, these rounds have potential utility in the veterinary field.8 The role of peer support cannot be overstated in this context. Colleagues can provide emotional comfort, share their experiences, and offer valuable insights into coping mechanisms.

They can also serve as a source of encouragement, helping the second victims realize that they are not alone in their struggle and that it’s okay to seek help.

Future Directions and Recommendations As we navigate forward, improvements in both individual and systemic approaches are essential for the better support of second victims in the veterinary industry. At the individual level, training should be provided to help veterinary professionals recognize and manage the emotional impact of adverse events. Systemically, organizations must prioritize creating a culture of psychological

Veterinary medicine, like any other healthcare profession, is not devoid of errors. However, the way we handle these errors, and their emotional aftermath can define our professional lives.

It’s about time we embraced the concept of the second victim and prioritized the mental health of our veterinary professionals. After all, a healthy veterinary community can ensure the well-being of our patients, paving the way for a more compassionate and resilient veterinary profession.

References 1.Wu, A.W., 2000. Medical error: the second victim: the doctor who makes the mistake needs help too. Bmj, 320 (7237), pp.726-727.

2.Lander LI, Connor JA, Shah RK, Kentala E, Healy GB, Roberson DW. 2006. Otolaryngologists’ responses to errors and adverse events. Laryngoscope. 116, pp. 1114–20.

3.Mira JJ, Carrillo I, Lorenzo S, et al. 2015. The aftermath of adverse events in Spanish primary care and hospital health professionals. BMC Health Services Research 15:151–60. [15] 4.Harrison R, Lawton R, Stewart K. 2014. Doctors experiences of adverse events in secondary care: the professional and personal impact. Clin Med 14, pp.585– 90.

5.Scott, S.D. and McCoig, M.M., 2016. Care at the point of impact: Insights into the second‐victim experience. Journal of healthcare risk management, 35(4), pp.6-13.

6.Bartram DJ, Baldwin DS. Veterinary surgeons and suicide: a structured review of possible influences on increased risk.

2010. Vet Rec. 166, pp.388– 97.

7.Connors, C. and Wu, A.W., 2020. RISE: an organized program to support health care workers. Quality Management in Healthcare, 29(1), pp.48-49.

8.Morrin, H., 2023. Ethics in practice: Schwartz rounds and veterinary clinical ethics committees. UK-Vet Equine, 7(2), pp.70-73.

9.Khatri, N., Brown, G.D. and Hicks, L.L., 2009. From a blame culture to a just culture in health care. Health care management review, 34(4), pp.312-322.

Note: This account reflects my own intimate journey as a second victim, providing a firsthand perspective on the often-overlooked impact of this experience. This testimony aims to shed light on the realities faced by second victims, with the hope that it fosters a broader understanding and prompts effective support for those who share a similar fate.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Newsworthy / Clinical News

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Newsworthy / Clinical News

Focus on POCUS

What else can we see in the transthoracic ultrasound examination in dogs and cats?

Dr Chantelle Franklin

DVM GCertSAUA MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology) MRCVS Senior Clinical Training Scholar in Diagnostic Imaging The Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital University of Cambridge

What is a POCUS examination?

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

POCUS = Point of care ultrasound The aim of a POCUS examination is to diagnose intracavitary disease within the acute setting. It has had many names in the past. Traditionally it has been used to assess free fluid and/or free gas within the thorax and abdomen, but increasingly we are seeing the use in assessment of the non-cardiac structures.

Here are some aspects of thoracic ultrasound you might not have thought about in a while.

How to perform: Recumbency can be dependent on the patient in front of you, but is achievable in sternal recumbency.

Clipping of hair will improve image resolution but isn’t necessary with parting of long hair and use of alcohol and coupling gel. Microcovex probes with smaller footprints are ideal, but high frequency linear probes may be useful when examining some lesions.

The traditional POCUS examination of the thorax is usually conducted in the following manner: 5 point examination technique (Lisciandro 2011): • Chest-tube site (CTS): Most dorsal point of the patient’s thorax, at the level of the 7th- 8th intercostal space – usually dorsal to the xiphoid. Hold the probe in a cranial-caudal plane and monitor for the normal ‘glide’ sign of the pleural-pulmonary interface moving with the respiration of the patient. This is the site for examination of pneumothorax.

• Pericardial site (PCS): Ventral aspect of the thorax, caudal to the point of the elbow or where you would expect to auscultate the heart. Fan the probe in this location. This is

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the site for detection of pleural and pericardial effusion.

From the right, acquire a short-axis view of the heart at the level of the aortic valve to assess the LA:Ao ratio, often described as the point where the aortic valve looks like the ‘Mercedes Benz’ logo.

• Diaphragmatic-hepatic (DH) view: Also to assess the presence of fluid, the probe is positioned caudal to the xiphoid in the craniodorsal orientation. This is also a convenient position in my experience to assess the integrity of the diaphragm.

Note: CTS and PCS sites are performed bilaterally.

In my practice, I find extending the traditional POCUS views to examine the entire pleural space is useful once it has been established that the patient is stable.

I achieve this running the probe in a ‘S’ shape along the thoracic wall in an alternating dorsoventral and ventrdorsal direction through each intercostal space.

This technique in my experience allows smaller lesions to be identified. I would normally also rotate the probe 90º when in the PCS short axis view on the right to examine the heart in a long-axis view, this being useful to check for cardiac tamponade and subjective assessment of filling.

The use of thoracic ultrasound can provide additional information to supplement clinical examination findings and traditional techniques such as thoracic radiography and CT, but has the added benefit in the acute setting of being less invasive and not requiring sedation nor radiation.

Monitoring of cardiac pulmonary oedema Use of ultrasound in an unstable patient is one such use of POCUS to avoid additional patient stress. ‘B’ lines are the artefacts created by a reverberation artefact due to oedema at the pleural surface of the lung, and are visualised as hyperechoic well-defined lines extending perpendicular to the pleural surface and extend indefinitely to erase the normal ‘A’ lines.

Numerous authors have published recently on the use of ‘B’ lines to both diagnose and monitor cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. (Figure 1) The literature is quite consistent that a positive field for determining the likelihood of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is when >3 ‘B’ lines are seen per field of view

Newsworthy / Clinical News

consistently in one hemithorax or site of the POCUS scan (Vezzosi et al 2017, Lisciandro, Fosgate and Fulton 2014, Lisciandro 2011). In dogs with mitral valve disease, staged according to the ACVIM guidelines, lung ultrasound (LUS) can detect pulmonary oedema with a sensitivity and specificity of 90 and 93% respectively compared to thoracic radiographs (Vezzosi et al 2017).

Some practices are using LUS to monitor patient’s in CHF for signs of resolution (Murphy et al 2020). In feline patients a combination of ‘B’ lines on LUS but also concurrent pericardial and pleural effusion and the use of Pro-BNP testing is more likely to give an accurate diagnosis of CHF (Ward et al 2018, Lisciandro and Fosgate 2017).

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Figure 2: Peripheral band sign in lung torsion (Image courtesy of University of Cambridge’s QVSH): Hypoechoic band at the peripheral pleural surface is seen superficial to hyperechoic irregularly scattered interfaces corresponding to areas of emphysematous lung parenchyma.

For some pet owners, getting a diagnosis is important, and it helps us as clinicians to give prognosis.

Ultrasound guided lung nodule fine-need aspiration is something that can be performed quite safely, whilst although there are risks of iatrogenic pneumothorax the incidence is low and diagnostic yield is generally high (Reichle and Wisner 2000). Don’t forget that FNA of mediastinal masses including lymph nodes and thoracocentesis might provide the diagnosis also.

