Ce leb ra tin g3 5Y ea rs
THE RESEARCH ISSUE
SPRING 2018
MESSAGE FROM DR. WALLACE
Dear Ross Vet Alumni,
Our alumni family began with our doctor of veterinary medicine graduates, who can be found in many areas of the veterinary profession from private practice to public health. In 2013, we began our research program to leverage our unique location, research expertise and facilities to attract students and research scholars from around the globe. Since the start of our postgraduate degree program in 2013, we have graduated 16 postgraduate students from our MSc in One Health, and MSc by Research programs. Our graduate students have undertaken work across all our research centers from game-based learning to sea turtle conservation. To continue our commitment to research, we began work on our new Research & Pathology Building to be complete this spring. The building will add 13,000 square feet of research space and 2,000 square feet dedicated to pathology. Our hope is that this space will provide a collaborative, dynamic space for our researchers and students to continue their work and train the next generation of scientists. A warm welcome to our newest alumni—our postgraduate students. You join a community of veterinary professionals, researchers and academics and Ross Vet ambassadors. I always look forward to hearing about the accomplishments of our alumni and faculty. If you have comments, questions or feedback, please reach out to RUSVMAlumni@rossu.edu. Kind regards,
Dr. Charles Wallace DVM MS Dip ACVS Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations Professor of Large Animal Medicine
MESSAGE FOR THE ALUMNI ACTION COUNCIL PRESIDENT
My fellow Alumni,
I am proud to see our family of “Rossies” continue to shine in the veterinary community worldwide. Consistently, I am amazed how many of you provide leadership in your communities, in government and within organized veterinary medicine. I think it is important to recognize our strength in numbers, and how we will be able to shape the discussions within our profession now and in the future. The Alumni Action Committee is working diligently to recognize your contributions in leadership to veterinary medicine and to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. In turn, we are developing plans to strengthen our bonds by nurturing the relationships with those Rossies who are most closely geographically located. Thank you for your continued support of Ross Vet. Meet the members of the Alumni Action Council on Page 15. All the best,
Moses Humphreys, DVM ’05
FEATURES
6 16 19 20
SPRING 2018
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ACADEMIC ADVENTURE Just as there’s more than one way to practice veterinary medicine, there is more than one path to a career in research.
Here are just some of the ways Ross Vet grads are putting their training to work in the field of research.
RESEARCH CORNER Addressing a Population Problem
Dr. Hilari M. French, associate professor of theriogenology and division head of the large animal clinical sciences department, is looking for a humane and effective way to control the donkey population on both Nevis and St. Kitts. And her research is promising.
ONE CAREER, MANY PATHS Alumni Profile: Adrienne Winn ’17
Like most veterinarians, Adrienne Winn (’17) always wanted to work with animals. But unlike a lot of her peers, her path was a somewhat winding one that led her to lab animal medicine.
RECOVERY TIME Alumni Profile: James St. Clair ’03
Find out how one alumnus filled a hole in the market, and explore expert insights on how we can help dogs for whom surgery isn’t an option.
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
ALSO IN THE ISSUE
5 12
AVMA COE ACCREDITATION VISIT RURAL ROSSIES
14 23
BLUE BUFFALO SCHOLARSHIPS IN MEMORIAM
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: Spring 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
• Transitional Program Speaker
• Current Student Outreach Rep
• New Student Reception Event
• On-Campus Panelist • White Coat Ceremony Speaker • Commencement Speaker • Social Media Ambassador (Facebook®, LinkedIn®, Twitter®) • Enrollment Webinar Alumni Rep • Prospective Student Outreach Rep • Clinical Representative • Speaker at College Fairs
• Regional Chapter Leader • 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
TOGETHER, WE ARE
EMPOWERING
A HEALTHY TOMORROW Visit Banfield.com/MeetOurTeam to hear stories from veterinarians who chose Banfield. Banfield.com/Careers Follow us at @BanfieldCareers #IchoseBanfield
©Banfield 2017.07
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 3
LU
SIV E
V
ERIN AR
ET
Y
EX
C
The Efficacy You Demand in Well-Balanced, Natural Therapeutic Diets ENHANCED WITH VITAMINS AND MINERALS
GI
WU
Gastrointestinal Support
Weight Management + Urinary Care
KS/KM
Kidney Support/Kidney + Mobility Support
BLUE Natural Veterinary Diet® offers a full range of therapeutic natural diets formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists to help manage a variety of your patients’ health conditions.
The Science of Exceptional Stop flu where it starts. Trust Flu Avert® I.N. for superior protection against relevant flu strains threatening the U.S. horse population.1 Visit us online to learn more about Merck Animal Health and the equine products and programs that help you keep horses healthy. 1
UC Davis (Nicola Pusterla) & Merck Animal Health. Infectious Upper Respiratory Surveillance Program. Ongoing Research 2008-present.
The Science of Healthier Animals
2 Giralda Farms • Madison, NJ 07940 • merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2017 Intervet Inc., d/b/a/ Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 3654 EQ-FluAvert-PMQ-1244
4 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
HF
Hydrolyzed for Food Intolerance
AVMA-COE ACCREDITATION VISIT
O
n February 11th-15th, Ross Vet hosted site visitors from the AVMA-Council on Education (COE) as part of the reaccreditation process which takes place every 7 years. The visit started with a reception during which around 80 DVM and postgraduate students presented posters on their research projects and community outreach. A series of meetings, mandated by the COE, then took place during the week with colleagues, students and alumni. The site visitors, including chairperson Dr. Joni Samuels who led the Ross Vet site visit in 2010, also had the opportunity to tour the campus facilities. The preparation for reaccreditation and the week itself was remarkable and the campus looked at its best. The Sunday night reception “blew them away,” our students were truly amazing in their dedication to research, their clubs and community outreach. The site visitors were impressed with all groups, alumni and feedback by our clinical affiliates. They commented in many ways about the dedication of all our colleagues and the words “collegial and transparent,
with a true focus on student education” came to the fore. While the final report is yet to be presented to the COE and the site visit team members do not make the final decision on our accreditation status, they were unable to speak without acknowledging how far the school has evolved in the last 7 years, building on the foundations laid down by our predecessors. They made recommendations, good recommendations but relatively small and we can easily fix them. The COE team finished their visit with a series of exit interviews with Lisa Wardell (Adtalem CEO & President), Board of Trustees members and with Dean Callanan. The purpose of these separate interviews were to convey a factual oral reporting of all of the 11 standards of accreditation. This group will eventually supply Ross Vet with a draft report, allowing us the opportunity to correct any information before it is presented at the COE meeting in September, where the final decision will be made. Until then, stay tuned! n
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 5
feature
CHOOSE YOUR OWN SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURE
Just as there’s more than one way to practice veterinary medicine, there is more than one path to a career in research.
W
hat comes to mind when you think of veterinary research and academia? If you’re like most people, you may imagine an individual in a white coat, cooped up in a lab, who never really works with animals at all. Well, think again.
These Ross Vet grads have all chosen a career in research. They interact with and care for animals. They teach tomorrow’s veterinarians. They ask the questions that will push the practice of veterinary medicine forward. But that’s where their similarities end. Each one has taken a very different path and, together, they are addressing a wide range of questions. Here are just some of the ways Ross Vet grads are putting their training to work in the field of research.
