RUSVM Alumni Magazine 35th Anniversary Edition Fall 2018 by Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

FALL 2018

THE ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

ROSSIES TEACHING ROSSIES & MUCH, MUCH MORE INSIDE!

WELCOME FROM THE HONOURABLE SHAWN RICHARDS

Dear RUSVM Alumni, As the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM) stands shoulder to shoulder with us in St. Kitts and Nevis, I wish to congratulate the Rossie family on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. As you commemorate this significant milestone in the year of our 35th anniversary of independence, it is with pride that I laud you for forging and maintaining a longstanding and prosperous relationship with the Government and people of this proud Federation. We note with special interest, among your outstanding accomplishments, the tremendous growth of the institution, over the years. Your relationship with, and contributions to, various communities, institutions, organizations, ministries and government departments are very commendable. Members of your alumni have definitely made indelible marks on the social and academic landscape. Your generous donations especially in the area of technology redound to the benefit of our youth. We appreciate your efforts in the field of Health and Agriculture and applaud the manner in which they result in a higher standard of living for our people. To date RUSVM boasts of 5000 alumni. That is no mean feat. Yet RUSVM continues to attract bright minds from across North America and beyond. Alumni, be proud that you are a part of this prestigious institution that prides itself on growing from strength to strength as it continues to produce competent veterinary professionals. The Ministry of Education considers itself to be one of your supportive friends. It is my esteemed pleasure, therefore, to cordially welcome the newest alumni of the RUSVM. I trust that you will continue the rich legacy that you are inheriting. I look forward to partnering with you in advancing our mutually beneficial causes. Congratulations and continued success. Kind regards, The Honourable Shawn Richards Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education St. Kitts and Nevis

FEATURES

THEN & NOW: ROSS VET Dr. Chuck Hutchison takes a bird’s eye view of RUSVM, its campus and faculty through his 35-year history with the school.

FALL 2018

LIVING LEGACIES Keeping it in the Rossie family: when sons, daughters, and family members join your alma mater.

ROSSIES TEACHING ROSSIES After 35 years, RUSVM is full of legacies. One of them: Training the next generation of RUSVM faculty.

WANTED: ANIMALS WELFARE WARRIORS A challenging career choice, shelter medicine can be incredibly rewarding. Find out how to get involved.

LAW & ORDER DVM Whether in practice or elsewhere, veterinarians can make a real difference in bringing justice to animals.

PRACTICE OWNERSHIP 101 A step-by-step guide from some of our very own Rossie practice owners.

ALSO IN THE ISSUE

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GET INVOLVED RESEARCH CORNER

Dr. Shokry on brain research and, of course, toxic plants! EVENTS & HAPPENINGS CLASS NOTES

Sean Callanan MVB CertVR MRCVS PhD FRCPath DiplECVP Dean Charles Wallace DVM MS Dip ACVS Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations Professor of Large Animal Medicine Nathalie Mather-L’Huillier, BSc (Hons.) MPhil PhD Director of Accreditation and Alumni Relations ALUMNI REL ATIONS

James Errico

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/EDITORS

Sara Kaufman Melissa Kvidahl Nathalie Mather-L’Huillier

M AGA ZINE PROJEC T M ANAGER

Kristine Lester DESIGN

Peter Gialloreto Howard Design Group, Inc. Princeton, NJ

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. Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 1

BE A ROSS VET ALUMNI AMBASSADOR Do you have some free time to give to your alma mater? Would you like to share the value of your education with prospective students and their families? Are you looking for a meaningful way to volunteer? Become a Ross Vet Alumni Ambassador today! Alumni activities include, but are not limited to, the following: • DVM Degree Program Recruitment Events • Current Student Outreach Rep • On-Campus Panelist • White Coat Ceremony Speaker • Commencement Speaker • Social Media Ambassador (Facebook®, LinkedIn®, Twitter®) • Enrollment Webinar Alumni Rep • Prospective Student Outreach Rep • Speaker at College Fairs

• Transitional Program Speaker • Regional Chapter Leader • New Student Reception Event • Profile in Marketing Material • Alumni Association Council Member • Post Internship/Job Opportunities • Class Representative • Conference Speaker/Presenter • Make a Scholarship Donation • WIVC Speaker And much more…

If you are interested in the Alumni Ambassador program and would like more information, please email us at rusvmalumni@rossu.edu. 2 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

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4 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

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Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 5

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THEN

NOW

RUSVM

THEN

NOW

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well-known face of RUSVM, “Hutch” is part of so many Rossie memories as former anatomy professor. Today, Dr. Chuck Hutchison continues to impact the curriculum by way of his Academic Technology Solutions & Services role at AdTalem Global Education, in particular development of the PawPad® and game-based apps all new DVM students receive upon joining RUSVM. In this anniversary edition, Dr. Hutchison reminisces about the early days of RUSVM and how far the school has come along.

It was 1983, and I had been invited to teach anatomy and neurology at this new campus that had just started up on St. Kitts. My new bride and I headed to St. Kitts and I started in July of 1984, during the second semester of operations. I have been employed at RUSVM or with its parent company in some capacity ever since. My wife also graduated from RUSVM and was a faculty member for over 20 years. When I first walked into what I was told would be my classroom, there were little metal stools, wooden tables, and a homemade wooden dais up front. I was very quickly informed that this was

not only my lecture classroom, but also my lab. I had brought slides with me, but we had no projector. I realized the only technology we would have would be a lecturer talking. So I went to the carpenter and asked if he could get a piece of plywood, nail it to the wall, and paint it black. I bought chalk, and started teaching in front of the chalkboard that semester. The first piece of technology I had was that piece of chalk. When I first moved to St. Kitts, we had no telephone. I lived in Frigate Bay, which is a large, several hundred acre portion of the island mainly inhabited by expats. Obviously, we

THEN

had no internet in 1984, but we also had no cable television, and to use the telephone we had to drive five miles to the university, dial the operator at the local phone company, and wait an hour to an hour and a half for someone to answer. It was a full 18 months before we got phones in our residences. Despite all these challenges, it was a great time to be at RUSVM. We weren’t succumbed to technology like we are today—constantly staring at our phones and computers. We actually got outside into nature and did things. We spent days and nights on the island finding new, interesting, and fun things

NOW

to do. It wasn’t long for us to get the technology we needed. But a part of me does look back at those early years with a certain kind of fondness. Today, of course, the campus is high tech. The new research center that just opened is a demonstration of how RUSVM is committed to research at the school and advancing research in veterinary medicine overall. And there are still so many opportunities for growth going forward. The One Health Initiative that promotes partnerships across the scientific and health professions helps universities like RUSVM, which are

committed to excellence in research. We have opportunities for international growth, since we send our students to countries outside the US for clinical training, and this stimulates interest in people coming to RUSVM to receive an education, or participate in research here. There is so much opportunity for research in the Caribbean because we have species of animals that we don’t have in the US. We have diseases that don’t occur in the US. And we have an entire marine ecosystem to explore. Indeed, as far as we’ve come, there is so much to look forward to. And I, for one, can’t wait to see where we go.

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THEN

NOW

“Indeed, as far as we’ve come, there is so much to look forward to. And I, for one, can’t wait to see where we go.”

— Dr. Charles Hutchison

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THEN

MAKING A DIFFERENCE ON ST. KITTS

NOW

There are so many ways in which the students, faculty, and staff of RUSVM impact life on St. Kitts. Here are just a few of the programs, new and longstanding, that have allowed for the integration of the campus community with the local population of St. Kitts. THE JOSH AND FRIENDS PROJECT:

Students involved in the RUSVM chapter of the Josh and Friends Project visit local hospitals with a plush doggy in tow, to read books to children about a dog named Josh. The story follows Josh to the vet, and helps alleviate some of the fearfulness children may feel about going to the hospital.

