Fall 2020 RUSVM Alumni Magazine

FALL 2020

resilience [ri-zil-jəns] noun

the capacity of a ROSSIE to maintain their core purpose and integrity in the face of adversity.

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM FORTUNE SITHOLE Dear RUSVM Alumni, The past nine months have been unlike anything many of us have ever experienced. As a global community, we have experienced a pandemic that has dynamically shifted how we live and work every day. Our U.S.-based colleagues have witnessed indescribable acts of social injustices perpetrated by law enforcement resulting in powerful calls to action reverberating around the world. As a veterinary profession, we have been challenged to innovate and thrive in this new “normal.” I’m sure we would all agree that 2020 has challenged our “Rossie Resilience.”

Amidst the many challenges facing the veterinary profession today, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine is committed to addressing racism and fighting for social justice at our university and in the communities we serve. We believe racism is a public health crisis that must be addressed. And as an organization, we have committed to educate ourselves—our faculty, colleagues, and our students as part of a continuous effort to grow, learn, and change.

Dean Callanan has given me the privilege to chair a Task Force created to oversee all RUSVM Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. The Task Force will provide guidance and recommendations that will help facilitate a more diverse and inclusive student experience, both academically and with the greater St. Kitts and Nevis community.

Given the shortage of minorities in our profession in the United States where most of our students take employment, we feel a responsibility to answer the call of improving diversity and inclusion in our profession. This means that our admissions process must consider issues related to equity. We must ensure that we also focus our admissions on underprivileged minority groups who may be capable students brought up in environments and situations that do not promote the competitive realization of their academic acumen.

As alumni, I call on you to join us in our mission to become a society that actively denounces racial and social injustice. The era of indifference should be a thing of the past. The burden of promoting diversity and inclusion is for everyone in the profession, not just organizations, but each one of us. Let us help prospective minority students get the hours of practice required for their application to vet school. Let us also welcome minority students to our practices so they get that important experiential learning. Let us create inclusive environments in our workplaces so we can realize the fruits of diversity. This world we live in is only as strong as its weakest link, and there is no prosperity for all and effective animal health without embracing diversity and inclusion.

We are proud and privileged as a university to boast 6000+ strong alumni. Undeniably, we are a force to reckon with and our leadership on issues related to racial and social justice matters.

Together, let’s work hard to ensure that no group of people should ever feel so threatened that they have to form an organization called Black Lives Matter and a campaign to remind the world that their lives matter just like any other life.

Aluta continua, let’s make this a better world! Thank you.

Fortune Sithole, BVSC, MSC, PHD, DIPL. ACVPM Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professional Opportunities

FEATURES

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Taking the Lead!

Alumni are making their voices heard by taking on local leadership roles with veterinary medical associations. Three new leaders highlight the importance of getting involved.

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The Veterinarian Forensic Files

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Making a Difference Through Local Government

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Dr. Yesenia Fernandez ’03 is using her knowledge and skills to make entire communities safer. Puerto Rico’s first forensic veterinarian takes us on her journey.

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Coming full circle: from an undergraduate degree in political science to city council member, Dr. Chantel Raghu ’12 highlights how one conversation changed her career.

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From Law Enforcement to a Coveted Residency

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Making Something Out of Nothing

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FALL 2020

Becoming a “Rossie” is rarely a linear path and is often full of resilience (and a sense of adventure)! We highlight one alumna’s prestigious residency and her unusual path to pursing her dreams.

Who says a mom can’t do it all? Against all odds, one Rossie utilized her network to help create the foundation of what is now a much needed resource on the island, Ross Prep.

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Charles Wallace, DVM MS Dip ACVS Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations Professor of Large Animal Medicine Mary Mauldin Pereira ’05 DVM Msc Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations Colleen Glenney Associate Director of Alumni Relations CO N TR I B U TI N G WR ITE R S/E D ITO R S

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Dentrecia Blanchette Colleen Glenney Becky Holton Melissa Kvidahl Reilly

M AG A Z I N E PROJ EC T M A N AG E R S

Kristine Lester Colleen Glenney

COVID-19 and the Veterinary Profession

2020 has been anything but typical. Our alumni family share how they got creative and persisted to reshape the veterinary profession.

Sean Callanan, MVB CertVR MRCVS PhD FRCPath DiplECVP Dean

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DESIGN

Peter Gialloreto Howard Design Group, Inc. Princeton, NJ

ALSO IN THE ISSUE

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MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN EMPOWER SCHOLARSHIP FUND NEW ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH NEW ASSISTANT DEAN OF ALUMNI RELATIONS NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS #NEWBEGINNINGS

The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Magazine is published by the Office of Alumni Relations along with the Office of Marketing and Communications. It is distributed to alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends. For information or to send name/address changes please contact: rusvmalumni@rossu.edu.

A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN Dear Rossies, Across our Adtalem institutions, leaders like myself have been exploring what we can do in our respective institutions to pursue effective approaches toward cultivating a more diverse and inclusive community. Listening to you has been a critical component of this process.

We have individually and collectively made the commitment to set a vision and a plan of action for addressing racism and to fight for social justice. We have shared these social justice commitments throughout the magazine, and I hope you take time to reflect on them in the context of our community. Our RUSVM leadership team, standing behind these commitments has agreed on immediately leading a strategic action plan that will focus on the inter-related areas of education and advocacy. I expect that this action plan will evolve over time as we continue on this journey.

Our commitments are guided by our mission to embrace diversity and offer students from a wide range of backgrounds the opportunity to follow their chosen career in veterinary medicine. As an institution of higher education, we have an obligation to fight ignorance and intolerance, model inclusivity and embrace the power that diversity represents.

The activities and initiatives outlined were directly informed by our June 2020 open dialogue session with students driven in support of Black lives. The willingness to share experiences and journeys as RUSVM students and individuals facing social injustices in individual communities and on the island has guided our initial planning.

This will further serve as a template that guides our actions to ensure all populations, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity are treated with dignity and respect.

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Some of these activities and initiatives are very specific and in the process of being addressed and others will take time to accomplish but below represents a summary of our current steps:

ADVOCACY

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TASKFORCE: We have started to

establish a diversity task force, to review all RUSVM policies and practices and suggest changes to improve the experience of Black students, students of color, and other marginalized populations throughout our RUSVM community. This team will be composed of students, staff, and faculty members who will also establish a clearer statement of zero-tolerance for racist language or actions at RUSVM and expand and strengthen our code of conduct statements and response.

CAMPUS CLIMATE SURVEY: Many students and alumni

have stepped forward with suggestions of how we can foster a more inclusive community where distinctive voices can be expressed, heard and supported. To take your suggestions further, we will be issuing a campus climate survey to establish a baseline to improve the experience of minority students.

EXPANDING OUR HR APPLICANT POOL: In our conversations

with students, it became clear we can do more around increasing the diversity of our faculty, more specifically African American faculty members who bring with them an understanding of the challenges and experiences of being Black in the United States; better reflecting many of our students and alumni.

Our HR team will continue to work toward expanding our applicant pool of African American candidates for positions within our community. We are also prioritizing hiring locums who reflect the diversity of the RUSVM student and alumni community with a specific focus on African American faculty.

INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE: Currently, we have 3% of Black students in our program. With only 2.1% of Black veterinarians in the U.S., we are obligated to continue to pursue further diversity for the profession. Since

late 2019, we have been strengthening our partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to expand Black student applicants through scholarship and improve educational opportunities.

We will continue to deepen those partnerships and communicate the outcomes to the RUSVM community.

REPRESENTATION IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS: As a leader in the graduation

of veterinarians for the US and Canada, we’ve always been focused on ensuring that our marketing reflects the diversity of students we strive to attract and educate.

A population that reflects the communities it serves. In the upcoming semester and beyond, we will continue to increase our efforts and maintain the visibility of Black veterinarians in our marketing. Our communications team will also reassess the cadence of communications around diversity and inclusion, including communicating the public health impacts of social injustices.