Figure 1: ‘B’ Lines with pulmonary oedema (Image courtesy Lung nodules can be seen as hypoechoic rounded of University of Cambridge’s QVSH): Long white arrow shows interruptions in the normal hyperechoic ‘A’ line of a single hyperechoic reverberation, with the shorter arrow corresponding to area of coalesced ‘B’ lines to form a larger band. the pleural interface (Figure 3). In my experience in a sedated patient this is a well-tolerated procedure but consider general anaesthesia if safer clinically.

Aspiration pneumonia

Shred sign has been introduced as the ultrasonographic sign associated with aspiration pneumonia. It has been described as lung consolidation with an irregular shape and blurred margins between aerated and consolidated lung. Often air-bronchograms are seen as dynamic echoes that fluctuate with respiration, or even fluid-filled bronchi may be seen also (Rodrigues et al 2022). As in radiographs, the ventral lung lobes will be most commonly affected. This is comparable to what is reported in the human literature in acquired pneumonia. The rise in popularity of brachycephalic breeds is universal, but managing the stressed and Figure 3: Pulmonary nodule (Image courtesy of University of Cambridge’s QVSH): Callipers delineated a hypoechoic nodule with unstable brachycephalic with respiratory compromise margin within the pleural surface. This patient was is challenging. Consider ultrasound at the bed-side next a well-defineddiagnosed with carcinoma metastasis.. time once of these patients presents to you.

References

Peripheral Band sign in torsion

Belmudges A. Gory G. Cauvin E. Combes A. Gallois-Bride H. Couturier L. and Rault DN (2020) ‘Lung lobe torsion in 15 dogs: Peripheral band sign on ultrasound’ VRU Vol 62(1), pp 116-125

Lung lobe torsion is not common but life threatening.

On traditional radiographs classically a pleural effusion with a vesicular pattern in the affected and displaced lobe would be expected. On thoracic ultrasound, a hypoechoic peripheral band extending along the edge of the lobe overlying abnormal hyperechoic parenchyma is now well documented (Belmudes et al 2020) (Figure 2). Pleural effusion would also be expected in all cases. If you have a brachycephalic dog, especially a pug, or deep-chested breed present in respiratory distress, keep this differential in mind.

Lisciandro GR and Fosgate GT. (2017) ‘Frequency and number of B-lines using a regionally based lung ultrasound examination in cats with radiographically normal lungs compared to cats with left-sided congestive heart failure’ JVECC Vol 27(5), pp. 499-505 Lisciandro GR, Fosgate GT and Fulton RM. (2014) ‘Frequency and number of ultrasound lung rockets (B-lines) using a regionally based lung ultrasound examination named VetBLUE (veterinary bedside lung ultrasound exam) in dogs with radiographically normal lung findings’ VRU Vol 55(3), pp. 315-322 Lisciandro GR. (2011) ‘Abdominal and thoracic focused assessment with sonography for trauma, triage and monitoring in small animals’ JVECC Vol 21(2), pp. 104-122 Murphy SD. Ward JL. Viall AK. Tropf MA. Walton RL. Fowler JL. Ware WA. and DeFranesco TC. (2020) ‘Utility of point-of-care ultrasound for monitoring cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in dogs’ JVIM Vol 35(1) pp. 68-77 Reichle JK and Wisner ER (2000) ‘Non-cardiac thoracic ultrasound in 75 feline and canine patients’ VRU Vol 41(2), pp. 154-162 Rodrigues NP. Giraud L. Bolen G. Fastres A. Clercx C. Boysen S. Billen F. and Gommern K. (2022) ‘Comparsion of lung ultrasound, chest radiographs, C-reactive protein and clinical findings in dogs treated for aspiration pneumonia’ JVIM Vol 36(20, pp 743-752 Vezzosi T. Mannucci T. Pistoresi A. Toma F. Tognetti R. Zini E. Domenech O. Auriemma E. and Citi S. (2017) ‘Assessment of lung ultrasound B-lines in dogs with different stages of chronic valvular heart disease’ JVIM Vol 31(3), pp. 700-704 Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Diagnosis of lung neoplasia

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Newsworthy / Clinical News

Approaching Back Pain in Horses A Strength Issue

Back pain in horses is a common but often frustrating problem. It can have many different causes and vague clinical signs. This article will discuss some of the common causes of back pain, diagnostic tools and treatment goals.

Common Causes

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

The common causes of back pain can be sorted into the following categories: Primary • Trauma: saddle fit •

Bony: overriding dorsal spinous processes (kissing spines), osteoarthritis of the facet joint

•

Muscular: tears/strains/overuse

Secondary • Hindlimb lameness: common in hock osteoarthritis Behavioural/Training Horses often present with a behavioural complaint, and we need to determine if this behaviour is a response to pain or a training issue. The most common causes of back pain that I see are secondary to hindlimb lameness, often hock arthritis, traumatic due to poor saddle fit or muscular. Behavioural/training causes are often the hardest to diagnose as it requires ruling out all the potential medical causes.

Diagnostics 1.

Lameness Exam

2.

Imaging a. Radiographs b. Ultrasound

3.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Trial

4.

Advanced Imaging a. Nuclear Scintigraphy

I like to start my back pain assessments by ruling out a lameness component. If we have found something in the lameness exam or back palpation, we then look closer

Image: Case of back pain showing findings on nuclear scintigraphy and corresponding pathology on radiographs Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Dr Nicolle Symonds BSc, DVM, MVCS, MVS, MANZCVS, DipACVSMR (Equine) Registered Specialist in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

by using radiographs and/or ultrasound. If we need more information, I consider a NSAID trial (Usually 2 weeks of phenylbutazone) where I ask the owner to ride the horse as they would normally, as long as it is safe. Anything with a pain component should show some improvement.

Anything that is behavioural, training related or mechanical, will show minimal response. My final step is to consider nuclear scintigraphy as a screening tool. This will help rule in or out a medical cause for the behaviour, as well is see if there is active bony pathology along the spine.

Treatment 1.

Break the ‘Pain Barrier’ a. NSAIDs b. Corticosteroids c.Massage d. Shockwave

e. Acupuncture/ Mesotherapy 2.

Build back muscle

Image: Ultrasound of the thoracic and lumbar spine

a. Trot poles, high stepping in shallow water b.Working in a frame, pessoa systems c.Physiotherapy d.Carrot Stretches A lot of back pain cases are successfully treated by building strength along the topline and supporting the thoracic and lumbar spine. To perform the strengthening exercises you do need to ‘break the pain barrier’. There are several ways to do this based on the individual case.

Options include any combination of systemic NSAIDs, corticosteroids injected at locations of pathology, massage, shockwave or acupuncture/mesotherapy.

Exercise programs are the overall key to success. I recommend frequent, shorter sessions and encourage quality over quantity of work. Work needs to be performed in a frame, I often recommend a pessoa or similar system, as a lot of horses will ‘go through the motions’ without engaging their back and core muscles.

Early on it is often beneficial to remove the tack and rider to decrease the weight on the horses back.

Building strength requires consistency but, when used successfully, can avoid surgical intervention in many cases.

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WINE AND DINE Dr Man-hei Ma

BSc(PV), DVM, GCertSAUA, MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology)

RVA President

Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe credit: Ashley Alexander

Here I share with you my go-to Flourless Chocolate Cake recipe that you can whip up in 1 hr. Savour the chocolate aroma that fills your home and the tastebud delight.