6 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
T
MASTER’S DEGREES
ROSS VET
hough she envisioned a future in large animal medicine, Dr. Kimberly Stewart’s master’s degree experience opened her eyes to the fieldwork and lab work she could accomplish with a career in research. Specifically, during her master’s research, she had the opportunity to work with the St. Catherine’s Island Sea Turtle Conservation Program documenting nesting and non-nesting crawls, validating and excavating nests. Before long, she was hooked. So she applied for veterinary school at Ross Vet. “I was very excited at the potential to offer my time to volunteer on a sea turtle program in the Caribbean while in veterinary school,” she says, but soon found out that there were no established programs on the island. Once she arrived, she got
CONSERVATION MEDICINE
to work. Together with the St. Christopher National Trust, St. Kitts Department of Marine Resources, and fellow Ross Vet students, Stewart worked to establish the St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network, where she is now the Director. The rest is history. Stewart, now assistant professor at Ross Vet, spends her days researching the management and health of nesting and foraging sea turtle species in St. Kitts. “We have just completed a review of 15 years of management and health data collected on our nesting leatherback and foraging green and hawksbill populations, which is very exciting to see come to the point of reporting to the St. Kitts community, the individuals who volunteered their time and make this data collection possible, and the scientific community,” Stewart says.
DR. KIMBERLY STEWART
W
ROSS VET
INTERNSHIP
hile most veterinary research centers on the animal world, a unique set of Ross Vet alumni are asking questions surrounding veterinary education itself. For Dr. Jennifer Carter, senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne Australia, those questions center on assessment, teaching clinical reasoning, technology learning and, especially, the Dunning-Kruger effect. “Dunning-Kruger states that those who are the least competent are the most likely to not possess the self-awareness to realize their incompetence and are typically overly confident of their abilities,” she explains. “It is well described in
RESIDENCY
PEDAGOGICAL RESEARCH
human medicine and other fields, but poorly described in veterinary medicine.” So, her research examines whether this occurs in final year veterinary students doing a clinical anesthesia rotation, and what factors may influence a students’ perception of confidence. Drawing mostly from surveys completed by students and technical staff on the anesthesia rotation, Carter’s findings are pending publication. What she can share? “Preliminary results suggest that the Dunning-Kruger effect is present in final year veterinary students,” she says. The research of Dr. Jeffrey Runge, head of minimally invasive surgery at University of Pennsylvania School
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 7
feature
DR. JENNIFER CARTER
of Veterinary Medicine, runs the gamut. While he has contributed many findings pertaining to minimally invasive surgical techniques that can be translated to human and pediatric applications, Runge has recently broadened his research interests to include how veterinarians learn surgery. “We never really evaluated this, and we followed the model of see one,
“H
ROSS VET
LAB ANIMAL MEDICINE
ow many people can say they have surgically placed breast implants into minipigs or performed a pericardiectomy on a boar,” muses Dr. Charles Tyler Long, research assistant professor and clinical veterinarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. On any given day, as a laboratory animal veterinarian, Long collaborates with researchers in the human and veterinary medicine fields, oversees animals used in research, takes care of their day to day needs, ensures the researchers are trained and, if they’re not, performs procedures on their behalf. “We’re the veterinarians for the animals in research, and we’re also their advocates,” he explains. This is precisely what drew Dr. Amy Beierschmitt,
DR. CHARLES TYLER
8 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
do one, teach one,” he says. “The reality is that it takes a fair amount of repetition and excruciatingly long hours to learn this. When you don’t have 10,000 hours to train someone and it allegedly takes 10 years to develop a mastery, what is the best way to teach? The concept is profound and has a massive impact on the future of veterinary medicine education.”
attending veterinarian at the Behavioral Science Foundation and adjunct faculty member at Ross Vet, to the field. “Research and teaching with animals is a privilege,” she says. “My focus is the care and welfare of the campus animals and working to educate others on the regulations and responsibilities of working with animals.” But that’s not to say lab animal veterinarians don’t get the chance to perform their own research. While Long is interested in surgery and anesthesia of larger research animals, Beierschmitt examines the biomarkers of aging and its basic neurobiological mechanisms, visual neuroscience, and the immunological response to novel vaccines in young and old animals.
DR. AMY BEIERSCHMITT
A
ROSS VET
INTERNSHIP
RESIDENCY
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
rguably, the road most traveled when it comes to veterinary research is one that leads to a university setting. Most often, the questions asked here will reveal answers that can improve the lives of animals for decades to come. Here are just some of the topics being explored by Ross Vet alumni:
FELINE HIV/AIDS Dr. Jonathan Fogle, assistant professor of immunology at North Carolina State University-CVM, is examining the T cell immune dysfunction in animal models of HIV/ AIDS. “In other words, how does the virus manipulate immune cells to establish and maintain infection,” he says. One milestone he achieved over the last few years was identifying the specific activation switches in T cells from FIV-infected cats. “These switches, when turned on, allowed the T cell to fight the virus, but also made the T cell much more susceptible to being deactivated prematurely,” he says. Essentially, Fogle applies the subject of immunology directly to veterinary medicine, working to understand the mechanisms behind vaccination, the underlying immune pathology associated with hypersensitivity reactions, and more.
DR. JONATHAN FOGLE (second from right) WITH RESEARCH TEAM
ADVANCED DIAGNOSTICS A cardiologist by training, Dr. Ryan Fries, clinical assistant professor and cardiology service head at the University of Illinois department of veterinary clinical medicine, has spearheaded research that examines the viability of MRI on animal diagnostics. “Recently, the advancement in MRI technology has made it more user friendly, so as a result we’re able to use it not just as a research mechanism, but also looking at clinical benefits of the MRI,” he says, which include unmatched clarity and resolution, a three-dimensional picture, and minimizing the need for biopsy.
PROGNOSIS IN EXOTICS
Dr. Krista Keller, assistant professor of zoological medicine at University of Illinois’ College of Veterinary Medicine, is hoping to change the prognostic indicators in zoological companion species. “Having more prognostic information will allow a wildlife clinical practitioner to tailor treatments for specific groups of animals presenting to rehabilitation DR. KRISTA KELLER centers,” she says, “and will allow practitioners to counsel clients on how to best proceed when dealing with a sick companion animal.” Currently, she’s working on developing prognostic indicators in orphaned wildlife, elucidating survival indicators for raptors suffering from head trauma, and using body temperature to predict survival in ill exotic companion mammals. CANINE CANCERS Dr. Brian Husbands of the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine recently completed a project testing a new therapy for hemangiosarcoma
DR. BRIAN HUSBANDS (right)
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 9
feature
O
n the path of any researcher is teaching. In fact, for many researchers and academics, teaching is the highest priority of their day and one of the highlights of their job. The majority of Husbands’ day, for example, is spent teaching at the medical center. “This includes teaching students on clinical rotations as well as training interns and residents,” he says. “I love the opportunity to connect with younger minds, as they frequently bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table that I may not have thought of or were off my radar.” For Fries, the best part of teaching is when he can take a topic that’s intimidating—like cardiology—and make it relatable. “The obstacle is breaking down that barrier, but when I can get students to understand it and enjoy it, it’s the greatest feeling,” he says. “I want them to be as excited as I am, but if I can get them one-tenth of the way there, that makes my day.” In addition to teaching veterinary students, Stewart runs an annual Sea Turtle Camp for kids ages 9 through 16, and conducts presentations for various community groups, schools, and businesses. “I never thought I would spend two weeks each year preparing games, craft activities, presentations, and meals for a camp, but it has been one of the most rewarding and fun teaching experiences of my career,” she says. “I get to watch children enter camp, return year after year, and then choose to pursue related fields when they’re old enough.” But, without a doubt, the most attractive part about teaching for all the researchers featured in this story was helping students get to that “ahha!” moment. “Sometimes I teach in a classroom setting where I lecture, but I always try to make that topic invigorating and exciting and really make it hit home,” says Runge. “Our goal as educators should always be to teach our students to be better than we are. How can we push the profession if the teacher is the best of the best?”