BEACH CLEAN-UPS: Whether itâ€™s through the Green Initiative Club (the environmental group on campus) or individuals who care, beach cleanups are ongoing at RUSVM. SMALL RUMINANT BREEDING PROJECT:

A collaboration between RUSVM and the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Agriculture, this program crossbreeds local indigenous doe breeds with three Boer bucks from Florida, with the goal of enhancing goat production and the quality of livestock on the island within the next five to 10 years. The project benefits from involvement by

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BEACH CLEAN-UP

WinnFM 989

RUSVM professors, government officials, local livestock farmers, and RUSVM students. In fact, students are extensively involved every step of the way from disease surveillance on the farm to post-breeding monitoring and tracking the bucks and offspring. ANIMAL ANSWERS RADIO SHOW:

RUSVMâ€™s live call-in radio show airs on WinnFM 989 every second Wednesday of the month, giving locals the opportunity to get their questions answered by RUSVM faculty and students. Topics range from general

10 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

WISHMAKERS

pet and farm animal welfare questions to seasonal information like how to prepare animals for hurricane season. LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: For the first time in 2018, RUSVM awarded 10 scholarships to students attending the local college, to strengthen ties to the community and put the schoolâ€™s mission of education into action. MEDICAL LABORATORY PROFESSIONALS WEEK: This year,

RUSVM held its second annual Medical Laboratory Professionals Week event,

which invites local students to campus to experience the significance of scientific and laboratory personnel. Through stations set up all around the quad, students learn firsthand about the research done at RUSVM. WISHMAKERS: This student organization connects RUSVM students with kids in the local community. Their outreach initiatives include visiting youth groups to help with homework, putting on a holiday pageant, partnering with local island charities to coordinate donations for the poor, and more. n

THEN

NOW

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THEN

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LIVING

LEGACIES RUSVM is a special place for most alumni. But for those with Rossies in the family, it’s also a place marked by shared experience, immense pride, and family tradition. Here, we profile just some of RUSVM’s legacy families—mothers and children, siblings, and more who share not just family ties but Rossie ties.

HEIDI HOEFER ’87

JACK GAMBLE, DVM CANDIDATE 2021

On her RUSVM connection: I went to RUSVM sight unseen—the day I flew in to start classes was my first step on campus. In 2009, I was contacted to teach part of the special species class at RUSVM. I did that off and on for about four years, and then it became a regular assignment when I became an adjunct professor.

On choosing RUSVM: I spent many vacations on St. Kitts with my family over the years, and so RUSVM was always on my radar. Plus, my mother is a graduate and is teaching there, so it just made sense to go to RUSVM.

On her family’s legacy: I am over the moon! I’m so proud. I have a great love for my alma mater, and I’m thrilled my son will also share in this experience with me. For me, personally, it has that extra feature of being a professor here. Being a student, and then being a teacher, and then being a mom, was the perfect trifecta and not something I planned. On lessons learned: My education at RUSVM was only half veterinary medicine and the other half was about living abroad in country with a new culture and people I knew nothing about. So learning to be a part of this community was a really important part of my education, and one that I consider equal to my veterinary education. On St. Kitts, I learned that everyone has a story, you just don’t know what it is. Accept, respect, and move forward.

On his mother’s influence: Veterinary medicine is the family profession. Both my parents are vets and I grew up with all types of pets from the traditional dogs and cats to chickens, goats, and exotics. My mother would take me into the clinic from the time I was 4 or 5 years old, and I would watch my father reading biopsies on his microscope at home, so this was always in my life.

Her favorite RUSVM memory: It was 1985 and Queen Elizabeth II came to the island. We heard she would drive past RUSVM, and that we needed white gloves if we wanted to shake her hand. Well, there were no white gloves to be found anywhere on St. Kitts. So my roommate and I took a ferry to St. Martin, bought those white gloves, came back to St. Kitts and waited for her procession outside the university. When she passed RUSVM, we reached into her car window and shook her hand with our white gloves. I also remember being in an equine class, and we were not understanding the anatomy as the professor was explaining it. So in the middle of class he said, let’s go outside and grab a donkey. We left class and went into the field where he grabbed a donkey and showed us in situ. We had 12 students in our class so we could do things like that. That was hands-on learning.

On following footsteps: Just having a parent with the RUSVM experience really helps. My mother knows the island and the campus, and has shown me around so I am very comfortable there. What he’s looking forward to: Both my parents are specialists and I like the idea of advanced training. Right now I like rehab medicine and pathology, but I am keeping my options open.

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Family photos from left to right: Heidi Hoefer and Jack Gamble; Alycia Eisenstein and Danielle (White Coat Ceremony May 2017); Alycia and Jordana Eisenstein Rosen

ALYCIA EISENSTEIN ’00

JORDANA EISENSTEIN ROSEN ’05

On veterinary medicine: While other girls played with dolls, I played animal doctor with my stuffed animals. From the time I was 8 years old, I volunteered at an animal shelter. I knew at that point there was nothing else that I wanted to be except a veterinarian.

On choosing RUSVM: From the time that I could articulate what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was always the same—I wanted to be a vet. I have the benefit of having an older sister who was able to pave the road for me to achieve my dream. To me, the education that my sister got at RUSVM was unparalleled. After she graduated, she dove right into private practice with confidence and knowledge that allowed her to hit the ground running. Once I saw this, I knew there was nowhere else I would even apply for veterinary school.

On choosing RUSVM: My uncle went to medical school in Grenada and had a very good friend who graduated from RUSVM. He introduced me to his friend, and we discussed what it would be like to go to school on an island. I was very excited for the opportunity and worked hard towards getting prerequisites and excelling in my courses in order to be able to start at RUSVM. On her family’s legacy: It has been amazing not only to have my sister, Jordana follow in my footsteps but my niece, Danielle, as well. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and I cannot think of anything greater than having the next generations follow in my footsteps—and it all began with the legacy of RUSVM. The advice she gave: Before my sister and my niece ventured off to veterinary school, I told them study hard, make lots of friends, be prepared for the hurricanes as they will come, and most of all, take advantage of the wealth of knowledge. You are about to embark on a journey that will leave you with memories to last forever. Her favorite RUSVM memory: My favorite RUSVM memory is when my dad came down and watched me do my first surgery at school. He kept telling me to make the incision bigger and bigger because he was an OBGYN and they’re used to making large cuts, but he didn’t understand that this cat was only a few pounds and didn’t need that kind of incision. He was my biggest advocate and cheerleader through my years at RUSVM. My dad was so proud of me and even prouder of my sister, and if he were alive today, he would be beaming knowing that Doni followed in our footsteps and is living in the same Sealoft property as her aunts! And just like her aunt Jordana, she will be spending her vacations shadowing me and externships working with me. Memories and legacy are constantly being made.

On following footsteps: Alycia is my big sister so of course I look up to her, and always want and wanted to be just like her. In all honesty, I am not sure what came first: my passion for the field or her guidance. When I arrived at RUSVM, I felt like I was attending a family reunion with a family I had never met before. My sister and I look very similar and most of the faculty, staff, and even locals actually thought that I was her! Once they found out I was “the sister” everyone welcomed me with open arms. It was like they were really looking out for me.

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Family photos from left to right: Alycia and Danielle Eisenstein; Jeremy (Doni’s Dad and Alycia’s brother) Doni, Alycia, Dr. Shokry, and Dr. Wallace; Tess Peavy with Aria and Gabrial Armendariz Peavy (2013); Aria, Tess, Dr. Shokry and Gabrial

DANIELLE EISENSTEIN, DVM CANDIDATE 2020

TESS PEAVY ’89

On her aunts’ influence: I can say without a doubt that both of my aunts had a strong impact on my decision to attend RUSVM. Knowing that both of them went through the same program and turned out as some of the best doctors I have ever worked for, showed me that the only and best option for my veterinary career would be to follow their path. When I decided that I was going to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, I knew that there was only one school that I was interested in attending. So, RUSVM was the only school that applied to.

On her path: In 2017, I started a nonprofit called Public Vet Services and our organization’s basic mission is to promote healthy animal companionships and public health. My kids have been working with me since they were very young, since my mobile unit allowed us to travel anywhere in need of a monthly clinic.

On following footsteps: My fondest memories growing up were weekends where I would sleep over at my Aunt Leesh’s house and spend the entire next day at the clinic with her. Even after my Aunt Jorie graduated and started practicing at the clinic, I would spend Sundays at the clinic with her. The clinic was always somewhere that I enjoyed being and I realized while I was very young that I could see myself also becoming a veterinarian and doing what they did for the rest of my life. On her path: Their mentorship is truly crucial to my educational development. Every semester when I come home over break, I am able to apply all the new concepts that I have learned to their cases and keep my clinical skills sharp by shadowing and working with my aunts. I truly appreciate how special it is that I have such close relationships with great mentors who encourage me, express how proud they are of my progress thus far, and are excited for me to join them in practice in a short few years. What she’s looking forward to: Prior to coming to RUSVM, I thought I would follow my aunts’ path into general small animal practice after I graduate. Now, with every day that passes, I have less of an idea of what I want to do after graduation. There are so many interesting fields of practice and opportunities that I don’t want to close myself off to anything just yet. But, I do have an interest primarily in small animal medicine and hopefully wherever I end up is back in Chicago to be close to my family.