220g dark chocolate 200g butter ¼ cup dark dutch cocoa 1/3 cup hot water 1 cup brown sugar 4 eggs 1½ cups almond meal 2 tbs (30ml) coffee (espresso) 1 tbs vanilla extract/paste ½ tsp salt

1. Over low heat in a saucepan mix chocolate, butter, cocoa, and hot water until melted and smooth.

2. Remove saucepan from the heat and stir the brown sugar directly into the chocolate mixture.

3. Whisk in the egg yolks.

4. Add the almond meal, coffee, vanilla, and salt, and stir to combine.

5. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.

6. Fold the egg-white mixture into the chocolate mixture.

7. Pour the batter into a greased cake tin.

8. Bake at 180°C for 40 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature with sea salt and vanilla whipped cream or ice cream.

Wine to Match

2021 Tscharke ‘A think of Beauty’ Grenache Marananga, Barossa Valley SA A bottle of ruby red Grenache from Tscharke pairs well with the richness of the flourless chocolate cake. The blend of different Grenache blocks at different times creates an incredible complexity of flavours - think floral (roses) and fruity (cherry, strawberries) with hints of spices which are then elevated by the tannins that persist with every sip.

This juicy bottle of wine is grown and bottled only 15-20 mins away from our Roseworthy Campus, is vegan-friendly, certified organic, and biodynamic. The peacock label is a homage to their free-roaming peacocks at their winery.

What more could you want from a fabulous drop of wine?!

Available at most cellars and bottle shop, $28.

Pop your apron on, turn on some tunes, get baking and sipping. ENJOY! Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you how I absolutely love food! My greatest joy is baking - not just for me to indulge on but to share with friends and family. When I was an intern, my colleagues could tell if I was stressed by the number of cakes or tarts I would make (the more stressed I was, the more baking I did!).

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Newsworthy / Research News

Dolphins and Pollution Why Dolphins?

Dr Bec Souter

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

BSc (Vet Bio), DVM, PhD Candidate

I have always been passionate about the ocean. I spent my uni holidays driving around the country to volunteer for sea turtle conservation programs or attend placements where I could get experience with marine animals (or be close to surf!).

I always wanted to go down the pathway of wildlife health but was unsure which way to go. I graduated from vet school in 2021 and didn’t expect to go straight into a PhD, but when the opportunity arose to help investigate the cause of an unusual dolphin mortality event here in South Australia, I couldn’t say no!

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Marine mammals are important sentinels for our marine ecosystem.

Their health reflects the overall condition of their surrounding environment due to their high trophic status, long life span, high blubber reserves, and in some cases, high site fidelity. These biological characteristics promote the accumulation of bioavailable pollutants at high concentrations within their tissues. The ocean serves as a sink for human waste products and there are thousands of chemicals that leach into our environment through industry, urban development, stormwater, wastewater, plastics, transport and agricultural practices. These chemicals are initially ingested by filter-feeding organisms and eventually biomagnify up the food chain where they concentrate at dangerous levels in higher trophic species such as dolphins.

Port River Dolphins The Port River Estuary is located around 15 km northwest of Adelaide’s CBD. Being a major shipping port, it is the most intensely used waterway in the state. Situated near its shores are manufacturing sites, landfill sites, and major wastewater and stormwater outlets. This body of water is home to a resident population of Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphins that have been experiencing decreased calf survival over the past five years.

More recently, these dolphins have been experiencing increased mortality due to an unknown

“wasting syndrome”. Affected dolphins present with a period of wasting for 2-4 weeks before death, have numerous skin lesions (a common proxy for dolphin health), suffer opportunistic bacterial infections, show evidence of lymphoid depletion, and they all share a common geographic range.

Male dolphins have also displayed delayed sexual development compared to dolphins outside the region. Despite extensive pathological investigations, infectious disease testing, algal toxin testing, and initial toxicological testing, we are still without a definitive diagnosis.

Pollution The Port River estuary and its biota has historically been subject to high levels of trace elements (e.g. mercury, lead, zinc, cadmium), steroid hormones, antimicrobial agents, polychlorinated bisphenols (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), many of which have known adverse effects, such as immune suppression, endocrine disruption, neurodegeneration, and

Newsworthy / Research News

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reproductive impairment in marine mammals (Williams et al., 2021, Desforges et al., 2016, Galligan et al., 2019, Davis et al., 2021). Toxin testing of 23 dolphins from inside and outside the Port River has indicated a 10-fold increase in liver PFAS concentration in Port River dolphins.

Many chemicals are persistent in the environment and have the potential to interact with other chemicals, inducing additive, synergistic, agonistic, or antagonistic effects. Environmental contamination of anthropogenic pollutants is concerning and the negative implications to wildlife health is largely unknown.

Research Aims My research focuses on investigating the factors that contribute to the health issues and mortality of dolphins in South Australia. Through a comprehensive pathological surveillance program, we closely examine deceased dolphins and perform in-depth

toxicological investigations to develop a health index which improves impact assessment of toxic pollutants on dolphin health.

Using individual health status, histomorphology of multiple organs (e.g. adrenal gland, thyroid gland, liver, spleen, gonads, and brains), hormone profiles, and biological parameters (age, sex, geographic location), we explore correlations through multi-variant analysis. We hope that the findings from this research will promote improved practices for marine environment conservation and highlight key environmental issues that could be threatening many other organisms.

I am currently in my second year of PhD studies and have performed 35 dolphin necropsies so far. I never imagined my afterhours calls to be dolphin strandings!

One of the most rewarding parts of this research has been working within a multidisciplinary team of experienced scientists that all share a similar passion for marine conservation. This project has already taught me so much, created new opportunities, and I feel privileged to be involved in such an important field of research.

This work involves the collaborative efforts of The University of Adelaide, Flinders University, South Australian Museum, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Environmental Protection Agency, and The Department of Environment and Water.

References Davis, D. A., Garamszegi, S. P., Banack, S. A., Dooley, P. D., Coyne, T. M., Mclean, D. W., Rotstein, D. S., Mash, D. C. & Cox, P. A. 2021. Bmaa, methylmercury, and mechanisms of neurodegeneration in dolphins: A natural model of toxin exposure. Toxins, 13, 697.

Desforges, J.-P. W., Sonne, C., Levin, M., Siebert, U., De Guise, S. & Dietz, R. 2016. Immunotoxic effects of environmental pollutants in marine mammals. Environment international, 86, 126-139.

Galligan, T. M., Balmer, B. C., Schwacke, L. H., Bolton, J. L., Quigley, B. M., Rosel, P. E., Ylitalo, G. M. & Boggs, A. S. 2019. Examining the relationships between blubber steroid hormones and persistent organic pollutants in common bottlenose dolphins. Environmental Pollution, 249, 982-991.

Williams, R. S., Curnick, D. J., Brownlow, A., Barber, J. L., Barnett, J., Davison, N. J., Deaville, R., Ten Doeschate, M., Perkins, M. & Jepson, P. D. 2021. Polychlorinated biphenyls are associated with reduced testes weights in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Environment international, 150, 106303.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Photo Credit: Dr Mike Bossley

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Newsworthy / Research News

Canine Heartworm Prevention

Dr Peter Atkinson

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

BSc (Vet Bio), DVM, MANZCVS (Epidemiology)

Are we doing the right thing?

Heartworm disease is commonly discussed by us in primary opinion veterinary practice. Commonly, we bring this disease up with new pet owners, or new clients to our clinic.

The conversation generally goes like this: “Have you heard of heartworm disease? Well, like its name suggests, dogs can get worms in their hearts. It is nasty, and can be fatal. But don’t worry, we have great preventatives that will ensure your dog is not at risk.”