of the spleen, an aggressive cancer that’s fatal in dogs. “This therapy has been shown to markedly increase survival compared to the standard of care that is available to treat this cancer,” he says. His other projects examine effective therapies for high grade lymphoma in dogs, as well as identifying the genetic abnormality responsible for alopecia in American Water Spaniels. Come and hear Dr. Husbands speak about splenic sarcomas at WIVC 2018. ANIMAL ANESTHESIOLOGY
The research of Dr. Stuart Clark-Price, associate professor of anesthesiology at Auburn University, is focused on reducing the severity of hypothermia during anesthesia, discovering how horses can be DR. STUART CLARK-PRICE assessed during recovery from anesthesia, and novel applications of anesthetics in amphibian and reptile species. “Recently, I had a manuscript accepted in Veterinary Record describing nutrient-induced thermogenesis in anesthetized dogs, that demonstrated the use of an amino acid infusion to cause dogs to generate more body heat during anesthesia,” he says. “This has potential to impact the day to day use of anesthetics.” SMALL ANIMAL DENTISTRY Currently in her third year of a residency in dentistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Dr. Katherine
DR. KATHERINE KLING
10 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
Kling is interested in plaque biofilm. She recently utilized an in vitro biofilm designed to represent a plaque biofilm in a dog. “Biofilms are the rule and they are everywhere,” she says, “lining pipes, coating ship hulls, and inhabiting the inside of your pet’s water bowl if you don’t clean it frequently enough.”
Our MISSION is to provide the best customer experience possible.
REPTILE NUTRITION AND SURGERY Dr. La’Toya Latney, assistant professor of clinical exotic and zoological medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, considers her research interests—reptiles—the underdog of the veterinary research world. Her (855) SCHEIN1 (724-3461) www.henryscheinvet.com
DR. LA’TOYA LATNEY
publications have to do with nutritional research or novel surgical techniques for diseases that may otherwise have been cause for euthanasia, especially in turtles. Currently, she’s looking to develop a new vaccine for wildlife and zoo animals to address canine distemper, a major cause for mortality and morbidity. “With dogs, there’s a modified live vaccine that’s effective,” she says. “But, if you give that same vaccine to a ferret, tiger, lion, or red panda, for example, they develop the disease and die. So we need to find an appropriate vector.” n
SOLUTIONS THAT REVOLVE AROUND YOU. Our Signature Solutions are a portfolio of products and services designed to drive growth in your practice and run the business side more efficiently. pattersonvet.com/signaturesolutions
18PV0179 (8/17)
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 11
feature
RURAL ROSSIES FARMS, FIELDS AND FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
DR. SARA BLISS Ohio
DR. COURTNEY CULBERTSON North Carolina
DR. KC FAGAN Oregon
Dr. Sara Bliss graduated from Ross Vet in May of 2011. She is originally from Ohio where she returned after her time with Ross Vet. Immediately following graduation, she opened her practice, Bliss Veterinarian Services. She grew up with horses and in a rural area so she always knew she would work with large animals in general, although originally her aim was to work in equine medicine exclusively. However, she developed a strong desire to practice with cattle while at Ross Vet and during an externship. She now sees all species and likes the variety. “I have no typical”, she says. Her clients range from a farm of 80 heads of beef cattle to a single cow farm to a small dairy to a goat farm to pigs, sheep, large horse barns, back yard horses, and small animal. She enjoys the variety of her work, the people she works with, and being able to have her family close to her while she works as well as working in her small home town.
Dr. Culbertson is a 2010 graduate of Ross Vet. She works on horses mostly, with the occasional goat or cow thrown in. She works at 3H Veterinary Services which is in Raleigh, NC which is where she is from originally. The farms she serves now are mostly semi-rural. Her clients range from backyard horse owners to top show barns, with everything in between. Since completing her DVM and certifications in chiropractic medicine and acupuncture, she has increasingly worked with complementary therapies When she worked in Georgia her clients were more rurally-based than now—and there were more true farmers/4H and Future Farmers Association (FFA) kids. She always wanted to work with equine or large animal.
Dr. KC Fagan is a 2016 graduate, originally from Oregon. After obtaining her DVM from Ross Vet, Dr. Fagan returned to Oregon where she now practices at the Newberg Veterinary Hospital. Her career goals as a vet never included working solely in small animal practice. Today, around 30% of the animals she sees are horses but she is mostly a small ruminant and camelid veterinarian (she affectionately referred to herself as the Goat Doctor of Portland and admitted to only ever wanting to work with hoofed animals!). Her clients range from inner city (mostly for dwarf ruminants but also supporting backyard farming in more urban areas around Portland) to very rural areas of Oregon, covering a huge geographical area. She is on the road a lot but also sees clients and animals in the practice where she is employed. She described her typical clients as small holders/vineyard owners and farms. What she enjoys the most about her job is the clients she works with.
“I am a Rossie!”
12 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
“The thing I love most about my work is being out of a hospital setting and working outside. The people are nice, and of course working with horses is the best.”
“I was happy that Ross Vet got in touch, and the one piece of feedback I would like to pass on is that I would have benefitted from more porcine medicine education and training during my DVM.”
DR. JEFF BISSETT Pennsylvania
DR. TANJA EBEL Maine
DR. TERESA FENN Georgia
Dr. Jeff Bissett is a 2002 graduate, originally from Pennsylvania. He left Pennsylvania to go to Ross Vet, did his clinical year at Cornell and then went on to work in equine/large animal practice in upstate NY before returning to Pennsylvania. He worked for a dairy/equine practice for 2 years before starting his own business, Houston Cattle and Saddle Practice, Inc, from the ground up in March 2006. More than 10 years later, his business is doing well, with 1,200 clients. His ambulatory large animal practice services Washington County & parts of Greene and Allegheny in western Pennsylvania. His clientele is varied from individual wealthy horse owners to smallholders with the majority of his clients being food animal producers. In the area of Pennsylvania where he works, he noted that there are a lot of poor people and as a vet, “not fixing someone’s pig means that they won’t eat that winter”. However, this is what he always wanted to do, having spent a lot of time on his grandfather’s dairy farm where his dad lived which influenced his interest in large animal medicine. Earlier last year, he suffered a broken leg by a client’s horse which needed several surgeries and a lot of pins and plates but he remains very enthusiastic about what he does. He remembers his time at Ross Vet fondly, naming a few of the professors of his time who are still here and the only thing he bemoaned was the fact that there were very few of his class with an interest other than small animal practice. He was glad to hear that the student chapters of AABP and AASRP at Ross Vet are very active.