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On choosing RUSVM: I’ve worked at and with several veterinary schools in the US. I wanted my kids to go to RUSVM because I want them to be really good surgeons. Medical knowledge is something you can get anywhere, but surgery experience is critical to have in veterinary school. On her family’s legacy: It is so much fun! It was so fun going down there with them and helping them get set up, and it’s also fun to visit. It’s so cool to see them come of age and learn what they don’t know. I’m happy that they’ll learn things from a different perspective, because the faculty are from all over the world.

The advice she gave: The tendency for everyone when you get to school is to learn the material for the exam. I said, don’t worry about your grades, just pass. Focus on building the database in your brain because everything you learn builds on something else. I also tell them to get an answer to every question they have, whether they’re in class or studying on their own, because it’s important to not be cavalier about your education. Be diligent.

realized how competent she was when it came to any sort of operation. That is one of the main reasons I wanted to attend RUSVM—the experience and skills that they give their students.

GABRIEL ARMENDARIZ PEAVY, DVM CANDIDATE 2021

ARIA ARMENDARIZ PEAVY, DVM CANDIDATE 2021

On his mother’s influence: I was always free to pursue any career path I wanted, and I have always had a love for animals and an awareness of the need for public education. I believe a DVM is the best way to start down a path that will eventually lead to something great. Growing up, I always heard stories about the experiences my mother had at RUSVM, and never heard of anything like it. Then, after growing and working with other doctors, I truly

On her mother’s influence: Having grown up homeschooled, I spent the majority of my time traveling and working with my mother in veterinary medicine focusing on population control. She had amazing skills that I have always admired. She applied her knowledge beyond medicine. I decided that this wasn’t a skill I wanted to go without, and would only exponentially increase my understanding of other fields as well.

On what he’s looking forward to: Given that I am a newer student, I’m looking forward to all the upper classes; but in the near future, I look forward to the applications that we are constantly exposed to on this campus.

On following footsteps: Having a family member who had attended RUSVM was instrumental in my planning throughout the last few years. Instead of focusing heavily on the courses that I would be taking in school, I was assured I would be starting with a foundation. This allowed me to pursue a well rounded education instead of narrowing in and specializing. Having been toured around the island from someone who spent two and half years here before was a great introduction to my time here. What she’s looking forward to: Depending on where my academic interests and journey take me, I would like to pursue an internship in disease ecology with meta-data analysis and transmission research. Following that, I plan to obtain a legal understanding of public and environmental affairs. I hope that this integrative understanding that I will have obtained will help me bridge a gap between policy and the sciences.

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DEBORAH HOPKINS ’99

AMANDA HOPKINS ’15

On choosing RUSVM: I was 39 years old and having marital problems, and I was reflecting back on my life and realized, I had given up on my lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian in order to help my husband achieve his dreams. I immediately started investigating what I needed to do to get into a veterinary school. After two unsuccessful meetings with US schools—for various reasons—I contacted the Miami office of RUSVM. I spoke with a gentleman who said: we don’t care that you are a woman, or about your age; you do the prerequisites, I interview you, if you’re qualified, you’re in. He sent me the package and I never looked back. At age 42, in January of 1996, I started at RUSVM.

On choosing RUSVM: I didn’t apply anywhere but RUSVM. It wasn’t my back up. After watching my mom go through it, I knew it was the way to go for me. I wanted an accelerated program that provided a solid education. After my mom went, she raved about her education. She used to talk about how she was so far ahead of the other students when she attended clinic. She would express how RUSVM was responsible for preparing her above and beyond the standard. I also wanted a program that didn’t require a full bachelor’s degree, because I knew I wanted to be a vet and I didn’t plan on wasting any time.

On her path: In 2004, I bought my current practice, and I have enjoyed a good deal of success there. I have taken it from a single doctor practice to a three-doctor practice. Due to several health issues, I am now working more as a relief doctor, and my daughter has taken over my full-time position. On her family’s legacy: When my daughter decided to become a vet, I was thrilled. I told her it was going to be very difficult, but doable, and that she would need to exercise a lot of self control to get through. But I promised her that if she was successful, she would look back on this time as the greatest time of her life. As far as I’m concerned, her success as a veterinarian is my greatest accomplishment. I am so proud of her—words cannot explain it.

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On her mother’s influence: My mom was a large influence in my decision to become a veterinarian. Keep in mind she never once said, “You should become a vet.” On the contrary, she always mentioned how it required rigorous schooling and if I made that choice, I needed to do it for me. The influence came from exposure to the field. Since I was about 11 years old when my mom graduated, I got to experience veterinary medicine during an awesome time in my life. I used to ride my bike after school straight the hospital where she worked, just to hang out until they closed. I also got to go in for emergencies when she was called in. All those late nights were full of excitement for me, and after that I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. On following footsteps: Knowing she got through, it gave me faith that I could. I also knew she made lifelong friends and memories during her time there, and I knew I would, too. Additionally, since I was older when she went to RUSVM, I actually spent a summer there. So, I didn’t have any fear when

“Rossies are always interconnected.” — Cassie Van Nieuwal

Family photos from left to right: Deborah and Amanda Hopkins; Julia Bergen and Kim Nelsen; Cassie and Lisa Van Nieuwal

it came to the island. Of course I had all the same fears as everyone else in regards to my ability to make it through the school itself. During school, as anyone who has been through it knows, you can hit rock bottom. Exhaustion sets in and you feel like you just can’t do it. I knew in those times when I called home, she knew exactly how I felt. I had invaluable support during my entire time at RUSVM from someone who had lived it. What she’s looking forward to: Working side-by-side with my mom and continuing to learn. I look forward to all the advancements we will be able to make together, like growing our practice.

KIMBERLY NELSEN ’15 On her family’s legacy: It’s definitely not surprising, since we have all been involved with animals our whole lives. It’s neat to share the experiences with my sister. My dad has this elaborate plan for us to go into business together, though I’m not sure what will pan out. The advice she gave: After reminding her of the hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and many grueling years of school, I made sure to tell her to be

open minded. RUSVM is a dramatic change from what she is accustomed to, and it takes a whole new set of patience to live there. Work hard, get involved, and remember to take time out for fun and enjoy all the island has to offer.

small animal internship following graduation, and pursue a residency in small animal surgery.

Her favorite RUSVM memory: I loved the sense of community. It’s hard to describe, but Rossies really come together. I loved hanging out with our neighbors and having “family dinners” around the holidays since we were all so far from home.

On following footsteps: Cassie used to go on farm calls with me when she was really little, and watched me vaccinate horses and do exams. She’d hang out at the clinic, and watch us do surgeries like spays and neuters even before high school.

On lessons learned: I hope my sister gains a sense of accomplishment. Earning a veterinary degree is not easy. I hope she has a love for the profession but is aware of its challenges. The most important thing I gained was flexibility and the ability to deal with adversity. The challenge of the veterinary curriculum was one thing, but adding in the distance from home, year round studies, all in an unfamiliar setting, it really makes RUSVM grads tough. I feel I am a better veterinarian because of it.

JULIA BERGEN, DVM CANDIDATE ’19 On choosing RUSVM: My sister was the main inspiration for me to apply and attend RUSVM. Kimberly is a phenomenal veterinarian, and has been a role model for me my entire life. So, when she suggested applying to RUSVM for the January semester, I put my hesitations about moving to an island aside and applied. On veterinary medicine: I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I was in first or second grade. So, while Kimberly’s support and guidance has been instrumental in my success, I would have pursued a career in veterinary medicine regardless. What she’s looking forward to: Currently my plan is to obtain a rotating

LISA VAN NIEUWAL ’94

The advice she gave: I told her to have a really good time! Her favorite RUSVM memory: All the hiking, snorkeling, and adventures I used to go on with my classmates. On lessons learned: I felt we got a really well-rounded education, and came out very confident—and Cassie did too.