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Sure enough, this conversation generally gets pet owners to subscribe to monthly heartworm preventatives, or an annually administered injection, Proheart®. Pet owners need little reason to continue with preventative usage, as they are afraid of the imminent worms growing in their beloved pets’ heart at any stage, and for most pet owners, the financial burden of ongoing prevention is manageable. On average, Australian pet owners spend $119.16 annually (if opting for Proheart®), or $238.29 annually (if opting for 12 months of monthly preventatives) (Mwacalimba et al., 2021). This figure is likely higher now, as the data presented in this study were from 2015.

In South Australia, most of us will not come across a dog infected with heartworm. For those of you who work interstate, heartworm infection may be more common, and we know the prevalence of disease can be high in some parts. Figure 1 is a map of Australia, with all published peer-reviewed reports of heartworm prevalence in Australia (Atkinson et al., 2023). As shown, the prevalence is highly variable, which begs the question: are we doing the right thing, by always recommending heartworm preventatives? Clearly, there is huge variability in prevalence which reflects variable transmission risk.

Newsworthy / Research News

By constructing this model, it became clear that a one-size-fits-all approach is inappropriate for heartworm prevention in Australia. We hope that you can implement the dashboard into your heartworm preventative discussions with pet owners. Visit the dashboard at https://heartworm-mapping. adelaide.edu.au/shiny/, or follow the QR code. Watch out for this research to be published in the coming months, and reach out if you have any questions.

References ATKINSON, P., NIELSEN, T., O’HANDLEY, R., CARAGUEL, C., 2023. Prevalence of heartworm in Australia, a systematic review (unpublished).

FORTIN, J. F. & SLOCOMBE, J. O. D. 1981. Temperature requirements for the development of Dirofilaria immitis in Aedes triseriatus and Ae. vexans. Mosq. News, 41, 625-633.

MWACALIMBA, K., WRIGHT, A., GIANNAKAKIS, K., L’ESTRANGE, R. & NGUYEN, T.-S. 2021. Retrospective Analysis of Heartworm ( Dirofilia immitis ) Prevention Medication Compliance and Economic Value in Dogs in Veterinary Practices in Australia. Front Vet Sci, 7, 602907-602907.

SLOCOMBE, J. O. D., SURGEONER, G. A. & SRIVASTAVA, B. Determination of the heartworm transmission period and its used in diagnosis and control. Proceedings of the Heartworm Symposium ‘89, 1989 Charleston, South Carolia, USA.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

What is driving this variability? For transmission to a susceptible dog, we need three factors to occur simultaneously: i) a source of infected dogs, ii) mosquitoes and iii) life stages of heartworm within the mosquito need to complete. We focused our research on this third factor, which is known as the extrinsic incubation period (EIP). The EIP of heartworm is a process closely linked to temperature (Fortin and Slocombe, 1981). Without getting too specific, it needs to be hot enough for long enough for EIP to complete (Slocombe et al., 1989). EIP completion is a necessary step, and if this is not possible, transmission cannot occur. We have produced a model of EIP in Australia.

This shows that EIP completion is highly variable, and follows a similar pattern to the prevalence distribution.

From here, we produced an online dashboard, that allows close to real-time monitoring of EIP status in Australia, as well as location-specific data. By modelling EIP, we can describe where transmission of heartworm is not possible, based on the absence of one of those three critical factors necessary for transmission. If transmission cannot occur, heartworm preventatives are not necessary. Figure 2 shows the outputs of this model – on average, how many months are different parts of Australia at risk of heartworm transmission, based on EIP.

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Figure 1: Reported heartworm infection prevalence amongst susceptible dogs in Australia. Diamonds indicate surveys finding no cases (prevalence of 0%).

Figure 2: Number of months Dirofilaria immitis extrinsic incubation period (EIP) is able to be completed, based on climatic conditions. Without EIP completion, transmission is not possible, and preventatives are not required.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Newsworthy / Public Health News

Preparing to detect and respond to emergency animal diseases (EADs) Dr Jane Owens

BSc, BVMS (Hons), PhD GradCert (UniTch), MVPHMgt, MANZCVS (Veterinary Public Health)

Working as a government veterinarian at PIRSA

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Animal Biosecurity, Department of Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA)

Dr Alissa Hampton BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

Dr Jemma Hassam BSc (Vet Bioscience), DVM

PIRSA Animal Biosecurity is responsible for managing the potential risks to South Australia from animal diseases, particularly those relating to the livestock industries, and for leading PIRSA’s Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) responses. We work with stakeholders to develop and implement policies, legislation, regulatory frameworks, and undertake surveillance, preparedness, and response programs, to underpin access to markets and protect animal health and welfare, the economy, the environment, communities, and human health.

PIRSA Animal Biosecurity is led by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mary Carr BSc BVMS MVPHMgt MANZCVS (Epidemiology), who is also an Affiliate Associate Professor with the University of Adelaide.

“The job is varied and challenging, presenting new opportunities to learn and progress my career as a veterinary officer focusing on epidemiology and public health. My current external study for a Master of Public health and Infectious Disease Intelligence through the University of NSW complements my day-to-day roles in the Epidemiology and Risk Team.

The EAD Hotline number is more than just a guaranteed exam question! It is an important part of Australia’s EAD preparedness and definitely worth committing to memory. I never thought I’d be on the other end answering the calls!”

– Dr Alissa Hampton Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / Public Health News

The Epidemiology and Risk Team applies the principles of epidemiology, and understanding and assessment of risk, to analyse disease threats and guide-decisionmaking. The team works across the various programs in Animal Biosecurity to provide relevant support. A current focus is working within the EAD Preparedness program to apply the principles of epidemiology to preparing South Australia to respond to an EAD outbreak. This includes activities such as the development of surveillance plans, as well as risk assessment (options analysis) for various disease control activities.

In an EAD response, epidemiologists are responsible for providing technical advice to the other participants (functions) in the response. They collect technical data about the outbreak and undertake analysis to predict rates of disease spread and the impacts of the disease.

The outputs produced by epidemiologists provide guidance for the planning of activities such as movement restrictions, tracing, surveillance, and vaccination.

Image 1: ‘Practising suiting up in full personal

protective euipment (PPE) for work in an EAD The Epidemiology and Risk outbreak.

Team also supports the Disease Surveillance Program Disease surveillance is mostly through our participation in the One targeted at notifiable diseases, Health South Australia Working which are animal diseases that Group, which is part of PIRSA’s are either exotic to Australia or formal partnership (as a public significant endemic diseases that health partner authority) with SA require reporting. There is a legal Health. This involves collaboration requirement that anyone who with experts in human, animal, and suspects or diagnoses a notifiable environmental health to promote disease must report it immediately the One Health approach and to the relevant state government address issues related to zoonoses veterinary authority, which in South and other One Health issues.

Australia is PIRSA. EADs are a

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

This article focuses on the roles of three PIRSA Animal Biosecurity veterinarians who are alumni of the University of Adelaide School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences.

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subset of notifiable diseases that meet certain criteria as defined under the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and are of heightened significance to Australia.

The Disease Surveillance program Application of epidemiology allows focusses on early detection of for prediction of and planning for exotic/EAD incursions if they were the outcomes of disease events. to occur in South Australia, thus Epidemiological intelligence, minimising the spread and impacts including data, informs risk of an outbreak. Surveillance assessment and prioritization of information also provides evidence risks, which can justify decisionPrivate veterinarians working in to trading partners that Australia’s making during emergency South Australia can access the livestock are healthy and free response, but also prioritization disease subsidies and advice on the from disease, which underpins of resourcing. Epidemiology relevant programs and/or disease Australia’s valuable market exports utilizes historical disease trends investigations through contacting and profitable livestock industries. (data) to make future projections, their local PIRSA District Veterinary As part of the program, funding is assesses current disease burden Officer or via the Emergency Animal provided towards assisting with in a population, and assesses Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. animal disease investigations the impact, efficiency/cost, and https://pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/ undertaken by private veterinarians outcomes of disease interventions. animal_health/veterinarians in livestock, companion animals, This allows for prioritization of and wildlife (including feral animals). intervention strategies and provides the foundation for development of policy.