Dr. Ebel graduated from Ross Vet in 2004 and completed her clinical year at Missouri. She grew up in Indiana & Kentucky, came to Maine for a job interview after completing the ECFVG and fell in love with the State. She worked for another practice when first settling in Maine (a mixed practice where small animal and equine practices were separate). She discovered that she wanted something more/different and decided to move further north in Maine and started her own practice, Apple Creek Equine Medicine. In its inception, the business was meant to be strictly equine, but she then realized the need for small ruminant work as well as the small family farm operations that the big dairy vets didn’t cover. Currently, her practice is a true mixed animal including cats and dogs. Dr. Ebel is looking to build a small facility to accommodate some of the small animal practice and some of the more serious small ruminant cases. Dr. Ebel’s practice is a one-person operation with a part-time veterinary assistant. She is on the road a lot as most of her practice is mobile/farm calls. Her clientele ranges across socioeconomic levels, from wealthy horse owners who vacation in the area, to farm owners and families for which most livestock are pets as well.
Dr. Fenn graduated in 2012. Although she was born in Texas, she has lived in Georgia for most of her life and that’s where she returned to after her time at Ross Vet. She has been an associate with Barrow Veterinary Services for 4 years. She did a short internship at AVS in Tallahassee Florida before joining Dr. Barrow at her practice. She knew she wanted to work with horses, but tried, for a short period of time, to venture into small animal medicine. Her clinical year at Auburn confirmed her love of equine medicine and she has never looked back. In the practice where she works, she sees a wide variety of equine athletes—dressage, hunter jumper, and western. She also has a mix of weekend warrior owners and retired pasture pets. The in-house cases consist mostly of sports medicine/ lameness and reproduction. She would classify Barrow Veterinary Services as a semi-rural practice given the proximity to Atlanta and the large number of lesson/ training barns in this area.
“I enjoy the interaction with clients, especially kids and teaching them about veterinary medicine and horse care.”
“As much as I enjoy working with the animals, I enjoy interacting with family farmers. It’s fun to watch the farm children & grandchildren grow up and turn into young adults.” Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 13
feature
Blue Buffalo Foundation Awards Scholarships to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Students The Blue Buffalo Foundation, in partnership with the Empower Scholarship Fund and its affiliated Ross University of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship, has awarded a second round of scholarships to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (Ross Vet) students as a way to help the next generation of veterinarians. To date, the Blue Buffalo Foundation has awarded nine scholarships totaling $87,250 US to Ross Vet recipients. In 2017 recipients included Jennifer Askin, Vladlena Bukhanova, and Eric Lynch and the 2018 recipients included Victoria Bove, Samantha Connolly, Caitlyn Crawford, McKinsey Landers, Kathryn Panigrahi, and Corinne Perra. The Blue Buffalo story all started in 2003 with “Blue,” a beloved large breed Airedale of the Bishop family who was battling cancer. After consulting with veterinarians and expert animal nutritionists, Blue Buffalo® was born. In 2004, the Bishop family also established the Blue Buffalo Foundation, a separate nonprofit, charitable organization that encompasses a variety of programs intended to enhance and improve the lives of our furry friends by funding cancer research, financial assistance for cancer treatments, veterinary scholarships and by supporting organizations who provide service dogs for disabled military personnel. “We recognize the crucial relationship between veterinarians and the health and longevity of our beloved pets” said Blue Buffalo Founder and Chairman, Bill Bishop. “So, in 2016 the Blue Buffalo Foundation expanded its support programs by providing financial assistance to future veterinarians through scholarships to top veterinary schools.” The first scholarship established was for Ross Vet students. The Foundation partnered with the Empower Scholarship Fund to establish the Joyce Novotny Scholarship from the Blue Buffalo Foundation for Ross Vet students. The scholarships are available to Ross Vet students who have completed their first year, and have
14 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
expressed an interest in feline and/or canine veterinary medicine. Each scholarship can provide up to $5,000 per year for the up to three years of the scholars studies at Ross Vet. The goal in providing funds to these promising students is to advance human, animal and ecosystem health through both nutrition related research and knowledge exchange. “The journey to get into veterinary school, and to complete my education has been long and arduous; to be recognized for how far I’ve come is incredibly encouraging during the last stage of my training,” said Kathyrn Panagrahi, 2018 Blue Buffalo Foundation Scholarship awardee. “I cannot express enough gratitude to the Blue Buffalo Foundation for seeing the future veterinarian in me and supporting me through the rest of my journey.” In addition to student scholarships, the Blue Buffalo Foundation has extensively supported cancer research, including the Animal Cancer Foundation and awards to schools such as The Ohio State University, North Carolina State, the Broad Institute at M.I.T., Cornell University, Oklahoma State University, the University of California, Davis, Colorado State University and the University of Tennessee. These grants have been used for research and to assist in the sharing of research results between universities, clinics and veterinary oncologists. For more information regarding scholarships for Ross Vet students, visit the Empower Scholarship Fund website at empowerscholarshipfund.org. The next round of applications will open up in Fall 2018. To learn more about the Blue Buffalo Foundation, visit bluebuffalofoundation.org n
KATHRYN PANIGRAHI
M cKINSEY LANDERS
SAMANTHA CONNOLLY
INTRODUCING YOUR ALUMNI ACTION COUNCIL The mission of the Alumni Association is to connect, engage, and celebrate alumni, students, faculty, staff, corporate partners, and friends of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM). The Action Council of the Alumni Association (the “Alumni Council”) is the governing body and comprises officers and members. The Alumni Action Council is advisory to the Dean RUSVM. meet the
ALUMNI COUNCIL OFFICERS MOSES HUMPHREYS, DVM (RUSVM 2005)
President
Dr. Humphreys received his veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2005, after completing his clinical rotations at Auburn University School of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, he completed a rotating small animal internship at a busy emergency and referral center in Brooklyn, New York. Starting in late 2010, he and his wife, Dr. Eliza Lischin (RUSVM, 2001) co-founded multiple, One Love Animal Hospital’s in New York City. Dr. Humphreys served on the AVMA Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) Committee for six years. He also was a founding member of the RUSVM Alumni Association and became acting president of the association in 2017. DIANNE REY, DVM (RUSVM 1999)
Vice-President
Dr. Rey graduated from RUSVM in 1999 and started working in New York, where she stayed for 4 years. She had great mentors and one happened to be a Rossie. Then she made her way back to Orlando, Florida and has established herself as a dedicated team member at Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital for the past 14 years. Her special interests are in internal medicine and emergency medicine, but she has a passion for surgery. ALEXANDRA QUARTI, DVM (RUSVM 2007)
Secretary
Dr. Quarti completed her undergrad at UCONN and Conn College. She worked previously as a professional equestrian and humane officer. Currently, she is a Medical Director for Banfield New England South (CT, RI, MA and NY) and has been Banfield liaison to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine since 2010. Dr. Quarti is also a board member of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association (Chair strategic planning committee, member government affairs committee).