CASSIE VAN NIEUWAL ’15 On her aunt’s influence: It was definitely my aunt who influenced me to become a veterinarian. I always wanted to be like her. I started shadowing her in the fifth or sixth grade. And followed her all throughout high school. On following footsteps: Having my aunt attend RUSVM helped me because I arrived equipped with tips and hints on what to bring and what to expect. I had been hearing stories about RUSVM and what it’s like all along. On her RUSVM connection: My Aunt Lisa did come down to St. Kitts when I was on the island and it was cool to show her what has changed, and she pointed out where she did things when she was there. She made lifelong friends at RUSVM. Rossies are always interconnected. n

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ROSSIES TEACHING ROSSIES After 35 years, RUSVM is full of legacies. One of them: training the next generation of RUSVM faculty, with the help of three veteran professors.

Currently, 17 Rossies are amongst the RUSVM resident faculty, in addition to several alumni joining the ranks as locum faculty. Also pictured: Drs. Yvorchuk, Shokry and Wallace who have taught many classes of Rossies. 18 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Having taught Dr. Stacy Tela (’05) as a student, Dr. Kathy Yvorchuk now collaborates with her to develop teaching materials: here, a palpation lab in the Essential Veterinary Skills course series.

Dr. Shokry has taught at RUSVM for over 30 years and trained all except 2 of the Rossies currently teaching at RUSVM. Here, he re-discovers his toxic plant garden with pharmacology faculty Dr. Melissa Bucknoff (’10) and locum professor Dr. Ric Berlinski (’03), both of them alumni.

Not only was Dr. Tela trained by Dr. Yvorchuk, she also taught Dr. Yvorchuk’s daughter, the newly graduated Dr. Sammy St. Jean (’18).

They came as students, were taught by Drs. Wallace and Yvorchuk, worked as equine practitioners and them came back to teach at RUSVM. Drs. Pedro de Pedro (’05), Roger Hancock (’00), and Erik Peterson (’98) are now sharing their knowledge with RUSVM students. Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 19

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Teachers-students, they were; colleagues they are now. Clockwise from left: 1. Dr. Adam Silkworth (’14) now works side-by-side as a clinician at the Ross University Veterinary Clinic (RUVC) with Dr. Andrea Peda (’09). 2. Dr. Gilda Rawlins (’02) shares her diagnostic imaging knowledge with her former student, RUVC clinician Dr. Ninian Cameron Blake. 3. Camaraderie exists between all and our Rossie faculty are no different. 4. Sharing a joke in the Clinical Skills lab, where Dr. Mary Pereira (’05) taught Dr. Cameron-Blake (’14) as a student.

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JOB POSTINGS

LOOKING TO FILL INTERNSHIPS OR FULL-TIME/PART-TIME POSITIONS AT YOUR PRACTICE? Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine is happy to work to build relationships between your organization and RUSVM alumni. Listing your openings with RUSVM can provide you with increased exposure to quality physicians from a variety of specialties. Support the RUSVM community of alumni and enhance your organization by recruiting and hiring fellow Rossies. Please email rusvmalumni@rossu.edu.

Join Our Emergency Medicine Team!

Compassion-First Pet Hospitals is a family of over 37 emergency & specialty veterinary hospitals across the United States that works in collaboration to advance medicine, empower growth & improve patient outcomes. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINING OUR TEAM, PLEASE CONTAC T: Laura Buscher, DVM: laura.buscher@compassionfirstpets.com Patrick O'Keefe, LVT: patrick.okeefe@compassionfirstpets.com compassionfirstpets.com

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WANTED: ANIMAL WELFARE WARRIORS A rewarding profession, shelter medicine isn’t without its challenges. Take it from two alumni who’ve been there: ANY VETERINARIAN CAN HELP.

ccording to the ASPCA, about 6.5 million companion animals—about half dogs and half cats—enter US animal shelters every year. The good news is that over 3 million shelter animals are adopted every year and over 700,000 who enter as strays are returned to their rightful owners. These achievements are in large part thanks to the veterinarians who work in shelters as medical directors or staffers.

Having worked as a technician at the North Shore Animal League before veterinary school, Glen Roiland ’98 accepted a job as their shelter medical director within days of finishing his clinical year. In this role, his duties were split between administrative and clinical; on the clinical side, he split his time between the medical needs of the shelter animals and those of pets that visited the shelter’s nonprofit sister clinic. He maintained this role for four years.

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Susan Lynch ’09 took a similar path. Upon graduation, she found herself working in a corporate clinic, but soon realized it wasn’t for her. She started working one day a week at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region in Colorado Springs, doing spays and neuters. She found that she liked the freedom she experienced there. “This shelter has a decent amount of resources, so we can do a lot for these animals and treat a large volume of them,” she says. In fact, the shelter can accommodate between 200 and 300 dogs as well as 200 cats at one time. Its intake last year was about 26,000 animals. “My shelter managers do have

“We need to maintain adoptability, and when you look at the inner workings of the shelter environment you will realize that even the way these animals are touched, handled, and spoken to can play a huge role in their adoptability.” — GLEN ROILAND “My shelter managers do have to be on board with my treatment plans, but it’s nice to treat animals the way I want to treat them as if they’re my own. It’s really fulfilling.” — SUSAN LYNCH SUSAN LYNCH

to be on board with my treatment plans, but it’s nice to treat animals the way I want to treat them as if they’re my own,” she says. “It’s really fulfilling.” That sense of fulfillment brought her to the shelter as its first fulltime veterinarian. At first, she was responsible for spays, neuters, and other surgeries; medical, shelter, disease, and biosecurity protocols; risk assessment; disease treatment; and other medical responsibilities as needed. Today, she is lead veterinarian and medical director, maintaining the responsibilities she’s always had but also overseeing six full-time veterinarians on staff. She also maintains a city contract with animal law enforcement, which means the shelter houses any animals impounded for danger, abandonment, or cruelty until the court assesses and comes to a final decision on the animals. The shelter also does all the workup for cruelty and neglect cases that the department prosecutes. If that isn’t enough, she does mobile spays and neuters for a local organization on the weekends. “It keeps up my skills and stamina,” she says. But for all the benefits of working in shelter medicine, it’s an area that faces a number of challenges. And if you ask Roiland and Lynch, local veterinarians can help mitigate some of these, even within their own practices.

GLEN ROILAND

COST CHALLENGES

According to the Humane Society of the United States , there is still a lack of access to veterinary care in the nation’s underserved communities— communities where, the Society points out, pet owners love their animals just as much as anyone else in the nation. The HSUS estimates that about 23 million US pets live in poverty. Of those that live in such communities, 88 percent aren’t spayed or neutered, and 69 percent have never seen a veterinarian. With one in six Americans living in poverty and six out of ten American homes including at least one pet, it’s no surprise that many owners who do take their pet to receive treatment can’t afford it. “We see a lot of owner surrenders resulting from medical costs that they can’t afford,” says Lynch. She also adds that while the gold standard of care is always the target, it’s not always financially possible for many owners, and the result can be an owner surrender. In fact, Lynch’s facility saw 5,000 owner surrenders in the last year alone. “When they’re surrendered to us for something like house soiling or a pyometra for which they received a $2,000 estimate, we end up doing those treatments on those animals, and then trying to adopt them out to someone else when that animal would

be perfectly comfortable going back to where it was and not spending two weeks in the shelter,” she says. As a result, Lynch and her colleagues started a program—one they don’t publicize but one that has made a major impact on her community. Essentially, if the shelter is faced with a surrender from an owner who loves their pet but can’t afford treatment, the shelter will perform the treatment and try to adopt the animal back into its original family. “We take $100 for a preliminary workup and communicate with that family throughout the process,” she says. “We’ll do the surgery or treat the animal—which we would have done in a surrender case anyway—and then place the animal back with its family.” It’s truly a win for all: the family is able to treat their beloved pet, and the shelter saves money because they’re not housing the animal for weeks trying to get them adopted into a new family. That said, this is a band aid on the problem. “General practitioners need to work with people who are thinking of surrendering their animal,” Lynch says. “For whatever reason, maybe that gold standard of care we’re taught in veterinary school isn’t necessarily what is needed to keep the animal in the home—which is our goal. I want general practice veterinarians to help us. We want a no-kill shelter system

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more than anyone, but to do that, you need a no-kill society. You need to be prepared to help owners with an animal that has medical concerns, when the alternative is surrender.”