“After enjoying EMS placement with PIRSA in my final year of University I had considered the possibility of becoming a government veterinarian after gaining some experience in general practice. So far, I have found my role as a District Veterinary Officer to be extremely different to working in general practice. The role is very interesting and challenging in different ways and I am thoroughly enjoying the work. I have only been working for PIRSA for a short period of time but have been blown away by the workplace support and the number of different opportunities and options for professional development that have come my way already.”

- Dr Jemma Hassam Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Newsworthy / Public Health News

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Foot and Mouth Disease Readiness for the New Zealand Red Meat Sector The outbreak of Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) in Indonesia last year has drawn acute attention to Australia and New Zealand’s biosecurity systems and FMD readiness planning. While the risk of FMD spreading to New Zealand is extremely low, if there were an outbreak the impact on the sector and the wider New Zealand economy would be devastating.

Dr Natasha Watzdorf BSc (Vet Bio), DVM

99% of New Zealand’s red meat processors, marketers and exporters, has an important role in providing a collective voice for the industry to a wide range of stakeholders, including government and regulatory agencies.

In the event of a major biosecurity response, overseas regulators and customers will be looking closely to assess how effective New Zealand is in the response.

An ineffective response would result in devastating consequences for the industry. An efficient response in which the disease is eradicated quickly would result in resumption of trade sooner. It is therefore vital that all meat processing plants are able to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a major biosecurity incursion.

The MIA, alongside other primary sector groups, works closely with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to ensure New Zealand is well prepared and taking every practical step possible to prevent FMD entering the country. Examples of MIA’s ongoing engagement includes: • Being a signatory to the Government Industry Agreement for Biosecurity Readiness and Response, which provides a framework for industry and government to work together to prepare for and respond to biosecurity incursions.

• Supporting MPI’s readiness efforts for FMD, including more recently through a dedicated taskforce focusing on improving readiness and refreshing plans,

Biosecurity is the number one risk for the New Zealand red meat industry. New Zealand’s biosecurity status allows us to export to markets without the barriers faced by foreign competitors. A major biosecurity response – FMD – would result in overseas markets closing to New Zealand meat products. The red meat sector is a significant contributor to the New Zealand economy, returning more than $11 billion in export revenue to the country and supporting approximately 92,000 jobs (5 percent of total national employment) particularly in rural and regional communities.

Over 85% of the red meat industry’s production is exported to over 108 markets, access to which heavily relies on New Zealand’s animal health disease freedom.

The Meat Industry Association (MIA), representing over

• Recommending increased surveillance and compliance activity around swill/waste feeding regulations for pigs which is a well recognised risk pathway for disease transmission if border biosecurity measures fail; and • Reviewing our own industry biosecurity emergency plans.

Of key importance, the MIA in partnership with MPI have prepared a set of detailed guidelines for the red meat industry to ensure a common understanding amongst industry and government as to what needs to happen in the event of a biosecurity response and what relevant businesses can do to ensure their readiness.

The MIA also continues to liaise closely with MPI and relevant government agencies on trying to ensure certainty for businesses and continuity of trade in the unlikely event of an FMD incursion.

Resources MIA-Foot-Mouth-fact-sheet - https://www.mia.co.nz/assets/Uploads/PE22-69-MIA-Foot-Mouth-fact-sheet-final-master.pdf About foot and mouth disease | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz) -https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests-and-diseases-not-in-new-zealand/animal-diseases-not-in-nz/foot-and-mouthdisease-response-plans/about-foot-and-mouth-disease/ Foot and mouth disease readiness | NZ Government (mpi.govt.nz) - https://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity/pests-and-diseases-not-in-new-zealand/animal-diseases-not-in-nz/foot-and-mouthdisease-response-plans/foot-and-mouth-disease-readiness/ Animal Products Industry Guidelines for Risk Organism Preparedness and Response (mpi.govt.nz) - https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/14212-Animal-Products-Industry-Guidelines-forRisk-Organism-Preparedness-and-Response Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / RASMHF

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Dr Darren Trott

BSc (hon), BVMS (Hon), PhD

The fund can be used to support travel costs and gifts for invited speakers (which includes invitations to our Alumni to return to Roseworthy and share their experiences), food, beverages and event running costs, mental first aid training, and initial psychologist consult costs for any students experiencing both mental illness and financial hardship. Given our proximity to the Barossa Valley, good food is a focus at our events!!

RASMHF is supported by Royal Canin, AVSA, Australian Veterinary Students for Mental Health, the Roseworthy Wellbeing Group, and RVA. In 2023, we held two very special events on the Roseworthy campus.

In mid-February, Dr Liz Napier (2014 graduate and RVA Committee Member) returned to Roseworthy to run a Mental Health First Aid training course attended by Roseworthy Staff and Students, with a focus being our senior College residents. Liz is an amazing presenter and RASMHF is very keen for the First Aid training to become a regular event on the calendar.

Our second event was a series of lunchtime Seed Sessions (The Heroes Collective) for students, developed and run over 4 weeks in August 2023 by veterinary graduates and sisters Meg (2013) and Tobi Leary (2020).

The Seed Sessions were designed

by Meg and Tobi to be an integrative and collaborative experience bringing in knowledge from western psychology, yogic teachings, eastern beliefs, evidence-based science and personal experience from university, working life and personal growth.

The sessions aimed to plant a seed relating to different topics, concepts, and tools, and explore different ways of navigating adversity and common life challenges, building resilience and a base on which to plan a sustainable career. The interactive concepts explored mindset, perspective, learned helplessness and a form of personal growth termed shadow

work. We received excellent feedback from the students who attended and would love to also make the Seed Sessions a regular part of the Roseworthy calendar.

Finally, Roseworthy Revue (RASMHF’s major fundraising event) will be held again on campus on Monday night October 16th at 7.00 pm. There will be free food, fairy floss and popcorn and we would love to see some of our Alumni there (don’t forget to bring your Animal Onesy!). We will be joined again by Garry and Kate Putland to give us an update on Sophie’s Legacy and the very successful “We’re only human” campaign.

Image 1: Alumnus Dr’s Meg (2013) and Tobi (2020) Leary running a series of Seed Sessions (The Heroes Collective)

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

The Roseworthy Alumni and Students Mental Health Fund (RASMHF) is a University of Adelaide endorsed charity created in September 2021 to provide support to our graduates, students and staff, fostering deeper connections through activities generating positive energy and hope.

Above all, we want to encourage anyone within our interconnected network experiencing mental illness (in any of its different guises) to reach out, seek help and feel that they are not alone.

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Newsworthy / Stories from Alumni

Every Disease, Any Species, All of the Questions Dr Tom Westermann BSc (VB), DVM, DACVP

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Veterinary anatomic pathology. Why do it? Where can it lead? How do you get started?

My fascination with disease and death started in early childhood on a neighbor’s farm, with a sudden BANG! I ran along the creek bank, trying to keep up with my brother, to investigate the noise. We smelt it before we saw it: tucked in amongst bulrushes was the mudcaked body of an enormous Holstein Friesian cow. I was transfixed. Why was it dead? And what had exploded?!