meet the
ALUMNI COUNCIL MEMBERS MICKEY AXELBAND, DVM (RUSVM 1987) Dr. Mickey Axelband is a veterinarian and the Founder of the American Veterinary Group. He has practiced in South Florida for 31 years as a former owner of 3 veterinary practices. He sits on the board of Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of dogs in South Florida. Mickey received his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. After Delaware, he attended veterinary school in Italy while learning to speak Italian, and travelling throughout Europe. During his time studying abroad, he learned of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, a new vet school getting ready to open. Mickey transferred into RUSVM and became the very first graduate of the school. BRIAN HUSBANDS, DVM (RUSVM 1998) After graduation, Dr. Husbands completed a rotating small animal internship followed by residencies in small animal internal medicine and comparative oncology. Dr. Husbands is currently Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine. He teaches veterinary students, interns, & residents, participates in clinical research, and cares for patients. MARK SALEMI, DVM (RUSVM 1987) Dr. Salemi is the owner of the Northside Animal Hospital, New York State. Since graduation, he joined the staff at Northside Animal Hospital and after 4 years, bought into the practice becoming a full partner 2 years later. Dr. Salemi has actively been on the NYC VMA Board from 1995 until present and served as its president in 2002, receiving all awards available from the association except distinguished life service because he was 5 years too young to receive it. He cared for the search and rescue dogs at ground Zero 911 attacks and subsequently developed, as charter and present member, the NYC VERT (Veterinary Emergency Response Team) executive board. He is presently serving his third term on the Board of Education in his home town as well as the Board of Health, Office of Emergency Management and Stigma Free Committee. JP CAREW, DVM (RUSVM 2001) Dr. Jon-Paul Carew earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology in 1997 at FAU, before graduating from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. His clinical year was completed at The University of Georgia. He has been practicing veterinary medicine in South Florida since October 2001. Dr Carew has been working at Bayview Animal Hospital since January 2012. Bayview Animal Hospital is a busy 6-doctor practice in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Carew enjoys all aspects of Veterinary Medicine including surgery and exotic medicine. He has a special interest in pain management and anesthesia. TYLER LONG, DVM (RUSVM 2004) Dr. Long is a clinical veterinarian at North Carolina State University. Upon graduation in 2004, Dr. Long spent 4 years in private practice before returning to academia to complete a three year laboratory animal medicine residency at Stanford University Medical Center. After his residency he worked in the medical device industry for two years, and again returned to academia at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine where he currently works in laboratory animal resources. KIM WITALIS, DVM (RUSVM 1997) Dr. Witalis completed her undergraduate at The Ohio State University and graduated from RUSVM in 1997. She has worked small animal, exotics, ER and relief veterinary medicine. Dr. Witalis currently lives in Northern Kentucky and works in Cincinnati, OH. She has one dog, 2 tortoises, 3 cats and 4 birds. She loves traveling, weight lifting, scuba diving, reading, cooking, sewing and working in her yard. She is proud to say: “My career has allowed me to make friends around the globe.”
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 15
Addressing a
POPULATION PROBLEM
T
he islands of St. Kitts and Nevis are known for their clear waters, warm sunshine, and rich local culture. But, especially on Nevis, there is a sense that the beautiful landscape is getting overrun by a not-so-lovely differentiator: according to locals, the donkey population is beginning to outgrow the roughly 36-square-mile island. Dr. Hilari M. French, associate professor of theriogenology and division head of the large animal clinical sciences department, is looking for a humane and effective way to control the donkey population on both Nevis and St. Kitts. And her research is promising. French and her team of dedicated students are working towards developing a contraceptive for the local donkey populations. “In practice, the birth control is a vaccine for the donkeys, but since they’re feral and out in the wild, we need something we can administer in a dart,” she explains. “The project is centered on how this will work, what the mechanism of action is, and how long it will work before a booster is needed.”
16 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
The first trial of the study was a success, says French, since the vaccine prevented the test donkeys from getting pregnant. However, one challenge she met was that there were a number of injection site reactions. This wasn’t a problem for the animal subjects she tested during the course of the study, since they were contained and able to receive treatment by French and her team; however, in the wild where they won’t be able to receive ongoing medical care, that just won’t do. This second trial explores a different mechanism that will hopefully not produce such reactions. French estimates that over 100 students have worked on her research project thus far. Students assist with catching donkeys and interacting with them to get them acclimated with humans. They also learn how to perform transrectal ultrasounds, to assess the ovaries and uterine tracts. “They get a lot of hands-on experience,” says French. “Towards the end, once we’re ready to test the vaccine’s efficacy, we introduce a jack into the pasture with the jennies and the students help with pregnancy diagnoses.” n
SPIN-OFF PROJECTS
S
ome students who worked with French have even created their own tangential research projects. When French was looking over research papers on the follicular dynamics of donkeys to support her project, she noticed discrepancies in the published literature from around the world. This question sparked the master’s research of Rachael Ambrosia, one of French’s research assistants. “With my research, I ultrasounded the ovaries of eight different donkeys every day for four of their ovulatory cycles,” Ambrosia explains. Each day and for each donkey, she mapped the location and size of each follicle on the ovaries until ovulation. Once she detected a corpus luteum, the structure that forms on the ovary after a follicle ovulates, she measured its height and width to later calculate its functional volume. Ambrosia also drew blood from each donkey every other day and, at the end of the study, ran hormone assays to define their progesterone levels throughout their cycles.
“With this research, we hoped to define ‘normal’ estrous cycles in Caribbean donkeys to further determine if we can manipulate them at any level (as in Dr. French’s immunocontraceptive studies) and humanely decrease the populations in the area that are outgrowing their resources,” she says. As of now, Ambrosia has completed the research component and she’s preparing to submit her thesis by late summer or early fall. Brandi Roberts, a research assistant of French’s, started out by helping acclimate the donkeys to handling, monitoring foal health, and tracking the jennies’ reproductive cycles before and after administering the vaccine. Along the way, Roberts discovered a joy for teaching volunteer students and was able to grow her research skills through participation in school events, lectures, and wet labs. Before long, French presented her with the opportunity to do a master’s project. Roberts’ project examines the early pregnancy of donkeys including the mobility patterns of the conceptus, hormone profiles, and other markers.