EDUCATION

MANDATORY TRAINING: As a community, we have a collective responsibility to not only engage in critical conversations but also to genuinely learn from, and with one another. To bring focus to these critical conversations and to raise our awareness around diversity, our faculty will be required to engage in mandatory trainings and readings on racism and social justice. Students will also be required to engage in racism/microaggression awareness training as part of the pre-orientation and orientation activities.

CURRICULAR REVIEW: Exposure to issues of racism and social justice should not only be part of orientation but should continue within relevant portions of the curriculum. Reviewing our curriculum later this year will provide opportunities to enhance the pre-existing diversity and inclusion training including how it impacts client care delivered in the education of our veterinarians.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: Every quarter, we

will provide safe spaces where students can engage in sessions on topics such as institutional racism, ways to be an ally to Black students and students of color, and how to engage in meaningful dialogue around difficult conversations. More information will be provided on our virtual sessions that began in our fall semester.

STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

We will continue to work with student groups to nurture engagement with the island local communities to improve cross-cultural competency among students and colleagues.

We have a great opportunity as a University for more meaningful engagement with the Black community that we are a part of on St. Kitts to make contributions with our different perspectives, skills, and experiences and learn from those that we partner with too.

We can and we will rise to the challenge.

The challenge ahead of us is an enormous one that we can’t fix on our own. However, I believe when we take steps together against social injustice, we can be a bridge across cultural, ethnic, national, political, and cultural identifications.

I will keep you posted on additional plans as they are made and update you at the end of each quarter of the work we are doing to lead societal change not only at RUSVM but beyond. We hope that you as our alumni community will also share your ideas and support us in reaching these commitments.

Regards,

Dr. Sean Callanan MVB CertVR MRCVS PhD FRCPath DiplECVP Dean, RUSVM

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JACKIE DUEÑAS ’17

TAKING THE LEAD!

by Melissa Kvidahl Reilly

Dr. Jackie Dueñas is an associate veterinarian at Sunset Animal Clinic in Miami, and President of the South Florida Veterinary Medical Association (SFVMA).

How she got involved:

I had a professional relationship with two SFVMA board members, who have both served as role models on my journey to becoming a veterinarian. In conversation, they realized they both knew me and wanted me on the board to represent new or recent graduates. In the past, the association had been populated by mostly older generation veterinarians. They wanted a new graduate to work on membership and recruiting new practitioners. I eventually became Vice President, and then I took over as President.

Why leadership is important:

I could have joined the VMA as a general member and stopped there. But a lot of the people who make the laws that dictate how we practice veterinary medicine are not necessarily veterinarians, nor do they work with animals. There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that enables us to practice the way we do. I got involved in order to learn about the legislative process, better my profession, and invite younger and newer graduates to join in on that process.

The value of women leaders:

A

The face of veterinary medicine is changing; it is no longer a male-dominated profession. In the Florida VMA, the current president is a woman, and the president-elect is also a woman.

Women are veterinarians, specialists, and practice owners.

Outside of that, they’re wives, daughters, friends, sisters, and mothers. We take on so many different roles. I think being a woman and veterinarian is powerful in and of itself, and we should be represented. It’s important to have an active role in determining how we practice. We’re not just improving veterinary medicine for ourselves, but also for future veterinarians.

These alumnae are taking the reins at their local Veterinary Medical Associations, earning LEADERSHIP POSITIONS and making their voices heard. ccording to the latest data from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)*, over 60 percent of the nation’s veterinarians are women. Shouldn’t leadership reflect this?

If you ask these three alumnae, the answer is yes. They’ve joined their local VMAs, sought and earned leadership positions, and reflect (and advocate for) changing the face of veterinary medicine.

Here’s why they got involved, what they’ve learned, and a few words of encouragement for any other female vets thinking about joining them in leading the way.

Her biggest challenge:

My biggest challenge has been my age. I remember walking into my first VMA meeting. As I walked in to say hello, the other veterinarians thought that I worked for the venue with the catering company. Little did they know that I was on the board. My job is to attract new and younger generation veterinarians to the VMA. Under my leadership, we initiated a massive rebranding project that included a new logo and redesigned website, and also stepped up our social media presence—all initiatives that appeal to new graduates. We also started a mentorship program. Millennials are becoming the largest segment of pet owners and they are a growing segment of our veterinary profession, so we have to learn how to target and influence this generation to get involved.

“It’s important to have an active role in determining how we practice. We’re not just improving veterinary medicine for ourselves, but also for future veterinarians.”

* Source: https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2019-07-15/census-veterinarians-finds-trends-shortages-practice-ownership

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MISTY HIRSCHBEIN ’03

APRIL TREAT ’12

Dr. Misty Hirschbein is a general practitioner at North Valley Veterinary Clinic in Lancaster, California. She is on the executive committee for the House of Delegates at the California Veterinary Medical Association, and is President of the shelter veterinarians group at the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA). She’s also been SCVMA Board of Trustees member, Treasurer, Vice President, and President for two consecutive terms.

Dr. April Treat is a veterinarian at Northwood Veterinary Hospital in New Hampshire, and the current president of the New Hampshire Veterinary Medical Association (NHVMA).

How she got involved:

From the time I moved back to California in 2004, I started attending local chapter meetings. I wanted to learn more about what other veterinarians in clinical practice were doing beyond what I was reading in books.

Why leadership is important:

I want to have a voice and a vote. I want my voice to be heard, and I believe in the democratic process. When there’s a bill that affects California veterinarians, I want to go and speak to the local leaders, as well as those in Sacramento, about my views. I want them to have our viewpoint, and not just the viewpoint of the special interest groups.

The value of women leaders:

There’s a wall of pictures of past SCVMA presidents. It’s all men until about the 1970s, and then you see a woman’s face. Then it’s more men, and one or two women in the 1980s and 1990s. Right now the flow of pictures is mostly women. The face of veterinary medicine is changing, and so the way practices are managed has to change, too, as well as our leadership.

Her advice:

If you want to make a change, you have to make the time. Take the lead. Don’t hesitate. Just do it!

“I want to have a voice and a vote. I want my voice to be heard, and I believe in the democratic process. When there’s a bill that affects California veterinarians, I want to go and speak to the local leaders about my views.”

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How she got involved:

I was encouraged by a previous NHVMA president to get involved as a member. At the time, there was also an open position for an emerging leader, which required attending both the monthly meetings and AVMA leadership conference, and learning how to serve as a leader, balance work and family life, and be an effective coworker and team player. I was an emerging leader for a year, then I was Vice President for two years, and now I’m President.

Why leadership is important:

The leadership conferences I’ve been able to attend not only have been great networking opportunities, but they’ve also helped me build my confidence and get involved in my local community here in New Hampshire. We’re all really busy day to day as veterinarians, and a lot of us don’t really know what’s going on in the bigger picture. I was never into the political aspect of it, but I’ve found that it’s actually very interesting and beneficial to be involved in this area, know what’s going on, and help with different laws. I’m up to date and I can update my colleagues on what’s happening.

Especially during the pandemic, it’s important to be involved and know what’s going on around you.

The value of women leaders:

In New Hampshire, our leadership is about half women and half men. It’s important to be a model for other women, to show that you can have it all. You can have your dream career, have a family, and be involved. We can do anything that men can do.

On taking the first step:

Anyone who is interested in getting involved doesn’t have to take a leadership position.

Just start out by going to the meetings. See how it fits your lifestyle. If you have too much stress, you don’t have to take on a leadership role to make a difference. But if it’s something you’re passionate about, start out low and work your way up.

“It’s important to be a model for other women, to show that you can have it all. You can have your dream career, have a family, and be involved. We can do anything that men can do.”