Nowadays, that mystery has been solved: most of us have experienced the tragicomedy of accidentally perforating gas-distended intestines, a mistake heralded by an aggressively loud flatulent sound, that — after several minutes — eventually dies in an embarrassed whimper.

Growing up my morbid curiosity only deepened during vet visits to the family farm, and in vet school these interests flourished on the necropsy floor. The first necropsy I did was on a wood duck with a complete spinal fracture and copious intracoelomic hemorrhage of unknown cause. It was only after noticing that both sides of the chest had small punctures in curvilinear arrangements that I realized, with a thrilling sense of certainty, that it must have been attacked by a canid. This moment, and countless others that followed, led me along a winding path to my current position as a toxicological pathologist working in Massachusetts, in the United States. It’s a job I never imagined in vet school, in a place that I still cannot write without spell-check. So how did I end up here?

My first new grad position was in a small animal hospital in Victoria; starting out in practice prior to pathology training is often encouraged in Australia—in the US, this is seen as less crucial. Although I loved my first job, my yearning for pathology only grew, and so I moved to Sydney and began my pathology training at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute. I was in my element, soaking up as much knowledge as I could about the diseases of production animals, horses, wildlife, and aquatic species from brilliant pathologists, district veterinarians, scientists, and technicians. The cases were fascinating, with a few favorites being kikuyu toxicosis in cattle, a novel form of

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Fig. 2: Gel foam in a vertebral canal surgical biopsy sample from a dog (H&E)

necrotizing tracheitis in turkeys, and ovine chlamydial abortion.

I ultimately finished my pathology training in a residency program in upstate New York, at Cornell University. Here I saw a huge variety and volume of cases and learnt new skills in training vet students, and subsequently, pathology residents, after completing my board exams and staying on as a diagnostic pathology fellow. Some of my most memorable Cornell cases were two young asian elephants with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, ganglioneuromatosis in a foal, schwannosis in a horse, and malignant catarrhal fever virus-associated granulomatous mural folliculitis in goats.

I am now learning about the role of pathologists in a very different environment – a contract research organization called Charles River Laboratories (CRL), which has over 100 facilities in more than 20 countries. Here I evaluate the effects of novel therapies in animals to ensure their safety prior to use in early-stage human clinical trials.

Many vets think of pathologists as either working in vet schools or in private diagnostic labs. The reality is much wider in scope: we study the etiology and pathogenesis of disease at all levels, in any animal species, and in any context, spanning both veterinary and human medicine.

In Australia, it is often expected that pathologists will have proficiency in both clinical pathology and anatomic pathology, whereas in Europe, the US, and many other countries, pathologists typically specialize in one or the

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Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

2023 Annual Cocktail Evening National Wine Centre

other. Many further niches exist in veterinary pathology, with some pathologists specializing in particular species or groups (e.g. zoo and wildlife pathology), contexts (e.g. forensic pathology), body systems (e.g. dermatopathology), imaging modalities (e.g. digital pathology, electron microscopy, etc.), or methods of evaluation (e.g. artificial intelligence).

Veterinary pathology has given me a professional life filled with surprises, in a community of like-minded, quirky vets, in which curiosities are followed and questions are answered. Visually (although perhaps not olfactorily), there is also great aesthetic value in pathology. Gross lesions can be incredibly striking, and histology offers an unparalleled world of minute and detailed beauty.

Fig. 1: Northern Seahorse Ovary (Periodic acid Schiff and Alcian Blue)

If you’re interested in this field, the best way to get started is by talking to a pathologist. Don’t be shy, we’re usually pretty nice! There are around 175 members of the Australian Society of Veterinary Pathology.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

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Newsworthy

Taking Care of Business Brindabella Equine Mobile Veterinary Services 209 Glengyle road Murrumbateman NSW T: 0429 074 686 E: brindabellaequineinfo@gmail.com W: http://brindabellaequinevet.com.au Dr Allie Corriprio (nee Brown) BSc, DVM, MANZCVS

2014 alumna

Instagram Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

@brindabellaequine

Owned by Allie Corripio BSC DVM MANZCVS graduated 2014 and her husband Cesar (graduated 2013 Mexico). Brindabella equine was established in 2012. We both were working for the previous owner in 2017 and took over the practice in 2018.

We are located in Murrumbateman but travel throughout Canberra and surrounds as we are 80% mobile.

I never thought practice ownership would be for me but the opportunity came up and as I was already working there I knew I enjoyed the caseload, Facebook the clients and the area. I really enjoy the flexibility of being my own boss and @Brindabella equine creating my own schedule which is particularly important now we have a mobile veterinary services young daughter. It took me a couple of years to learn that it’s OK to say no to clients, and to set boundaries.

My advice to other practice owners or managers would be to make sure you keep the work life balance and have set times that you switch off from work including not looking at texts, calls or emails!

The Vet and The Van

Hobart, Tasmania E: dr.alysha@thevetandthevan.com.au T: 0456 382 515 W: thevetandthevan.com.au

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

I always struggled to be able to provide quality care for patients and connect and empathise with clients in the space of a 15-20 minute consult. I wanted to have more time with people, to understand their priorities and to have the time to go slow with nervous pets. I’m also passionate about end-of-life care for our pets which I (and most clients) prefer doing at home.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

The amazing relationships I’ve developed with clients, even more so since starting my own business and visiting people at home. For me this is the best part about being a veterinarian.

Dr Alysha Thriscutt BSc (Vet BioSc), DVM

2015 alumna

Instagram and Facbook @thevetandthevan

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

The many strange and wonderful situations you find yourself in as a house call vet in Tasmania. I’ve done euthanasia’s on the back deck of a yacht, on the banks of a river and in the middle of a forest.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

You don’t have to have all the answers before you start. Learn what you can but don’t get bogged down and overwhelmed trying to know it all. Just get in there, start and ask for help as you need it.

Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

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Animal Behaviour Coaching Makin St, Keith, SA, 5267 T: 08 8755 1732 E: admin@animalbehaviourcoaching.com.au W: www.animalbehaviourcoaching.com.au Dr Emma Vermeeren (nee Johnsson)

BSc DVM MANZCVS (Veterinary Behaviour)

2013 alumna

Animal Behaviour Coaching was started on the side in 2016 whilst still working in general practice, and later whilst working at Bordertown Vet, AVBS, and in my own business (working 3 jobs at once was definitely too much!) 2019 I stopped working elsewhere and worked solely in my own business (have only worked 3-4 days a week since this time due to having kids).

Instagram and Facbook @animalbehaviourcoaching

Growing up with both parents being veterinarians who owned their own business, I always knew I wanted to be a business owner too. I was unable to buy into the businesses I was employed in, so was encouraged to start my own veterinary behaviour business to fulfil this desire. Being my own boss allows me the freedom to make your own decisions, and long term will allow me the ability to have the work-life balance I desire.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

Having the flexibility to control my work hours to enable me to spend time with my family or engage in self care. For example, I am taking a day off next week to go on a kindy excursion with my daughter, and the week after that I have blocked some time out to have a massage.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/ encounter while starting a business?

It doesn’t surprise me that I would have a retail component to my business as I kept recommending items that people couldn’t buy locally. However, I didn’t expect to have a “pet shop” or offer dog grooming. I’ve listened to the needs of my community and try to service them to the best of my ability.