EXPERTISE ISSUES

Yet another challenge that shelters face is finding well-trained staffers. According to the ASPCA, veterinary schools prepare practitioners for the herd health management of large animals but rarely touch on herd health for companion animals—a key skill set for anyone working in shelter medicine. “Transitioning from treating a pet to treating a herd of pets was one of my biggest challenges, so I immersed myself in learning about that,” says Roiland. “One of the biggest reasons I became a veterinarian was because I saw my childhood dog, Buddy, die right in front of me and there was nothing I could do. I wanted to become a veterinarian so I could fix every animal I see—the horse that breaks its leg at the race, the pet that comes into my clinic. But a shelter situation isn’t about fixing an individual; it’s about fixing the herd. And there’s a different set of rules there.” North Shore Animal League stepped up to send Roiland to conferences, and invested in educating him about topics not often covered

WANT TO LEARN MORE? If you want to get involved, but aren’t sure where to start, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) can be a great resource. 24 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

in veterinary school like cleaning protocols, ventilation, and housing. Roiland also found managing a clinic to be challenging, as veterinary schools tend to focus on the medical and not the administrative end of being a veterinarian. Again, his employer invested in sending him to meetings and training to be a good administrator. But one thing they couldn’t keep up with was salary—a challenge for most shelters. “Attracting qualified staff is an issue in shelter medicine, because you can’t pay as much as a private practice,” he says. “And just because you love animals doesn’t necessarily mean you will love the shelter environment.” One way that Roiland circumvented this challenge was by cross-training his staff. In other words, he made sure that each staff member was trained in new environments and new jobs, allowing them to become more valuable to the League and earn raises along the way. But Roiland also points out that veterinarians who want to help will find a ready and willing audience in their local shelters. “Very few shelters will turn down a qualified volunteer,” he says. His tip? Plan a visit to start. Meet with the leadership and see what their needs are, and where you may be able to help. “The need at some of these shelters is immense,” he adds.

“We need to maintain adoptability, and when you look at the inner workings of the shelter environment you will realize that even the way these animals are touched, handled, and spoken to can play a huge role in their adoptability.” For veterinarians that can’t afford to volunteer, per diem work can be an option for some shelters. But, warns Roiland, it’s not a job you take for the payment. It’s a high-volume, lowcost situation for veterinarians who want to give back to the community by helping to spay, neuter, or otherwise treat animals in need. In the end, Roiland left shelter medicine and is now the owner of New York’s Amityville Animal Hospital. “I love shelter medicine so much,” he says. “But one of the things lacking for me was a long-term relationship with these animals. Once in a blue moon, we’d do a follow-up story and those stories made me realize I wanted to make a difference in the lifetime of a pet rather than a short time in their life.” Today, he says he has the best of both worlds: he gets to help animals, but sees them from the time they’re eight weeks old through as old as 17 years old. And he even counts some of his shelter animals as current patients. “To bring it full circle,” he says, “my plan for retirement is to either volunteer or become a shelter veterinarian again.” n

Every other year, the HSUS hosts Animal Care Expo, the largest international educational conference and trade show for animal welfare professionals and volunteers. Attendees can get continuing education certifications, participate in learning labs, and take workshops all centered around welfare issues. Or, interested vets can subscribe to Animal Sheltering magazine, to brush up on current issues. If you’re ready to get involved, the HSUS’ Pets for Life program, developed in response to the lack of affordable veterinary care in underserved communities, conducts community assessments, provides neighborhood outreach, and offers free services like dog training, spay and neuter surgeries, vaccinations, pet supplies, and general wellness care. The program provides direct care in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but partners with and mentors shelters and advocates nationwide to bring the program to dozens of additional cities. Animal welfare organizations and other community leaders and service providers are encouraged to reach out.

CONGRATULATIONS! RUSVM student, Iris Lee, was awarded the Paul J. Orloff Memorial Veterinary Scholarship for her essay on technology in shelter medicine, a piece which impressed the reviewers.

he Internet and social media platforms such as Facebook® and Twitter® are a technological advancement that has impacted the entire world. Currently the use of social media is a boon to shelters, as it allows them to advertise and get the word out about animals. Shelters have shown higher success rates with their adoption missions just by focusing some time on beautiful web design, well-made videos, and strategic media posts. Nowadays you can see cute and cuddly adoption videos flooding the internet, positively influencing people to show altruism to animals. Not only that, but some shelters have created Facebook pages to help notify the local community about lost pets that were brought to the shelter. The ability to communicate with the general public is indispensable to shelters going forward today. Health-wise, social media helps to lower shelter volumes,

spread awareness of disease, and also circulate animal care knowledge. The most direct advantage is lower shelter volumes, reducing stress and illness at the facility. But vet clinics have also been utilizing media to get the word out about certain diseases, warning signs, and use of preventive medicine… While I neglect to talk about specific scientific technological advancements in medical diagnosis, it is simply because most of these things are unaffordable for your average non-profit shelter. I strongly believe that social media and donations are currently the key to opening the door to medical-based advancements in shelter medicine, especially since the websites are free, easy to use, and effective. I look forward to a future where shelters are not simply giving the bare minimum of vaccinations and parasite prevention, but are also capable of holding their own with diagnostic equipment such as X-ray machinery or ultrasounds. n

TUNE IN

“It was a great honor to be awarded the Paul J. Orloff Memorial Veterinary Scholarship, and I can’t thank them enough for choosing my essay. I wrote my essay based on my experiences in the field of shelter medicine, a field that is sorely due for an upgrade in technology. The prompt drove me to consider what is necessary for shelters to proceed to the next step toward a more advanced future. It’s very encouraging to know that others have read my writing with high regard, and it has motivated me to keep working hard for the sake of shelter animals.” — Iris Lee

Check out Dr. Lynch and her colleagues on Nat Geo WILD’s Rocky Mountain Animal Rescue, a television show all about the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and its sister facility, Pueblo Animal Services. Airing began in March, and all six episodes of the first season are available online and in syndication.

Susan Lynch ’09 (right) with film crew. Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 25

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LAW&ORDER DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Whether they’re speaking on behalf of the profession or on behalf of animals, Rossies are making an impact on the government. This is another example, which applies to the role of veterinarians in One Health. In fact, there are many ways veterinarians can get involved in policy making, the prosecution of animal-related cases, and other aspects of the justice system. But don’t take our word for it—take it from the Rossies below who are making a real difference.

THE ACTIVIST: Jennifer Faga ’86

Jennifer Faga had been working with a local attorney and congressman to draft a bill that would prohibit the ownership of some, especially endangered, exotic animals as pets in the state of New York. “I downloaded a copy of the bill myself, and did a line by line edit,” she recalls. Thanks to her expertise, the bill closed a number of loopholes like, for example, one that listed tigers and lions but didn’t take into account crossbreeds. “I went on my own to meet with them—I wasn’t affiliated with anyone,” Faga says. “They called me at midnight two years later to tell me that the bill as I edited it was passed.”

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Not long after, she ran into a friend who worked with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). “A week later, he called me up and said, why are you doing this on your own? Come join us,” she says. That was in 2000. And it’s been a whirlwind since. As a member of the National Council of the Humane Society of the United States, Faga works with HSUS colleagues, the executive staff, and board of directors to advance the organization’s mission. They identify issues that need changing, and then create campaigns to pursue those issues. One such campaign tackles dog meat farming in South Korea. “We go in as a team and speak to the farmers, and convince them to sign a contract saying they’ll stop breeding dogs for slaughter,” Faga says. To achieve this, they provide tools and education to the farmers about other money making

opportunities like blueberry farming or crop farming, which Faga says is more income-generating for them and also has a better and more humane outcome for all. Then, HSUS dismantles the facility, treats the dogs, and exports them back to the US or UK, where they work with rescue organizations to find them new homes. Another issue near and dear to Faga’s heart is the exportation of horses to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. “We helped stop the slaughterhouses and close them all down in the US, but now the horses are being exported in heinous conditions to be slaughtered in inhumane ways,” she explains. Right now, the HSUS’s biggest campaign centers around protecting Tennessee Walking Horses from the process of soring, a technique that involves abusive practices to accentuate a horse’s high stepping gait. “This is why the horse walks that way. When they react to pain, they are hit. They’re so scared and in excruciating pain.” In order to stop this practice and others, Faga and the HSUS start with grassroots efforts. They meet with legislators and their staff, create petitions, and expose the truth. They also work to identify legislators that are sympathetic to animal causes—especially during

“ We keep track of how these people feel about animal issues and how they’ve voted in the past, from local representatives right up through the presidency. We show their record if they’ve served in the past. And then we target our support for the legislators that are animal-friendly.” election years. “We keep track of how these people feel about animal issues and how they’ve voted in the past, from local representatives right up through the presidency,” she explains. “We show their record if they’ve served in the past. And then we target our support for the legislators that are animal-friendly.” Ready to get involved? Faga welcomes her fellow Rossies to contact her. “Everyone has that one thing they’re passionate about, and I can help navigate the overwhelming amount of opportunities to get involved through the Humane Society,” she says. “Do you want to be hands-on? Do you want to be trained to be a rescue volunteer? Do you know legislators and want to help on the legislative side? We have directors in every state, and representatives in every county. But the first step is to identify your passion.”