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THE ERINARY VET ENSIC FOR S IF LE

ing d n u o r r k su and r o w s ’ ndez animals— a n r e F ia ps ety. l n e e h s t e c Y Dr. and negle —find saf abuse communities whole

by Melissa Kvidahl Reilly fter graduating from RUSVM in 2003, Yesenia Fernandez was working at a clinic in Miami. A dog came in who was absolutely neglected. And it changed the course of her career.

“He had horrible eye and ear infections, his skin was in terrible condition, and he could barely walk,” she remembers.

“I didn’t know anything about forensic veterinary medicine at the time, but I remember thinking that there has to be a way to report and hold people accountable for treating an animal like this.” She was new to the field and didn’t know what to do, so she called

the police. The client agreed to treat the dog’s infections, the dog got better, and the client continued to visit the clinic for followups. This was one of the good cases.

“I decided to immerse myself fully into this field and go beyond just reporting the occasional animal neglect or abuse I saw at the clinic,” Fernandez says. She returned to her native Puerto Rico and started a master of science program in veterinary forensic science via the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

At the time, she was the only forensic veterinarian in Puerto Rico, and the police relied on her as an expert witness when cases went to court. So when her husband’s work transferred him to the mainland US, she was reluctant to go. “Everyone said, who will do this work if you leave?” she says. “I hope I’m not the last or the only one, because the island desperately needs this kind of expertise.”

Stateside, Fernandez is a relief veterinarian, which gives her the flexibility to see unique cases. The most common ones she sees are neglect cases in which the pet owner fails to act, as opposed to abuse cases where people are actively hurting the animals (although, if you ask her, there is a fine line between the two). “I see one or two cases like this per week,” she says.

In the era of COVID-19, she says these cases are even more common because pet owners who have lost their jobs may not be able to afford to visit the vet when a problem presents itself, or can’t afford to treat the problem when they do come in. “This is totally different from the person who doesn’t even try to get help,” she says, “and I will always do whatever I can to work with them as much as possible.” But whatever the case, Fernandez has a steady outlook: she reminds herself that there are many agencies available for people who need help but, in most cases, she is the animal’s only voice and may also be its only hope.

“Obviously, I got into forensic medicine because, as vets, we take an oath to help animals and save lives; you don’t want to see an animal hurting and you want to do right by them,” she says.

But while this might be the reason why Fernandez got into forensic veterinary medicine, she’s since learned that the impact of her work goes far beyond the help she gives to an animal.

COMMUNITY INFLUENCE

If you ask Fernandez, the work of a forensic veterinarian also includes improving or saving the lives of the people around them. “A veterinarian can change a community and make it safer by reporting animal abuse,” she says. “In some of my cases, I’ve been able to save a woman, child, or elderly person from being abused because an animal was brought into the clinic and I could sound a warning bell to police that something isn’t right at home.”

Indeed, according to the Humane Society of the United States, there’s

“A veterinarian can change a community and make it safer by reporting animal abuse. In some of my cases, I’ve been able to save a woman, child, or elderly person from being abused because an animal was brought into the clinic and I could sound a warning bell to police that something isn’t right at home.” a strong link between animal abuse and violence against people, with studies showing that as many as 65 percent of those arrested for animal crimes have also been arrested for battery against another person.

When it comes to domestic violence, specifically, research says that abusive households often contain more than one victim, with abusers likely to harm their partner as well as pets in the home. In addition to violent outbursts, studies say perpetrators will often intentionally abuse or even kill animals as a method of intimidating, abusing, and inflicting emotional harm against their partner.

“There is such a difference a forensic veterinarian can play in raising warning signs when they see abused animals,” says Fernandez, “since there is often someone else in that home being abused.”

One of the more systematic ways forensic veterinarians can make a difference is in cases of dogfighting or cockfighting. On the surface, the abuse to the animal is clear. “Dogfighting is heartbreaking for the animal,” Fernandez says. “They will go forward bleeding and hurting, and fight to the death just to

please a person that is paying attention to them for a few minutes during a fight.

It’s a horrible life for a loving dog.” But, she points out, there’s also a lot of crime involved in dogfighting rings, and alerting the authorities to what she finds can help them investigate these and other cases.

In Puerto Rico, cockfighting has a rich history as a “gentlemen’s sport” that further complicates her job. Puerto Rican culture traditionally links cockfighting with a man’s honor, and his willingness to accept a win or loss gracefully. “But today, even though it’s banned by the government, parts of rural Puerto Rico still practice cockfighting and it’s just a dogfight with birds,” Fernandez says. Trying to convince these groups to abandon this ages-long tradition is a challenge, but one that also falls in part to the forensic veterinarian. “We’re educators,” she says, “not just for pet owners but anyone who comes in contact with animals.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Fernandez’s goal for her business is to get more stakeholders on board and connected. “One of the biggest challenges we have is getting police, social workers, and domestic violence shelters involved,” she says. And there remains a lot of work to be done. For example, Fernandez believes it’s critical for shelters to allow women to bring pets with them when they seek help, as many will be reluctant to leave otherwise. Plus, she wants to be a resource for police departments that may not have veterinary medical expertise available when they work cases. Having an expert to weigh in or even testify can go a long way towards bringing perpetrators to justice.

“Everyone is so overwhelmed with their own workload that it can be difficult to even accept this kind of help because it can be perceived as adding more to an already full plate,” Fernandez says. “My goal is to be a liaison and see how we can all work together to help pets and people find safety.” n

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/animal-cruelty-and-human-violence-faq https://law.emory.edu/elj/content/volume-63/issue-5/comments/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html

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Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 9

feature “I want people to be civically engaged…

There are always ways to improve. I like seeing people involved.”

MAKING A “M DIFFERENCE THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT

By Becky Holton

Chantel Raghu DVM, DACVIM ’12 Dr. Raghu grew up in Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a degree in political science. She attended veterinary school at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM). Dr. Raghu completed her rotating internship at Iowa State University and her small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2016, Dr. Raghu moved to Ohio, where she lives with her husband Chris, and their dogs.

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y dad is a physician and my mom is a nurse, and they always wanted one of their kids to be a ‘real doctor.’

I went to college at UT—Austin where I was pre-med, and I was also in the business school. And I just hated it. I did great in my sciences, but I hated my business classes.”

During Dr. Raghu’s sophomore year, she ended up having a lifechanging conversation with her career counselor. “My counselor, she really changed the course of my college career and I think my professional career too. I loved the medicine. I just didn’t like the human patient as much, and so the next day I dropped out of the business school. I switched over to government as my major and my minor was bio. I thought about going back and trying to find my counselor and thanking her because she had such a pivotal conversation with me.”

After graduating from college, Dr. Raghu took a year off and moved to California and began applying for vet schools. “I didn’t apply to my homestate schools. I just wanted something different. I wanted to live somewhere else. At Ross [University School of Veterinary Medicine], the experience of living in another country was just awesome. And I think the most beautiful thing about living there is the level of camaraderie that you develop with your classmates. I’ve never felt it before. For me, to meet a bunch of strangers and for them to automatically become your family, it’s so precious. That was probably the best thing about being there.”

CHANTEL RAGHU

RUSVM is also where Dr. Raghu met her husband, Dr. Chris Reaghe.

The couple met at orientation. Raghu said it was coincidental, the line was in alphabetical order, but said she had talked to a common friend before leaving for school and that person had told her to look him up.

After completing veterinary school, Dr. Raghu completed her internship at Iowa State University and her small animal internal medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin, before ending up in Ohio with her husband.

Dr. Raghu commutes to Blue Ash in Cincinnati to work in a veterinary surgical facility, while her husband,

Chris has established himself in his father’s veterinary practice. The Blue Ash practice deals with emergencies and specializes in animal internal medicine.

It also happens to be a two-hour commute each day for Dr. Raghu. And it’s the commute that fed her passion to become more engaged in her community.

During her long commutes, she would listen to NPR every day, which fueled working with local programs on the opioid epidemic and a health care forum on the Affordable Care Act. “I want people to be civically engaged,” she said, adding her council run was exciting because of the number of people running for the four open seats. “Oxford is a

special town. There are always ways to improve. I like seeing people involved.”