Something that also surprised me… Since university, I had an inclination that I would want to do further study in a particular area of veterinary medicine, however also knew I wanted to live rurally. I didn’t think it was going to be possible to work in such a narrow field in the country, however telemedicine works well for veterinary behaviour and allows me to expand my client base outside of my local area, enabling me to generate enough work that I can do this as my only form of work.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

If it is something that you really want to do, find a way to make it happen. Sometimes this involves thinking outside the box and allowing yourself to be involved in non-veterinary work if that is what is profitable (for example, I run dog training classes both in-person and online. This then feeds into my veterinary behaviour work as some of these clients go on to require veterinary behaviour consults). The business also needs to work for you (rather than you working for it). What do I mean by this? It needs to be more than just a job. So you either need to be better off financially than if you were an employee, and/or better off personally in terms of flexibility, lifestyle, and mental health. For me, although I’ve got the added responsibility of running a business and managing employees, it is the least stressed I have been in a long time!

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

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Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

Modbury Veterinary Clinic 32 Smart Road Modbury SA T: 8264 7111 E: reception@modburyvet.com W: https://www.modburyveterinaryclinic.com.au/ Dr Tegan Hadley

BSc (Animal Sc(Hons)), BSc (Vet BioSc), DVM

Dr Chelsea Smith BSc (Vet BioSc), DVM

2015 alumni

Instagram Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

@modburyvetclinic

Facebook @Modbury Vet

Both of us started working at Modbury Veterinary Clinic in 2016. We shared a similar vision to work towards practice ownership in April 2021, and took the leap to take over and relocate to a new custom built facility at the same time.

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

TEGAN: We were both passionate about team leadership and enacting a positive change in the industry to support our team to grow in a place of support and encouragement. We understood early on the best way to make this happen is through ownership with the ability to make decisions that will directly influence our team positively.

CHELSEA: I have always had a strong business mind and knew quite early on in vet school that I wanted to one day own my own business. I spent 10+ years prior to being a vet working in hospitality and managing large teams in busy environments – so it seemed like the logical progression for me to take on ownership after graduation. Being my own boss allows me the freedom to make your own decisions, and long term will allow me the ability to have the work-life balance I desire.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

TEGAN: Winning a grant when we first took over the business which allowed us to have a cash prize to put towards the costs of taking over, as well as providing invaluable education on marketing and using the asset of social media.

CHELSEA: Overall, I have found it really satisfying to see our team grow and develop into what we are today. I am passionate about our workplace culture and making the industry a better place to work in for everyone. As a vet student on placement and as a new grad it was horrible to see so many toxic workplaces in the industry, so I take great pride in knowing our team is full of caring and kind individuals. I also feel very thankful that we have such an amazing client base who truly feel like part of the family, and knowing they support us and our business 100% feels like a huge win.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

TEGAN: Encountering a high level of sexism and misogyny when taking over the business. There was surprisingly many within the industry that didn’t feel two women should take over, or were capable of running a successful business. Ultimately, pushing forward regardless of these attitudes demonstrates that women are a powerhouse in business and we are proud of what we have achieved in the face of these attitudes.

CHELSEA: It was interesting to me that as soon as I owned the practice and had the responsibility of ownership and management – I instantly found it much less stressful than working for someone else. This was unexpected, as we were taking on a lot more responsibilities and workload.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

TEGAN: Remember that business ownership is all about building strong and happy relationships with clients & other staff. Focus on building these connections throughout your day from the moment you start as a new graduate and it will help to build a network of support around you for when you do take over or manage.

CHELSEA: I think it is important that students have a firm understanding that being a veterinarian isn’t all about animals – a huge portion of our day is spent building relationships with pet owners. I would urge any student who may be considering practice ownership in the future to gain experience in a customer service role (hospitality, retail etc) where you may have to deal with difficult people and learn conflict resolution techniques. If you can gain experience managing people or a team of people that is also beneficial. Also, keep in mind that even the worst job experiences are learning curves – if you are not happy your first few jobs as a new graduate, you can still learn so much from that experience…. Sometimes learning “What not to do” is just as valuable a learning experience.

Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

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Newton Veterinary Centre 112 Clairville Rd Newton SA 5074 W: newtonvetcentre.com.au

Dr Conor Brand BSc, DVM

2016 alumnus

Instagram @newtonvetcentre

We are located in the inner north-east suburb of Newton, near the Target shopping centre. The clinic has been operating for more than 10 years, however I took over ownership in March 2022 in conjunction with Dr. Mark Reeve, Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital.

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

I wanted to start my own business because I was looking to be challenged professionally and I enjoyed the autonomy of sole charge work.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

My biggest win since starting my own business has been forming a professional, supportive and enjoyable workplace for the clinic’s employees. @Newton Veterinary Centre It is also very heartwarming having a positive effect in the community, I never tire of hearing how clients sing our praises at the local dog park.

Facebook

I didn’t expect to be so beholden to the forces of nature. It doesn’t matter how well prepared you are for your day, problems arise when dealing with sustained blackouts, falling trees causing power surges and destroying equipment, and storms ripping parts of the roof off. All of which have occurred in the first 12 months of ownership.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

My advice for others interested in business ownership? Unless you are very well versed in small business management, don’t go it alone. My business partner has run a practice for over 10 years and has provided me with endless support in all aspects of business management. Without this I would have had a very different year.

Est 2019

Healthy Herds (Veterinary) Healthy Tech (Ag. Tech)

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

26 Fifth Street Bowden SA 5007 E: Vets@healthyherds.com.au W: www.healthyherds.com.au

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

Est 2022

I have always aspired to own my own business as my parents were small business owners. I also saw an opportunity to diversify into the Ag. Tech space.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

Dr Jonothan Bartsch

BSc, DVM, MANZCVS (Pig Health and Production)

2013 alumnus Greatest win was surviving COVID (we service a significant amount of the NSW pig industry and could not see for almost 12 months), starting a family and most recently having the confidence in my support staff and associate veterinarian to have an extended holiday. tire of hearing how clients sing our praises at the local dog park.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

COVID changed all budget calculations, resulting in stock on hand more than doubled due to supply shortages and decrease consulting opportunities. The silver lining is it promoted investment and establishment of Ag Tech company.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

Find an appropriate mentor who has run a business in another field AS WELL in addition to a vet practice owner/manager mentor. Set yourself bite size goals, don’t forget why you started your business/ became a vet- for me this was in the shape of completing my Memberships in 2021.

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Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

SonoVet T: 0480 232 003 E: imaging@sonovetaus.com W: https://www.sonovetaus.com I established SonoVet at the start of 2020. It is a mobile diagnostic imaging consultancy business providing referral service across South Australia and interstate.

Dr Manhei Ma

BSc(PV), DVM, GCertSAUA, MANZCVS (Small Animal Radiology)

2015 alumna

Instagram and Facbook @sonovetadelaide

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

Thanks to COVID I was unable to leave the country (my initial plans in 2020 were to move overseas) and with the encouragement of friends and family I started up my own business. Every day since, I remind myself how lucky I am to have established myself and my business despite the many challenges the pandemic created.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

My biggest win is loving my job every day and working with a huge variety of veterinary clients (small family owned practices, corporate clinics and hospitals, specialist hospitals, University, emergency centres, and human medical companies).

My two most memorable experiences since starting have been working in the research space on a 2 year project with the critically endangered Southern Bent Wing microbat species (top right image), and working with an interstate-based human pharmaceutical toxicology company on a newly developed human anti-cancer drug that was undergoing clincial trials on juvenile rats and assessing the drug’s effects on their hearts with weekly echocardiograms.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

I didn’t expect to wear so many hats in my role as an entrepeneur/business owner managing finances and daily operations, client communications, graphics designer for website and marketing material, and strategy development. I have broadened my skillset in problem solving, effective communication, and being very agile and organised.

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

Before starting up or taking ownership of an established business, ensure you have a variety of mentors ranging from business, veterinary, finance and legal. In addition to having mentors, a good support system from family and friends is important as they form your sounding board and help you get through the tough times and celebrate your small and big wins with you. Every year, establish a goal for your business and yourself to achieve ... and ... Have fun!