The Forensic Scientist: Solveig Evans ’03

Solveig Evans was working in an emergency clinic when a gunshot case came in. She and her colleagues sprang into action to help the dog. When the commotion died down, the animal control officer returned to the clinic and said he was looking for veterinarians to help with cruelty and neglect cases. Was anyone interested in helping? Evans stepped forward. That was in 2006. Since then, Evans has trained under forensic veterinary pioneer Melinda D. Merck and attained her graduate certificate in veterinary forensics. Today, she consults with multiple counties across the state of Georgia to help with cruelty cases, while still holding down a full-time veterinary role at a private practice. The 300 to 400 cases per year that Evans sees run the gamut from puppy mill, hoarding, neglect, and abuse cases to performing necropsies on deceased animals. “I try to figure out what happened, and then the officers work through finding the suspects,” she says. “I also advise the officers on how to take pictures of the animals, what to look for, and how to get the animals out of a dangerous environment the right way.” And while every county may not have their own animal control office or even cooperating law enforcement, Evans says that Rossies can play an integral role in detecting abuse cases right in their own practices. “Veterinarians aren’t trained to look for signs of abuse or neglect. We are trained to fix the problem,” she says. “But it is our job to suspect. If the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, they do that for a reason and your suspicions are probably legitimate.” There are two main red flags to look for when it comes to abuse cases, Evans says. The first one is a story that doesn’t quite make sense. “If you have a wound on an animal, and the owner says it happened when the dog tried jumping over a fence, and you’re thinking there’s no way the dog cut his back jumping over a fence, that’s a red flag,” she says. While there may be a plausible explanation, it may also be a sign that someone inflicted that wound on the dog. Another red flag is if the owner or family is acting suspicious themselves. There’s a misconception that if people bring their dog to the vet they must have good intentions—and that’s not necessarily true, she says. Is the family vague in their answers? Does one family member have a different story than another? Are they just acting funny? There might be something going on. “That’s why it’s so important to have a relationship with your animal control officers—you’re not an investigator,” says Evans. “But you can look for signs that can stop abuse.”

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ON THE RADAR For hot legal topics in veterinary medicine, look no further than Elizabeth Settles, DVM, attorney, and WIVC 2018 speaker. Here are four issues happening right now. How will you have your voice heard? UNIONIZATION: Earlier this year, a group of 95 workers at VCA in San Francisco became the first large group of private sector veterinary workers in America to form their own union affiliated with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. “They haven’t included vets, but it was discussed,” says Settles. “This is huge because smaller practices are concerned that if staff decides to unionize they may want a raise. Will it push small practitioners out because they can’t afford it?” ANTIBIOTIC USE: Though antibiotics have been used as feed additives for many years to promote growth, much of this practice has been outlawed by the USDA, says Settles. “While you can’t use antibiotics as additives, you can use it to treat sick animals,” she explains. The controversy? “What are the ethics of using antibiotics in animals? Is there over treating going on,” she says, “and is this driving antibiotic resistance and superbugs?” PRESCRIPTION FAIRNESS: Introduced to the House of Representatives in January 2017, the Fairness to Pet Owners Act would require veterinarians to provide written copies of prescriptions for companion animals, whether or not the owner requests them. According to the AVMA, which opposes this bill, clients already have the flexibility to fill prescriptions wherever they like and most states already have laws, policies, or regulations requiring that veterinarians honor a client’s request for a written prescription. OPIOID USE: Because of the nationwide abuse epidemic, veterinarians are finding their access limited. Regulations have gotten more stringent. And prescription drug monitoring programs, which vary state to state, can be overwhelming. “There are hospitals who won’t keep controlled drugs because they worry about theft,” Settles says. “Opioids are becoming too much of a risk.”

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The Justice Warrior: Misty Hirschbein ’03

By all accounts, Misty Hirschbein was on a typical veterinary path. After graduation, she spent two years working for a nonprofit no-kill animal shelter, then shifted gears and transitioned into private practice for the next 10 years. Eventually, she and her sister (who was also a veterinarian) started to discuss opening their own practice. They were on the search for facilities when her sister unexpectedly passed away. “After some serious soul searching, I decided that I was going to gear my career towards service to animals and their companions by applying to become a shelter veterinarian,” Hirschbein says. She applied with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, and has been assigned to the north county for a little over five years now. She’s currently working at the Palmdale Animal Care Center, one of eight Los Angeles County shelters, where she cares for shelter animals and also handles humane cases. But Hirschbein doesn’t stop there. She recently termed out after having served six years on the Board of Trustees of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA), with the previous two consecutive years serving as president. She is a member of the House of Delegates for the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), the copresident of the SCVMA Shelter Vet Group, and is on the Board of Trustees for the Animal Health Foundation. Hirschbein’s current role with the County of Los Angeles finds her performing emergency medical and surgical services, long-term after care, and animal necropsies to determine the cause of death, including whether the animal suffered due to treatment or neglect. She also helps the LA County Sheriff Department collect evidence from animals involved in criminal cases, and then drafts reports and testifies in court as an expert witness regarding those cases. Some of Hirschbein’s cases are very straightforward— hoarding, rooster and dog fighting, and others. “I can’t say that any one case stands out to me, as every single one of these animals rests in my heart and my head every single day,” she says. “Each of them have played a significant role in my continued education as a veterinarian and growth as a human being.” But there was one case that stands out, in which she was invited to testify as an expert witness. A man had beaten a small stray dog who had come into his yard and attacked

his chickens. The dog sustained serious head injuries but survived. “My apprehension came when I was told that if this man was found guilty of animal abuse, with enhancement charges, this would be his third strike and he could spend the rest of his life in prison,” she recalls. “After many nights of wrestling with this, I came to the conclusion that I was not the person who put him in this situation, and I was not the person trying his case or sentencing him to his future. I was just going to testify on behalf of the animal and tell the truth about her injuries.” Her advice to other Rossies? Get involved. Get involved with a veterinary college, pre-vet program, vet tech program, or local animal shelter. “After every meeting I attend I am surprised, but not shocked, at what happens in our legislature that has such a significant impact upon our profession,” she says, citing a Kentucky bill that taxes veterinary services as well as advocacy happening now in California to include animals in physical therapy practices. “As a delegate of the CVMA House of Delegates, I submit my recommendations to the CVMA Board of Governors which influences the actions of the CVMA lobbyists at our state capitol,” she explains. “As veterinarians, our involvement in policy and procedure is critical to keeping the integrity and credibility of our profession in our own hands.”

The Jet Setters:

Jenny Askin ’18, and Kierstin Washington and Johnny Weiss (2020 DVM Candidates, pictured left) Every year, the AVMA Governmental Relations Division teams up with the Student AVMA to host the annual Legislative Fly-in, which brings veterinary students and practitioners to Washington, DC. Over the course of two days, participants learn about the legislative process and legislation that impacts veterinarians, and then meet with their congressional representatives to advocate on behalf of the profession. Recent issues have run the gamut from public service loan forgiveness to the Fairness to Pet Owners Act (see the sidebar on page 28 for more information on this). “Though I grew up outside of Washington, DC, I never spent much time on the Hill,” says Jenny Askin, who attended the 2016 Fly-in. “We met with the representatives’ staff and they were very receptive to the issues we brought them. And they gave us a lot of time.” Beyond advocacy, attending an event like this is a unique networking opportunity for students. For example, 2018 attendee Kierstin Washington was able to network with veterinarians and see how they get their voices heard in all branches of government. “I saw all the different ways vets can get involved in the government, from the USDA to the NIH and beyond,” she says. “I met a lot of other veterinary students as well as future colleagues and made a lot of connections. I’ve been in touch with these connections consistently, and I actually got an externship from a connection I made at the Fly-in.” Indeed, this event gets the wheels turning for lots of veterinary students, about how they can get and stay involved in politics after graduation. “It opened my eyes to how we, as veterinarians, can be involved in legislation at the state and local levels,” says 2018 attendee Johnny Weiss. “There are veterinarians that hold seats as county executives, all the way up to the Senate. I’m trying to figure out my place in the profession for now, but I am extremely interested in being a part of legislation going forward, even if it’s just on an advocacy level.” n

“As veterinarians, our involvement in policy and procedure is critical to keeping the integrity and credibility of our profession in our own hands.” — Misty Hirschbein ’03

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PRACTICE OWNERSHIP 101

RUSVM PREPARED YOU TO BE A VETERINARIAN. BUT ARE YOU PREPARED TO OWN YOUR OWN PRACTICE? TAKE IT FROM THESE ALUMNI — THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN BEFORE JUMPING IN.

ne common thread runs through every practice ownership story: veterinary school provided a medical education, but the skill set needed to run a successful business is completely different. A practice owner’s ability to learn the ropes quickly can be the difference between success and failure. In this ownership crash course, six practice owners and RUSVM alumni share their biggest challenges and lessons learned. Are you ready to register?