DR. HILARI M. FRENCH
Currently, she says, there isn’t much research on these topics. “The goal of my project is to define the characteristics of the conceptus during the first 30 days of pregnancy,” she explains. “Additionally, I am looking into the hormone aspects of the first 30 days and comparing it to their non-pregnant cycle. This has not been explored in donkeys, and there is sparse information in horses related to hormonal profiles, so I am excited to see how the results turn out.” Roberts completed her project in August 2017, and is currently in the data analysis phase of her master’s project. Before graduating with her DVM is August 2018, she hopes to have three manuscripts published and her thesis ready to submit. n
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 17
PROFILE
MEET BILL BINGHAM
BILL BINGHAM, SENIOR ADMISSIONS REPRESENTATIVE
Bill Bingham, currently the senior admissions representative at Ross Vet, never envisioned himself with a career in academia. But nonetheless, ever since he joined the admissions team in November 2003, he feels he truly found his niche. Get to know this guy. HOW A JOB SWITCH CHANGED HIS LIFE:
“Bill’s enthusiasm and willingness to offer assistance, provides the true feeling of acceptance into the Ross Vet family. In communication with him, you feel as if he has been rooting for you personally, and is truly excited about your Ross Vet acceptance and your upcoming move to the island.” — Adrienne Winn ’17
18 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
With a background in computer operations, Bingham was looking for something new. When he was contacted in 2003 by an agency looking to fill an admissions coordinator position at an international veterinary medicine school, it piqued his interest. “I thought, I’ll do the interview, what do I have to lose,” he remembers. He interviewed on a Friday afternoon and started his new gig processing applications Monday morning. HIS ROLE TODAY:
As senior admissions representative, Bingham assists prospective students from the moment they apply to (hopefully) their acceptance and arrival on the island. That includes everything from helping students secure the proper immigration materials to helping them find flights or housing on the island. But that’s not all. “I see part of my job as keeping the students excited about reaching their goals,” he says. THE DAY HE LOOKS FORWARD TO MOST:
Though he enjoys any event where he gets to interact with students, there’s something special about graduation. “I really enjoy orientation because I’m seeing students who I’ve been helping prepare for three
months or even longer,” he says. “But graduation is the ultimate, because they got through veterinary school.” HIS FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB:
The opportunity to keep students excited about what they’re accomplishing. “That means a whole lot to me,” he says. “From the moment I’m able to congratulate them on admission, I make it my business to keep that excitement flowing. It’s so important for me to keep them excited, and to reassure them they made the right choice.” WHERE HE SPENDS HIS DOWNTIME:
A lobster joint by the ocean called Sprat Net Bar & Grill. “Students tend to migrate there during their breaks, and there’s music there about twice a week,” he says. “That’s one of my favorite places to be.” HIS FAVORITE ROSS VET MEMORY SO FAR:
The first graduation ceremony he attended. “I wasn’t invited to work it; I was invited to attend. And that had to be the best memory,” he says. “All I had to do was cheer my students on at graduation, and I really felt like someone special seeing that first group walk across that stage. That was a real moment for me.” n
PROFILE
ONE CAREER, MANY PATHS
Like most veterinarians, Adrienne Winn (’17) always wanted to work with animals. But unlike a lot of her peers, her path was a somewhat winding one that led her to lab animal medicine and even had her questioning in the beginning whether or not she needed a DVM degree to achieve her goals.
After graduating from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University with a bachelor’s degree in laboratory animal science, she landed a job working in the lab animal field. “Through that first job, I learned I didn’t have to be a doctor to have a high level position working with animals, contributing to decisions that impact their health, and doing research,” she says. So she decided to go for her master’s degree, achieving a master of agriculture with a focus on animal sciences. She returned to the lab soon after, and found success doing research. But soon, she decided to explore another path of lab animal medicine. “I knew having that veterinary degree would give me the larger voice that I wanted,” Winn says. In addition to working with and caring for the animals, she wanted to take on the additional role of being their advocate, which is magnified with a DVM. “Everything has to be justified,” she says. “For example, I wanted to be able to look at a case and say when the animal has reached its humane endpoint. In order to be a voice for the animals, I needed to be a clinical veterinarian. As a technician
or even a facility director, you cannot always make that decision.” Additionally, she wanted to take on more responsibility in research protocol committees, to further be a voice for the animals. In order to have this larger voice, Winn needed to become a doctor of veterinary medicine. And, since she knew some Ross Vet alumni—and knew that Ross Vet had rolling admissions—it was an easy decision to apply and enroll. Today, she’s a first year resident at New York University’s Regeneron Post-doctoral Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine. The three-year program encompasses both academic and biotechnology settings, and touches on everything from medical considerations to facility design and management. Because animal medicine is a huge field with so many potential roles for veterinarians, Winn is getting the best preparation possible to explore her future goals. Ultimately, she plans to sit for the boards, get a job as a laboratory animal veterinarian, and eventually, work herself up to a director position. But, without a doubt, the road is just beginning for this advocate. n
“ I knew having the veterinary degree would give me the larger voice that I wanted.” Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 19
PROFILE
RECOVERY TIME
HOW ONE ALUMNUS FILLED A HOLE IN THE MARKET For Dr. James St. Clair ’03, it’s all about following his passion. After graduating from college, he moved to Boston and was working as a pharmaceutical sales representative when he realized that something was missing. “After much introspection,” he recalls, “I finally identified that my core desire, purpose, and driving force for my life was to care for and help life that was innocent.” That passion brought him to St. Kitts as a Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine DVM student. But once he was out in the real world—working as a veterinarian at his father’s practice—he realized that his passion was a very specific area of veterinary care: rehabilitation. “The reason for this was that I finished clinical rotations at the University of Illinois, and they had one of the country’s first canine rehabilitation programs in the teaching hospital,” St. Clair says. This up-and-coming branch of veterinary medicine excited him like no other since, in his view, there was a hole in the market and gap in services. While there’s not a human orthopedic surgeon in the country who doesn’t prioritize physical therapy as part of their treatment, the same could not be said of veterinarians at the time. This didn’t sit well with St. Clair. So just four months after graduating from Ross Vet, with the same amount of time in practice
under his belt, he founded TopDog Canine Rehabilitation and Fitness, LLC. Established in 2004 as a canine rehabilitation and fitness practice, TopDog began consulting with local orthopedic surgeons. But St. Clair soon realized that he needed his reach to be wider. “Because many of our clients traveled from distances outward of two hours and they were not likely to return to my facility for therapy, I began creating individualized home therapy plans for my patients,” he said. “The core principles of physical therapy were conservative by nature, which the surgeons appreciated. But they were also easy enough for the owners to perform at home. Instead of these patients getting therapy two or three times a week at my facility,
now they could get those same two or three sessions at home safely.” And so the TopDog Home Rehabilitation Guides for Pet Owners were born. These guides are available for download, free of charge, to any hospital or client (hard copies are sold for a fee). Each guide is designed in an easy-to-follow, stepby-step instruction format, with color images and descriptions on how to perform the therapy. By 2014, after 10 years of providing one-on-one care, TopDog closed the doors to its physical location and shifted its focus 100 percent to its online business. St. Clair still owns a four-doctor practice in central Connecticut and practices about two days a week there. In the years since, TopDog has expanded to joint health and omega-3 fatty acid supplements, in addition to support harnesses that help make it even safer and easier for owners to provide physical therapy to their dogs. “Traditionally, veterinarians evaluate the patient, recommend surgery, the dog has the surgery, and then goes home for a recheck in two weeks,” St. Clair says. “Now, we can be there in our client’s home every day, holding their hand throughout the process—a process that can be emotionally and physically challenging as they help their dogs recover.” n
“ I finally identified that my core desire, purpose, and driving force for my life was to care for and help life that was innocent.” 20 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
ASK THE EXPERT
HOW CAN WE HELP DOGS FOR WHOM SURGERY ISN’T AN OPTION? According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS ), a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is one of the most common reasons for hind limb pain and subsequent arthritis of the knee in dogs. ACVS says there are many factors at play for why this is so common: obesity, poor physical condition, genetics, breed, and simple aging are all reasons why a dog may develop issues with its CCL. “It is common knowledge and agreed upon among the veterinary surgical and rehabilitation communities that, in the vast majority of cases, surgical correction and stabilization of the stifle is the best option,” says St. Clair. But, he added, there are also many reasons why a pet owner may not opt for surgery. First, some pet owners may not be able to afford the procedure, which can cost anywhere from $2500 up to $5500. The age of the pet also comes into consideration. Plus, if a dog has other underlying diseases that could put the success of the surgery at risk, owners may opt against it. That said, something still needs to be done in these cases, says St. Clair. “Any joint that is unstable is going to lead to the development of osteoarthritis,” he explains. “In the case of a torn CCL, this creates massive instability in that stifle joint, which leads to massive inflammation and the cascade of progressive destruction of that joint.” Even if pain is controlled, the dog will learn to compensate, by distributing weight to the front and/or keeping their leg straighter. Over time, scar tissue will develop. The good news is that there are things pet owners and veterinarians can do to mitigate damage and pain, even if surgery is off the table. Here are St. Clair’s top five recommendations:
1 SEEK THERAPY. Canine rehabilitation centers are more common
now than they were in the past. TopDog can help medical providers find these centers for their clients at topdoghealth.com/directory.