Dr. Raghu has been involved in politics since she was eighteen. She began volunteering for presidential campaigns, participating in door-todoor canvassing. During her residency, she got involved in a primary. When she finally moved to Oxford, it was a presidential election year. “I was at a post-analysis event after the election with my local political party. I stood up to say some things and, after the meeting so many people approached me, ‘let’s talk more about you getting involved.’”

And that’s when they asked Dr. Raghu to consider running for local office.

Dr. Chantel Raghu was elected to the Oxford City Council. “I like the idea of helping one client and one patient with the veterinary stuff, but I also really like the idea of making a policy that has a systemic benefit.”

So, with a job working long hours, how does Dr. Raghu make time for her civic duties?

“My internship kicked my butt. I think I had one guaranteed day off a month. This is what it’s like to work seventy to ninety hours, every single week for a straight year. So, I have that perspective. There’s so much more time in the day. I think it’s important for our generation to get involved because I’ll sit in meetings where I’m the youngest person by decades. I’m one of the only women. I’m one of the only people of color or person of color. It’s so important for us to be represented.”

“I have a really good balance right now between what I get to do. I get to make policy on a local level, and then I get to help my clients one on one. I love my patients and I’m so lucky to have a supportive boss. Right now, it’s awesome. It is everything that my career counselor talked about.” n

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FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT TO A COVETED RESIDENCY

“They only accept one resident every three years. It’s quite competitive because it’s only one spot. So, I took a huge risk. If I didn’t get the spot, I’d have to wait a year to enter the NRMP.” LY N L E E S T E V E Y- R I N D E N OW

By Becky Holton

L

ynlee Stevey-Rindenow, DVM ’20 knows a thing or two about “Rossie resiliency.”

A passionate advocate for laboratory animal medicine and mental health awareness for the profession, Dr. Stevey’s journey to the University of Southern California and its prestigious Residency and Graduate Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine has been filled with twists and turns and she credits Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) for the opportunity to fulfill her potential.

“I’m originally from Los Angeles.

This is home for me, where I was born and raised. And it is more or less how I was introduced to this residency program.”

Dr. Stevey-Rindenow pursued her degree in veterinary medicine as a second career, originally following her

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childhood dream of getting into law enforcement. “My first job was at a municipal jail in downtown L.A. I was a corrections officer for 10 years. You get jaded. You see the absolute worst that society has to offer. I miss it because of the camaraderie, but I just needed something more. One day, I tendered my resignation, dedicated myself full-time to finishing my undergrad degree, and never looked back.”

It was in undergraduate school that Dr. Stevey-Rindenow found her calling. Attributing her love of science since childhood, she pursued an undergraduate degree in biology and found a mentor within the program who helped shape her goals. “I’m really happy that I chose biology. If I had chosen another science like animal science, I probably wouldn’t have gone into medicine. So yeah, biology. It just really opens the doors to science.”

Between breaks at RUSVM, Dr. Stevey-Rindenow would find every opportunity to do something. “You have to put your name out there especially in this field, because it is so small.

Every opportunity I could, I pursued externships to gain experience. And so, I came to the City of Hope in Duarte, California and they recommended I go to their partner school at USC. That was in my second year at RUSVM. I discovered USC, stayed in touch, and came back for externships during my formal rotations in my clinical year.”

The USC clinical residency program made an imprint that stuck with Dr. Stevey-Rindenow; actively navigating the rigorous application process in the hopes of earning her spot. “USC is strictly a clinical residency, so there’s no other degree associated with it.

It’s a 3-year program that prepares me to do first author research, which

is one of the requirements to sit for the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) boards.”

USC combines with another program at the City of Hope in Duarte, California to deliver a Ph.D. combined residency program. The rigorous application process includes a letter of intent, letters of recommendation, transcript review, interview, and background checks and screenings. The USC residency program is private and not part of the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP®) process. “They only accept one resident every three years. It’s quite competitive because it’s only one spot. So, I took a huge risk. If I didn’t get the spot, I’d have to wait a year to enter the NRMP.” When Dr. Stevey-Rindenow received the email she had been chosen, she didn’t quite believe it. “One day, I was scrolling through my email, it’s after 5 pm, and an email came through, and I was like, ‘it’s

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“I love, love, love rodents. I respect them more than any animal because they have provided science with so much. For me, the mouse represents discovery. The mouse represents science, and research, discovery, and innovation. It represents the future.”

from USC’ and I’m stunned. I look at it and it’s my official offer. I handed it to my now-husband—is this for real?”

Not only is it real, but Dr. SteveyRindenow started her residency in July 2020. Residency training includes clinical laboratory animal medicine, laboratory animal resources and facilities management, comparative and diagnostic laboratory animal pathology, and methods and practice of biomedical research. The training also includes a combination of laboratory rotations, seminars, journal club, and scholarly research, and provides ample opportunities for specific training in the development of biomedical models and research methodology as well as in other areas important for ACLAM board certification.

Just like pets in our homes or living on farms around the world, laboratory animals can become sick either from

14 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

experimental manipulation, particular animal strain, or spontaneous illness.

They can be susceptible to infections that may require medical intervention.

They can injure themselves. They require preventive health care and vaccinations. Through the clinical residency program, Dr. SteveyRindenow works collaboratively with other veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and husbandry personnel to ensure animal health and welfare.

“I can’t say specifically what species we have here on campus, but I treat quite a lot of rodents. However, the most common species used in research are mice, rats, rabbits, non-human primates, dogs, and pigs. I love, love, love rodents.

I respect them more than any animal because they have provided science with so much. For me, the mouse represents discovery. The mouse represents science, and research, discovery, and

innovation. It represents the future. Of course, I love working with all species.

That’s a great thing about lab animal medicine, every day is unique. One day last week, I treated 8 different and unique species. No day will ever be the same and I love that. It’s such a higher level of thinking, I couldn’t see myself anywhere else. I mean we have the potential to cure cancer here.”

Since graduation in January, a lot has changed in Dr. Lynlee SteveyRindenow’s life. Like many others, she has had to be flexible and patient with life while experiencing a global pandemic. A newlywed, Dr. SteveyRindenow was forced to postpone her large ceremony but kept their original wedding date and was married in her living room, just a week after closing escrow on their new home.

“We had a civil ceremony in our living room, with just my husband

and our parents, that’s it. Our witness and officiant were on zoom. It was lovely, but it’s not what we planned.

We have rescheduled our wedding for Thanksgiving, and we don’t know if that will even happen. I need to walk down the aisle in my beautiful wedding dress, I need the first dance. I need it.”

As Dr. Stevey-Rindenow moves forward, she still struggles to believe she was chosen for her residency and is vocal about helping de-stigmatizing mental health issues for the profession.

“This residency—it’s tough. It’s not easy. The fact that I’m here, it’s like I still have impostor syndrome. I think that’s a big thing that people don’t talk about very much. I don’t know why, because I think it’s very prevalent. I feel like I’m still waiting for someone to come and knock on my door and be like, ‘hey, I’m taking away your degree and your USC access because actually, we should have never accepted you into vet school in the first place. You know nothing’. When really, I do know quite a lot.”

Dr. Stevey-Rindenow is also a strong advocate of suicide prevention. She is a first-person survivor.

Her father took his life a few years before she started at RUSVM and she sought out help when she could no longer deal with the loss on her own. “We recently lost two Rossies to suicide and that hits home. It’s really, really tough.

I’m a huge advocate for others. Talk to someone. Reach out. That’s my biggest message. For the ones that are left behind, it’s really hard. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with. I don’t think I’ll ever endure anything harder.”

As a RUSVM alum, Dr. SteveyRindenow can attest to the determination

and passion all Rossies have to succeed.