Meet the Owners MICHAEL BUEDEL ’00

Chief of Staff, Animal Care Center of Plainfield (Kremer Veterinary Services) Plainfield, IL Buedel oversees nine associates along with his three partners. He is also a partner in six additional practices under the umbrella of Kremer Veterinary Services.

BRENT CRABTREE ’14

Owner, Pendleton Veterinary Clinic Pendleton, IN Crabtree is on the cusp of growing from a one- to two-doctor clinic.

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JASON JACOBSEN ’04

Managing Partner, Oswego Animal Hospital (Kremer Veterinary Services) Oswego, IL Jacobsen oversees eight associates at his 11,000-squarefoot facility, and is looking to grow. He is also partner in four additional Kremer Veterinary Services hospitals.

ELIZA LISCHIN ’02 & MOSES HUMPHREYS ’05 Owners, One Love Animal Hospitals Lischin and Humphreys are a husband-and-wife team, managing their three New York-based practices remotely from St. Kitts. BLAKE HEFTER ’14

Owner, Premium Vet Care Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, FL Hefter’s mobile clinic is equipped to provide blood work, x-rays, surgery dentistry, and pharmacy services. A sole practitioner, he handles a variety of cases daily.

STEP 1: FINANCING THE CHALLENGE: Buying a practice often means setting out a large sum of money, and many veterinarians are already carrying large debts like school loans and mortgages. LESSONS LEARNED: It starts with the great startup vs. existing practice debate. For Crabtree, the way to gaining a sizeable loan from the bank was purchasing an already established practice, with a track record of financial success. The benefit here is that Crabtree inherited a client list and immediate cash flow. But as Humphreys points out, there are other options out there. “Buying an existing practice demands a top price and you are inheriting cultures and policies that may not work out,” he says. A startup, on the other hand, takes longer to reach financial stability and profitability, but the benefit is that it’s an investment with room to grow. “You are paying less up-front, but when you sell it, it will be worth more,” Humphreys says. If a startup is appealing, Humphreys suggests frugality in the early years. “When you’re starting out, don’t buy everything new,” he says. “Metal cages are metal cages. Stainless steel equipment or surgical supplies that have been used a couple times can be purchased for half the cost. Start on a shoestring budget and grow with the practice.” This also goes for employees, he points out: “Don’t overstaff until you have the clients to support it.

STEP 2: SETTING UP ADMINISTRATION THE CHALLENGE: “There is so much more that goes into opening and running your own business that has nothing to do with going to veterinary school,” says Hefter who, as a one-man operation, does everything for his mobile clinic from treating animals and interfacing with clients to scheduling appointments, taking inventory and ordering supplies, cleaning, and more. LESSONS LEARNED: Because Crabtree purchased an existing practice, he also inherited a great office manager that was on staff for over five years before he arrived. “That takes a lot of strain off my role,” he says. “So if you have a healthy practice, you can hire someone to do that job so that you are free to be a doctor.” He also found people to help him—lawyers and accountants who know how to work with veterinary practices can answer a lot of questions. Humphreys and Lischin took the opposite approach. When their employees told them they weren’t feeling heard because their bosses were too busy being veterinarians, they decided to fire themselves. “I needed to get out of their way,” Lischin says. “Now, we don’t see any clients and instead we focus on the business end of things and making our employees’ lives better.”

STEP 3: MANAGING PERSONNEL THE CHALLENGE: Hiring and scheduling employees is an important and often overwhelming part of owning a practice. Plus, constantly adding staff means that different personalities, schedules, and skill sets are continuously entering the mix, and it’s the owner’s job to make sure the practice continues to run smoothly. LESSONS LEARNED: Crabtree had to learn early on that the employees who want the job and want to be there are a practice’s greatest asset. “You make it work for them,” he says. “When you have an employee who loses interest and you can see their performance declining, it’s best to cut ties sooner rather than later because it brings the whole staff morale down.” For Jacobsen, being a partner instead of a sole owner was an asset when it came to dealing with personnel issues because he had mentors to learn from. “Rely on the knowledge of those that have been through a certain situation before and figure out how to handle it appropriately,” he advises. “Without the web of support that we have built, I know I would have been floundering.” At the end of the day, Humphreys credits RUSVM with the flexibility needed to handle the different personalities in a practice: “The great thing about RUSVM is the diversity it has. It’s not a uniform population of the same age and background. It’s a diverse group—and that’s business. If you want a well-managed practice that takes care of its employees, practices good medicine, and turns a profit, that won’t happen on its own. You have to work with all different kinds of people to make that happen, and being from a diverse place like RUSVM means you can learn the skills you need to work with all kinds of people.”

STEP 4: CULTIVATING & KEEPING SATISFIED CLIENTS

STEP 5: HANGING IN THERE

THE CHALLENGE: How do you deal with unhappy clients? Responding the right way can not only diffuse a conflict and strengthen your relationship but spread goodwill and word-of-mouth referrals.

THE CHALLENGE: There will be roadblocks. There will be hurdles. The best practice owners get scrappy and figure it out.

LESSONS LEARNED: “Listening skills are key,” says Buedel. Figure out exactly what the client is trying to say, what they think is wrong with their pet, or why they’re upset about something a doctor did. You may find that they’re not angry at you, but rather, angry at the situation. “I can diffuse so many situations by listening to the person’s concerns and agreeing with their frustration,” Buedel says. One surefire way to escalate a situation? “Taking the stance that you’re the doctor and you have all the answers,” he says. “Let the owner at least put their feelings out before you correct them. Let them speak. I’ve been on phone conversations where I’m silent for 10 minutes while someone pours their heart out to me. Then I go back and explain. I feel I’ve diffused that situation in those first 10 minutes.”

LESSONS LEARNED: Crabtree says that if he learned anything at RUSVM that prepared him for ownership it was to never take no for an answer. “If I had listened to ‘no’ when I applied to state schools and was rejected, then I’m not cut out to be a veterinarian,” he says. “I had the same issues when I applied for a loan to purchase my practice—I knew going into it that the bank wanted a certain set of qualifications, and I was short on some of them. They said no to me. I thought, maybe it’s not time to buy. But I decided to give another bank a shot, and it came through perfectly. RUSVM teaches us not to take no for an answer if it’s something you want and feel qualified to do. It’s always possible.” n

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 31

YOUR T BRAIN ON DRUGS

hough previously reserved for the all-night party scene, MDMA (ecstasy) use has spread to a range of settings and individuals. In fact, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 18 million people in the US have tried MDMA at least once in their lifetime (1). Though the NIH reports that fatal MDMA overdoses remain rare, they can be life threatening, with symptoms ranging from high blood pressure to fainting, panic attacks, loss of consciousness, and seizure. In an effort to find targeted and more effective treatments for drug abuse (beyond just treating symptoms in the emergency room), Ibrahim M. Shokry, BVSC, MVSC, PhD has focused his research on the effects of MDMA and other drugs on the brain. In 2014, he published an article in Psychopharmacology that showed the unique impact of environmental factors on MDMA overdose. Because warm temperatures and physical activity (like dancing) are two features of raves, Shokry and his colleagues wanted to assess how these two factors may intensify toxicity, or MDMA-induced serotonin syndrome. Rats were administered MDMA and then examined in the absence and presence of warm temperatures and physical activity. “What we found is that the combination of exercise, heat, and MDMA is what can be fatal,” Shokry explains. “It’s the combination—the environment and the drug together—that is the problem. Not just the drug alone.” On the heels of these findings, Shokry turned his attention to the techniques by which medical researchers measure the changes in the brain caused by serotonin syndrome. Previously, scientists utilized radioactive riboprobes, measuring mRNA in the cell by extracting brain tissue, freezing it, staining it, and