2 DOWNLOAD A TOPDOG HOME THERAPY GUIDE FOR CRUCIATE INJURIES. These guides provide a step-by-step framework for
rehabilitation, which can help heal an active injury and protect the dog from a compensation injury. At-home therapy exercises include passive range of motion, massage, stretching, hot and cold therapy, and strengthening exercises that can help the dog heal faster, and engage clients in the recovery of their pet. If going to a rehab center several times a week isn’t an option for cliens then they should discuss home therapy with their veterinarian, including possible use of the TopDogHealth videos (topdoghealth.com/ rehabcenter) which show clients how to perform the therapy
3 INVEST IN A HARNESS. Traditional belly sling support harnesses range in price from about $20 to $60, while combined front and back support harnesses can cost up to $150. 4 COME UP WITH A PAIN PLAN. “This may include NSAID therapy along with opioids, depending on the degree of discomfort,” says St. Clair. “But we want to make sure we have a long-term game plan for pain management which may extend out six to 12 weeks, depending on the degree of injury, age of the dog, and preexisting joint disease.” 5 FOCUS ON HOLISTIC HEALTH. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything in our power to reduce stress on the joints and provide the dog with optimized nutrition for long-term success,” St. Clair says. First up is managing obesity, if present. “Provided that 50 percent of our patients are overweight, and this unnecessary trait can lead to further stress on the joints, it is important we get buy-in from our clients that this is incredibly important and assist them with a plan to achieve this goal,” he adds. Supplemental nutrition for the joints, including long-term natural anti-inflammatories like omega-3s, as well as comprehensive joint health supplements (like glucosamine and chondroitin) can also help. “There is an overwhelming amount of products available to consumers in this space, so we like to focus on recommending products or brands which we know incorporate premium raw materials and are manufactured by companies committed to animal health,” St. Clair says. Together, these tips can be the difference between discomfort and a normal, active life for a dog. While no holistic approach can replace the effects of surgical therapy, the long-term implications of these cost-effective approaches are significant.
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 21
PROFILE
MEET DENISE FYFIELD DENISE FYFIELD, CAMPUS REGISTRAR
Denise Fyfield, a lifelong St. Kitts resident, has seen it all. Since arriving at Ross Vet in 1984, she’s risen from receptionist to campus registrar. Today, she assists students every step of the way, from registering them upon arrival to finalizing their final course grades at the end of the term. HOW SHE CAME TO THE UNIVERSITY
Though she was born and raised on St. Kitts, Fyfield actually didn’t even know Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine existed until a friend mentioned the university was hiring. Fresh out of high school, Fyfield applied and landed a job working in the library. “I had no work experience whatsoever at the time,” she recalls. Once they hired a librarian, she was transferred to the administrative office and ultimately became a full-time receptionist, responsible for typing exams for faculty members and other tasks. After a few years, she was promoted to a dual position as dean’s assistant and campus registrar. By 2004, administration split the jobs and named Fyfield campus registrar. And it’s a role that fits her. “I’m from a large family—I’m one of 10 kids!—so I’m a person who likes to help,” she says. “It gives me great pleasure to help the students and see them succeed.” HER BUSIEST—AND BEST—SEASON
Fyfied’s favorite season is her busiest season, and that’s the end of term when she’s responsible for processing grades. “I have students coming in and asking questions about their grades,” she says. “And I have to finalize the grades for faculty who all seem to have flights to catch! My office becomes the hub, and all of a sudden I’m the most popular person on campus. But we get to see who progresses and, in a way, it’s a closing of where they all started. It’s a great feeling when I get to see the students succeed. I love the end of the term, even though it’s the most hectic time.” HOW SHE UNWINDS
“I’m from a large family, and we meet almost every
22 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Fyfield says. “All of us converge on one of my sisters’ houses (all of us—nine girls and one boy, and all our families). All our kids are there. Sometimes, we’re just talking and laughing. Sometimes we have dinner. It’s a ritual.” HER MOST MEMORABLE ROSS VET MOMENT
During Fyfield’s stint in the library, her window overlooked a lawn area where students and faculty performed large animal surgeries. “One day, I left the building and saw all the students in gloves, gowns, and caps surrounding a donkey, and the whole stomach of the donkey was out on the ground. They were doing a surgery,” she says. “By the time I returned, they had finished. They put all the sutures in, the anesthesia had worn off and I saw the donkey actually get up and stand. It was amazing.” WHAT’S CHANGED SINCE SHE ARRIVED
“Since I started, obviously, there are more buildings going up and the changing infrastructure has been amazing. Student numbers have increased immensely. We are up to date with modern technology,” she says. “We are top notch.” WHAT’S STAYED THE SAME
“The hands-on training that the students get has always been what makes us unique. By the time they go to their clinical site, our students have been through at least two semesters of surgery, whereas others are just doing their first surgeries,” she says. “And, we still have dedicated faculty members. We have faculty members who have been here 20-plus years. Even the new ones, they are so dedicated. That’s steadfast.” n
IN MEMORIUM
J A S O N
Remembering5 C A S H
M I K E
Z A R E S K I
M I C H A E L
R A M I E R I
It is with a heavy heart that we share the recent loss of three outstanding individuals in the Ross Vet community. They will be greatly missed by their family, friends, and all of us throughout the community.