“In the beginning, Ross was hard for me. I think it was a little bit in part because of my age and because I always worked full-time. It’s not easy, it’s an accelerated program, it’s fast. You have to be dedicated. But I’m telling you, Ross was the absolute best thing I have ever done with my entire life. Ross gave me every opportunity to be who I am.

You get to clinics and everybody knows you’re a Rossie and that’s because you excel far beyond other clinical students from every single school. We are more dedicated. We work harder. We have more at stake, and I think that was especially true for me as this is my second career. I’m older. I can’t fail.”

Through it all, Dr. Stevey-Rindenow remains a loud and proud RUSVM alum. “I hated when people would say “oh, Ross was my only option.” I go, ‘right, not mine.’ I had two state schools that I withdrew applications from so I could go to Ross. I could have gotten into those state schools, that wasn’t an issue. I wanted Ross, that was everything.

Always listen to that little feeling you get on your back of your neck. Mine was telling me ‘you need to go to Ross’.

It shouldn’t be your choice because it’s the only option.

It should be your choice because it’s the best option.” n The City of Hope/Beckman Research Institute (COH/BRI) Graduate School of Biological Sciences and the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) Animal Resources Center (ARC) in conjunction with the University of Southern California (USC) Department of Animal Resources (DAR) offer the COH/BRI and USC Residency and Graduate Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine.

BY LISTENING: We will create safe spaces for sharing, listening and engaging in uncomfortable conversations.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

BY LEARNING: We will confront racism and unconscious bias to address and fight for social justice within our institutions through formal and informal training.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

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A (CHOSEN) FAMILY AFFAIR

MAKING SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING

S

By Melissa Kvidahl Reilly

What started as a makeshift schooling solution for a few campus moms turned into an established RUSVM institution for hundreds of families.

16 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

ome might say Debra Smatt (nee Szpicek) ’02 had the odds against her when she started at RUSVM. She was a single mom. She had a five-year-old son.

And, money was tight. “RUSVM taught me how to think on my feet and make something out of nothing,” she says. “But we were all in it together, and we created a family out of the faculty, staff, students and locals on the island.”

As it turns out, her RUSVM family would leave a lasting legacy in the form of Ross Preparatory School, a school for children of RUSVM students and faculty, as well as other St. Kitts expatriates. But let’s start at the beginning.

Smatt’s extended island family began to take form the day she stepped foot on the island. A man named Jahbada picked her up from the airport, and it turned out that he was the groundskeeper for her apartment complex. He noted that she would need a car, and came back with one for her the next day. It was just the beginning.

“He took us under his wing,” Smatt says. “He brought us medicines from the rainforest when we were sick, and he took us around Nevis.

He showed us the real island—things like the hot water springs that not everyone gets to see.” She also met her husband, Anthony Smatt ’03, on the island. He, too, was a veterinary student at RUSVM, and the pair went on to have two children, Zachary and Jaida, and start a practice together called The Pets I Love Veterinary Hospital in Monroe, New York.

Smatt also formed deep connections with other mothers on campus, whether they were students or faculty members.

One connection, made with another single mom named Fawn Stevenson ’01, lasted a lifetime. The two women raised their children on the island at the same time and completed their clinical year together at University of Missouri, where they shared an apartment and helped each other with the kids. “To this day, Robert, Katia, and Ariadne are like siblings,” Smatt says.

“Anyone on the island at the time knew our kids as a unit, and we created our own little family.” The group traveled back to St. Kitts in 2004 and then again in November 2019 to visit the place they’ll always consider home.

ROBERT AND HIS DONKEY ANTHONY SM AT T, DEBRA, AND ROBERT (2006)

STEPPING UP

But things came to a head for Smatt during her third semester. Robert was attending the local elementary school and it just wasn’t working out. He had ADHD, and the teachers there weren’t equipped to handle his needs. So Smatt took him out of school and began homeschooling him while scrambling for an alternative. She knew that a faculty member was homeschooling her children on the island. And another student’s wife was a teacher, who offered to teach if they could get the curriculum. “It was a great option, but you have to remember that we barely had internet in those days,” Smatt says. “It wasn’t as easy as going online and downloading materials.”

For weeks, Robert was homeschooled.

And Smatt’s island family stepped up to help. “They say it takes a village to raise a child; well, that was my village,” she says. “We just made it work.” Faculty members would take him to lunch when she had class. She found time to study if other students took him out to swim, surf, or boogie board. Or, neighbors in her apartment complex would invite him over for movie nights. “I had a lot of help from everyone around me,” she says.

But it was becoming too much. Robert needed a school. “I went to the dean at the time, Dean Michael Shires, and I told him I was dropping out,” Smatt says.

“He said, give me a week. Do not drop out.” She knew that a faculty member, Dr. Wendy Yafe, was homeschooling

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“The fact that this started with a few moms with an idea and the conviction to see it through is so characteristic of the RUSVM student.

They don’t wait for help to find them; they go out and make it happen.”

veterinarian.” She didn’t know it at the time, but this makeshift school would form the foundation for an established institution and much-needed resource for hundreds of families to come.

A LASTING LEGACY

her children at the time. Together they found a certified teacher, Kami, the wife of a classmate, to teach the children.

Dean Shires moved out of his office and offered up the space to use for the children’s schooling. It would serve Robert, Dr. Yafe’s children, and any other campus kids in need of a school, whether their parents were students, faculty, or staff. It was also a daycare of sorts, for toddlers who needed looking after while their parents were in class.

“This completely changed the game for me,” Smatt says. “Without it, I would have had to drop out and give up on my dream of becoming a

Today, Smatt and her island family’s legacy lives on in the form of Ross Preparatory School, which serves the children of RUSVM students, faculty, and staff, as well as the wider St. Kitts expatriate community. It’s a US accredited school* for birth through eight grade, offering a competitive curriculum aligned with Common Core standards. It boasts integrated technology, supervised afterschool programs and activities, and a small student-to-teacher ratio.

And, it’s just a short walk to campus.

“Ross Prep[aratory School] is an invaluable resource for RUSVM families, since it addresses the challenges of schooling and daycare when students

are determining whether or not they can make veterinary school work for their family,” says Michelle PhillipMitchell, the school’s superintendent.

It may have started with a small group in the dean’s office, but Ross Preparatory School now has its own dedicated facility located between the main RUSVM campus and student residences. It boasts classrooms and libraries for up to 70 children, and offers experiences like science fairs, a vegetable garden and butterfly habitat, field trips, community service projects, and more.

“The fact that this started with a few moms with an idea and the conviction to see it through is so characteristic of the RUSVM student,” says PhillipMitchell. “They don’t wait for help to find them; they go out and make it happen. Today, so many families benefit from that gumption and perseverance.” n * Ross Prep is a US accredited school.

BY STUDYING: We will review our academic and non-academic experiences in our institutions, to ensure we are training and graduating healthcare professionals that will be a positive influence in the communities they serve with ethnic and racial sensitivity.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

PromoVet Partnership to Benefit Alumni along with Student Scholarships!

The Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association is offering new benefits for graduates that is also providing scholarships for current RUSVM students through the Empower Scholarship Fund.

The PromoVet partnership, established in 2019, affords all alumni of RUSVM the opportunity to receive special discounts and access to services that are an important resource for current Rossies. These benefits include: 1. D iscounted Pharmaceuticals and Supplies for your practice directly from PromoVet 2. 7 % discount from Wedgewood Pharmacy—America’s largest veterinary compounding pharmacy 3. Discounts on Practice Sales and Appraisals from PS Broker—A nationally recognized veterinary broker 4. Discounts on Payroll Services from ADT 5. Discounts on Continuing Education from 4VETCE Mickey Axelband ’85 not only has the distinction of being the “first” graduate of RUSVM, but is also the Chief Medical Officer with PromoVet and a practicing veterinarian. He was excited to bring these new benefits to the attention of the alumni association.