2023 Alumni Annual Cocktail Evening National Wine Centre Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business 16_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

24_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

Cameron Veterinary Services Pty Ltd Shop A01, 4 Mullamar Way, Gawler East 5118 Dr Lachie Cameron is the sole director and owner of the Cameron Veterinary Services in partnership with his wife Jordan Cameron (also a Roseworthy graduate, completing her Bachelor of Science (Animal 42_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny Science) 2014 and completing her Honours year in 2015).

Dr Lachlan Cameron BSc (Vet BioSc), DVM

2016 alumnus

Instagram @cameronvets

Facebook

16_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

@cameron veterinary services

We personally are located in Mt Pleasant SA. We run our farm operations from this location including regular horse veterinary visits, large amounts of equine dentistry, hospitalisation, surgery etc. This is our home, however we are equipped with crush facilities, a lab, stables yards etc.

The second business location is now the main location. This is the Shop A01, 4 Mullamar Way Gawler east location. This is where we have purposely built our new small animal clinic. This site has three consult rooms, separate surgery, imaging and treatment room as well as separate dog and cat ward, offices etc. All part of the new My Springwood shopping centre directly opposite a new Drakes.

I started the business March 2020, right as Covid hit. What a 24_20220927_ENGAGE time to start a MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny 34_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny new business. This was a small single man team (just myself) operating out BEST PRACTICE 31 of the back of my car.

We have since progressed to opening our purpose built small animal clinic in Gawler East, which took two years of negotiating, developing and building. This opened up in August of 2022.

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

EST PRACTICE

34_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

47

My reasoning is very simple. We wanted to build a space where people where happy to come to work. Where they enjoyed being heard, and contributing to developing a clinic they are proud to be part of.

Too many times I have seen business owners not listen or respect their staff, and we wanted to create a place where our staff want to come to work and want to contribute to building a truly strong practice culture.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

Simply getting our purpose built small animal clinic up and running. It took a huge effort both financially and physically to get this open, and to a point where customers are starting to flow through the door.

42_20220927_ENGAGE MEDIA_Dr Rick Fenny

There was a lot of risk involved in taking the leap into this, and the timing around it. We couldn’t be happier with how it came along, but it took some time and effort.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/ encounter while starting a business?

I suppose there wasn’t anything I didn’t expect, it is simply the enormity of the task. The biggest thing I have had to develop is you cant expect to move a mountain in a day. It takes constant small tasks being achieved to overcome any major task that you look to tackle.

30 BEST PRACTICE

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

Do it. If you truly want to lead and have a leadership role don’t wait. Don’t sit and wait for an opportunity to maybe perhaps come your way? Head towards the goals you want to achieve, set your mind to the task and get going.

Learn everything you can. Business related. Look at things in the perspective of a business owner, and ask questions. Watch online seminars. Learn as much as you can. We are taught to be great vets, not good business owners. So you need to educate yourself on that as well if that is the path you want to go down.

BEST PRACTICE 31

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Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

Est 2019

Vet and Stock Consulting and Vet and Stock Wholesaling

Dr Ben Linn 2015 alumnus

Dr Kat Linn

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

2016 alumna

Victoria based (client base extends through SA, NSW, QLD) W: https://www.modburyveterinaryclinic.com.au/ Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

We always had an idea in the back of our minds that we would love to start our own business one day. In 2019, happy in our existing roles we were asked to start consulting by a number of clients we had previously serviced after we graduated across Victoria. Following this, we started our own business, providing services to livestock clients whilst also working in our current roles at the time (Ben consulting and lecturing at University of Melbourne and Kat at Castlemaine Veterinary Clinic) until the business became established.

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

Our initial 5-year conservative financial plan had us both working two jobs for 90 hours a week each for the first 2.5 years after starting the business. Initially, we planned to be “uni-student-poor eating sh%#loads of Mi Goreng’ for the first few years. We both resigned from our second/actual jobs within the first year. So “not going broke” in our first 12 months was a massive win for us.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/ encounter while starting a business?

We focus our business on a “service-based, results-driven” approach with minimal overheads. As a result, a lot of our time actually was spent designing animal health software which our farms could use in remote areas of Australia to seek veterinary help. We certainly didn’t expect to learn how to write software.

Given the area we service across Australia we also had to learn how to negotiate and work with logistics companies across Australia, and follow them up! All of these areas were totally unrelated to our combined 20 years of study!

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

“If it was fun and easy everyone would do it!”

Newsworthy / Taking Care of Business

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The Vet Clinic 24 Murray Street, Angaston, SA, 5353 The clinic was opened in 1990s, changed ownership in 2011. I purchased 50% of clinic in April 2022 and 100% in June 2023.

2013 alumna

Describe why you wanted to start your own business.

After working in the profession as a veterinary nurse and then a vet, for over 20 years, I had reached the point where I knew I would no longer be happy working under other people, and either needed to have my own clinic, or consider leaving the profession. I had managed clinics at a high level, but even this had led to frustration and dissatisfaction. Despite these feelings, purchasing The Vet Clinic was almost a spur of the moment decision. I hadn’t ever thought through how I would actually have the ability to have my own clinic, it just seemed like a nice idea! The Vet Clinic was the very first clinic I worked in as a new grad back in 2013; after six months I moved into ECC work in Tasmania, and remained working in ECC, academia, management, and GP for the next 8 years. In late 2021, I returned to The Vet Clinic for a short locum stint, and was pleased to find the same staff and the same wonderful family vibe that the clinic had always had. It just felt right. One afternoon I casually mentioned that I should buy the clinic, and the current owner was thrilled at the suggestion! So we sat down and talked about it, decided on a plan, met with the bank, and the rest is history!

What is your greatest win since starting your own business?

My greatest win has been the ability to purchase the equipment I want to work with, pay my staff what I believe they are worth, and overall being able to manage the practice with my own values in mind. I am extremely lucky and so grateful to have amazing staff who are not only incredible veterinary professionals, but also genuinely wonderful humans as well. They have shown me such wonderful support and encouragement both personally and with the practice, and I quite literally could not have done this without them.

What’s something you didn’t expect to learn/do/encounter while starting a business?

The most unexpected thing I have discovered in purchasing The Vet Clinic has been the support from the clients.

The previous owner had owned the business for 12 years, and though she remains on staff, she is no longer on the front line. The clients have embraced me from the start, and most congratulate me on a daily basis. The genuine relationships this practice has built with its pet owners is an absolute credit to the staff and enduring philosophy of The Vet Clinic

What advice would you give other graduates interested in business ownership or practice management?

If you feel like you are interested in starting your own practice, or buying into an existing practice, I would recommend managing somewhere first, so that you have an idea of what is involved first-hand before committing to ownership. I would also not advise taking on a management or ownership role for at least the first 5 years since graduation, as these roles require both clinical experience and people management skills.

Copyright © 2023. RVA. All rights reserved.

Roseworthy Veterinary Alumni

Dr Claire MacRae

Kaurna acknowledgement We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the original custodians of the Adelaide Plains and the land on which the University of Adelaide’s campuses at North Terrace, Waite, and Roseworthy are built. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and we respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs. The University continues to develop respectful and reciprocal relationships with all Indigenous peoples in Australia, and with other Indigenous peoples throughout the world.

Further enquiries

The University of Adelaide SA 5005 Australia enquiries alumni@adelaide.edu.au phone +61 8 8313 5800 web adelaide.edu.au/alumni Disclaimer The information in this publication is current as at the date of printing and is subject to change.