32 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

examining it under a microscope. This kind of procedure is difficult, because it requires fresh frozen tissues to be kept in a sterile and RNase-free environment, and also requires a complicated workflow that takes several days to perform. Shokry and his colleagues have developed a new procedure that doesn’t need a RNase-free environment, and is relatively fast and inexpensive. His in situ hybridization procedure allows the use of paraformaldehyde-prefixed brain sections, which are more widely available in laboratories. Plus, it takes less than two days to complete. Today, in addition to MDMA, Shokry has extended his research onto a new class of designer drugs called bath salts. “We are investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of drug-induced psychosis, and why individuals intoxicated with bath salts can become violent and aggressive, physically hurting not only themselves but also others,” Shokry says. His research was recently accepted for publication by the European Neuropsychopharmacology Journal, which found that the effects of bath salts (locomotor hyperactivity as well as drug and behavioral sensitization) can be blocked by SCH, a dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) antagonist, showing that it’s D1Rs and not D2Rs (which mediate the effects of methamphetamine) which are involved in these effects. “Drug addiction is a major problem worldwide, especially among young people,” says Shokry. “What we are trying to do is study the impact of drug addiction on the mechanisms of action in the brain. Once we find these mechanisms, we can develop more effective treatments. n

GROWING CONNECTIONS

hokry has been teaching pharmacology and toxicology at RUSVM for about 30 years. To keep things interesting and fun, he developed several educational resources for students, including the Toxic Plant Garden, Toxic Plant Website, Toxic Plant Museum, and more, which has solidified his reputation as RUSVM’s resident toxic plant expert. What he didn’t expect was how joining Facebook® in 2008 would open the door to a lifelong connection with his students both current and former. Shokry joined with the goal of keeping in touch. But it wasn’t long before alumni started asking him questions about toxic plants and herbal remedies for pets. “Many students are interested in specializing in or incorporating integrative veterinary medicine into their practice,” he says. “In addition, many people use herbal remedies on themselves, and they may ask their veterinarian if these same remedies can be used in their pets. This is not usually covered in the core veterinary curriculum, so I get many questions online about dietary supplements and herbal medicine.” Since the most common questions he gets on Facebook® are about toxic plants, Shokry decided to start a toxic plant review of the week, which highlights pet-unfriendly plants. And though his students clearly benefit from his input, Shokry also benefits from their engagement. Now that he’s in academia, and no longer practicing, hearing questions from Rossies all over the world keeps him in tune with the issues currently impacting veterinarians. “I spent all my life learning and gaining experience,” he says. “I believe that knowledge should be passed on and used for the benefit of mankind and the environment, otherwise, it would be a waste of time. n

Source: 1. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/mdma-ecstasy-abuse/Introduction

Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 33

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS Events and alumni engagement are part of the core values that make up the RUSVM Alumni Association. Each year, the RUSVM Alumni Association hosts events across the country, providing a platform for our alumni to network and engage with other alumni not only from their area, but all over the US, Canada, and abroad. Regional and national conferences have also been a huge asset for connecting with our network and hosting alumni association gatherings in a multitude of locations. This past year we have truly enjoyed connecting and reminiscing with a significant part of our alumni community. So far, in 2018, the RUSVM Alumni Association has had a presence at five national conferences and one international conference. It was incredible to see our RUSVM colleagues and alumni community “out in force” this year at The Veterinary Medicine Expo (VMX) in Orlando, FL—275 Rossies attended the conference, while 135 made it out to our evening alumni reception on Tuesday, February 6th. The Mid-Western Veterinary Medicine Conference (MVC) was held in Columbus, Ohio from February 22nd through 25th. The RUSVM team were extremely excited to meet all of the Rossies who attended and stopped by our booth to say “hello!” We were also very appreciative of the opportunity to spend a little extra quality time with the 34 alumni who attended the alumni dinner on Saturday evening. The strong Rossie presence continued the following month at the alumni reception at the Western Veterinary Conference (WVC), which took place on Monday, March 5, 2018—101 alumni and friends attended! In June, our Alumni Action Council member, Dr. Brian Husbands and faculty member, Dr. Elizabeth Settles hosted our first ever alumni cocktail hour at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Conference in Seattle, Washington. The cocktail hour was very well received, and turned out to be a small gathering but an opportunity for internal medicine Rossies to network. The RUSVM Alumni Association rounded out the summer events season by attending the 2018 AVMA Convention in Denver, Colorado and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our annual alumni reunion at the AVMA was one of our largest, with over 120 alumni in attendance, both conference participants and locally based alumni. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Conference in Vancouver was a first for us this year and provided a chance to expand our social gatherings outside of the United States. Although it was a smaller gathering, the alumni who attended the dinner had a chance to connect, network and have some great conversation, a trend that we hope will continue as our alumni community continues to grow and develop in Canada. The RUSVM Alumni Association kicked off the fall events schedule with two regional events. Dr. Mikey Axelband and Dr. JP Carew hosted our South Florida event in Miami. This event was also sponsored by Idexx. Dr. Melissa Bucknoff followed up by hosting an event at the International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium.

34 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

CLASS NOTES AMY KEISER, DVM (’17) & JOHN WRIGHT, DVM (’17) I wanted to share a photo from the wedding of Jackson (John) Wright and myself (Amy Keiser) both RUSVM grads (2017). We had quite a RUSVM reunion! The wedding took place on April 28th, 2018 at Mountain Top Inn in Vermont. We had 19 alumni present to help us celebrate—all below and 1 didn’t make the picture!

BILL WALAK, DVM (’17) Sharing some non-veterinary related fun! “Here are a few absolutely massive native brook trout that I caught and released earlier this Spring.” KRISTA KELLER, DVM (’10) Dr. Krista Keller and her spouse Byron Wittenberg are delighted to announce the birth of Portman Alfredo Wittenberg, born September 2, 2018, 8lbs 2.5oz and 20 inches. CHAD AND STEPHANIE DAVIS, DVM (’08) Excited parents Drs. Chad and Stephanie Davis (2008 alumni) are proud to announce the birth of their first child Henley Quinn Davis. Henley arrived 4:59pm July 5, 2018 at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton, VA. She was 18’5” long, weighed 6lbs 7oz., blonde hair and blue eyes. Both Henley and Stephanie are doing great and they can’t thank their family, extended families, friends and their RUSVM alumni, professors and staff for all the love and support! No doubt a future Rossie in the making. Life is great!

MONICA DIJANIC, DVM (’03) & HOWARD ASHER, DVM (’04) Dr. Monica Dijanic and her partner/husband Dr. Howard Asher built a ground up clinic last year called Beaver Brook Animal Hospital and are super excited to announce that they are the first fear free practice in New England, technically East of the Mississippi, and technically the second in the world.

CHRISTOPHER L. NORKUS, DVM, DACVAA, CVPP Christopher L. Norkus, DVM, DACVAA, CVPP Department of Emergency & Critical Care Department of Anesthesia & Pain Management Veterinary Specialists of Connecticut West Hartford, CT has an upcoming release of the second edition of his book Veterinary Technician’s Manual for Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care in November 2018. Our alumni community can check it out here: www.wiley.com/buy/9781119179092.

IN MEMORIUM

It is with great regret that the Alumni Association

shares the loss of alumna Dr. Sarah Lynn Wilber. Dr. Wilber passed away at home on Thursday, September 6, 2018 in York, SC. Sarah was a daughter of Lewis Wilber and Susan Perkins Wilber. She was a 2002 graduate of Hamden High in Hamden, CT, 2006 graduate of Merrimack College in Massachusetts, and a 2013 graduate of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Sarah was a doctor with White Rose Veterinary Clinic in York, SC. We would like to extend our condolences to Dr. Wilber’s family, friends and colleagues. Alumni Magazine: Fall 2018 | 35

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COMMITMENT TO VETERINARIANS™ 36 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

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NOVEMBER 2–7, 2019

“I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, from the variety of topics offered to the numerous social activities. It was a great experience. I am looking forward to making it a tradition.” — D R. DIANA M. GONZALEZ, REGIONAL CONSULTING VETERINARIAN WITH ELANCO ANIMAL HEALTH 2017 WIVC ATTENDEE

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