“Since graduating in 1985, I have been fortunate enough to have had a varied and successful career, thanks to RUSVM,” says Axelband. “My veterinary degree allowed me to purchase multiple practices over the years and to get involved in various veterinary related businesses, one being PromoVet. The PromoVet partnership with RUSVM is allowing me to give back to the school in the form of scholarships for current students and to provide great benefits at huge savings for its alumni.”

As a part of the program, PromoVet reached out to the Empower Scholarship Fund to establish a

PromoVet Veterinary Scholarship at RUSVM. The scholarship is awarded annually as the result of proceeds from the PromoVet alumni benefit program. The Empower Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)3 charity that supports scholarships for Ross students. The PromoVet Veterinary Scholarship is the latest in a large number of named scholarships available to current students.

“It was exciting when Mickey reached out about these amazing new benefits for alumni,” says John Stachniak, the Executive Director of the Empower Scholarship Fund. “The first PromoVet scholarship was awarded this past May to Courtney Turk. The impact of these scholarships is incredible.”

Courtney was truly honored to be the first recipient of the PromoVet Veterinary Scholarship: “I am incredibly grateful and honored to have received the PromoVet scholarship thanks to the Empower Scholarship Fund.

This award further solidifies and motivates me to continue pursuing my passions in veterinary medicine and dedicate myself to better my community.”

“The more the alumni purchase products and services at PromoVet, the more scholarships provided to RUSVM students through the Empower Scholarship Fund,” says Axelband. “As PromoVet continues to grow, we will be adding additional benefits, so continuously check our website at www.Promovet.vet for additional benefits and services. It’s a win-win for the alumni and the current students.”

To learn more about the PromoVet benefit program, go to www.promovet.vet. To learn more about the Empower Scholarship Fund, and the large number of veterinary scholarships available to current students, visit www.empowerscholarshipfund.org. n

BY ACTING: We will empower our diversity and inclusion committees and other internal organizational groups with time and resources, and then act upon their collective recommendations.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

COURTNEY TURK

18 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

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I

and the

Veterinary Profession t’s no surprise to anyone that the veterinary profession has shifted during the current global pandemic. Veterinary practices around the world have had to implement major changes to their practices, through reducing hours, cross-training staff, and providing curbside services for patients. Other challenges to the profession have included how veterinary medical professionals continue their required continuing education. With limits on social gatherings and many traditional opportunities for earning continuing education (CE) credits such as in-person conferences canceled, our veterinary colleagues have had to find alternative solutions.

By Colleen Glenney

20 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

CURBSIDE SERVICE Curbside service, in which clients stay in their vehicle while technicians retrieve pets and bring them into the clinic, seems to be the most popular option to keep veterinarians, staff, and clients safe from potential exposure. However, this process comes with its own challenges. As Dr. Emily Blair Keener ’17 elaborates, “The hardest part about curbside service [is] people being too distracted when talking about their pet and what they need to do. It leads to circular conversations and clients not really understanding. Before COVID-19, I drew pictures and showed images and diagrams, [but I] can’t do that now.”

Things get even more challenging at specialty practices, where one location will likely have a greater number of veterinary specialists working at any given time. Keener continues, “Because I’m at a specialty practice, we have 20 parking spots with signs and the phone number to call when [the patients] get here.

We try to accommodate as best as possible.”

With the added time allotment necessary for curbside service, appointments take longer, which means fewer clients booked per day, leading to an incredibly heavy schedule. Dr. Danielle Shearer ’16 definitely sees this occurring. “Like most clinics, because we are doing hands-free appointments where the clients are staying in their cars, we’ve had to cut back on our hours and lengthen our appointment times. Since we’ve had to cut appointments, it has resulted in more ‘emergencies’ coming in. So, to be more accommodating, we’ve started doing drop off appointments to fit in pets between scheduled

appointments. We’ve [also] had a lighter staff so vets are having to do technician and/or assistant roles.” Bridget Aznive ’17 concurs. “We have been doing curbside since late March, [and] we’re not sure how we will move forward with colder weather coming. We initially cut hours and lengthened appointments but quickly went back to normal hours and appointments. Other nearby hospitals are still at reduced hours and not accepting new clients. We went from having the same or next day availability to booking three weeks out for appointments and three months out for surgeries.”

The question in everyone’s minds is, “When will it all end?” Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to that question. There are some positive changes in certain areas of the United States, however. Dr. Heather Friedman ’17 is located in Sea Girt, New Jersey, and states, “Just this week we’ve started slowly letting a few clients back inside after six months of strictly curbside except for euthanasia.”

However, the possibility of relaxing restrictions is dependent upon the local spread of COVID-19, and not all areas can move forward in this fashion at this stage in the game.

CONTINUING EDUCATION (CE) CREDITS

The other challenge facing veterinarians with the spread of COVID-19 is the ability to easily earn continuing education (CE) credits. While most veterinarians typically attend conferences like the annual West Indies Vet Conference to earn such credits, due to COVID-19 restrictions, most, if not all, conferences have either been canceled or moved online.

At the beginning of the pandemic, virtual CE credits were hard to come by. However, now most conferences have provided some sort of virtual CE program. Dr. Aznive ’17 didn’t have any problems finding substantial CE offerings. “With regards to CE, I took advantage of the online options that flooded my inbox and also did an Emerging and Exotic Animal disease course offered through Iowa State University Center for Food Security, which gave me 47 hours of CE credits.” Other popular options include those from the state Veterinary Medical Associations (VMAs), VetGirl, the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (IVECCS), and through online certifications.

Vet Show, the organization that hosts veterinary conferences around the globe, held Vet Show@Home in October, during which veterinarians could receive up to 80 CE credits. Some veterinarians even created their own CE fulfillment offerings. Dr. Shearer ’16 states, “I’ve been getting virtual CE credits through my clinic, asking speakers to hold Zoom meetings for us.”

RUSVM is also trying to help with the CE crunch by offering alumni the opportunity to undertake three AAVSB RACE®-approved online courses for CE credits

in January 2021. Each course is offered 100% online and is part of the MSc in One Health degree and Certificate in One Health programs. However, RUSVM alumni have the opportunity to enroll in these courses individually without undertaking the full program. Course descriptions and eligible CE credits are highlighted below.

JANUARY 2021 VETPG146A: Food Safety of Animal Origin CE Credits: 28 Course Fee: $600 USD Description: The Food Safety of Animal Origin course focuses on meat and other animal food products, equipping you with principle knowledge of food safety management. You will learn about food animal welfare, food safety risk analysis, and the handling, storage, and exportation of foods of animal origin.

VETPG146B: Disaster Management CE Credits: 28 Course Fee: $600 USD Description: Whether they occur as natural phenomena or have man-made causes, disasters affect millions of people and animals worldwide. The Disaster Management course provides you with the expertise in disaster planning, management, and relief techniques to aid in real-world disasters.

VETPG146C: Animal Health Program Management CE Credits: 28 Course Fee: $600 USD Description: Develop specialist knowledge in animal health governance, control strategies for diseases and zoonoses, sanitary measures in the animal trade, and more. This course enhances your education in animal health and its role in public health and legislation at the regional, national, and international levels.

We know this time is extremely difficult for veterinarians and their teams as they deal with new restrictions and new methods of delivery, whether it be through your practice or in gaining continuing education credits. Don’t forget to take care of yourself and others in this demanding time. For tips and tricks on adding wellness to your life, pick up our spring 2020 alumni magazine and remember: this, too, shall pass. n

?

Interested in taking one of the RUSVM CE courses? Please email postgrad@rossvet.edu.kn with questions.