Jason Cash, DVM ’98
passed away from complications of a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. He was 48. A longtime veterinarian in Polk County, FL, Dr. Cash was known for going above and beyond to help patients in need. “He loved it, and he was good at it,” said his wife, Dana. “If someone showed up at our house and needed his help, he’d stop what he was doing to help them. He was a good man.” Dr. Cash pursued his DVM at Ross Vet after working as a veterinary technician and graduating from the University of Florida. For eight years before his stroke, Dr. Cash had been the veterinarian at Bartow Animal Care in Bartow, FL. “He was probably one of the best human beings I have ever known,” said Dr. Wade Crankshaw, DVM ’98, a veterinarian in Arcadia who attended Ross Vet with Dr. Cash. “He was generous with his time and his compassion, but he was also strong-willed. When he had a goal, he would do everything in his power to get it done.” n
Mike Zareski, DVM ’02
was lost in a tragic plane crash in early December. He was 46. Dr. Zareski owned Western Veterinary Group in South Bay, California, and led a foundation to help homeless cats and kittens in the local area. He also dedicated himself to supporting the next generation of veterinarians. Always willing to go out of his way to help fellow alumni or new students, Dr. Zareski was known for openly sharing his genuine advice and experiences with any student who asked. “Mike touched a tremendous number of people with his overwhelming compassion, generosity and kindness,” his wife Shanna Zareski wrote. “His legacy will live on in our four beautiful children and in Western Veterinary Group. Mike poured his heart, soul and sweat into making WVG a family practice, not only in the sense of including myself and our kids, but also as a place where he cared for and considered each one of his patients and clients family as well.” n
Michael Ramieri ’02
passed away from a short illness in January surrounded by his loving family. He was 44. Dr. Ramieri was born in Manhattan, NYC and lived in Randolph and Ogdensburg before moving to Sparta, NJ, 2 years ago. Dr. Ramieri worked at the Nutley Animal hospital before becoming a partner at the Vernon Veterinary Clinic where he worked for 8 years. Four years ago, he realized one of his dreams: he opened his own state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, Advanced Veterinary Care in Franklin, NJ, a 24-hour facility which he built from the ground up. Before studying at Ross Vet, Dr. Ramieri graduated from Georgetown University from where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and from Rutgers University from where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. A passionate guitar player, Dr. Ramieri was furthering his education by taking classes at the Berkelee School of Music. n
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 23
YOUR
SCHOOL NEEDS
YOU Membership to the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association is free for all alumni. Alumni are automatically rolled into the association once they complete the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or postgraduate degree program.
To ensure that you receive relevant alumni communications and announcements, please be sure to provide your most up-to-date contact information (email and mailing address) by emailing: RUSVMalumni@rossu.edu To find out more, consult our alumni webpages: veterinary.rossu.edu/alumni
As alumni of Ross Vet, you have access to a number of benefits and services: • TRANSCRIPTS AND DIPLOMA REQUESTS/REPRINTS • LICENSING AND RE-LICENSING LETTERS • LIFETIME STUDENT EMAIL ADDRESSES • ACCESS TO THE ROSS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE LIBRARY E-COLLECTION • ALUMNI INSURANCE PROGRAM • CONTINUING EDUCATION • RÉSUMÉ AND CV REVIEWS • EVENTS AND REUNIONS
24 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
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 Ross Vet alumni. Listing your openings with Ross Vet can provide you with increased exposure to quality physicians from a variety of specialties. Support the Ross Vet community of alumni and enhance your organization by recruiting and hiring fellow Rossies. Please email rusvmalumni@rossu.edu.
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 25
On behalf of the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Scholarship and the Empower Scholarship Fund, thank you to all the alumni and friends who are supporting student scholarships! Your generosity is helping the next generation of “Rossies� achieve their education and career goals. For more information about making a donation to Ross Veterinary Scholarships, please visit us at www.empowerscholarshipfund.org/scholarships/ross-vet/. You can also text a gift by sending RUSVM to 41444 on your mobile phone.
26 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
COYNE veterinary
services, ltd.
Setting the standard for exceptional veterinary care
Explore your career opportunities at www.CoyneVetServices.com 12 locations in the Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana area
THE
NEXT BIG THING IN DERM TREATMENT MAKES YOUR CARE LIMITLESS
NEW Hill’s® SmartCare powered by Vetrax™ combines state-of-the-art wearable technology
with clinical nutrition to give you, your clients and your patients a complete treatment system. 24
24/7 MONITORING of patient behaviors such as scratching, head shaking, walking, running, sleep quality and more Objective, quantitative pet behavior data provides ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS EVALUATE the effectiveness of nutritional programs and other prescribed therapies
Trifexis.com
AVAILABLE IN 3 PLANS FOR COMMON CANINE CONDITIONS: DERM
WEIGHT
ARTHRITIS
LET’S TAKE YOUR CARE TO A NEW LEVEL Get started at Vetrax.com ©2017 Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. ®/™ Hill’s and SmartCare are trademarks owned by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. Vetrax is a registered trademark of AGL.
HillsVet.com/SmartCare
Trifexis, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Eli Lilly and Company or its affiliates. © 2017 Eli Lilly and Company or its affiliates. USCACTFX00911(1)
Alumni Magazine: Spring 2018 | 27
BECAUSE YOUR LEARNING NEVER ENDS, OUR SUPPORT DOESN’T EITHER. It takes dedication and commitment to be a veterinarian. That’s why Zoetis is here to help at every milestone in your career. Learn more at zoetisUS.com/commitment.
Zoetis Commitment to Veterinarians @ZoetisUS @ZoetisUS
WE’RE ZOETIS. FOR ANIMALS. FOR HEALTH. FOR YOU.
Veterinarians on Call
COMMITMENT TO VETERINARIANS™ With nearly 700 hospitals to choose from, chances are good we have the right home for you. • Network of more than 4,500 Doctors, including 600+ Specialists.
• Opportunities to give back with strong Shelter partnerships and Charity programs.
• Largest provider of Private Practice Internships and Residencies in the U.S.
• Robust Clinical Studies program. • And much more!
• WOOF University, offering abundant CE and skills training for Doctors and Staff.
Find out more at 28 | Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
SEE THE DIFFERENCE
™
Better Diagnostic Images Result in
HEALTHIER PATIENTS ULTRASOUND PREMIUM PORTABLE AND CONSOLE SYSTEMS
• 18 MHz high-resolution • Up to 40 cm depth imaging • One-button image optimization • Super high-density transducers • Complete Cardiac, Abdominal and MSK Imaging • Solutions and training for all applications • Extended Warranty Options
DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY CANON AND FUJIFILM FLAT PANELS
• Complete range of DR and CR technologies: Digital Flat Panels from Canon and FujiFilm • Exposure sensing technology can use any x-ray generator without the need to manually sync to each specific generator/source • Partnered with leading manufacturers • Full DICOM® connectivity for Cloud & PACS
CLOUD SOLUTIONS ACCESS TO YOUR STUDIES ANYTIME, ANYWHERE
• Intuitive, powerful and uniquely designed solutions for the veterinary practice • Cloud-based storage & access anytime, anywhere • Instant remote access to your clinical data on any mobile device • Share data instantly across your practice • Full off-site emergency data recovery
800.842.0607 | www.universalimaginginc.com
ULTRASOUND
DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY
CLOUD & PACS
CONTINUED EDUCATION
Office of Institutional Advancement & Alumni Relations 630 US Highway One North Brunswick, NJ 08902
TELEPHONE: 732-898-0002
EMAIL: rusvmalumni@rossu.edu WEBSITE: veterinary.rossu.edu
RossVetSchool
NOVEMBER 3–8, 2018 ANNOUNCING KEYNOTE SPEAKER :
Dr. Paul Lunn, BVSc, MS, PhD, MRCVS, Dip. ACVIM KEYNOTE LECTURE:
Global Impact and Importance of Working Donkey and Horses
“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
Important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program can be found at veterinary. rossu.edu/gainful-employment © 2018 Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. All rights reserved.