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 21

INTRODUCING THE NEW ASSISTANT DEAN OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

R

by Dentrecia Blanchette

BY INCREASING DIVERSITY: We will further invest in expanding the diversity of our student body, faculty and colleagues therefore expanding diversity in the medical, healthcare workforce.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

—Benjamin Franklin

SA MSON MUK ARATIRWA

INTRODUCING THE NEW ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RESEARCH

BY ROOTING OUT SYSTEMIC BIAS: We will continuously review the components of our educational programs, systems and processes to ensure that we are addressing any systemic bias within our institutions.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

R

by Dentrecia Blanchette esearch continues to propel the university forward. On the heels of rolling out a new research strategy, Dr. Samson Mukaratirwa has assumed the role of interim Associate Dean for Research and Postgraduate Studies.

Dr. Mukaratirwa joined RUSVM in January 2020 and as highlighted in his professional biography, he has a strong history of being involved in research at an international level in the areas of parasitic zoonosis, vector-borne diseases, and parasite-host interactions. Before joining RUSVM, Dr. Mukaratirwa has held leadership and expert positions including deanships at Universities of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and University of Zimbabwe, and Coordinator of the PanAfrican One Health Platform on Neglected Tropical Diseases. n “My vision is that RUSVM, through its scholarship, research, and innovation can compete in the global knowledge system as a producer of new knowledge that is both local and global in context.”

—Dr. Samson Mukaratirwa

22 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

“The veterinary society is one big family, and our alumni will continue to support, shape, and develop future veterinarians regardless of demographic backgrounds.”

—Mary Mauldin Pereira

MARY MAULDIN PEREIRA

USVM alumna, Dr. Mary Mauldin Pereira ’05, DVM, MSc has been announced as the new Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations for RUSVM. Dr. Mary Mauldin Pereira has been with the university for 12 years and is currently Associate Professor of Clinical Communication in the Department of Clinical Sciences. In 2016, she completed her Masters of Science (MSc) by Research degree through RUSVM. An accomplished and respected leader, Dr. Mauldin Pereira will be responsible for cultivating relationships between the RUSVM campus and the alumni community while advancing the university’s strategic goals.

“I embrace this opportunity with enthusiasm! I plan to continue to connect our amazing alumni, students, and faculty in significant ways. We are Rossies and I hope to enhance that pride generated amongst our alumni. I love networking and cannot wait for all of us to be in person again at the West Indies Veterinary Conference on the beautiful island of St. Kitts, as well as other events across the United States.

Additionally, I hope to propel interest and gain more active alumni through volunteer opportunities, such as the Alumni Ambassador program. I also want to work closely with the Alumni Relations team to enhance our database and offer a personalized engagement platform for alumni and students.”

Mary is devoted to serving and advancing animal welfare internationally.

She is the founder and president of One Love Pets, a nonprofit organization that provides parasite prevention and treatments to animals in need and offers community outreach regarding the importance of parasite control.

“My career as an educator has been my inspiration for advancing animal welfare. RUSVM allows me to serve and educate future veterinarians and enhance and contribute to veterinary education and the profession.

It is equally important for me to serve and advance animal welfare to the local communities of St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as all societies with animal needs. One Love Pets is supported through the amazing volunteer work of current RUSVM students, and the board of directors consists of RUSVM alumni who continue to enhance and develop our mission through their invaluable contributions.”

This South Carolina native also serves as Vice-Chair for the Basseterre Animal Rescue Centre (BARC), the first animal shelter on the island of St. Kitts.

Dr. Mauldin Pereira is stepping into the role at a time when a focus on diversity and inclusion should be on the agenda of any leader, and she is confident the alumni network will continue to support efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive veterinary medicine profession.

“RUSVM alumni have many opportunities through their professional and personal experiences to offer diversity and inclusion. The veterinary society is one big family, and our alumni will continue to support, shape, and develop future veterinarians regardless of demographic backgrounds. n

TOP THINGS ON HER BUCKET LIST

• Experience an African safari • Coach on the sidelines for a Clemson football game • Sharpen her piano playing skills

FUN FACTS

• • • •

She’s an expert blackjack player She’s a college football fanatic Halloween is her favorite holiday She enjoys working jigsaw puzzles Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 23

INTRODUCING THE NEW ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS

O COLLEEN GLENNEY

FUN FACTS

• She worked as a full-time musician (trombone) at Disney World and Disneyland in 2001–2002 • She’s a living kidney donor • She’s been skydiving three times

24 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

THROUGH THE ALUMNI AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

by Colleen Glenney

by Colleen Glenney

ur new Associate Director of Relations, Colleen Glenney, has an extensive background working in higher education.

Prior to joining the Ross Vet Alumni Relations team in March, she worked for almost nine years at Berklee College of Music, a contemporary music school in Boston, MA, managing domestic recruitment and Alumni and Student Ambassadors. When she started managing the Alumni Ambassador program at Berklee, there were 50 alumni who were active participants. Over six years, there was exponential growth in the program, culminating in almost 400 alumni representing the school across the globe. At the end of her tenure, Alumni Ambassadors were representing the college at over 30 events each fall on their own, and another 20-25 in support of admissions staff, while also engaging in interviewing, event assistance, and prospective student mentorship.

While veterinary medicine and contemporary music may seem like they’re on opposite ends of the spectrum, since beginning her role at Ross Vet, Colleen has noticed many similarities in the personalities of veterinarians and musicians. Both are guided by their hearts in making a difference in the world by utilizing their skills and talents to help others. Thanks to this characteristic, and Colleen’s absolutely insane love for animals (especially dogs), the transition has been very smooth.

Colleen works remotely and is based in the Sarasota, Florida area, where she lives with her two rescue pups, Mr Jones and Gracie.

If you haven’t met Colleen yet, look for her online or at an upcoming event.

She also can be reached at ROSSIE cglenney@rossvet.edu.kn and is looking forward to meeting more of the amazing Rossie alumni family! n

When you were thinking about veterinary schools, did alumni of the institutions in consideration play a part in your ultimate decision? When you were a Ross Vet student, do you remember the alumni speakers at various ceremonies such as White Coat?

Have you attended an alumni hosted event and mingled with your fellow alumni? You probably answered yes to at least one of these questions.

It’s known throughout higher education that the alumni of an institution play one of the biggest roles when it comes to recruiting and engaging future students. As an Alumni Ambassador, there are many ways that you can make a difference in the future of the veterinary profession. You have the potential to be paired with an admitted student to share your Rossie experience, be featured in a webinar specific to your specialties, or attend a college campus vet club meeting with one of our admissions team members to talk all things Ross Vet. But that’s not all that Alumni Ambassadors can do! Interested in writing? Sign up and write a piece for one of our upcoming e-newsletters or magazines. Looking forward to mingling with

fellow alumni at an upcoming local event and know just the right place to hold it? Work with our Alumni Relations staff to put together events that cater to the desires of your fellow Rossies. Itching to get back to the island? There are a multitude of speaking engagements on campus to consider as well.

The Ross Vet Alumni Ambassador volunteer program allows you to keep in close touch with faculty, staff, students, and your fellow alumni while giving back to the institution with your time and talents. You decide which opportunities you’d like to be a part of, and our team will connect you to those opportunities.

If you’re interested in more information and/or would like to apply for the Ross Vet Alumni Ambassador program, follow the QR code. We’re waiting for you and can’t wait to work with you to make RUSVM be the best place it can be for our entire Rossie family. n

WE CAN’T WAIT TO WORK WITH YOU

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 25

WEST INDIES VETERINARY CONFERENCE OCTOBER 31 —NOVEMBER 5, 2020 We want to give a huge thank you to our Alumni Ambassadors who participated this fall in our Alumni Virtual Event Series!

Each event covered a unique topic and attendance was through the roof. Thank you to all who were involved!

Dr. Lenore Bacek ’07 . . . . . . . . . .Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Dr. Michelle Carlino ’14 . . . . . . . .Pet Toxicology & Poison Control Workshop Dr. Chad Harris ’12 . . . . . . . . . . .Fascinating Fish Cases Dr. Matt Brunke ’04 . . . . . . . . . .Veterinary Sports Medicine Seminar Dr. Tres Clarke III ’08 . . . . . . . . . All About Aquatic Medicine Livestream Dr. Mark Salemi ’87 . . . . . . . . . . Exotics and Pocket Pets Workshop Dr. Candace Auten ’06 . . . . . . . . .Veterinary Ophthalmology Dr. Andrea Peda ’09 . . . . . . . . . . Canine Wellness Workshop Dr. Erik Peterson ’98 . . . . . . . . . .Inside Look: Our Large Animal Teaching Facility Livestream Dr. Lynlee Stevey-Rindenow ’20 . . .Lab Animal Medicine & Pursuing a Specialty Dr. Kaela Stellrecht ’20 . . . . . . . . Inside Look: The Clinical Year Livestream

POSTPONED After careful consideration and with guidance from the local government and CDC recommendation for keeping our community safe, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine has decided to postpone our West Indies Veterinary Conference until November 2021.

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, November 6 — Thursday, November 11, 2021

26 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

BY COMMUNICATING: We will share our action plans and progress while also leveraging our platform to inspire external change.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

BY PARTNERING: We will partner with organizations that share our values so we can collectively address this public health crisis and influence the healthcare industry, the professions of our students and alumni, and the communities in which we live and work.

RUSVM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITMENTS

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 27

#NEWBEGINNINGS

BABIES GALORE

There seems to be something in the water lately…

Rossie babies are everywhere! Here are just a few of our future Rossies. Congrats to all!

Dr. Elizabeth Maxwell ’12 was recently granted the title ACVS Fellow of Surgical Oncology, and just started a new job as Clinical Assistant Professor in Surgical Oncology at the University of Florida.

Congrats Dr Maxwell! You make us proud!

Dr. Nisha Sanathara ’11 just got married to her best friend and the love of her life, Murray Pelech, and was lucky enough to celebrate with a bunch of Rossies! Looks like a wonderful celebration. Congrats, Dr. Sanathara!

Michael Wayne Kahler, son of Dr. Amanda Company ’11 and Tyler Kahler

Olivia Hellen, daughter of Dr. Felicia Hellen ’19 and Jacob Hellen

Lucy Bishop, daughter of Dr. Micah Bishop ’05 and Dr. Aubrey Bishop

Dr. Kristi Yee ’06 just started her first practice, Hometown Veterinary Hospital, located in Rochester, MI! What an accomplishment. Congrats, Dr. Yee!

Dr. Lauren Dean ’19 just began her Small Animal Surgery Specialty Internship at the University of Missouri!

Congrats, Dr. Dean! Lots of learning in your future!

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Daubert ’19, who just started his surgical internship at Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center! We’re proud of you, Dr. Daubert!

Congratulations to Dr. Valerie Henley ’11 for her move to 80 acres in the Ozark Mountains—no worries about social distancing there! Can we come visit?

Congratulations to Dr. Anne Vargo ’15, who recently became certified in hospice and palliative care through the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care—what an accomplishment!

Dr. Dominic Andreoli ’88 just sold his practices so he can spend more time with his lovely wife! What a beautiful pic—enjoy those sunsets!

Share with us your new beginnings by following the QR Code!

28 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 29

Rossies’ Kids Back to School!

We asked 36 couples who met at Ross Vet and had kids to post their “back to school” photos… here are 77 Rossie children, or as we call them, “Future Rossies.”

APPLY NOW!

Alumni Action Council You may have noticed that we recently encouraged alumni to apply for two openings in the Alumni Action Council. We’ve received 36 applications and the council is currently reviewing these and will be voting on new members in the next month. While there are times that we have openings that allow for new alumni to apply to join, did you know that you can apply anytime, and when current member terms are up for re-election, we will consider your application? To find out more about the Alumni Action Council and its current members, please visit our website: veterinary.rossu.edu/alumni. If you’d like to apply to be a member, use the QR code to be directed to the application. We look forward to hearing from you!

ACP

™

Double-Syringe System

Autologous Conditioned Plasma The ACP System allows for rapid and efficient concentration of platelets and growth factors from autologous blood for use on soft-tissue injuries.

Features and Benefits: ■ Requires only 15 mL of patient’s blood, simplifying blood recovery from the patient ■ In vitro research has shown statistically improved tenocyte, chondrocyte, and osteoblast proliferation when cultured with ACP vs controls1 ■ The ACP System does not concentrate inflammatory white or red blood cells, which can negatively interfere with the healing process2,3

Volume of patient blood drawn

30 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

60 mL-120 mL

1×

1-2×

Centrifugation time

5 min

15-30 min

No: reduces

Yes: concentrates

Yes

Yes

Can be clotted prior to surgical delivery?

1. Arthrex, Inc. LA0815A. Naples, FL; 2010.

2. Scott A, Khan KM, Roberts CR, Cook JL, Duronio V. What do we mean by the term “inflammation“? A contemporary basic science update for sports medicine. Br J Sports Med. 2004;38(3):372-380. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2004.011312.

3. Jiang N, Tan NS, Ho B, Ding JL. Respiratory protein-generated reactive oxygen species as an antimicrobial strategy. Nat Immunol. 2007;8(10):1114-1122. doi:10.1038/ni1501.

Other PRP Systems

15 mL

Centrifugation steps Does it concentrate red and white blood cells?

References

Arthrex ACP

For more information, go to

ArthrexVetSystems.com or call 1-888-215-3740 © 2020 Arthrex, Inc. All rights reserved. VAD1-00208-EN_D

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2020 | 31

A NEW

RUSVM has partnered with PromoVet to proudly offer great discounts on veterinary prescription pharmaceuticals and back office services.

Our current services include: – Compounding with Wedgewood Pharmacy – Practice and Sales Appraisals with PS Broker – Continuing Education with 4VetCE – Payroll with ADP

WAY TO

COMING SOON — MERCHANT BANKING PromoVet and Wedgewood Pharmacy: America’s Largest Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy • Save 7% on all orders at Wedgewood Pharmacy as a Promovet Member.

• Free standard shipping on all Wedgewood Pharmacy orders billed to your office.

PromoVet Has Partnered with PS Broker to Provide Practice Sales, Acquisitions & Valuation Services: The partnership between PS Broker and PromoVet brings new discounts to the practice valuation process. PS Broker should provide your veterinary practice valuation because they: • Have a certified valuation analyst on staff • Specialize in the exclusive sales, acquisitions, and valuations of veterinary practices.

• Provide an in-depth telephone conference, written summary, and financial spreadsheet.

• Refund your valuation fee when you allow them to sell your practice.

Promovet Discounted Pharmaceuticals and Supplies All Rossies receive 10% Off First Purchase! Use Code NEW20 at Checkout!

PromoVet offers a special 1% rebate to all RUSVM Alumni. Use code ROSSIE 1 at registration to receive a semi-annual rebate of 1% on your purchases at PromoVet. PromoVet, as part of a partnership with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, will provide scholarships to current RUSVM students through the Empower Scholarship Fund. The more you use the products and services at PromoVet, the more money will be available for scholarships.

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LEARN

500+ HOURS OF OUR LIVE SHOWS ON-DEMAND From RACE-approved CE to the latest trends in the industry, find the right course for you today. RUSVM alumni save $25 on their first order when using code RUSVMA25 at checkout, making one course completely free!

Visit academy.vetshow.com to start learning.

REGISTER TODAY TO SAVE!

ACADEMY.VETSHOW.COM 32 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Office of Institutional Advancement & Alumni Relations 630 US Highway One, Suite 2031 North Brunswick, NJ 08902

TELEPHONE: 732-898-0002

EMAIL: rusvmalumni@rossu.edu WEBSITE: veterinary.rossu.edu

RossVetSchool

The Spring 2021 Magazine Belongs to YOU! What do you want to see?

Want to contribute?

Send your ideas to RUSVMAlumni@rossu.edu!

© 2020 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. All rights reserved.

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s DVM degree program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE) 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173 Tel: 800.248.2862 | Email: MMaresh@avma.org